HELPING with homework, taking them shopping or for a walk, and even attending parent meetings, Liu Jiaqiang, a policeman from Yanluo Police Station of Bao’an public security sub-bureau, has been the “acting dad” of a drug dealer’s two sons for three years.

On the morning of Jan. 19, 2015, Liu arrested a drug trafficker surnamed Li. Li was unwilling to cooperate and remained silent after the arrest. However, when the two boys suddenly came in from outside and called “mother” out to her, Li burst into tears and begged Liu not to handcuff her in front of her children.

The two boys were her sons, Li cried. The elder brother was 15 years old and due to having congenital epilepsy and mental retardation he had not yet studied at school. He suffered from epileptic seizures three times a day, each time biting his tongue until it bled, and he had been taking medicine. The younger boy was a healthy 11-year-old child in the fourth grade.

The children’s father left home years ago and was nowhere to be found.

Li said she could make ends meet with her savings and the help of neighbors a few years ago, but as the elder kid’s sickness worsened and the exorbitant medical expenses along with other expenditures made life very hard, she began drug trafficking after learning that it could make money.

After hearing her story, Liu decided to help this unfortunate family. The elder brother was sent to Shenzhen Kangning Hospital for free treatment. The younger one continues to study at the school and has been exempted from all fees. His head teacher was commissioned to help take care of him.

Since then, whenever there is a holiday, Liu takes time out of his busy schedule to look after and accompany the two kids, who gradually developed a special attachment to Liu. (Zhang Yu)