The last stretch involved quite a bit of dust
The final 10-plus kilometers of this approximately 700-kilometer hiking journey were not easy. From Guzhou Town in Shaoyang to downtown Shaoyang, most of the road sections were under repair and full of potholes. About 2 kilometers from downtown Shaoyang, reporters met Zeng Ziqi and her mother, Liu Xiaoyan. Liu Xiaoyan said she had just taken over from her husband and was walking into the city with her daughter. She added that she had started walking with her daughter from Shenzhen, so this marked a “beginning to end” journey for her. Cars kept driving by along the way, kicking up clouds of dust, and Zeng Ziqi quickly covered her nose. Liu Xiaoyan also complained about how bad the road conditions were, saying her daughter had inhaled a lot of dust. Walking and stopping intermittently, they finally saw the skyline of tall buildings. Zeng Ziqi said she was very tired too, but thinking that she was about to get home, she mustered the energy for a final push. Zeng Ziqi said the last few days were tough, and her legs were sore. Liu Xiaoyan told reporters that her daughter’s toenails had bruises, which made her heart ache. Zeng Ziqi’s father, Mr. Zeng, said that sometimes when the child got too tired and there was no village or shop in sight, she would start crying and push herself, “It hurt me to see it.”
Family and friends hold up a “Welcome Home” banner
Finally arriving at Shaoyang Railway Station, family and friends who had been waiting in the square held up a “Welcome Home” banner, and some even carried flowers. Zeng Ziqi said excitedly, “I didn’t expect there to be so many fans!” A woman held up a photo of Zeng Ziqi walking during the trip. She said she had downloaded it from QQ Zone and, upon learning that Zeng Ziqi would arrive on August 7, they spontaneously came to celebrate with her. However, the family and friends didn’t know that Zeng Ziqi is allergic to pollen. When someone handed her the flowers, the little girl started sneezing nonstop. What did she feel upon returning home? “At home I can drink coconut juice and eat meat.” Of course, Zeng Ziqi also remembered the unfinished summer homework. After a brief celebration, Zeng Ziqi and her parents got into a Mercedes-Benz SUV and headed home. Zeng’s father said this experience might encourage his daughter, but it’s still too early to tell.