By Fran Lu

Copyright scmp

A Chinese businessman who went from owning three restaurants to bankruptcy, then made a comeback with a roasted sausage brand, has inspired many people online.
Tang Jian, 57, used to own three popular restaurants and bars in Qingdao, a coastal city in eastern China’s Shandong province.
He said that during the peak days of the 2000s, his business generated three million yuan (US$420,000) a month.

But he “greedily” wanted to earn fast and invested his own money and loans from others into maple wood and other businesses that he had no knowledge about.
In 2015, Tang found himself in debt to the tune of 46 million yuan (US$6 million).
He announced bankruptcy, shut down his restaurants and sold his properties, but what he raised fell far short of covering the debts.
Tang regularly argued with his wife, and she eventually divorced him.

He said he thought of taking his own life, but then he thought of his mother, child and creditors and decided he could not fail them.
In 2018, Tang started afresh with a roasted sausage stall, which he set up a few hundred metres away from one of his old restaurants.
He initially wore a mask fearing neighbours might recognise and tease him. Then, after one did, he decided to be true to himself.
He and his then 74-year-old mother bought a 35-yuan (US$5) sausage stuffer and made the sausages one by one.

Tang insisted on buying pork from a high-end supermarket in his city, placing the purchase order and receipt on his stall.
He gradually won recognition from neighbours.
Now, Tang’s roasted sausage brand has a factory that manufactures two tons of sausages a day. He said his daily volume was 200,000 yuan (US$28,000).
He also opened other branches in shopping centres.
The stall’s business was hit during the Covid-19 pandemic, but Tang took the opportunity to do live-streaming sales.
His social media account now has 1.2 million followers and Tang says he can sell one million yuan (US$140,000) worth of products in just one session.
Tang said his debts remain the same as he ploughs the profits into his business to make more money and repay the debt sooner.
He has used artificial intelligence to help in making a debt repayment plan which shows that he will be able to repay everything by 2027.
Tang said he was thankful to his creditors for their trust and patience.

“A fall into the pit, a gain in my wit,” Tang said of his experience.
“Even though my future is not bright, I can stay strong longer than others. The thing you keep putting effort into will repay you one day,” he said.
Tang’s persevering spirit has inspired many people online.
“With his spirit, I am sure he can rise from the ashes despite all the hardships,” one person said.
“Sometimes our success is the product of our time plus a little luck. The important thing is to stay clear-minded when things go smoothly,” said another.
If you have suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or +1 800 273 8255. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.