A hard but happy life: Quake survivors build memorial to dead spouses

The pair grew close. On Jan. 25, the last day of the Chinese lunar year, the county civil affairs bureau staff went to their home to issue a marriage certificate, sparing them the arduous journey to the county seat.

They promised each other that they would care for the five elderly relatives -- Li's former mother-in-law, Li's parents, and Lin's former parents-in-law -- three children -- Lin's 21-year-old daughter Lin Ling and 19-year-old son Lin Shunping, and Qiu Chao, 15, Li's son. They also agreed they could place photos of their former spouses on the bedside table after they moved into the new house.

"The children get on well with each other as if they are real brothers and sisters," Li says.

They have two home appliances pulled from the debris: a refrigerator and a color TV with a dented top, but both still work.

"The new house cost a lot of money, so we will not buy a new TV for the time being," Li says.

Qiu Chao studies mechanics at a vocational school while Lin's son is studying forestry at the Sichuan Agricultural University. They graduated from high school last July.

But Qiu Chao does not call Lin "father", and Lin's son and daughter do not call Li "mother". Instead, Qiu calls Lin "Linbai" (uncle Lin) and Lin's children call Li "Liniang" (aunt Li).