Parents of Fei Junlong, one of the two astronauts of China's latest second manned space trip, decline expensive gifts by business operators to avoid falling to their cash cow, today's Nanjing Morning Post reported.
The astronauts landed on earth this morning, completing the 115.5-hour mission on Shenzhou-VI spaceship.
The gifts vary from tonics to TVs and even a villa, according to the parents.
"We are very proud of our son," Fei Changbao, Fei's father, said. Though his son has become a national star after the heroic trip, the father said the family as well as his son prefer the normal tranquil life.
The Feis live in a 20-year-old two-story rural house in Bacheng of Jiangsu Province's Kunshan city. They declined a villa given by a local property developer. The three-story villa, valued over 1 million yuan (US$123,609) and with a space over 300 square meters, is near the neighboring Yangcheng Lake.
"Our house is primitive, but we are accustomed to it and feel satisfied," the father said.
He said that to decline such gifts is a best way to protect the good reputation of their son.
In praise of the family, the Kunshan government has decided to award a villa to the family.
(Shanghai Daily October 17, 2005)
