Aiming for a clean sweep in her exams

Sanitation worker follows dream to earn a college degree, report Yang Feiyue and Zhu Youfang in Changsha.

The damp and cold weather had taken a grip on the city of Changsha in early November, especially during the wee hours.

Early-bird commuters could feel the bite of the chill piercing their clothes, especially before the sun rose to offer its meager winter warmth.

Huang Xinsheng stomped her feet to get the blood flowing and keep herself warm while waiting for the bus to come.

The moment the bus door opened, she quickly got on board and found herself a seat before taking out a shriveled notebook.

Unlike other passengers on the early ride — most of whom were dozing, or at least trying to — Huang started to read about Chinese contemporary literature works and legal terms. Often, she would unconsciously recite them under her breath.

"They are all key points I wrote down last night, and I had to finish learning them as quickly as possible," the 51-year-old says.

"Because there will be more tomorrow."

When asked if she ever felt car sick or had trouble reading on the bumpy ride, Huang says after years of doing so, she has become used to it.

Huang got off at Yuehua Road in the Yuelu district of Changsha, capital of Central China's Hunan province.

That was the section that she was charged with cleaning.

She quickly put away her notebook and changed into her work uniform, before picking up the broom and sweeping the pavement.

"I have to get the street cleaned before rush hour," she says.

This has been Huang's routine since she took the job in 2014.

"Every day is like this — I have to seize all the fragmented time to study," she says.