One day in autumn 2011, Zhou Haonan returned from Shenzhen. And in front of Gaozhou Middle School thousands of teachers and students gathered on the playground. In the rostrum, Chen Wenchao, the headmaster, said, “For the college entrance examination in 1987, Zhou Haonan entered Guangzhou Foreign Trade College with the highest score in liberal arts in our school. Afterwards he struggled in Shenzhen. But today he has donated 3 million yuan (US$470,000) to our school.”

    Following this, a check of 3 million yuan was moved up and unfolded on the rostrum by two workers. Then everyone applauded, their applause sounded as if a tsunami had submerged the spot.

    Zhou Haonan who sat beside Chen Wenchao smiled but frowned. “Our school is the best in western Guangdong Province. I hereby express great appreciation to this school of mine. But now, I must redeem my crime.” As he said this, he rose to his feet, went forward and suddenly knelt down before all the people.

    Everyone was stunned. Chen Wenchao hastily went over and dragged him up asking why. But Zhou still stayed down on his knees saying, “Only by this donation could I have the chance to express my regret. Everything I’d done before was because I was forced … ”

    Everyone muttered surprisingly.

    Zhou said, “For 25 years I’ve been carrying a heavy red cross. Today I must explain thoroughly so that I can be forgiven by all of you, otherwise the guilt will accompany me for the remainder of my life.” A vice headmaster went over, together with Chen Wenchao, pulled Zhou up and suggested he sit back in his seat.

    Zhou finally rose to his feet and returned to his seat saying, “Thank you! At that time I, as a countryside student without any social background in Huazhou County, I felt that if I was to fail the college entrance examination, I’d have to work in the field all of my life.

    So the college entrance examination was the weathercock of my fate. In 1986, I joined the pre-exam for the college entrance examination. However, because of one score, I failed the pre-exam, consequently I didn’t have the chance to take part in the college entrance examination that year.”

    It was on that morning of 1986. After being aware of defeat, Zhou who carried heavy luggage secretly fled from Nawu Middle School of Huazhou County walking back home. At 12 o’clock noon when he reached the roadside one kilometer away from his home, he didn’t dare move further.

    Suddenly he saw Fuqiang, his childhood friend, walking on the road. Fuqiang just came back from Shenzhen, after knowing the circumstance of Zhou, under the nearby big trees they both had been sighing and crying all afternoon.