Elderly farmer goes to college and beyond

Liu Yuchun, a 74-year-old farmer from Henan province, holds acollege enrollment certificate after passing the national college entranceexam, orgaokao,in 2020. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

An elderly farmer in Anyang, Henan province, has set a new goal for himself as he is about to graduate from a local vocational and technical college.

Now he wants to prepare for postgraduate studies at Peking University.

Liu Yuchun, 74, participated in the national college entrance exam, orgaokao, five times. He was finally admitted to Puyang Vocational and Technical College in 2020.

Among other things during his four years of study at the college, Liu memorized more than 4,500 English words. Holding a yellowed English vocabulary book — now tattered and torn, with some parts glued together, and loaded with annotations — Liu said books have helped fuel his hopes and dreams.

Liu Yuchun takes the college entrance exam in 2020. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"After hard study at college, now I have a plan to prepare for the postgraduate entrance exam at Peking University, studying law or economics," he said.

Liu stayed in his hometown and founded a food factory after failing to pass the national college entrance exam in 1978. In 1992, he made an investment mistake, causing his family to lose almost everything.

"All of these experiences came from a lack of education, so I firmly came to believe in the importance of knowledge," he said. "We should not waste time on the internet and mobile phones, but rather read more books and pursue our dreams."

Liu Yuchun studies at the Puyang Vocational and Technical College in Henan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]