With the break of day, mist clings softly to the mountain slopes, veiling the peaks in a sheer, silvery haze. On a winding mountain road in Lianghe Village, central China's Hubei Province, the puttering of a motorbike breaks the early morning silence.
A small figure sits steadily astride a mini motorcycle -- it is village doctor Wang Ju, setting off once again.
Standing just 1.28 meters tall and weighing a little over 30 kg, Wang has relied on his slight frame to carry a medical kit through the rugged mountains of western Hubei for over 30 years, come rain or shine.
Born in 1967, Wang was diagnosed with dwarfism at a young age and endured many hardships growing up. But the warmth and kindness of his rural neighbors nourished him like the mountain springs that run through his hometown.
"When I was in school, someone always helped carry my bag. When I was sick, neighbors brought me medicine and food. I can never forget that kindness," he said.
At 18, after repeated job rejections, Wang knocked on the door of the village's doctor and expressed his wish to stay in his hometown and study medicine.
From identifying medicinal herbs and preparing prescriptions to observing diagnoses, Wang shadowed his mentor every step of the way. Before long, his notebooks were densely packed with notes on symptoms and remedies.
In 1989, he began his formal training at a local health school. Upon graduation, despite an offer to remain at a township clinic, he chose to return to Lianghe Village. "The villagers need me more," he said.
In those early days, Lianghe was a remote village with steep mountains and no accessible roads -- traveling meant hiking. Wang regularly carried his medicine box across ridges and ravines.
"On sunny days, I'd sweat through my clothes; on rainy days, my pants would be caked with mud. I've worn out countless pairs of shoes," he recalled.
But as long as a villager sent word, he would grab his kit, stuff a couple of instant noodle packs in his bag, and head out for the whole day.
As transportation improved, more villagers began using motorcycles. Wang was tempted too -- but regular motorbikes were too difficult for him to mount.
In 2013, he found a specially modified mini motorbike online for a few thousand yuan. He bought it immediately.
To date, Wang has worn out four mini motorbikes and made over 6,000 house calls -- his dedication etched into the mountain paths his tires have traveled.
One of Wang's top-priority patients is Mei Yunzi, an elderly woman with chronic heart problems who lives alone in the mountains, as her children work in far-off cities.
To reach her, Wang rides over an hour to the end of the village road, then hikes nearly another hour through the woods. But every time she calls, he answers without fail.
One summer day last year, torrential rain flooded the area. Wang's phone rang -- Mei was suffering from chest pain and struggling to breathe.
The usual path to her home was washed out by flash floods. Wang took a detour, navigating an extra 10 km of muddy roads.
When he finally arrived, he found her curled up in bed, pale and gasping. He immediately administered treatment and stayed by her side until she stabilized.
Wang keeps a mental list of patients like Mei who suffer from chronic illnesses. Of the more than 400 chronic disease patients in the village, he knows precisely which family lives in which mountain hollow, who needs which medication, whose supply is running low, and which children are due for their vaccinations.
Wang's efforts are part of a broader system. Zigui County, where Lianghe Village is located, has implemented an integrated approach of medical care and public health, incorporating village doctors like Wang into the county-wide healthcare network.
As a member of a family doctor team, he regularly attends training sessions to strengthen his skills in chronic disease management and emergency care.
One of his most essential tools is a compact heart monitoring device provided by the county health commission -- thanks to it, Wang identified more than ten villagers with hidden cardiovascular issues in 2024.
The health clinic in Lianghe Village, under his care, has ranked top in township-level public health assessments for five consecutive years. It has become a model mountain facility.
Now 58, Wang has just over two years before he retires. Decades of braving wind, rain, and steep trails have taken a toll on his health -- he suffers from hypothyroidism and stomach problems.
In recent years, to better serve the villagers, he moved into the clinic, making it his full-time residence.
China's rural revitalization strategy places a strong emphasis on improving healthcare access and quality, investing in infrastructure and human resources to ensure that even remote mountain villages receive essential medical services.
Wang has been honored as outstanding individual and role model, among other titles, for his dedicated services to local villagers.
"I'm grateful the villagers trust me," Wang said with a smile. "As long as I can still move, I'll keep going." ■