A LOCAL poet has had his faith in human nature restored after completing a 100-day journey over 283,000 kilometers borrowing money from strangers he met along the way.
Setting out from Shenzhen in a SUV on Aug. 25, Liu Meisong, a member of the China Writers Association, visited 30 provinces and municipalities, borrowing more than 50,000 yuan (US$7,506) from 222 people working in different walks of life, according to Chinese-language newspaper reports.
Liu wanted to test whether people trusted each other in today s society.
He asked his family to return the loans to each of his creditors within three days of borrowing the money.
I was nervous when I set out because of a lack of experience. I failed at my first attempt at borrowing money. Fortunately, a security guard later lent me 115 yuan, which encouraged me to continue the trip, Liu said.
Things went smoothly in Guangdong Province where people from different parts of China were willing to accept differences in the way of living.
He was warmly welcomed in places like Zhanjiang, Shantou and Guangzhou when people learned the purpose of his trip.
I also had tough times on the trip. When I arrived at a tollgate in Guangxi, three young men working at the gate didn t believe me and refused to lend me the 25-yuan toll. They instead took my water flask worth 200 yuan as a guarantee, Liu said.
He was refused a room by 10 hotels in Shanhaiguan in Hebei Province on the night of Oct. 20.
I spent almost two hours persuading a young man to lend me 150 yuan to pass a tollgate in Wuhan. That was the most difficult experience during the trip.
People who refused me all said they had been cheated before and were afraid of being cheated again, Liu said.
On his way home, Liu showed strangers pictures and signatures of the people who had lent him money, which made it easier for him to earn their trust.
Integrity is the foothold for individuals in society. We all need it, Liu said. (Li Hao)
