Tribulations of a Chinaman in China

The book tells the story of a young, very rich Chinese man named Kin-Fo, who is very bored with life. When he learns that his significant investments in the United States have failed and that he is in danger of bankruptcy, he decides to commit suicide. However, he refuses to kill himself because he wants to experience some excitement at least once in his life before he dies. He therefore takes out life insurance for two hundred thousand dollars and arranges with his friend, the old philosopher Wang, to murder him before the insurance period expires. Suddenly, however, he receives word that the information about the bankruptcy of the American bank in which he had stored his funds was only a marketing ploy, and that in fact it is even richer than before. He immediately wants to contact Wang and cancel their agreement, but he has already disappeared. Kin-Fo must travel throughout China (accompanied by his loyal but somewhat incompetent servant and two bodyguards from the insurance company) to find Wang and cancel their deal. After a series of adventures, many times threatened with death by Wang's assassins, Kin-Fo is eventually captured and transported blindfolded to his own home to his surprise, where his friends, including Wang, are already waiting for him. He now learns that everything was staged by Wang to learn a lesson in how precious and beautiful life is.