Female farmer fights cancer with lust for life and poetry

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Xu Lizhi, a Chinese Foxconn employee, born in 1990 in Guangdong, wrote his last poem "A Screw Fell to the Ground" before jumping off the building in 2014.

Yu Xiuhua, a farm woman, born in 1976 in Hubei Province, with cerebral palsy, became famous in the same year because of her poem "Crossing the Country just to Sleep with You."

A nanny named Fan Yusu, born in 1973 in Hubei Province, wrote an autobiographical novel of 100,000 words called "I am Fan Yusu", which went viral overnight in 2017.

These "grassroots writers" changed the public view of who in society are able to achieve writing masterpieces. Neither well educated nor professionally trained, they wrote the words out of instinct, describing their own life.

Bai Ruyun is writing a poem under the light. /By CGTN

For many people there is often a threshold not only for writers, but for readers, too. It's hard to imagine that a farmer could talk about poetry. But, the same as writing, reading is also like an instinct.

Perhaps only they know how they were inspired by the raw power of the literature. "I think poetry is for everyone," said Bai Ruyun, who was a contestant of the reality show "Chinese Poetry Competition."

Bai Ruyun, a 41-year-old rural woman, suffering from lymphoma. /By CGTN

Bai Ruyun is reading a poem against the setting sun. /By CGTN

Bai was born in Xingtai, Hebei Province and is aged 41. At 13, she read the "Rouged Lips" (Name of the tune of traditional Chinese poems), written by Li Qingzhao, a famous female poet (1084-1155).

An extract from the poem: "Stepping down from the swing, languidly she smooths her soft slender hands. She wouldn't bother stretching her hands."

"It's so beautiful, and so vivid about the shyness of a maiden. I couldn't put the feeling into words, but I fell for it," Bai explained.

Like most people around her, she started to work after graduating from middle school. She was a substitute teacher, a babysitter, and even a sawyer.

"Everything costs money. I get busy the moment I opened my eyes every morning. All I think about is earning money. Already my 'literary dream' has gone far from me," said Bai.

Bai Ruyun and her daughter /By CGTN

In 2010, Bai went to hospital and was diagnosed with lymphoma. "My first thought was: I'm going to die," she said.

Bai Ruyun is at a local hospital. /By CGTN

Bai had to undergo chemotherapy and was forced to borrow money for medical expenses from the third course on. During that time, she read a poem by Tao Yuanming (a Chinese poet, 365 AD - 427 AD), called "Begging for Food."

An extract from the poem: "The pangs of hunger drove me from my home, with no idea of where to go. I traveled on for miles, until I reached a village, knocked on the nearest door, blurted out some clumsy words."

"Then I felt that I was also begging like him,"said Bai.

Bai Ruyun is on the way home from hospital under the twilight. /By CGTN

Reading these for some time, Bai grew a kind of sympathy with the ancient poets. "None of them had a smooth life. I think that everybody in this world has his own sorrows. My difficulties may not be that hard."

Because of the disease, Bai's eyes are easily irritated and can cause tear over-secretion. She can't hear clearly and her voice is hoarse. "But," she said, "I don't want people to see only the misery in me. Thanks to the poetry, I could be more graceful."

Bai Ruyun is making up herself in the early morning. /By CGTN

"Frowning with fainted forehead painting, the loose hair covers her cute cheeks," while dressing, she sang, "started painting eyebrows leisurely, she is just freshening up."

Poetry is like a friend, which carried Bai out of the hard time. Once the tags of "a farmer woman," "a cancer sufferer" and "an inspirational mother" are removed, she is simply a literature enthusiast moved by poems.

Literature is equal for everyone.

"Anyone could, if they want to, live a poetic life," Bai said.

The story is one in The 1.3 Billion series exploring the diverse lives that make up China.