23 years ago, Yue Jin lost both his legs and nine of his fingers in a freak accident. He thought his life was over, but somehow found the strength to start over and today he is one of the most sought-after bicycle repairmen in Jilin City, northern China.

In 1993, while he was cutting firewood in the mountains of Jilin province, Yue Jin accidentally fell into a deep valley and almost died. His injuries were so severe that doctors had to amputate both his legs and all but one of his ten fingers. For a man who made his living with his hands, it was almost a death sentence. And it was even more devastating considering Yue had also lost his wife just three days after childbirth, leaving him to take care of their daughter. After the accident, he couldn’t see any other way to do that than go out and beg for a few coins and some food, so he left his daughter in the care of some neighbors and ventured out on to the streets.

But for a man who used to work for a living, having to rely on the mercy of strangers was excruciating, and he soon realized that he couldn’t go on doing it. ‘At that time I thought that I cannot forever rely on begging to live, I have to use my own strength,’ Yue Jin told reporters in a recent interview. So he used all of his savings, a measly 700 yuan ($107) to buy some repair tools and get some training in bicycle repairs. As you can imagine, trying to handle the tools with only one finger proved a big challenge and he struggled for quite a while, but he kept at it, and soon got the hang of using his one finger and his palms to do the repairing.

Yue Jin now has his own bicycle repair shop and earns enough to support himself. His daughter is all grown up and married, but despite her offering to take him in and see to all his needs, the ambitious repairman insists that he is better off doing the work he has grown to love.

The story of how Yue Jin managed to turn his life around despite all the hardships he has been through recently went viral in China and inspired millions to make their best of their situation and never give up. The ambitious repairman is now being referred to as ‘strong brother’.

Photos: China News

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