Taiwanese Singer Had Just 12 Cents Left To His Name, Thanks Wife For Not Leaving Him

They say tough times reveal who truly stands by you, and for Taiwanese singer Edy Hsiao, that person has always been his wife, Mei, 45.

The 44-year-old member of Taiwanese boyband Energy recently released his first solo album, which includes a self-written song titled Three Dollars dedicated to his wife.

The song is a heartfelt thank-you to Mei for standing by him during the lowest point of his life — when he had just NT$3 (S$0.12) left to his name.

Speaking to local Chinese media vibes by 8world, Edy revealed that the song is entirely based on his own experience.

"It happened around the time Energy disbanded. I already had a family and children, but my income was extremely unstable," he recalled.

Energy disbanded in 2009 before reuniting in 2023. Edy and Mei, who married in 2007, have two daughters, Pupu, 18, and Puru, 16, as well as a seven-year-old son, Ah Zhu Bao.

"I was constantly waiting for work opportunities, so it was truly a low point."

Looking back, Edy said he is most grateful that Mei never walked away despite their financial struggles.

"She didn't choose to leave because of our situation. Instead, she stayed with me, worked together with me to keep our family going and shoulder the financial burden," he said.

"Whether it was help from my family or hers, their support allowed us to get through that period while I waited for work."

The financial hardship wasn't the only challenge they faced.

Edy revealed that for four consecutive years, their family suffered the loss of a loved one each year.

"For four consecutive years, someone in our family passed away each year — from my wife's grandmother, then her mother, followed by my father, and then her father."

The repeated bereavements, coupled with the pressure of making ends meet, placed a tremendous strain on their marriage.

"When you're facing one setback after another and don't know how to solve your problems, it was easy for the two of us to argue and fight."

"The truth is, our journey hasn't been as smooth as it may seem to people today."

Despite everything, the couple weathered the storm together.

Today, Edy affectionately describes his wife as his "walking stick".

"When I was already struggling to walk on my own, she was the one who supported me, allowing me to continue taking small steps forward, one at a time."