Li Wenhuan and XuXin work together to shovel and pack sand. [Photo/yangtse.com]

The story of XuXin and Li Wenhuan - two Jiangsu college students who returned to their hometown in Jiangzhou town, Jiujiang city, East China's Jiangxi province to help fight flooding and provide relief to local people - has gone viral on the internet.

The pair were answering the government's call to help fight the flood, as Jiangzhou, a township of 7,000 permanent residents, had many young men working away from the town, leaving only women and senior citizens. Jiangzhou was hit hard by the flood as heavy rainfall continued along the Yangtze River, and local water levels rose rapidly and significantly.

Xu, a student from Jiangsu Vocational College of Finance and Economics, got together with her high school classmate Li, a sergeant student at the Jiangsu Maritime Institute, and the two decided to serve on the frontline as soon as possible.

Ferries shuttle residents from Jiangzhou town, Jiujiang city, East China's Jiangxi province, to the other side of the Yangtze River. [Photo/yangtse.com]

From 6 am to 6 pm, Xu and Li carried over 2,500 kilograms of sandbags and patrolled and inspected the dam to avoid any case of flooding.

Though their bodies were aching all over, the two students insisted on doing their bit, and regarded it as their obligation to help fight the flood.

"I've heard from my father that he took part in fighting the flood in 1998 (known for lasting unexpectedly long from mid-June to early-September), though I was not born. I'm a grown-up now and it's time for me to take over my father's job and join the fight," Xu said.

"I'm a girl but I'm good at working and I felt proud to help my folks and contribute to my hometown," she added.