Yang Shanzhou was born in Yunnan in 1927.He joined the Party in 1952.

Yang Shanzhou retired in 1988 and he turned down the easy option of a retired life in a big city，and decided to return to his home town in Daliang Mountain to bring green back to the barren hills.

Yang believed planting trees was the first step to bringing wealth to the local area.Along with fifteen other people，Yang settled down deep in the mountains and began to work on his plan.

It was a life that was harder than most people could ever imagine.For ten years，Yang lived in a shed，with no roads，and no electricity.

Yang Shanzhou's secretary said，"I went to visit him several times.He didn't even have decent shoes and it was very cold at night.I just couldn't bear to see him live like that.He was almost seventy！"

When he was seventy­two years old，Yang slipped and fractured his left leg.But after just six months of rest，he climbed up mountains once again，supported by a walking stick.

Despite being proud of his efforts，Yang faced the constant dilemma of work and care of his family.In 2005，his wife was hospitalized.Yang stayed at her bedside for two weeks.When his children asked him to rest，he said he just wanted to take care of his family.

In 2010，Yang Shanzhou passed away.He was buried in Daliang Mountain，according to his will.

The hills are now blanketed with lush trees；the barren land is fertile.By planting trees，Yang Shanzhou also planted hope.

1.retire vi.退休

2.option n.选择

3.barren adj.贫瘠的

4.decent adj.像样的；体面的

5.fracture v.使......折断

6.dilemma n.两难选择