The story of translator Jin Xiaoyu has touched millions of readers. It first came out in January in Hangzhou Daily, a newspaper in Zhejiang.
The story is about the life of 50-year-old Jin Xiaoyu and his fight against a mental (精神) illness. Jin has been blind in one eye after an accident and had bipolar disorder (躁狂抑郁性精神病) at a young age.
In 2010, Jin Xiaoyu started translating foreign books. Over the years, he has translated 22 books. More than 10 of them have come out.
For Jin Xiaoyu, translation gives him the power (力量) to fight with the illness and live on. He loves it so much that he always works till very late in the evening.
Jin Xiaoyu's mother died last year. Now Jin Xiaoyu lives with his 85-year old father Jin Xingyong in their old house, translating day after day with his old computer.
"This is really a sad story, but it is also filled with love. Xiaoyu's parents' love makes him believe that there is always hope for life and he can become successful in translation," one reader said.
After the story came out, Jin Xingyong began to receive phone calls offering help. Some readers have offered to renovate (翻新) their old house, buy Jin Xiaoyu a new computer and make donations (捐赠). Jin Xingyong turned down all the kind help. "Xiaoyu has returned home from the hospital and is now working on translating another German book," Jin Xingyong said while expressing thanks for all the attention.
