Becoming a model
Before a video story by GBS, an app of CNN, went viral and made them known worldwide as environmental role models, the disabled duo and their trees had already created big waves in China in 2014 when they were first reported by media.
Many reports said it was Jia Wenqi who took the initiative to get the media to report on their story. But Jia Wenqi explained to the Global Times that it was a man from the same village who worked at china.com.cn who decided to write a report about him after listening to their story during the Spring Festival of 2014.
Besides living independently as a disabled person, Jia Wenqi also once saved two girls from drowning with his mouth and teeth, which made him a model for the whole county to learn from. Jia explained that it is his fame in the local area and his planting of trees that inspired the reporter to write about them.
Whether it was with their nod or not, the first report published on china.com.cn in March 2014 helped publicize their efforts in green coverage and environment protection.
"He [Jia Haixia] thought planting trees could protect the environment and was good for the country and the people, while it could bring him some income with low cost," the report said, describing their motivation behind planting trees.
"Talking about the future, Jia Haixia and Jia Wenqi said they will continue to answer the call of the country to enlarge green coverage … and create a bucolic refuge of shady trees where birds will sing for us," the report continued.
The impact of the report was huge. As Jia Wenqi recalled, after the report was published, many media, including the Shijiazhuang Daily, Hebei TV, Xinhua News Agency, as well as foreign media, approached them. They all went on to praise them as models for environment protection, while their poverty, the real motivation behind planting trees, was generally ignored or downplayed.
A local newspaper in Shijiazhuang reported the visit of Sun Ruibin, then Party secretary of Shijiazhaung, to the Yeli village where Jia Wenqi and Jia Haixia lived in April 2014. "Sun said 'planting trees could improve the ecology and environment. We hope you can persist and bring more people to join you in planting trees,'" the newspaper wrote.
"I guess the paper said so to correct foreign reports that have viciously spread the notion that we Chinese are not environment-friendly," Jia Wenqi explained, "Actually we knew nothing about environmental protection when we decided to plant those trees. We just knew that selling trees could get us some money."
Now he talks about media with mixed feelings. Following the media reports, the duo received help from charity organizations and compassionate people. They were also recognized by the local government, winning awards and material support.
However, he thinks the media has gone out of control.
"Now we don't want to be disturbed by the media," he said, "We will plant trees whether they publicize it or not. Now the media says this and that, kind of throwing our life into chaos."
All roads lead to Rome
But gradually, Jia Wenqi admits, they come to terms with what the society expects from them.
"We planted all the trees for the environment and future generations. Planting trees has become an important mission of ours," 54-year-old Jia Wenxia says in the GBS video that went viral on Facebook and Youtube.
It is rather natural for the men to make these "well-timed" remarks to media. While a newspaper might say they are "guided" by a desire for publicity, Jia Wenqi would rather see it as a learning process to understand the importance of environmental protection.
"We indeed knew nothing about environment protection before, but gradually we learned that so many people are concerned about planting trees," said Jia Wenqi, "We realized the significance of environmental protection, too."
"Whether it is for us or for the world, planting trees benefit the mankind. Now with so much help from the society, we'd like to persist with this environmental protection effort."
Jia Haixia was once quoted by a news outlet as saying that they want to sell the trees now but dare not do it because of the fame. But Jia Wenqi clarified that it is impossible for him to be moved by the fame.
"As a disabled person, I cannot even feed myself. It is impossible for me to give up the idea of selling trees when I'm really in need, just because people say it will be environment-friendly not to do that," said Jia Wenqi.
"So many people are helping us. Life is getting easier. Now we don't need to sell trees. The longer they grow, the bigger they become. It is like a growing current account for my old age. Why hurry?"
There are also other concerns. Their success in planting trees has somehow made other villagers hostile toward them.
"They laugh at you when you fail, and when you succeed, they envy you," Jia Wenqi said, adding that due to frequent media visits, the villagers have started asking them to pay the village back.
"They think the reporters come to us with tons of money. Are you reporters really that rich? How can we help others when we cannot even feed ourselves and have to rely on others?" he asked.
The media limelight hasn't changed their life much. There is no follow up on promises of support, including Jia Haixia's eyes treatment.
Even now Jia Wenqi, who has been living alone, has to get water from an old well with his neck because the tap water does not reach his old house.
"That's the problem I want to solve most urgently," he told the Global Times.
