Man Wants to Thank ‘Life Benefactor’ After Financial Difficulties
A Chinese worker is on a mission to reconnect with a 61-year-old woman in Singapore who had generously lent him S$1,000 over a decade ago when he was facing financial hardship.
Fan Zhong Hua, 37, who has not been in contact with this “aunty” since he returned to China in 2012, is now determined to repay her for the kindness she showed him. In an interview with 8world News, he shared how he met Li Jie, who worked as a clerk at a shipyard in Tuas where Fan had been employed in 2006.
Fan described Li, born in 1961, as a white-haired aunty living alone in Woodlands. He recalls how Li treated him like a “godma” during his time in Singapore, often buying snacks for him, taking him out for meals, and offering red packets during festive seasons. Fan said that Li even helped him with his school thesis by searching for online materials and printing them out.
In 2011, during a period of financial struggle due to his employer’s poor performance, Fan and his wife had to pay for both their agency fees and Fan’s school fees. Li, aware of his troubles, lent him S$1,000 to help him get through this tough time, asking only that he repay her when possible.
However, despite his desire to repay Li, Fan was unable to do so, as Li insisted it was a wedding gift for him and his wife. Fan and his wife kept in touch with Li until 2015, when he lost his phone and lost contact with her.
After returning to Singapore last August, Fan began searching for Li but has yet to locate her. Now in a better financial position, Fan is determined to find Li, repay her, and express his gratitude in person. He even plans to offer her a hug and bow down to her as a token of appreciation.
Fan hopes that one day, Li will visit China, where he and his wife would happily host her.
