Shigates (CNS) -- In an ancient forest in the southern Himalayas, three Tibetan women once confronted a starving black bear, hand in hand, in order to complete their goodwill mission.
For Deji, such dangers were just another one of the many challenges in her 29 years of experience delivering free vegetables to People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers located in the snowy plateau. She and her companions, Qizhen and Puci, usually journey from Renqinggang Village, their hometown in Yadong County, to the Zhanniang sentry post, which is 4000 meters above sea level.
So far, they have delivered more than 60 tons of fresh vegetables with their bear hands to the sentry post of the liberation army, and they have walked more than 50,000 kilometers.
Twenty-nine years ago, when she heard that armies guarding Tibet lived a hard life, Deji offered to send free vegetables to the Zhanniang sentry post with other girls. Every two weeks since then, they climbed their way to the post carrying 20 kilograms of vegetables on their backs.
"We normally start at 4 am and get there at 2 pm on the second day," said Deji.
Deji treats these soldiers as her own children. Though their living conditions have improved and fresh vegetables are no longer badly needed, Deji “just has to go there to check out whether or not they are OK.”
Besides this, Deji is the messenger for the soldiers located at the Zhanniang sentry post, as many of their families write to Deji’s address.
As for any future plans of slowing down, Deji said: "As long as I can walk, I will go to the post."
