Journey to a remote Chinese county that a US citizen calls home

On the second floor, a white coat and a medical kit are displayed in the living room. Huo De, a local cultural scholar, told me that at the time, local people had little concept of bacteria or antibiotics. When they fell ill, they mostly turned to religious rituals, leaving recovery to chance.

"Victor Plymire used relatively advanced medical methods of the time to treat poor villagers free of charge, saving countless lives," Huo said.

The senior Plymire also organized vocational training, hiring local craftsmen to teach villagers livelihood skills, such as making felt boots, felt hats and tent fabrics, thus helping them earn a living. Many in Huangyuan benefited from these endeavors.

Inside the building, Huo pointed to black-and-white photos on the walls, all taken by Victor, and told their stories one by one. One image stopped me cold: a villager with a deep gash on his head, blood streaming down.

During a warlord massacre in 1929, when thousands were killed there, Victor Plymire not only treated the wounded but also opened the basement of the gospel hall to shelter large numbers of innocent civilians, Huo explained.

"I believe the father and son are remembered not merely for the medical donations and educational assistance, but more importantly, because they sheltered the common people during an extremely special and life-threatening era. This is the foundation of the local people's deep affection for them," Huo said.