In June 2023, Ma received unexpected good news: His book was one of 10 selected for publication through the project, allowing him to bypass the financial barrier. This achievement marked a significant milestone in his literary journey.

Then, the Junma Awards for Ethnic Literature, one of China's four major national literary prizes held every four years, began the selection process this year. Encouraged by his recent success and qualification for the selection, Ma enrolled, again without high expectations.

The moment he received notification of winning the award, Ma was sitting under a willow, reading a book, resting. Overcome with joy, he let out a loud scream, startling his family. When they learned of Ma's win, everyone laughed with excitement and congratulated him.

Traveling to Nanning, the provincial capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, for the Junma Awards gala in November marked a unique experience for Ma, who had previously only left his hometown for medical consultations. For most of his life, his condition had remained undiagnosed. His parents tirelessly sought answers, consulting numerous doctors, but none could identify the cause. It wasn't until Ma came across information online about spinal muscular atrophy that he finally found clarity at the age of 27.

SMA is a genetic condition that causes worsening muscle weakness. Fortunately, since 2021, a crucial medication for SMA has been included in China's national medical insurance program, making treatment affordable. Ma now undergoes lumbar punctures and intraspinal injections every four months, which help manage the disease.

Fighting against the illness for many years, Ma never defines himself as a man to be pitied. "I don't think my experiences are tragic. Nowadays, many people face mental health challenges, especially young people. Sometimes they just feel lost and underachieved, and trapped in anxiety. This kind of situation is becoming normal, and we could also say this is trauma for these people. Everyone in this world suffers from something. For me, it's physical; for some others, it's emotional. We're all fighting our own battles," he says.

Ma has firmly established his own daily routine. He breaks one day into three separate parts and will follow them for the rest of his life, he vows.

In the morning, he exercises to wake his body up and get it functioning.

Afternoon is the best time to read, and he will embark on his own journey of words.

Shi has given him the courage to write, and there are many good writers for him to explore, he says.

When night falls, he will sit at the desk and throw himself into the creation of words. Ma is currently working on a novel. Having shared his own story in Qing Bai Shijie, he now seeks to create fictional narratives that explore other people's lives.

Ma writes this line in the profile for his personal social media account: "Be a faithful writer." It is now his life motto. Writing is not just a profession for Ma — it's a lifeline, a way to connect with the world and leave behind a legacy of courage, sincerity and hope.

Tu Jiayi contributed to this story.