Married Man Desperately Hunts For First Love To Repay 20-Year-Old Debt

Last Updated:November 05, 2025, 20:59 IST

Their relationship ended amicably after Li’s father was diagnosed with cancer and encouraged him to marry a local woman and support the family

Li and Ma first met in 1991, when he was 23 and she was 25. Ma was divorced and had a child from a previous marriage. (AI-generated pic)

A married man in China has captured national attention after turning to the media to find his first love, who lent him money more than 20 years ago.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the man, surnamed Li, from Huaibei in eastern China’s Anhui province contacted Henan Provincial TV Station’s programme ‘Xiaoli Helps You‘, a show known for helping people with personal problems. Li believed his first love, a woman named Ma, might still live in Henan.

Li and Ma first met in 1991, when he was 23 and she was 25. Ma was divorced and had a child from a previous marriage. They worked together, fell in love, and dated for eight years. Their relationship ended amicably after Li’s father was diagnosed with cancer and encouraged him to marry a local woman and support the family.

In 2001, Li needed funds to start a business, and Ma generously helped. “Without any hesitation, she transferred me 10,000 yuan (US$1,400). In those days when people’s average income was not high, this amount of money was a lot," Li told the programme.

Li later lost contact with Ma after misplacing his mobile phone. “I have been feeling regret over the past years. I hope to return the money to her. I am also wondering how she is living now," he said.

Li’s wife has supported his search. “I am not jealous. If he finds that woman, just return the money to her," she said.

Li explained that Ma’s family once lived in a poor area of Donggongren Town in Henan, and her father worked in a coal mine in Pingdingshan. Since then, the neighbourhood has been redeveloped, making it difficult to locate her. Officials said their initial attempts to find Ma had failed, leaving Li disappointed.

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