Gao Weiping and Yao Changrong met each other more than twenty years ago. Neither of their families were well-to-do at the time, and they both worked in a factory and often looked to each other. Gradually the affection between the two deepened, Gao says.

"My family was against our marriage. But I felt that he was kindhearted and honest, so I accepted his proposal."

After their marriage, Gao and Yao had a daughter. The factory's profits declined, and the couple was laid off. Gao and Yao borrowed money to set up a private transportation business. During that period, they frequently drove from southwestern China's Chongqing municipality to Guangzhou. At the time, there was no expressway running between the two cities, and a section popularly known as the 72 Bends was notoriously dangerous. Gao accompanied her husband on the road as often as she could, and sometimes both of them felt their lives were in danger, Gao says.

"We drove back from Guangzhou and came to the 72 Bends. Then we found the brakes were gone. It was so frightening. You could well say that we cast aside our own lives."

Though it was dangerous and difficult to be in the transportation business, the couple had only one goal: To live an affluent, stable life in the future. Here is Gao Weiping.

"We were so happy to have our own vehicle. Even though it was very tiring to drive around to earn money, we didn't feel the fatigue."

After eight years' of hard work, the couple formed their own transport company in 1996 and lived a relatively affluent life. But affluence did not bring peace to the family.