Working tirelessly amid the mangled mess of steel and concrete in what was the town of Beichuan, Liu Wenbo has helped save 700 people. But not his wife. Before Monday's 7.9-magnitude earthquake tore apart this valley town in southwestern China, the 34-year-old was a tea salesman. Starting Tuesday, he donned military fatigues, a face mask and a red armband marking him as a volunteer trying to find survivors of his former neighbourhood. He says that his team has saved some 700 people. But so far not his wife or their parents. "I no longer have a wife and I lost my house. All I've got are the clothes that I'm wearing," he says with a blank look behind his small oval glasses.