In April 2001, Ren Changxia was appointed director of the Public Security Bureau in Dengfeng City, Henan Province. Ren was the first female director of public security in the city as well as the province. Over the past three years, to "serve the people wholeheartedly," Ren strictly administrated the police force, seriously heeded the opinions of local residents, and severely cracked down on crimes. Thanks to Ren's efforts, social order in Dengfeng became better and better, ensuring peace and security for the residents.

Gao Haimin, who heads of the criminal police force under the bureau, recalled that Ren Changxia was practiced in her field of work, and everyone under her leadership had to work in a down-to-earth manner. Ren stressed solving criminal cases and often went to the crime scenes personally, Gao said.
In the spring of 2002, in order to round up a gang of criminals, Ren led a group of disguised policemen into the countryside to conduct an investigation that lasted more than 10 days. Ren disguised herself as a country peddler selling rabbit fur. When the criminals were captured, locals learned that the woman carrying a little scale and bag of rabbit fur was Director Ren.

Wu Hongmin was one of Ren's colleagues. Wu recalled that Ren had several pairs of black leather shoes, and every month, she helped Ren send her shoes to the cobblers to change the heel. Although Ren had a car, she walked a lot, especially in the countryside. The heels of the shoes Ren loved to wear were changed often.

"When Ren returned to the bureau, seeing her shoes and trouser legs covered with mud and thorns of brambles, I knew she had gone to the countryside again," Wu said.

Arresting criminals was her duty, and Ren was always concerned about the well-being of the residents. After assuming office, Ren fixed Saturday as a reception day to solicit opinions and answer questions from visitors. Every Saturday morning, she went to her office early and prepared tea. She received visitors from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Her lunch was very simple, two sesame seed cakes. She heard visitors recount their worries and difficulties and often shed tears with them. One reception day, Ren received 124 visitors.

In Dengfeng, people knew that Ren Changxia had three children, including her own son and two adoptees. Liu Chunyu, 14 years old, is one of the adoptees. Several years ago, Liu was bereaved of her father, whom she depended on for survival, when he was killed in an accident. Jing Wenhui, 20 years old, is another adoptee. In 1998, Jing was blinded in one eye. When Ren found that he was badly off but still made his way forward, she sympathized with him, helped him financially, and paid for him to see ophthalmologists. After Ren's death, following Chinese traditions, Liu and Jing kept vigil beside Ren's coffin.

Ren fulfilled her duty and set an example to civil servants. Her deeds are a monument in the hearts of civilians.

"Before my mother laid down her life, she was too busy to take care of me, and I thought that there might be a generation gap between her and I," Wei Chenyao, Ren's son, said with tears in his eyes. "Today, so many people came to bid my mother farewell, giving me a better understanding of her."

Ren Changxia often inquired with concern about the wellbeing of the elderly.

Ren Changxia on duty.

Many books about Ren Changxia's deeds have now been published.

Ren Changxia and the cup of China's Top Ten Outstanding Women.

(China Pictorial September 3, 2004)