"Rather forget food and sleep for three days, than to stop forging ahead awhile" was a couplet found on a piece of paper by his wife in 46-year-old Li's desk drawer after he died. Li had taught at a university, while his wife is a senior journalist and an anchorwoman for a Beijing-based news organization. Feeling some pressure from the success of his wife and the fierce competition around him, Li determined to be a better husband and man.

After obtaining a lawyer's certificate through hard after-hours study, he applied to sit an exam for those aspiring to a position in the judicial system. The exam is not easy and he often had to stay up late preparing for it. After taking over 30 subject exams consecutively, he told his wife: "I feel really tired." Next morning, as usual, he finished 100 push-ups, but a heart attack occurred and ended his life.

All came to an end so suddenly. Recalling their happy past, Li's wife was filled with deep sorrow after his death.

According to a survey by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), those scientists who died of disease on the job from 1991 through 1996 only had an average lifespan of 52.23 years, which is far lower than the average life expectancy of 75.85 in Beijing. Another survey shows that, over the past 10 years, the death rate of Beijing citizens was largely stable, but the rate for those between 40 and 49 rose significantly with a 73 percent growth for men and 15 percent for women.

Malign tumors, sudden death, heart diseases, brain vascular diseases and digestive system diseases are the major killers.

The misfortunes of the 40-year-olds take root in the early years of their life, according to Wang Mei, deputy director of the Mass Physical Training Research Center under the State General Administration of Sports.

"They were born in the 1960s, a period that saw the tragic historical events of the Great Leap Forward (1958-1960)' and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)', which brought about great social and economic tumult and even large-scale famine. They frequently suffered malnutrition, starvation and inadequate medical care and, as a result, most of them had weak physique. They went to work in rural areas and factories when very young and failed to seek an education above junior middle school level. In their thirties they encountered massive social reform valuing and promoting extensive knowledge and good education. They had no alternative but to pick up textbooks and go all out to gain diplomas and professional certificates. Under the triple pressures of work, study and family, many of them have become exhausted and even broken down," explained Wang Mei.

(China.org.cn by Chen Chao January 14, 2003)