A 76-year-old woman in northern Guangdong Province in South China has been raising two abandoned girls for the past 14 years, by collecting rubbish. Her deeds have so moved the local government that it has allocated a piece of land to her and built a small house for the three to live in.

Deng Yulian, who herself was an abandoned baby and was picked by a fisherman on the bank of Beijiang River, grew up on the fisherman's boat and began to do odd jobs on other boats as an adult.

On August 2, 1993, Deng found a baby lying under a bridge. Without any hesitation, she carried the girl in her arms and bid farewell to her employer on the boat, thinking life on a boat would not allow her to raise the baby, the Nanfang Daily reported.

Deng came to the city of Nanxiong and built a thatched hut on the river bank, naming the girl Lili.

The sight of Deng - then 62 - sorting rubbish, carrying a baby on her back, became a familiar one with the locals. She never stopped, even during rain and storms.

Two years later, she found a job as a cook. But in October 1995, Deng spotted another abandoned girl by the roadside. Once again, she quit her new job and went back to her hut with the girl, whom she named Shasha.

Without any relatives or friends for support, Deng now had to work harder. She would get up around 4 am every day, walk the streets looking for garbage and return at dusk.

Many times, Deng was so tired and weak that she would faint in front of her hut.

In order to make more money, she learnt to grow vegetables, raise hens and sought any temporary jobs she could get. After paying the electricity and water fees and buying food, Deng used the remaining cash to send the girls to school.

Owing to poverty, 15-year-old Lili and 13-year-old Shasha are still in primary school.

But they are a great relief to Deng, who loves them both very much.

As Lili was weak and often fell sick, some people persuaded Deng to let her go. But Deng insisted: "As long as I live, I will provide the children with a home."

After hearing of Deng's good deeds, a neighborhood community in Nanxiong once offered her 400 yuan ($52). The local government also listed Deng as a low-income family, offering the three 30 yuan ($4) every month in aid. The two teens will also be exempt from paying tuition and other school-related fees from this year.

Lili said when she grows up, she will buy granny Deng a big cake for her birthday and take her to do some sight-seeing.

Editor: Yan