Country doctors are an important part of China's medical and health service. Since the founding of the New China, the Chinese government has attached great importance to basic-level rural health service and constantly strengthened the construction of rural medical teams. Now China has about 1.38 million country doctors.

Zhang Deqing is one of them. After graduating from a nursing school in 1995, he became a country doctor in the village clinic of Yuandongtou Town, his hometown in Linyi City in east China's Shandong Province.

It is an arduous job. Zhang is responsible for health services for nearly 2,000 people in three villages, as well as promoting preventive medicine and health knowledge. He has been working in this post in the Yimeng Mountain area for over 20 years.

Zhang inherited the passion from his family since both his grandfather and father were country doctors. During the Anti-Japanese War, his grandfather, Zhang Daoli, was a field medic. After the war, he went back to take care of his fellow villagers. Influenced by him, Zhang Deqing's father, Zhang Zaiji, also became a country doctor at the age of 18.

In the past, country doctors were only capable of handling ailments. Many villagers rejected medical treatment because of poor living conditions and the lack of hygiene awareness, leading to tragedy sometimes. Yet Zhang Zaiji would never give up on them. Carrying a homemade wooden medicine box, he would often walk about four kilometers to visit patients. Being short of medicine, he climbed the mountains to collect medicinal herbs and then made them into tablets.

Zhang Zaiji always put the patient first and didn't charged extra, just like his father did. He required the same from his son, Zhang Deqing: "I used to tell my son never to exaggerate on money. Use your expertise to help the sick. When you don't have it, point them to the hospital. Never speak carelessly."

With the development of the rural medical system, clinics were built in most of the villages with sufficient medicine and equipment. Through systematic medical training, Zhang Zaiji has acquired more knowledge of modern medicine. In Zhang Deqing's generation, medical conditions in rural areas have further improved with the establishment of the rural cooperative medical service system and the rural residents' health records.

Zhang's family witnessed the development of rural health care system. Their principle has been consistent over the years: "Doctors never save lives for money." 

Inspired by their seniors, Zhang Deqing's children were admitted to medical universities. In the past 70 years, this family has been serving the villagers assiduously. They do not pursue fame or fortune. But their positive actions proved the doctors' true benevolence.

Director: Lei Rong, Li Gangqiang

Editor: Li Gangqiang

Filmed by: Zhang Yi

Article written by: Hu Yue

Producer: Wen Yaru

Supervisor: Pang Xinhua