在这世界里，有着一位中年男士，心怀梦想，坚守着对人生的追求。 He is a middle-aged man who harbors dreams and adheres to his pursuit of life.

他以俯仰不愧天地的道德感，穷则独善其身，达则兼济天下的情怀，进可朝堂，退可厅堂的期望，以平衡家庭、财富和自我为成就，徐徐而行。 He upholds a sense of morality that stands up to the heavens and the earth, aspiring to be self-sufficient in poverty and altruistic in prosperity. His aspiration is to enter the court when needed and retire gracefully when desired, balancing family, wealth, and personal fulfillment as his achievements, proceeding steadily.

1. 他的过去·His Past

过去三十年，恍如隔世，吹灰之间便已飘过。 The past thirty years seem like a distant dream, fleeting in the blink of an eye.

第一个十年，涉世未深，却拥有幸福的童年。他出生在粤西一个边远小乡镇，直至十岁便离开家乡，随父亲居住在离乡二十里的工厂。 In the first decade, he had yet to explore the world deeply but enjoyed a happy childhood. Born in a remote town in western Guangdong, he left his hometown at the age of ten to live with his father in a factory twenty miles away.

第二个十年中，有过六年的时间，他在县城求学。每个学校，都能结识不少关系较好的朋友。高中三年，他无心向学，十九岁那年的高考，他没有取得好成绩。于是选择了复读一年。最终结果，也没如愿。带着遗憾，给家里沉重的负担上了大学。 In the second decade, he spent six years studying in the county seat. He made many good friends at each school he attended. However, during his three years in high school, he lacked academic interest, and his performance in the college entrance examination at the age of nineteen was unsatisfactory. Thus, he chose to retake the exam for a year, but the outcome was still disappointing. With regret, he added a heavy burden to his family by entering university.

第三个十年，他常怀遗憾和梦想，思考人生的意义。每每深夜，不能入眠。他羡慕智者，仰望智者，崇拜智者。于是，他想学习智者。他常常到学校的图书馆，遍览群书，如同少年的毛泽东。 In the third decade, he often pondered the meaning of life with regret and dreams. Many sleepless nights were spent contemplating. He admired the wise, looked up to them, and idolized them. Thus, he desired to learn from them. He frequently visited the school library, reading extensively like a young Mao Zedong.

2. 翻身之变·Transformation

他的变化，是在学会做规划开始。他本身并不优秀，不过,他懂得平衡之道。大学四年，他的成绩并不优秀，每年只能拿到三等奖学金，却以优秀毕业生的荣誉毕业。 His transformation began with learning to plan. Although he wasn’t outstanding, he understood the art of balance. During his four years in university, his grades were mediocre, only earning a third-class scholarship each year, but he graduated with honors as an outstanding student.

毕业之后，在一家制造业公司，他工作了两年十个月。他应该感谢这家公司，因为这家公司教会了他如何信任自己的伙伴。 After graduation, he worked for a manufacturing company for two years and ten months. He owed much to this company as it taught him how to trust his colleagues.

由于拿到马来亚大学的OFFER，准备前往菲律宾学习英语，再去读书。 Due to receiving an offer from the University of Malaya, he prepared to go to the Philippines to study English before continuing his education.

可二零二零年的一月，一切都已准备好的他，被突如其来的新冠疫情打破了计划。 However, in January 2020, just when everything was ready, his plans were disrupted by the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. 命运齿轮·The Wheels of Destiny

箭在弦上，不得不发。一切都已准备好离开，但疫情让他不知道何去何从。幸运地轮盘，转到他的头上，他加入了一家金融公司。以他的实力，那是万万不敢想的。 With the arrow on the string, he had to let it fly. Despite being ready to leave, the pandemic left him uncertain about his path. Fortunately, luck smiled upon him, and he joined a financial company, a turn of events beyond his wildest dreams.

在这家公司，他感受到人与人之间巨大的差距，也坚定了自己未来应该走的路。螺旋式的上升；成功等于方法加运气；敬畏风险，尊重知识；都是从这家公司学到的。 In this company, he felt the significant disparities among people and reaffirmed the path he should take in the future. He learned from this company the spiral rise of success, where success equals method plus luck, and developed a reverence for risk and respect for knowledge.

疫情中压抑的社会环境，迫使他不得不调整自己的职业规划。一个专注于亚洲区域计算机领域某一个方向的专家，便成了他的下一个职业追求。 The oppressive social environment during the pandemic forced him to adjust his career plans. He became interested in becoming an expert in a specific area of computer science focused on the Asian region.

于是，他在此时选择离开中国。一句韩语都不懂的他，只身前往还在疫情控制下的韩国。别人都说他是勇者。只有他知道，他为什么这样做。 Thus, at this moment, he chose to leave China. Despite not knowing a word of Korean, he ventured alone to South Korea, still under pandemic control. While others called him a brave soul, only he knew why he made this decision.

4. 难忘爱情·Unforgettable Love

在韩国的二月，他遇到了他深爱的女孩。对她的爱，不仅仅是因为美，还有相互陪伴和感情的倾注。她懂事，她善解人意，她还带有一点点小脾气。 In the February of Korea, he met the girl he deeply loved. His love for her stemmed not only from her beauty but also from their companionship and emotional connection. She was sensible, understanding, and a little bit temperamental.

那是他一辈子最快乐的时光。他们走过异国的春夏秋冬，小溪边常有他们的足迹，雪花也见证了他们曾经爱过。韩国国家博物馆、海洋馆、国立美术馆、战争博物馆都看过他们从初见到离别。 It was the happiest time of his life. They experienced the seasons of foreign lands together, leaving their footprints by the streams, with snowflakes bearing witness to their love. They visited various places in Korea, from their first meeting to their eventual parting.

