Pressing On Li Linguo’s Tactics for Healing

by Guo Tieliu

1. Li settles a dispute for a family in Baisha Village of Badi Township.

2. Around the fifth anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake， Badi High School runs a disaster prevention drill. Li demonstrates using a fire extinguisher for faculty of the school.

3. Sometimes， Lis wife breaks into tears over trifles. Li explains that the closer it gets to May 12th， the more sensitive she becomes.

4. Li was honored with many medals for his rescue efforts in the wake of the earthquake. He hides them in a box in a drawer of his office and seldom shows them to others.

Li says the first year after the disaster was hardest. However， his wounds continually healed over time. A veteran and military enthusiast， Li has summarized his five tactics for recovery：First， stay close to family. Li tries to spend time with his wife every day after work. He will even visit her during the day if he can find time. However， he never rides in the same car with his wife. “Entire families died together in the earthquake，”he explains. “I still worry.”

Second， he tries to keep his mind occupied. After work， Li spends most of his spare time playing chess on internet. Over the five years， Li has played more than 20，000 games， averaging over 20 a day.

Third， spread love. During the earthquake， Li saved the lives of many children， who tracked him down afterwards to become like godchildren. Li and his wife put aside some money to reward the children if they excel at school. The couple has given away more than 50，000 yuan over the five years.

Fourth， escape. After the earthquake， Li requested a transfer to a remote Badi police station far from his original home. Also， he hides the medals he received for saving so many lives.

Finally， socialize. Most of Lis colleagues are young men who hail from elsewhere， so Li often invites them over for dinner. “Dinner guests help increase my appetite and keep my home lively，” Li remarks.

Li Linguo hopes to purchase an RV upon retirement， so he can take his wife on road trips around the country.