January 19, 2022
BEIJING – An article published by Hangzhou Daily has touched millions of readers with the real-life story of “genius” translator Jin Xiaoyu and his father, Jin Xingyong.
The story was published on Monday in the newspaper in Zhejiang province after the paper’s editing team received a phone call from a funeral home. The 85-year-old father asked if the editors would publish his son’s story.
“My son is a genius. He is in a mental hospital and his mother just died today,” he said.

The young Jin Xiaoyu and his family. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]
In 2010, he started translating foreign books. Over the past decade, he has translated 22 books from English, Japanese and German and read almost every foreign language novel in Zhejiang Library. More than 10 of his translations have been published.

Jin Xiaoyu and his translation works. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]
“This is admittedly a sad story, but it is overflowing with love. A resilient and indestructible love. A love that can give rise to a will that is strong beyond measure and can withstand the heavy pressures of life. Only a father’s love can make him believe in his child and not give up on him,” the newspaper article’s author, Ye Quanxin, wrote at the beginning of the story.

Story of Chinese ‘genius’ translator touches many
The story captured the hearts of millions of readers and began circulating widely online. As of Tuesday afternoon, the article had garnered 2 million reads on Hangzhou Daily’s WeChat account and 5 million reads on its Sina Weibo account. The trending topic on Sina Weibo gained 49 million views.
“Please have tissues ready before reading this story,” a netizen commented under the article.
Another Sina Weibo user commented, “The story is so saturated with suffering that there seems to be no room for any more misfortune in the lives of the father and the son, but fortunately there is literature and foreign languages that provide a little haven for them.”

[Photo/Hangzhou Daily]
Jin Xingyong declined all the material support. He said the story’s publication in the newspaper is the fulfillment of his “long-held” wish. “I said what was in my heart. Xiaoyu read the story and accepted it. There were things I didn’t dare to say in front of Xiaoyu,” he told Hangzhou Daily.

Jin Xiaoyu’s father Jin Xingyong. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]
“What Xiaoyu needs most now is a peaceful and quiet life and care that lasts like a fine stream,” Jin said while expressing thanks for all the attention.
Most of the readers said they were particularly touched by the parents’ great love for Jin Xiaoyu.

Jin Xiaoyu and his father Jin Xingyong. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]
Ye, the article’s writer, said, “What I wrote about was a life so weak yet so strong. This may be the reason why the story could touch so many. Although people don’t know each other, the emotions connected with love, misfortune and redemption are universal.”