Pieces of the past

William Findley in his P-38 reconnaissance plane during WWⅡ. Provided to China Daily.

Huang Minghui, 55, a villager in Jietou, has a special connection with Findley - his father was the one who saved William, and the rubber cover with the word "outside" and William's photo still take pride of place in his home.

Lisa has visited Huang's house many times.

"She is regarded as part of us in Jietou", says Gong Zujin, a local reporter who has followed her story for years.

"She is affable and sincere and we get along very well with her." Sometimes even better than with each other, Gong adds.

"My stay in Jietou solved a puzzle as to why my father was so changed after such a brief stay here," Findley says. "I, too, can feel the people's hospitality and kindness, and it has not changed as time goes by."

Findley did not come just to say thank you.

She has contributed to the community, giving the local government 30,000 yuan ($4,770) to rebuild a playground after seeing children standing in the mud in their bare feet.

Since 2005, she also donated $1,000 every year to the town's central primary school, and bought pianos, books, speakers and computers for other schools. In addition, she has sponsored three students to college after learning of their financial difficulties.

The gong made from a part of her father's plane now hangs at the town's central primary school, and she says, "That's the P-38's best legacy."

As an architect, Findley also consults with the county government, submitting valuable suggestions on renovating and refurbishing projects in the county and the construction of a new museum about the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

Zhang Zijun, a local female farmer in her 70s, says: "We see Lisa as our family member. The feeling is strange. I was at the rice paddy when the villagers saved her father 68 years ago. I clearly remember every detail of that rescue."

William Findley had given the young Zhang a piece of chocolate, something she had never seen or tasted before.

"It was the best sweet I ever had," Zhang recalls with a smile. "His daughter Lisa gave me a bar of chocolate again when she heard my story, and tasting it again brought tears to my eyes."

Li Yingqin and Gong Zujin contributed to the story.