A Lifetime at the Pharmacy: An Ordinary Person Mistakenly Gets a Terminal Diagnosis

Li Ping'an, 42, owns a neighborhood pharmacy. He has 25 years left on his mortgage, a wife who complains about him every day, a son ranked third from the bottom, and a mother plagued by health problems. Life has been crushing him for half his life, and he hasn't even dared to take a breath, until he receives a diagnosis: late-stage pancreatic cancer.

He doesn't cry or make a scene. He even feels relieved. He's going to die soon anyway, so he won't have to pay the mortgage, placate his wife, or put up with customers. He gives away expired medicine for free, tells off obnoxious customers until they call the police, and sits in the shop wearing a bright red hoodie, munching sunflower seeds. Whenever someone asks, “What's wrong?” he gives the same reply: “I'm dying soon. Don't mess with me.”

Just as he's spent all his savings, written his will, and prepared to make a dignified exit, the hospital calls. “Mr. Li, we gave you the wrong test results.”

Li Ping'an stands dumbfounded for three days, then squats outside the hospital and bursts into tears.

It turns out he's not sick. It turns out he can keep living, but this time, he doesn't want to live the way he used to.

This is a story about learning how to live only after you've died once. You'll laugh until you cry, then cry until you laugh. If you've ever asked yourself in the middle of the night, “What am I living for?” this book has the answer for you.