A man in China has gone viral after he sought help from the media to find his first love — the woman who lent him money more than two decades ago. South China Morning Post reported. His story of gratitude and regret sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media.
According to Henan Provincial Television, the man, identified only by the surname Li, contacted the popular Xiaoli Channel Help You program in late October. The program is known for helping ordinary people solve personal and social problems.
Ma lent him 10,000 yuan
Li, who lives in Huaibei, Anhui Province, told the show that he wants to find his ex-girlfriend Ma, who lent him 10,000 yuan (about ₹1 lakh) in 2001 – a significant sum at the time. “She transferred money to me without hesitation when I was trying to start a company. I always felt regret that I didn’t pay it back,” he said.
Li and Ma met in 1991 while working at the same company. He was 23 and she was 25, divorced and a single mother. The two dated for eight years before parting ways when Lia’s father fell ill and asked him to return home to marry and take care of the family.
After their breakup, Li lost Main’s contact information when he lost his phone. Over the years, he was said to have been haunted by the thought that he would not repay her. “I want to return the money and know how she is doing now,” he told the program.
Interestingly, Li’s wife supported his decision to reconnect with Ma. “I’m not jealous,” she said. “If he finds her, he should return the money.
Local authorities in Henan tried to trace Ma’s whereabouts, but her former neighborhood – a slum area in the city of Donggongren, Pingdingshan – has since been redeveloped into high-rise buildings. So far no clues have appeared.
The story sparked a wave of mixed reactions online. While many praised Li for his honesty and sense of responsibility, others questioned his motives for publicly reaching out to an old flame.
