Parents Are Reunited With Kidnapped Son After 32 Years Of Searching
It's every parent's worst nightmare and something you wouldn't want to wish on your worst enemy: you're out with your child only to get distracted for just a few seconds. You turn your eyes back in their direction only to see that they've disappeared without a trace.
Two parents in China had the misfortune of undergoing the traumatic turmoil of losing their 2-year-old son and they spent the next 32 years searching for him.
This Is Jiajia
Jiajia (officially named Mao Yin) was born to father Mao Zhenjing and mother Li Jingzhi on February 23, 1986. His mother described him as a clever, cute, and healthy little boy who was full of joy.
Tragedy Struck The Family In 1988
Living in the city of Xian in Shaanxi province, Jiajia's family was a happy one. However, things took a turn for the worse when he was abducted on October 17, 1998.
It Started Out As A Totally Normal Day
After being picked up from daycare by his father, Jiajia asked his father for some water because it was such a hot day. His father didn't have any with him, so they briefly stopped at a hotel on the route home.
However, There Was Only Hot Water There
Fearing that the hot water would burn Jiajia, his father put him down and passed the water back and forth between two cups to cool it down faster. He only looked away for a couple of seconds, but suddenly the boy was gone.
They Immediately Did Everything They Could To Find Him
The family searched all over the city of Xian without finding him. They then pasted up "missing" posters everywhere asking for information from anyone who might know anything about their son's disappearance.
Child Abduction Is A Huge Problem In China
Kidnapping is an enormous problem in China, especially in rural areas. Many young boys are abducted and bought for thousands of dollars as a result of parents preferring sons to continue their bloodlines.
Kidnapping Has Been Amplified By Policy
In addition, the one-child policy China instated from 1979 to 2015 and the preference for sons has left many men without wives, leading to young women being kidnapped as brides for them.
At One Point, They Even Had A Lead
Mrs. Li quit her job as a teacher to commit her time to searching for Jiajia. She even received a lead about a kidnapped boy in a different village, so she rushed over there only to find out he had been moved again.
She Followed The Trail
Refusing to give up, she tracked the lead all the way to the Sichuan province, but when she finally found the boy, it was not her son. Despite her disappointment, she moved forward.
She Persisted Against All Doubt
She continued her search for Jiajia at full force. She distributed over 100,000 flyers asking for his safe return and followed over 300 leads, as well as making appearances on television talk shows to ask for help to find him.
Interestingly, her son saw her on the news, not realizing that he was the boy she was looking for.
She Devoted Her Life To Helping Others, Too
In 2007, Li Jingzhi started volunteering with a group called "Baby Come Back Home," an organization committed to helping reunite parents with their abducted children. While looking for her son, she helped 29 children get returned to their parents.
It Wasn't Until This Year That Things Changed
In April, police received a tip about a man from Sichuan Province in south-west China—about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Xian—who had adopted a baby years earlier.
Police found the adoptee, now a 34-year-old man, using facial recognition technology, and a DNA test was carried out to see if he was related to Mao Zhenjing and Li Jingzhi. It came back positive.
Together Again At Last
Mao Zhenjing and Li Jingzhi were finally reunited with Mao Yin—who had been renamed Gu Ningning by his adoptive family—on May 18, 2020. Mao Yin, now grown up, runs a home decoration business.
His Mother Was Elated To See Her Little Boy Again
After searching for over three decades and following endless leads only to come up empty-handed, Li Jingzhi was overwhelmed to find him again, and the whole family had a tearful reunion.
There's Still A Lot Of Police Work To Be Done
As for his kidnapping and sale to his adoptive parents, the police are still investigating. It was discovered, though, that Mao Yin was bought in 1988 for 6,000 yuan, the approximate equivalent of $840 USD.
They Are Planning To Make Up For Lost Time
While it's been a shocking revelation for Mao Yin, he plans on spending time with his real parents. They all hope that they can make up for the decades of lost time.
Mao Yin Is Doing His Best To Move Forward
Until now, Mao Yin had no idea that he had been adopted, let alone kidnapped, and is now looking to unpack what it means for him. While he has a lot to process, he is happy to know the truth.
It Just Goes To Show The Power Of Parents' Love
Even in the worst of times and the bleakest of circumstances, Li Jingzhi refused to give up hope that one day, she would see Jiajia again. She and her husband prove how strong a parent's love can stay, even at the worst times.
However, There Are Many Parents Who Aren't So Lucky
While China refuses to release official numbers regarding child abductions in the country, a 2016 report by a Chinese news outlet claims that about 200,000 children go missing every year, with 64% of them being boys and only 0.1% ever being reunited with their parents.
Li Jingzhi Won't Stop Her Work Now
Despite finding Mao Yin, Li Jingzhi plans to continue her work with "Baby Come Back Home" and help other families experience the same joy by finding and bringing home their lost children.
