The Light of a Poor Family tells the inspiring story of Lin Chenyang, who rises from humble beginnings in a poor family in northern Shaanxi.
In 2008, twelve-year-old Lin Chenyang's parents divorce, and he keeps up with his studies by collecting recyclables. With help from Teacher Zhang, he finds comfort in reading and, through self-study and deliberate practice, gets into the county's No. 1 High School and then a top university. At university, he starts a tech blog and builds a following. After graduation, he joins an internet company, but the pressure nearly breaks him.
After getting back on his feet, Lin Chenyang launches the educational platform Cocoon Break, offering students from disadvantaged backgrounds free, high-quality learning resources. The road to success is difficult: funding falls through, his relationship is tested, and his father passes away. But he never forgets his original purpose. The platform gradually grows and reaches tens of millions of students, while he and his girlfriend, Wang Xiaoyu, weather every hardship together.
After achieving success, Lin Chenyang launches the Cocoon Break Rural Initiative to give back to his hometown, and reconciles with the mother he had been separated from for eighteen years. In 2025, Cocoon Break surpasses 100 million users. His life proves that while we cannot choose where we come from, we can change our fate: even the children of poor families can achieve great things, as long as they keep a light burning in their hearts.
This is a story of poverty, struggle, perseverance, and boundless love, dedicated to all those chasing their dreams through the darkness.
