Edwin had
worked hard all his life. He had started at the age of 17 to help his father
run a small radio repair shop in a quiet neighbourhood. This had begun in him a
burning desire to be a successful businessman. So when his father was too old
to work, Edwin ran the shop alone. His sincerity and honesty earned a lot of
friends and slowly his shop became bigger and bigger. As Edwin was a frugal
man, he saved enough to be able to open branches all over Singapore. His
honesty earned him the trust of a lot of traders from overseas. His business
expanded, and he became very rich. Then one day, a man dressed very smartly
appeared in his office.
The man had a
proposal to expand the business overseas. He played upon the emotions of Edwin
who was very trusting and agreed to accept the man as a partner. It was also at
this time that Edwin's father became gravely ill. Because of this, Edwin could
not spend much time in the business and depended more and more on his partner.
In fact, he was grateful to the partner for taking care of the business all by
himself. Then, he made his ultimate mistake. Fully trusting his partner, he
signed several blank cheques so that his partner could withdraw money without
seeing him every time. Then one day, two tragedies struck Edwin at the same
time. His father died and Edwin's partner disappeared. It was then that Edwin
discovered that his partner had cheated him and had withdrawn all the money he
had.
Edwin was
ruined. However, he remained calm and concentrated on burying his father. After
that, he made a police report. His partner was caught in a week, but it was no
use. None of the money that he had worked for and saved all those years was
left. The villain had hidden it all or just spent it. There was nothing that
Edwin could do except to take his partner to court and have him sent to prison.
Edwin had to
sell his business in order to pay all his debts. He felt depressed and was
contemplating suicide. But his wife stood by him. She told him, repeatedly,
that he was a good man and a capable one. She spoke to him every day and built
up his confidence. Slowly, Edwin found his courage again. He made a vow to
himself and his wife that he would become rich again in five years. Then he sold
all his wife's jewelery and started a small shop. It was in the same
neighbourhood, where he and his father had opened their little repair shop so
many years ago. A lot of people began to come to Edwin's shop. In order to
support him, his wife worked with him.
After a few
years of struggle, Edwin became rich again. He realized that becoming rich was
due to mental ability and not because of luck. He worked sincerely and with all
his concentration overcame all obstacles. He kept his vow to himself and to his
wife; he became immensely rich in five years.
Adapted
from: GCE 'O' Level Challenging English Essay
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