Because of his honesty and trustworthiness, Chen Dezhu became a popular "guarantor": he borrowed money from wealthy villagers and then lent it to people in need to earn some interest.
However, in the early 1990s, after the great waves of reform and opening up, many people lost money in the market, and many creditors of Chen Dezhu were unable to pay back the money, and even ran away to avoid debts.
As a "guarantor", Chen Dezhu didn't breach the contract: he just assumed a debt of more than 300,000 yuan, which was 25 years.
"Be sure to pay off all the money you owe before you die." In 25 years, more than 9 100 days and nights, Chen Dezhu sold four properties at home and went to Shanghai to find creditors. Now he still insists on scavenging for debts!
"There are still more than 20,000 to pay back." On the 20th, Chen Dezhu, who was over 83 years old, showed the reporter an account book. What is recorded there is the honest life of an old man in rural Jiangxi.