Determined to look ahead(3)

Hu Fenglian displays an embroidery painting she made. (Huo Yan/China Daily)

"Fate has not been kind to her either," Hu said. "She quit school before finishing primary school because I could not support her and went to a nearby town to become a nanny when she was just 12."

Although Hu never went to school, she has learned to type and now communicates with lots of people through instant messenger applications such as QQ and WeChat.

"I have known a lot of friends through QQ," she said. "I even received a box of mooncakes from a child in Changsha I got to know through QQ during Mid-Autumn Festival last year."

Shen Xin, an official from Jiangdi, which administers Weizi, said the town has other people with disabilities but few display as much confidence and optimism as Hu.

Shen said the township government has provided medical subsidies and material subsidies to her and other people with disabilities.

Jia Liping, a publicity official at Longsheng county, said she admires Hu very much.

"Although she lost her legs, Hu is still so optimistic about her life and making a living on her own rather than begging or taking advantage of others' sympathy for money," she said.

Hu said her disability has not upset her too much. She doesn't dwell in the past but looks to the future.

"I wish I could save enough money to buy an apartment in Longsheng county someday," she said.