Wu Shengming poses for a picture. (Photo/cnwest.com)
Wu Shengming cuts a striking figure with her nice trilby, careful makeup, bright-colored clothes, red painted nails, and smiles.
“I put on light makeup and high-heels every day, and pick my own jewelry. I love to be beautiful, and this pays respect to life,” she said at a home for the elderly in Xi’an City, capital of Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province.
Wu’s business made her a multimillionaire in 1984, but two years later she was jailed for smuggling cars from Hong Kong. Her daughter committed suicide two years later, and her husband also left her.
After she was released from prison 18 years later, her first job was cleaning toilets in Zhengzhou City, capital of Central China’s Henan Province. She was hardworking and responsible, so she won the city’s honor of “Outstanding Cleaner” in 2004.
Later, she opened several companies involved in running vineyards and chicken farms in several places, but none were successful. In 2010, she was hired to lead a nursing house for the elderly in Xi’an, as her daughter stipulated in her will that she wished her mother to help orphans or lonely elderly people.
Gradually, Wu became successful in the business of aged care, while also entering into the logistics industry, managed by professionals. In 2006, she become a multimillionaire again at 81 years old.
Wu Shengming, 85 years old, arrives at her office at 8am and has a busy schedule every day. She said she often reads newspapers and attends activities to try keep pace with the world around her.
Wu also said woman should always strive to maintain four things - their smile, their confidence, original ideas and economic independence.
