The Days of Climbing Out of Debt

The story mainly follows Cheng Haijun, whose business venture fails and leaves him saddled with enormous debts. He faces violent debt collection, sees the true colors of relatives and friends, loses his wife and children, and sinks to the lowest point in his life. After his debts come to light, his state of mind spirals. He both gambles on getting rich overnight and suffers the low self-esteem of someone at the bottom of society. After trying everything and seeing no hope of ever clearing his debts, he is exhausted and disheartened, and even considers ending his life once and for all.

Then one morning, his six-year-old daughter wakes up and finds her father isn’t beside her. She bursts into tears. “I don’t want to grow up. When you grow up, you get old and die.” No matter how Cheng Haijun and his wife try to comfort her, she won’t stop crying. Cheng Haijun senses that perhaps, deep down, his daughter has a feeling that something is wrong. So he tells her, “Hurry up and grow up. Become a scientist and invent a medicine that lets people live forever. Then Daddy can take it and won’t grow old or die.” His daughter stops crying and asks innocently, “Really?” At that moment, Cheng Haijun bursts into tears. He is not just a businessman, but also a husband and a father, the pillar and hope of his family. He has no reason to end his life. He must pull himself together and get back on his feet. In his darkest, most bewildered moments, his child’s bright, innocent eyes are a glimmer of light in the distant fog, telling him never to give up.

After tremendous effort, Cheng Haijun finally pays off all his debts and returns to a normal life.

This story is based on the author’s personal experience and lays bare the tragic plight of people burdened with debt at the bottom of society. If you’re in debt, this book will surely help you find hope. Because staying alive isn’t just about living for yourself.

.