In 1994, Dongping Village, long rumored to have coal deposits in the mountains, put out a notice:
Villagers could pay a fee to stake out an area in the mountains and explore for coal. If they struck coal, they would receive half the shares in the new mine.
The notice set the village abuzz. Some cursed the officials for being so desperate for money, while others paid up and headed up the mountain with their hoes.
Lin Wanqing and her husband, Shen Yanzhou, were among the latter.
Two months later, they really did strike coal.
But before the mine could be built and start production, her husband died unexpectedly in the dead of night, leaving behind a debt that forced her to sell her shares in the mine.
For various reasons, she also had to leave her hometown with her young daughter and lead a life of constant upheaval.
Reborn on the very day they struck coal.
Looking at her overjoyed husband, Lin Wanqing took a deep breath and said, "Why don't we sell our shares in the mine?"
We'll sell our shares and leave our hometown. Let's go to Shanghai.