From Guarding Home to Guarding the Tracks: A Pair of Veteran Master and Apprentice on the China-Laos Railway
By Ma Huaizhao, Pu Hongsi
Xinhua Vientiane, August 1 — In the early hours of August 1, at Mengsai Station on the Laos section of the China-Laos Railway, station lights spilled across the tracks. Lao track worker A De moved among the rails, measuring, inspecting, and repairing equipment to ensure the line remained safe and unobstructed.
Photo: On July 30, at the Mengsai Comprehensive Maintenance Workshop on the China-Laos Railway, Chinese master Li Li (right) and Lao apprentice A De organize tools. (Xinhua/Pu Hongsi)
"Master, the vertical and horizontal deviation at this rail joint has exceeded the planned maintenance standard. How should we handle it?" A De asked his Chinese master Li Li in Chinese.
Li Li and A De are a master-apprentice pair at the Mengsai Comprehensive Maintenance Workshop. Their past life trajectories are similar — both once served as soldiers defending their respective homelands; today their mission is the same — jointly safeguarding the China-Laos Railway, a road of friendship connecting the two countries.
Photo: On July 30, Chinese master Li Li (right) and Lao apprentice A De carried out track maintenance work at Mengsai Station on the Laos section of the China-Laos Railway. (Xinhua/Pu Hongsi)
After retiring from the military, A De learned that the China-Laos Railway was about to begin operations and came up with the idea of applying to join. "Laos has its first modern railway, and I want to be part of it." To achieve this goal, A De began learning Chinese from scratch. In 2021, after passing the recruitment exam, A De became one of the first Lao employees of Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd., which operates the Laos section of the China-Laos Railway.
When he first started working, three obstacles stood before A De: he could not understand the Chinese technical terms, could not understand the principles of the equipment, and could not remember the operating standards. Li Li became one of those who helped him overcome these hurdles. As a technical backbone selected by the Kaiyuan Track Maintenance Section of China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd. to work in Laos, Li Li has more than 20 years of experience in track maintenance. In March 2025, he came to the Mengsai Comprehensive Maintenance Workshop and became squad leader of the track specialty. When he learned that A De had also once been a soldier, the two quickly became well acquainted.
Photo: On July 30, at Mengsai Station on the Laos section of the China-Laos Railway, Chinese master Li Li (left) instructs Lao apprentice A De on visual inspection methods for the track. (Xinhua/Pu Hongsi)
From getting to know tools and identifying equipment to analyzing data and formulating plans, Li Li treated the worksite as a classroom and each operation as teaching material. Every time he checked the quality of the work, he was especially conscientious. "Why does this error occur?" "If a train passes through here, what impact would it have?" Facing a constant stream of questions from his master, A De always had to think carefully before answering.
Alongside strict demands came unreserved teaching. When encountering complex faults, Li Li would squat by the track and explain the principles over and over; for key operations, he would demonstrate the standard movements hand by hand. Gradually, A De grew from a "new recruit" in the trade into a young backbone who could independently complete track maintenance work.
Photo: On July 30, at the Mengsai Comprehensive Maintenance Workshop on the China-Laos Railway, Chinese master Li Li (right) and Lao apprentice A De take a walk in the workshop's small courtyard. (Xinhua/Pu Hongsi)
A strict master at work, a friend in life. A De took the initiative to teach Li Li everyday Lao phrases to help him adapt to local life more quickly; in their spare time, the two talked about their hometowns, their cultures, and the development of the railway. From an initial master-apprentice relationship to partners working side by side, the two hearts grew closer through communication.
"Before, I wore a military uniform to guard my homeland; now I wear work clothes to guard the railway," A De said. Although his post has changed, his responsibility has not. Li Li felt the same way: "Guarding the safety of the track is safeguarding the travel of the people of both countries and the development of society."
As night receded and the east turned pale, after several hours of intense work, all equipment hazards were completely resolved and the line returned to normal. After packing up their tools, the master and apprentice walked forward side by side along the rails.
