In May 2001, the Jiyuan Daily reported a heartbreaking story. A young couple, Liu Yigong and his wife Shi Honglian, left their newborn son, who was suffering from a serious illness, at Jiyuan People's Hospital because they couldn't afford treatment. They silently left, abandoning their child. Twenty years later, after building a life in Shanghai, the couple remembered their son and sought to find him. In October 2020, Liu and Shi reached out to the press, hoping to locate their biological son.
When they eventually tracked him down, they discovered their son, now an adult, was deaf and mute. This revelation left the couple in turmoil. Did their reluctance to meet him stem from his disability? What unfolded after their high-profile search for their lost son?
The story begins in early 2001, when 24-year-old Liu Yigong and his 21-year-old fiancée Shi Honglian moved from Anhui to Jiyuan, Henan, in search of work. Liu worked at a local coal mine, earning less than 20 yuan a day. In May, Shi gave birth to a son, but within a week, the baby contracted a cold that quickly turned into pneumonia. Despite the doctors’ efforts, the medical bills piled up. Liu’s savings were drained, and the doctors even issued a death notice, suggesting little hope. Faced with overwhelming medical costs and no prospect of saving his son, Liu made the painful decision to leave his baby at the hospital, convinced that the child wouldn't survive.
The couple left Jiyuan, eventually settling in Shanghai where they started a family, having two more children. Yet, they couldn’t forget the son they left behind. For years, they inquired about his fate through mutual acquaintances. Within a year or two of leaving Jiyuan, they learned their child had survived. Wracked with guilt, Liu and Shi began searching for him.
In September 2020, Liu registered a missing child report on a police platform for abducted children, hoping his son had been trafficked. Soon after, the police collected DNA samples from Liu and Shi. In mid-October, Jiyuan police asked them to return to provide further information. Liu was forthcoming, recounting the events to the police, and the officers advised him to be mindful of his conscience. If his son had been raised by another family, Liu should not take him away against their wishes.
Despite his inner conflict, Liu stated that if his son’s life was good, he would not interfere, but if not, he would help. Liu also reached out to the Dahe Daily, hoping the newspaper could assist in locating his son. On October 18, 2020, the Dahe Daily published a story about Liu’s search for his child.
Meanwhile, in 2001, when the Jiyuan Daily first reported the abandonment, a 28-year-old rural man, Han Pingjun, learned about the incident. Han had been married for three years and had suffered from a disability in his lower limbs after surgery for spinal tuberculosis. Moved by the story, Han, along with his mother and wife, raised enough money to adopt the abandoned child from the hospital. They named him Han Quanxin, with hopes of bringing prosperity to their family.
Initially, everything seemed fine. However, soon after bringing the child home, Han and his family realized something was wrong. The child did not respond to sounds, and after visiting hospitals in Zhengzhou, they learned the child was deaf. Despite this, Han’s family decided to keep him, even rejecting the idea of sending him to an orphanage.
Years passed, and Han Quanxin grew up with the family’s love and care. In 2019, Han Pingjun even purchased a 135-square-meter apartment for his son’s future. However, the peace was disrupted in October 2020 when Han learned through a friend about the Dahe Daily report on Liu’s search for his son. Upon seeing Liu’s picture, Han was struck by the resemblance to his adopted son. The confirmation came through a phone call, and DNA tests later confirmed that Liu and Shi were indeed the biological parents of Han Quanxin.
The reunion, however, was far from simple. When Liu and Shi learned that their biological son was deaf, they were deeply saddened. Liu initially seemed eager to learn about his son’s life, but after the DNA results were confirmed, he hesitated to meet Han. Liu questioned the reliability of the DNA tests, causing tension between the two families. Han Pingjun, feeling that Liu’s hesitation was due to his son’s disability, began to pressure Liu for a meeting, even contacting the Dahe Daily to express his frustration.
In December 2020, after much back-and-forth, Liu and Han agreed to meet again. In January 2021, a second DNA test reaffirmed the earlier results. Despite the emotional turmoil, Liu and Shi finally met Han Quanxin. After some communication, the families agreed that Han would visit Liu and his wife in Shanghai, while still maintaining contact with his adoptive parents.
The situation remained complicated. Han Quanxin, still adapting to life with his biological parents, struggled with the transition. However, Liu eventually arranged for him to work as an apprentice in a logistics company. Both Liu and Han Pingjun agreed to send him to a professional institution to learn how to speak, but the future remained uncertain.
After 19 years, the search for the lost son had come to a temporary close. But the emotional journey was far from over. The complex relationships between biological and adoptive parents raised many questions about identity, love, and responsibility. Everyone involved hoped for a better life for Han Quanxin, but only time would tell how this long-separated family would navigate their shared future.
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