Moving back and forth
However, happy as he was getting home, He could never feel at ease, worrying that the water projects would resume at some time.
He then recalled that there used to be a big ship anchored in the river. "Then I realized that the ship was clearing up the riverbank for the dam," said He.
"But who knew when the water would flood our home?" He added.
That day finally came in 1966, when He and other villagers again were asked to move out to Jingmen, Hubei Province, where the living conditions were even worse than Qinghai.
Suffering from poor harvests and water scarcity, immigrants were not welcomed by locals, even setting off violence.
"The relocation is for the country's interest. But we shouldn't have the responsibilities of taking care of them alone," complained one local guy in Jingmen.
He was in great poverty with his aged parents and young kids. "At that time I really hated living there. I just desperately longed to go home," said He.
Though his home had been destroyed by water from the reservoir, He still decided to move back in 1974 and found lodging in his relative's house.
He later built a small house and lived a poor life there until the 1980s, when the reservoir eventually became useful. By fishing there, He gradually got rid of his serious straits and even built a bigger house. He, living with one of his sons, finally found a quiet life.
Keep moving
However, He seemingly always knew his life would never be tranquil forever. The rumors for a third relocation never disappeared.
As the South-to-North Water Diversion Project proceeded, the dam needed to be heightened. Thus, residents living in villages farther out would also be resettled.
When seeing some investigators near the reservoir in 1993, He knew that there would be another relocation, which eventually came in June this year.
"I have no misgivings about the relocation at all," noted He. "You cannot grudge moving out. Shouldn't individual interests be subordinate to the country's interests?"
"He is already an expert in relocation," joked He's daughter in law.
Speaking of his new house, He said he was quite satisfied, adding that his son bought a 170-square-meter house in Huixian, in northern Henan.
Though he has never stopped missing his hometown, He added "as long as the relocation is to the country's interests, I would like to keep moving."
