Monkey

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood and Family Hardship

Monkey grew up in a family of modest means. After his parents left home to find work, he and his younger sister stayed with their elderly grandmother. Her severe cataracts and limited mobility meant that Monkey assumed much of the responsibility for caring for both her and Xiaoya while still a child himself 105.

His father later suffered serious injuries after falling from scaffolding at a construction site. With the family's income interrupted and his mother away caring for his father, Monkey considered leaving school to work. The construction site's boss eventually covered the medical expenses and paid substantial compensation, allowing the family to take over a small grocery store and Monkey to continue his studies 105 106.

Friendship with Lin Feng

Monkey became Lin Feng's closest university friend. When Lin Feng was arrested, Monkey was the first to notice that something was wrong. He contacted Lin Feng's parents in their distant hometown and continued passing along whatever news he could gather 66.

When Lin Feng returned to campus to collect his belongings, Monkey greeted him with genuine concern and tried to persuade him not to drop out. Recognizing that his friend's decision was final, he accepted it and encouraged Lin Feng to succeed before seeing him leave 66.

Appearance

• Build: Small and thin, with a thin face 66 214.
• Eyes: Sharp and lively when first introduced 66.
• During Xiaoya's hospitalization: His usual energy gives way to exhaustion, worry, and sleeplessness; he is later described with sunken eyes 104 119.
• New Year clothing: Wears a new red down jacket when visiting Lin Feng's family with Xiaoya 214.

Personality

Monkey is normally cheerful, exuberant, and proud. Despite his family's limited means, Lin Feng has never known him to complain or ask for money before Xiaoya's medical crisis. Requesting a loan visibly embarrasses him, and he treats repayment as a serious personal obligation, preparing a carefully written IOU bearing his fingerprint 90 104.

His loyalty is direct and practical: he keeps Lin Feng's parents informed during the arrest, tries to defend Lin Feng from a classmate's mockery, and devotes himself to Xiaoya's care. His parents regard him as independent and sensible, having trusted him since childhood 66 112 222.

Threats to Xiaoya can overwhelm his usual restraint. His pursuit of police assistance and public exposure eventually gives way to a violent outburst against Qin Ming after he learns what had been planned for his sister. Afterward, anger turns into grief and guilt over his perceived failure to protect her 133 155.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Raising Money for Xiaoya's Treatment

Monkey first asks Lin Feng to lend him fifty thousand yuan. Without demanding an explanation, Lin Feng sends one hundred thousand instead. Monkey is overcome with gratitude and promises to repay him 90.

At Old Wang Barbecue behind their university, Monkey later reveals that Xiaoya has been diagnosed with stage-three lymphoma. His family has exhausted its savings and borrowed from relatives and friends. Ashamed that he cannot repay the earlier loan soon, he presents Lin Feng with an IOU; Lin Feng accepts it and provides another two hundred thousand yuan for treatment 104.

That evening, Monkey drinks heavily despite normally having very little tolerance for alcohol. He recounts the hardships of raising Xiaoya and caring for their grandmother, revealing the depth of his attachment to his sister 105.

Removing Xiaoya from Ankang Hospital

After Lin Feng arranges access to a specialist, Monkey seeks permission to transfer Xiaoya from Ankang Hospital. Doctor Qin warns that moving her could be fatal and insists on speaking to her guardians. Monkey brings his parents to complete the paperwork, but a nurse then reports that Xiaoya's breathing and oxygen levels have suddenly deteriorated 111 112.

Professor Liu subsequently concludes that Xiaoya's unconsciousness is caused by general anesthesia rather than an acute worsening of her illness. He also states that her vital signs permit a safe transfer and that the lymphoma diagnosis requires further testing 118.

Li Jun arrives with dozens of men to remove Xiaoya from Ankang Hospital. Monkey accompanies the operation and helps carry his unconscious sister into the hospital where Professor Liu Mingyuan works 119 122.

Following the transfer, Li Jun instructs Monkey to describe him as a creditor who visited the hospital to verify Xiaoya's illness. When police question them, Zhou Wenyuan challenges the officers' authority to take them to the station without the relevant paperwork. Monkey gives the prepared account during questioning at a restaurant 122 124.

