A farmer in China spent 16 years studying law so he could take a chemical company to court for destroying his land — and his determination paid off.
Don’t mess with this man.
A Disaster That Changed Everything
Wang Enlin, a farmer from Heilongjiang Province, lived a quiet life until a state-run chemical plant flooded his village with toxic waste. In 2001, wastewater from the Qihua Group poured onto his property and surrounding farmland, leaving behind contaminated soil, dead crops, and a community struggling to survive.
Government meeting records from that year even stated that the polluted land could not be used “for a long time.” But no one stepped in to help the villagers.
That’s when Wang made a life-changing decision:
he would learn the law himself — no matter how long it took.
A Man With Only Three Years of Schooling Took On a Billion-Dollar Company
Wang had only completed three years of formal education. Still, he began reading legal textbooks using a dictionary by his side. Because he couldn’t afford to buy the books, he offered the local shop owner bags of corn in exchange for hours of reading.
For 16 years, he copied legal texts by hand, page after page, and taught himself the basics of Chinese land management law and environmental protection law. As he gained confidence, he also educated his neighbors about their legal rights.
Meanwhile, Qihua Group continued releasing 15,000–20,000 tons of industrial waste every year. The pollution created a 71-acre wasteland filled with calcium carbide residue and a 478-acre pond of chemical runoff — a massive environmental disaster in a rural farming community.
“I knew I was in the right,” Wang later said, “but I did not know what law the other party had broken or whether there was evidence.”
Turning Knowledge Into Action
In 2007, after years of independent study, Wang’s dedication caught the attention of the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims at China University of Political Science and Law. Environmental lawyers, including Liu Jinmei, joined the effort and helped the villagers file a formal lawsuit against Qihua Group.
The case took years to process and was finally heard in 2015 — nearly a decade after the legal team first got involved.
The Village Wins Its First Major Victory
The residents of Yushutun Village, led by Wang, won an initial judgment in the Angangxi District Court of Qiqihar. The court ordered Qihua Group to pay approximately $119,000 in compensation to the affected families.
The company immediately appealed, but Wang remained firm.
“We will certainly win,” he said. “Even if we lose, we will continue to battle.”
The People’s Daily described him standing outside the courthouse with white hair, mud-covered rubber shoes, and a worn cotton-padded jacket, symbolizing a farmer who refused to surrender.
Why This Case Matters
China’s rapid industrialization has created massive environmental challenges, and legal cases against polluters rarely succeed due to complexity, cost, and fear of retaliation. Very few rural victims pursue justice for more than a decade — but Wang did.
His story became a national symbol of perseverance, grassroots activism, and the power of environmental law when used by ordinary citizens.
A Farmer Who Fought Back — And Became a Legend
Wang Enlin didn’t just fight for himself.
He fought for his neighbors, his land, and his future.
With nothing but determination and handwritten notes copied from borrowed law books, he challenged a billion-dollar company — and won the first round.
His 16-year battle shows that sometimes, the strongest force against pollution isn’t money or power.
It’s the relentless will of a single person who refuses to give up.
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