A worker loads a truck with Heitacai donated by a modern agricultural company in Rugao on Feb 10. [Photo/ntfabu.com] 

Ten tons of Heitacai, a unique species of Chinese cabbage grown in Rugao, a county-level city in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, arrived on Feb 12 at the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province and  the city hardest hit by the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak in China. 

The vegetables were donated by a modern agricultural company in Rugao. The company's chairman, Zuo Lin, is a veteran and has sent cabbage to the People's Liberation Army Navy several times in the past. 

According to Zuo, the cabbage, after being sterilized at high temperatures, can be stored at 40 degrees below zero for two years, ensuring that soldiers have access to fresh vegetables during long-distance voyages. 

"The shortage of vegetables at NUDT worried me," said Zuo. He learned about the university's plight on Feb 10 and immediately sent his employees to pick fresh cabbage from the fields. A total of 10 tons of cabbage were packed and loaded within two hours to be transported to Wuhan shortly thereafter. 

"I feel guilty that I can't fight on the frontlines, but I can do my best to support them. I believe we can win this battle," Zuo said with confidence.