Shimmering lights can shine bright together

After saying goodbye to his family, he didn't tell them about what he had done in Wuhan, in case they worried. Every day, he would make a video call with family, to see his child and show that he was ok. Alone in Wuhan, the 34-year-old man who had never stepped into kitchen before, now has become a good cook.

When going out, every time, he would wear masks and long coat and hat, bring along a small bottle of medical alcohol as disinfectant to protect himself. But gradually he found he had more and more tasks, but fewer and fewer colleagues. When he asked their "commander," he was told some volunteers were infected with COVID-19, he was asked to take care more.

During this difficult time, he also helped many parents of his friends who are trapped in Wuhan by buying and sending the urgently needed medicines, materials and equipments for them.

Then, the local government took over and recruited more volunteers from official channels. Li and his friends felt it is time to have a break, so now he stayed at home writing memoirs.

"I'm an ordinary citizen of the city. The city gives us a lot. I just want to give back to the city and the society, this is our duty," he said.

Li said what touched him the most in his recent memory was a late-night mission on Jan. 26. He received a message at 10 p.m. when he returned home after a busy day, saying a truck with medical supplies would arrive in Wuhan at 1 a.m.

It was dark cold night, he and one volunteer stood helplessly on the street waiting for the truck. Not long after, they suddenly saw dozens of headlights of automobiles coming from every direction, lighting up the night.

They were all other volunteers coming to aid. Together they were able to unload the truck in just an hour and send the urgently needed medical supplies to every hospital they contacted.

"I was particularly moved at that time," Li said, "As an individual, we have limited power each, but when we are together, shimmering lights can shine bright and we are very powerful."