Cheng Yinbao lives on her own in a simple room in Henglin township, Tianmen county, Hubei province. Wang Xiaodong / China Daily

The 91-year-old Cheng Yinbao, a former soldier, can't remember all the battles she fought in, but she is proud of having served her country. Wang Xiaodong reports in Tianmen, Hubei province.

After seven days of fierce fighting, the battle was won. But as Cheng Yinbao returned to her regiment she was shot from behind and the bullet went into her belly just under the ribs.

"I felt numb," Cheng, 91, recalls. "I turned around and shot back and a Japanese soldier fell. Then almost immediately I lost consciousness and fell."

It was in 1940, when Cheng was 19 years old and serving as a military trainer in the No 128 Army of Kuomintang. She survived the battle but lost a rib when the bullet was removed during an operation, which prevented her from having children.

Now living alone in a simple room of less than 10 square meters in her hometown of Henglin township, Tianmen county in Hubei province, with an electric fan as the only modern housing appliance, she refuses the township government subsidy and a proffered move to a nursing home.