离开韩国的那一刻，他并不知道这可能是他们这一生的永别。太阳高照的中午，从她家离开之后，两个行李箱都装不满遗憾。 At the moment of leaving Korea, he didn’t know it might be the permanent farewell of their lives. Under the midday sun, his two suitcases couldn’t contain all the regrets after leaving her home.

5. 小菲风情·The Charm of the Philippines

疫情还没结束，他委身在清迈居住了一个月。这里白天安静，晚上依然安静。厚重的历史，印衬在古城的脸上，和斑驳的古寺中。离开清迈后，回家小歇几天，顾不上过年，便飞往菲律宾。 With the pandemic still ongoing, he spent a month living in Chiang Mai. It was quiet during the day and remained so at night. The weight of history was evident in the face of the ancient city and the mottled temples. After leaving Chiang Mai, he briefly rested at home for a few days before flying to the Philippines, missing out on the New Year celebrations.

从未主动写过英语作文的他，深夜十二点开始，连续写了一个月的小作文。看得见的成长，在他离开时也没留下遗憾。 Having never written an English essay voluntarily, he began writing short essays at midnight for a month. His visible growth left no regrets when he left.

在这片土地上，海岛的纯净之美冲击着虚假的网络传闻。跨国爱情的迭起，终不会落到我的头上。励志的韩国大妈，可爱的日本小妹妹，傻傻的越南小胖妞，都只是他的好同学。 On this land, the pure beauty of the islands challenged false online rumors. The rise and fall of transnational love stories would never fall upon his head. The inspiring Korean aunt, the adorable Japanese girl, and the silly Vietnamese girl were all just his good classmates.

6. 科技之城·The City of Technology

深圳，这一座科技之城，期待已久。终于在离开广州一年半之后，在深圳找到自己喜欢的工作。每天的忙碌，让他找回了熟悉的感觉。 Shenzhen, the city of technology, had been long awaited. Finally, after a year and a half of leaving Guangzhou, he found a job he liked in Shenzhen. The busyness of each day brought back a familiar feeling.

对比广州，这里的美食非常贫瘠。 Compared to Guangzhou, the cuisine here was very limited.

7. 重新起步·Starting Anew

匆忙地离开深圳，只有两天的时间给他准备开学。周一上课，周六早上到达学校所在的城市。他的学校，在一个小岛，一个即将给予他知识和成长的小岛。 Hastily leaving Shenzhen, he had only two days to prepare for school. He attended classes on Monday and arrived in the city where his school was located on Saturday morning. His school was on a small island, a place about to provide him with knowledge and growth.

他从未到过马来西亚，可却坚定地相信这个国家。或许，这将会成为他的海外第二故乡。他在这里学习很累，每天都忧愁着不知道吃什么，但是很开心。 He had never been to Malaysia before, but he firmly believed in this country. Perhaps, it would become his second home overseas. Although he felt tired from studying here, every day he worried about what to eat, but he was very happy.

这年的春节，是他第三年没有在家乡的春节。槟城并没有让他感觉到春节的脱离。他和一群陌生的中国朋友一起吃年夜饭，和爱尔兰德国小姑娘碰杯，和荷兰阿姨一起跳舞。还接到在韩国的小伙伴的电话，收到中国好朋友的红包。 This year’s Spring Festival marked his third year away from his hometown for the holiday. Penang didn’t make him feel disconnected from the festivities. He had dinner with a group of unfamiliar Chinese friends, toasted with an Irish-German girl, danced with a Dutch aunt, and received a call from a friend in Korea, as well as red envelopes from Chinese friends.

8. 未来的他·The Future Him

如今，他站在人生的十字路口，未来或将漂泊无定。中国人虽安土重迁，但闽南人的基因却富含航海精神，尤其是中年依然叛逆的他。 Now, he stands at the crossroads of life, with an uncertain future ahead. While Chinese people are often rooted in one place, the genes of those from southern Fujian province are imbued with a spirit of navigation, especially him, still rebellious in middle age.

落脚东南亚，他感受到东南亚的热情，和人们的友好，也对比了亚洲发展的不平衡。 Having settled in Southeast Asia, he feels the warmth and friendliness of the region’s people, while also noting the imbalance in Asia’s development.

他认为，每个国家的，不管大人还是小孩，都应该受到平等的对待。即便他知道这有可能存在不正义。 He believes that everyone in every country, regardless of age, should be treated equally, even though he knows that injustice may exist.

在有限的光阴里，他期望亚洲人民能受到平等的教育，发展的权利，能够携手共建美好生活。他也怀抱这样的志向，渴望助推进步的步伐。 In the limited time he has, he hopes that the people of Asia can receive equal education and development rights, so they can work together to build a better life. He also harbors such aspirations, eager to help advance progress.

9. 此生感谢·Gratitude in This Life

他这一辈子的幸运，应该感谢他的父母。 He owes his life’s fortune to his parents.

他的父母，没受过良好的教育，但始终为孩子的成长提供可能的最大的无条件的支持。他为三个孩子都受到良好的教育而感到骄傲。 His parents, without a good education themselves, always provided the greatest unconditional support possible for their children’s growth. He is proud that all three of his children received a good education.

他的父母，勤劳，也聪明。出生在贫穷和封闭的七十年代的中国，他们不得不屈从于苟且的生活。但，他们始终热爱生活，追求更高的生活质量。 His parents were hardworking and intelligent. Born in the poor and closed-off China of the 1970s, they had to endure a life of hardship. However, they always loved life and pursued a higher quality of life.