Xi: A leader keeping children in mind (4)

Xi Jinping learns the sign language for "thanks" from Wang Yani, center, at the Children's Welfare House of Hohhot City, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Jan 28, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

Silent inspiration

A simple gesture from Xi was a source of motivation for a disabled young girl to chase her dream of becoming a teacher.

On a cold winter day ahead of Chinese New Year in 2014, Xi visited the Children's Welfare House in Hohhot, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, where he met Wang Yani, who is deaf and mute.

Knowing Wang wished to be a teacher, Xi encouraged the girl to study hard to achieve her goal.

Wang then said "thank you" in sign language, and Xi returned the gesture.

"Grandpa Xi communicated with me using sign language, which made me feel as he was a close family member," Wang said.

A photograph from that day is still on Wang's desk. After attending beauty school, Wang returned to where she had finished her basic education -- Hohhot special education school -- to be a teacher at the end of 2018.