Couple change 1,000 lives by running school

Six years later, his wife joined him as a kindergarten teacher.

Wang said that this semester, there are two grade 2 students and five kindergarten students, all of whom are either left-behind children－whose parents are migrant workers－or from poor families.

As the only primary schoolteacher, Wang takes a comprehensive approach. He teaches many classes, including Chinese language, math, music and physical education.

"My wife's job is more exhausting," he said, adding that their teaching also blends into their lives. In addition to education, they also have to take care of the students.

At noon, they cook lunch together for them, and Zhang volunteers to wash their clothes. To make the school a home for children who live far away, the couple give up their own beds for them to nap in summer.

"Teacher Wang and Teacher Zhang are very kind to my daughters," said Tian Zeman, the father of three girls attending the school.

Unable to work because his wife is ill, Tian has to look after both her and his parents. He said Wang and his wife treat his daughters as if they were their own, washing their clothes and even buying them new ones. "I don't want to get emotional," said Wang, refusing to talk more about helping the students. "Being a teacher for over 40 years, I try to treat my students, 22 from this village, fairly and help them, if needed."