(Ecns.cn)--Wu Xianfeng, a former soldier and member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), became an Internet sensation several days ago after a rumor spread that he had been reduced to the status of impoverished gatekeeper in the city of Haikou, capital of Hainan Province.
Wu has downplayed the rumors, however. "Poverty is such a strong word, which my wife and I thought inappropriate," said the 61-year-old former head of the Haikou Port Authority.
Wu was diagnosed with leukemia in May 2007 and soon resigned from his position as chairman. "I knew I wouldn't live much longer, but I still wanted to enjoy the achievements of socialist society," he explained.
Wu now depends on an expensive drug that costs over 24,000 yuan ($3,771) a month. Though he only has to pay 10 percent of the cost, Wu still finds it a heavy burden, given that his monthly pension is less than 3,000 yuan ($471.45).
Wu's wife only makes about 1,000 yuan per month, while their son is a college student who still depends on them financially. To relieve the burden, Wu took his current job as a gatekeeper. "Our country has given me a lot, which is enough to content me. I can't turn to the government for help every time I get sick," he said.
However, Wu also complained that "I often see members of the NPC Standing Committee playing golf in Hainan, but I have enjoyed nothing like that at all, even though I used to be one of them. As a retiree, I am enjoying much less welfare than I should."
The 1970s was a peak time for Wu. He was appointed squad leader after joining the army in 1973 and fought bravely in various battles against the invasion of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).
"I am already old in years, so every day counts for me. But compared to my comrades in arms, 19 of whom died in the Battle of the Paracel Islands, I am a rather lucky guy," he recalled.
Wu was awarded a First Class Merit Citation in 1974, which did little to change his fate, however. In June of the same year he was sent home, where he worked as a stevedore, unrecognized as a great retired soldier.
Nevertheless, he was suddenly elected as deputy to the NPC and became a member of the Standing Committee the following year. In August, he was also appointed vice head of the port authority in Hainan and deputy secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Youth League Committee.
"I was in my 20s then," said Wu, who felt satisfied and chose to work in Hainan.
"While holding a position in Guangdong, I chose to work at the office of the Hainan Port Authority. If I had chosen Guangdong at that time, my life would be totally different now. I was quite young then, and just wanted to gain more experience."
Wu stressed that during his career peak, many provinces, including Hunan and Guizhou, invited him for better jobs.
He also recalled the pain of his failed first marriage: "My former parents-in-law wanted me to live with them in Guangzhou, and I could have worked as deputy director of a development zone. Yet I declined, since I had no relatives there, so I had to divorce my wife," he said.
Wu has since put those troubles behind him and started a new family.
"I am not as bad off as people have described online," he stressed. "I am an ordinary man, living by my own hands. I have declined financial aid from others."