Seeking Accountability

The new diagnostic report establishes that Xiaoya never had lymphoma. Unnecessary treatment has seriously harmed her health, and the findings also suggest deliberate anesthesia. Monkey breaks down, his mother faints, and his father reports Ankang Hospital to the police 127.

Hospital representative Zhang Hongyuan later pressures Monkey's parents by warning that a legal dispute could delay the return of their advance medical payments for years. Furious, Monkey approaches Captain Li, but learns that missing evidence and the hospital's legal defenses could make prosecution difficult and slow. He then begins recording an accusation for Quick Sound 132 133.

As the dispute continues online, seven or eight thugs surround and harass Monkey outside the hospital. Li Jun intervenes and explains that Lin Feng has asked him to watch over Monkey's family 138.

Confronting Qin Ming

Dissatisfied with Ankang Hospital's fine and corrective order, and enraged that Qin Ming has apparently escaped accountability through a mental-illness designation, Monkey vents to Lin Feng over drinks. Lin Feng takes him to the municipal mental health center, where Qin Ming is restrained and confined 150 151.

Monkey demands answers, but Qin Ming initially responds only with incoherent muttering. After Lin Feng brings in Chen Meijiao, the terrified doctor identifies Wei Guangyuan as the person who ordered him to act 152.

Learning of plans involving organ trafficking and turning Xiaoya into a preserved specimen sends Monkey into a frenzy. He repeatedly beats the restrained Qin Ming before collapsing into tears, consumed by horror and self-blame 155 156.

Monkey afterward wants to contact the police. Lin Feng argues that Qin Ming's legal designation as mentally ill would allow his confession to be dismissed, then promises to handle the matter and ensure Xiaoya is not wronged. Monkey reluctantly entrusts it to him 156.

Recovery and New Year Reunion

While Xiaoya recovers, Monkey complains that Wei Guangyuan and Qian Zhiming have escaped. Lin Feng suggests that escape may not benefit them, which Monkey interprets as reassurance that they will eventually face retribution 180.

Monkey later brings the visibly healthier Xiaoya to visit Lin Feng's family for the New Year, carrying fruit, pastries, and liquor. He also tells Lin Feng about their high school reunion, while leaving the decision to attend entirely to him 214.

At the reunion, Monkey tries to defend Lin Feng against Zhang Chi's belittling remarks, but stops when Lin Feng signals him not to intervene. His friend's detachment makes Monkey realize how much Lin Feng has changed. When the gathering ends, he leaves with Lin Feng in the latter's new Lexus GX 222 223 224.

Relationships

• Lin Feng — His closest university friend, whom he calls “Madman.” Their friendship deepens after Lin Feng finances Xiaoya's care and arranges her rescue; Monkey comes to regard him as both family-like support and a benefactor he can trust absolutely 66 90 180.
• Hou Xiaoya — His younger sister, whom he helped raise. He personally tends to her during hospitalization and pursues treatment and accountability on her behalf 105 110 133.
• His parents — Trust his judgment and rely on him during Xiaoya's hospitalization. He coordinates the transfer paperwork and shares their struggle against Ankang Hospital 112 127 133.
• Li Jun — Helps transfer Xiaoya and later protects Monkey from harassment. Monkey gratefully addresses him as “Brother Jun” 122 138.
• Zhou Wenyuan — Lawyer who assists during police questioning and explains Xiaoya's actual diagnosis to the family 124 127.
• Qin Ming — The doctor responsible for harming Xiaoya; Monkey confronts and violently attacks him after learning the extent of the scheme 152 155.
• Zhang Fen and Lin Jianguo — Lin Feng's parents, with whom Monkey is familiar and comfortable. They warmly welcome him and Xiaoya during their New Year visit 214.

Notable Quotes

“Even if I have to smash the pots and sell the iron, work like an ox or a horse, I, Monkey, will pay you back! I keep my word!” 104

“Our family... we've always lived honestly and kept to ourselves. We never thought of hurting anyone... so how did we... end up like this?” 150