Meng ZhengDong: «I just wanted to escape from darkness»

Meng ZhengDong

The day was quite sunny and pleasant. A little bit cool maybe. After

driving more than two hours by car from Zhangjiakou city, travelling through

mostly mountain landscapes and roads in different conditions, a group formed

by 6 people arrived to the village called Chi Cheng at 10:30, in the countryside

of Hebei province in the northeast of China. The reason of the journey: visit and

interview the writer Meng ZhengDong.

The mother of the artist was waiting at the entrance of the house: a gate

made of bricks and with an iron fence. She received the group with a big smile

that crossed all over her face. It was clear that she was happy for the arriving of

the visitors.

Trespassing the gate there was a big yard made of concrete with three

buildings in it: a hen house, a shed, and the main residence. In the outside walls

of the shed were different elements hanging or lying against it; as working tools,

cobs of corn, old shoes and other stuff.

The entrance gate to Mr. Meng home

After enter in the house was the kitchen, and in there an intense smell

coming from the food that the host was preparing for the guests. That room was

small, rudimentary, but cozy. All was surrounding by pots and different kitchen

tools; cut potatoes were soaking in water inside of one concrete big bowl. And

on the floor were laying, at one corner, used egg shells and pieces of corn cobs.

Mr. Meng was already inside the house. Inside of his bedroom and sitting

in a wheelchair, the same as his mother, he was with a great happiness and joy

for the arriving of the crew. One could see this reflected on his face. After

exchange greetings, the whole group went outside to make the interview in the

front yard. Taking advantage of the good light and warm sun.

The writer is now 33 years old and he was born in 1983. He has lived his

entire life in this house in that small town. And he got no formal education. He

never attended primary school, or secondary school. But despite that he found

the way to communicate with the outside world, and show it his hopes,

aspirations, and life conditions.

The writer (R) with Mr.Chen ZhengDong (L), a local businessman from

Zhangjiakou city.

«I never wanted to be known; to be recognized» he said. «I just wanted

to escape from darkness». And also through his writings, he explains that he

wanted to be «an example to other disable people». He says that, because he

is disabled, he needs his family to help him with the daily living.

The artist uses as topic for his stories what happens to him everyday

during his life. Surrounded by this hard geography, with no other place to go.

This is the source of inspiration and subject of his writings.

He told that he learned to read and write when he was a child, with «a

teacher that lives in Beijing». Apparently, this man who is very rich has helped

in the past, and still support, other 14 handicapped students.

«With him we are in touch through WeChat» tells the writer referring to

his mentor. «I send to him my stories through that way and he publishes them

on a blog that he got».

Perhaps his legs are paralyzed, but not his hands and arms. Which he

can perfectly use to write, to eat. But the most important: his mind. This is his

best tool; the one that allows him to fly free to different places. Scape from his

wheelchair. Looking for other horizons. Searching for more light that enlighten

his soul.

When the artist was asked about why he prefers to use a cell phone to

write, instead of another kind of support, he answered: «First because I never

went to school, and the cell phone helped me to identify the words, and second

because here in the mountains is easier to get access to a phone, and not to a

computer». Even sometimes the internet access is difficult because of the

mountains. They act as a wall that repels the incoming and outgoing internet

waves.

The writer says that in his free time he enjoys very much to listen music.

And asked about if he receives some economic support from the Chinese

government due his situation, his answer was «no».

The family home was built by his parents. They are farmers and he got a

brother who lives and works in Beijing. His mother lives all the time with him at

the family house. She helps Meng with all the care he needs; and his father

travels from home to another far away farms where he has necessarily move to

work. He returns when he can to see the family.

Inside of the main residence there is no bathroom. They got to use one

that is outside of the house. They have one pipe of water in the front yard, to

wash vegetables or wash their hands.

Chi Cheng

Two pictures of «Chi Cheng» village taken from the house of Meng

ZhengDong.

The access to this settlement where Mr.Meng lives was very hard, due

the extreme conditions of the interior roads that connect the main highway with

the town. One must be provided of a big car in very good conditions to be able

to access to this place.

Just ten families live in this poor little town; but not too different than

others that one can find in the China’s countryside: small humble houses built of

bricks, owned by farmers. Sometimes no bathroom or washroom inside the

main house. Some of them got their own «kitchen garden» and some, like the

Meng family, a few goats or sheeps.

The town got no school, or another type or educative institution. And the

nearest healthcare center or hospital is about one hour away driving.

The Chen family talking with the artist outside of Mr. Meng’s home