Cover image via Douyin
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Businesswoman Hu Qin and her husband were once living the dream, complete with a luxury villa, housekeepers, and a personal driver
However, these days, instead of managing a boardroom or relaxing by the Xiang River, the the couple are often found knee-deep in freezing mud.
According to Hu's social media profile, the 44-year-old is currently digging up lotus roots to pay off a massive debt of 5 million yuan (RM3 million).
This reality marks a stark contrast to her life just a few years ago.
The couple founded a fruit empire in 2012 that expanded to over 30 shops across China
According to Changjiang Daily, at the height of their success, Hu's assets were valued at over 10 million yuan (RM5.8 million).
However, poor management in 2019 led to a total collapse of cash flow, forcing the business into bankruptcy.
Left with nothing but debt, the couple sold their home and lived out of suitcases while selling farm goods to survive.
Their fortunes shifted again when a friend introduced them to Wuhan's famous lotus root soup.
Realising the potential of the lotus root soup, they decided to stay in Hubei province and start over
They pivoted to livestreaming their harvesting process, selling the fresh produce directly to viewers on social media.
While her husband initially handled the digging, the physical toll was too high, and he developed severe back pain.
Stepping up to the challenge, Hu took over the heavy labour while her husband managed the household chores.
Harvesting is no walk in the park; it usually happens in autumn and winter when the water is icy cold.
Despite the harsh conditions, Hu wakes up at 5am daily to start her shift.
She applies full makeup before putting on protective gear and wading into the mud with a 10kg high-pressure water gun.
Her hard work is paying off, with her livestreams attracting thousands of viewers and moving up to 4,500kg of lotus root on good days.
So far, the couple has managed to repay over 1 million yuan (RM580,000) of their debt.
Hu admits the transition from glamour to manual labour was difficult, but she remains optimistic.
"Changing yourself can change your future. Don't complain about hardship. Just work a little harder," she said.
