In the remote village of Pengjiagou, a place nestled between mountains and rivers in central China's Hubei Province, one man has been a constant presence for decades.
Often seen riding his motorcycle along treacherous mountain paths, the man is Peng Yusheng, a teacher at the village's primary school.
Over a period of 28 years, he has traveled over 30,000 kilometers through the mountains, visiting students in more than 1,000 families.
He has personally helped over 40 students in need financially and convinced more than 50 dropouts to return to school in this isolated village.
The 48-year-old educator has dedicated nearly three decades of his life to transforming the lives of rural children through education -- a mission he embraced from the moment he graduated from teachers' college in 1996.
That year, Peng had to make a choice: take a coveted exam for a teaching position in the city or return to the village where he was raised. He chose the latter, taking on the role of teacher at the primary school of Pengjiagou, eventually becoming principal.
When transportation in the area was difficult, Peng bought a motorcycle and often rode over 10 kilometers at night to visit students' homes after a day of teaching.
He always carried a flashlight, umbrella and rain boots with him. Due to the rough mountain roads, Peng kept tire-repair tools handy.
At the beginning of one fall semester, a student named Xiaoqin failed to return to school. Peng immediately set out to her home, only to be met with cold shoulder of her parents. Undeterred, he returned again and again, walking up the narrow mountain trails, until Xiaoqin's father finally admitted that the family couldn't afford to send her back to class.
"Your child must go to school!" Peng insisted. "I'll cover all the costs."
Xiaoqin returned to her studies later with Peng's assistance.
This small school, which undertakes basic education for children from five neighboring villages, has nurtured more than 180 university graduates over the years -- a remarkable achievement for a community where opportunities once seemed few and far between.
"Seeing one group of students after another leave the mountains and step into the wider world makes me feel happy," Peng said, his smile soft but proud.
Beyond keeping students in school, Peng also strives to create opportunities for rural children to keep pace with the world.
His teaching methods have changed perceptions of rural education. The small school now offers courses like robotics, aviation modeling and creative arts. The works of rural children have even been showcased in metropolises such as Shanghai.
Over the years, he has raised more than 500,000 yuan (about 70,400 U.S. dollars) to fund everything from sports equipment to electronic readers and tablets.
The school now has a cloud classroom and a smart facial-recognition reading area. Peng also established a training program for teacher development. Even teachers in their 50s use information technology to teach.
Peng's classes extend far beyond the four walls of the school. Nature itself -- mountains, rivers and the changing seasons -- serves as his classroom.
"Rural education offers a vast field, abundant resources, and simple, honest parents and community members -- qualities unmatched by other places," he said.
His unconventional approach has not only helped children succeed academically but has also transformed their confidence and outlook on life.
Many of his students, once shy and hesitant, have become bold, articulate and eager to take on the world.
"I feel joy because I love what I do," Peng explained when asked why he has stayed in the village all these years. "To me, it's not hardship -- it's happiness."
The fate of Pengjiagou's children, many of whom once faced limited prospects, has been irrevocably changed. Peng has seen more than 10,000 students pass through the doors of his small village school, with some going on to prestigious universities across China.
One of his former students, Peng Jiusheng, was so inspired by his teacher that he returned to the primary school of Pengjiagou after graduating, this time as a colleague.
"It was Mr. Peng's help that led to my success," Jiusheng said. "I want to be like him and help more children from our hometown gain knowledge."
In 2004, Peng Yusheng became a member of the Communist Party of China, a role that has further empowered him to serve his community.
"Teaching, after all, is the same wherever you go," he said. "In the city, one more teacher might not make a difference, but here, I feel I'm making a real impact."
To honor his contribution to rural education, the national title of model teacher was conferred on Peng as China celebrated its 40th Teacher's Day on Sept. 10.
Over the years, a vast group of teachers in the most remote corners of China have illuminated the futures of rural children. With limited education resources, they provide students with knowledge and views of the world, and sometimes daily necessities. Rural teachers are not only educators but also friends, family members and guides for the children.
As the novel "The Village Teacher," by acclaimed Chinese author Liu Cixin, suggests, it is teachers who pass on the flame of civilization, whether in bustling cities or remote villages. They serve as a bridge, connecting the past with the future, young minds with the world of science, and the earth beneath our feet with the vast sky above.