A Communist doctor of great dedication, Li Qunying undoubtedly had fewer ghosts behind her than others, yet her life was in many ways ill-fated as she struggled to exist through vast political turmoil?the Anti-Japanese War, the Civil War, the Korean War, and the notorious Cultural Revolution. The Great Leap Forward Movement tragically took away her son Bingbing's life, and the persecution of her husband during the Cultural Revolution took a serious toll on his health, ultimately leading to his early death. Besides enduring personal misfortune, Qunying also witnessed the suffering of the peasants, who were the majority of the population at the grass-roots level and whose sorrowful stories have rarely been shared. Told from a uniquely female perspective, this haunting memoir interweaves eyewitness history, folklore, and superstition to tell a truly compelling tale.

Li Qunying's profile page

Louis Han's profile page

Dr. Li Qunying was born in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, China in 1926. A devoted follower of Mao Zedong, she joined the Communist army and served in both the Civil and the Korean Wars as a medic. Until her retirement, she worked as a doctor in various hospitals throughout the Shandong province, after which she served in a private clinic. She lives in Jinan in the Shandong province of China. Louis Han, the youngest son of Dr. Li Qunying, was born in the Shandong province and grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

"A memoir of Communist China from the viewprint of a barefoot doctor who lived through its main events and saw as much of the country as anyone at the time. Low-key, but eye-opening."  “Classic FM

"Rich in both medical and political history, Li's memoir details many of the unorthodox methods of the barefoot doctors....Li's story is unique."  “The Georgia Straight