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Chen Xia'na, a bus driver of Line 36 of the Ningbo Public Transportation Corp, wipes a seat on her bus. [Photo by Shui Guixian via Zhejiang Online]

Her self-created service rule has been adopted as the golden rule by the whole industry, and her kindness has been captured in a poem by one of her passengers. Chen Xia'na, a 42-year-old bus driver who has devoted 21 years of her life to the profession, is regarded as a ray of sunshine by her passengers in and outside the vehicle.

Role model of the industry

Many passengers of Line 36 are senior citizens. "Grandpa, please mind the stairs," Chen reminded in Ningbo dialect. "Thank you," the grandpa replied while smiling at her. After lending a hand to an elderly who was carrying a trolley and making sure that the last passenger was seated, Chen started the journey smoothly.

During scorching heat, Chen places summer mats on reserved seats, and changes them into warm cushions in winter. She pays for all this from her own pocket. The disposable raincoat, medicines to prevent heatstroke, and bottled water in the first aid kit always reassure passengers during emergency situations.

"The next stop is Waitan Bridge West," Chen kindly reminded a passenger. She always keeps in mind the destinations of senior citizens and non-local passengers, and reminds them in advance. Although not allowed to talk while driving, she always answers passengers' questions while waiting for the traffic lights or at the stops.

"Be caring to senior citizens, be careful with children, be compassionate to physically challenged people, be circumspect to non-locals, and be considerate of ordinary passengers." The "Five C" service rule created by Chen has been adopted as a golden rule by the whole industry in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province.

Outstanding Party member

"Bus driver Chen Xia'na, loving, caring, and kind hearted. Drive safely, work hard, she has earned the praise of everybody. Umbrella, fan, and sewing box, her loving heart fills the first aid box. She is like a ray of sunshine to passengers, and a role model for Communist Party members." The poem written by an elderly passenger vividly sketches an outstanding Communist Party member.

She Shangfeng, her sponsor to the Party membership, and also her colleague for a decade, regards Chen as an outstanding representative of the Party members of the public transportation industry.

"I will never forget April 17, 2007. On that day I officially became a Communist Party member," she said with great enthusiasm.

Because of her exceptional performance at work, Chen has been elected as a delegate to attend the national congress of the Communist Party of China this October in Beijing. "I am grateful that I was born in this great era. An ordinary person like me can also be outstanding in an ordinary position," she said.

Chen has never forgotten her oath and kept her faith during the past 10 years. Under her influence, young bus drivers of her team also learned to take care of elderly passengers and perfect their skills.

She extends her ray of sunshine from the bus car to the outside. One day she realized that Zhu Qingfa, a regular senior passenger who lives alone, had not shown up for a while. Chen was worried and asked around, and finally learned that Zhu had been sent to a nursing home. She then visited Zhu and met him from time to time, until he passed away later.