A 57-year-old man from Huaibei, China, has been searching for his long-lost first love to repay a debt he has carried in his heart for 24 years — a loan of 10,000 yuan (about RM5,880) she once gave him in his time of need.
According to Henan Television’s program Xiao Li Helps Out, the man, surnamed Li, met his first love, a colleague named Ma, back in 1991. At the time, Li was 23 and Ma, 25, was a divorced single mother from Henan. The two fell in love and dated for nearly eight years. However, when Li’s father was diagnosed with cancer, he requested that Li marry a local woman — a wish that led the couple to part ways amicably and start separate lives.
In 2001, Li started his own business but soon ran into financial trouble. Desperate for help, he reached out to Ma, who didn’t hesitate to lend him 10,000 yuan — a significant sum at the time — to keep his business afloat. Two years later, after his business began to recover, Li tried to return the money, only to realize he had lost her contact after misplacing his phone.
“I’ve carried this guilt for years,” Li said. “I just want to find her, pay her back, and know that she’s doing well.” His wife fully supports the mission, saying, “I’m not jealous at all. I want him to find her and return what’s hers.”
Li later traveled to Henan to search for Ma, only to discover that her old neighborhood had been redeveloped into modern high-rises, with no trace of her or her family. Out of options, he turned to the TV program for help in tracking her down.
Li publicly shared what he remembers of her: Ma Suzhen, now around 60 years old, with family members named Ma Fushun (father), Ma Suhuan and Ma Suhong (sisters), and Ma Junqun (brother) — though the exact characters of their names might differ.
He hopes that by appealing to the public, he can finally find Ma and return the money that symbolizes not just a debt, but a lasting act of kindness from a woman who once believed in him.
