Invisible Wings: An armless young man takes on life with a strong will

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In a remote village of central China's Hubei Province, there is a young man who was born with no arms. He is choosing not to be defeated by his situation, but instead, is taking on life with a strong will. CGTN's Liu Xinqing has the inspiring story.

Chen: "LIFE is always like this, when you are strong, all difficulties will be nothing, when you are weak, even a tiny barrier can stop you."

29-year-old Chen Zifang, lives in Badong County in central China's Hubei province. For him, life is not easy. He was born with no arms. Something we all take for granted.

CHEN ZIFANG OWNER, CHENZIFANG ONLINE STORE "I find my life full and rich. Although I don't have arms, I can use my feet."

Without arms, ordinary daily activities become a big issue.

CHEN ZIFANG OWNER, CHENZIFANG ONLINE STORE "I have met many more difficulties than most people can imagine. For example, when I started learning how to cut grass, I often ended up cutting my own feet."

But Chen isn't about to give up so easily. He gradually learnt about how to do everything with his own feet. Holding chopsticks, cooking, raising pigs and even farming.

LIU XINQING BADONG, HUBEI "Life is definitely not easy for Chen Zifang, but he says the challenges have made him strong. He told me, his life is a constant process of setting goals and going after them, because in his world, nothing is taken for granted."

His goals, of course, are not limited to learning daily skills, he has a bigger dream in mind. And not long ago, he learned how to use smart phones and computer, and opened an online specialty store.

CHEN ZIFANG OWNER, CHENZIFANG ONLINE STORE "The idea of opening an online store just came to my mind. I tried many other things in the past. But I realized the internet could make up for my disabilities, and I thought opening an online store was the best choice for me."

Access to the internet links him with the outside world. And that is an opportunity he wasn't about to miss.

CHEN ZIFANG OWNER, CHENZIFANG ONLINE STORE "I want to help my fellow villagers to sell their specialties, so that more and more of them can get out of poverty. I think that's where the value of my life is."

Learning new skills and facing hardships in life doesn't daunt the optimistic and confident young man. In fact, it's what keeps him going.

CHEN ZIFANG OWNER, CHENZIFANG ONLINE STORE "When I come across difficulties, I often tell myself, there will always be more solutions than problems. And that belief keeps giving me strength."

Chen says, life is tough, so he needs to get tougher. Despite challenges that most others can’t even imagine, he will hold on to his dream, and his secret to success——a strong will to never give up. Liu Xinqing, CGTN, Badong, Hubei province.