Chinese Influencer's Kindness Ends in Tragedy
Chinese influencer Zhang bought out an elderly vegetable vendor's entire stock and treated him to a meal in Henan Province, but the 81-year-old was struck by a car and killed while traveling home shortly after.
On July 10, a video posted by Chinese influencer Zhang sparked widespread online debate after he bought out an entire vegetable stand from 81-year-old vendor Sei Jing and treated him to a large meal for the first time in his life. Tragically, the elderly man was struck by a car and killed while traveling home shortly after. Zhang, who has over 84,000 followers on Chinese platforms and regularly creates content helping farmers in Henan Province, purchased all 75 kilograms of vegetables—spinach, cucumber, and eggplant—that the vendor had brought to sell, paying 60 yuan (approximately 300 baht) and playfully stepping on the scale to increase the weight so the elderly man would earn more. The two then shared a meal, during which the vendor explained he still worked hard to support his two grandsons. Following the video's release, the vendor's grandson commented that his grandfather died in a traffic accident on the way home, calling it the last meal and video of his grandfather's life. The grandson remarked, "For years I hadn't seen Grandpa so happy." While some online questioned whether the meal contributed to the accident, the grandson defended Zhang, stating that good deeds should never be blamed and warning that if kindness were criticized, no one would dare help others anymore. Three days later, Zhang confirmed he had provided all footage and photos from the vendor's final day to the family and offered further assistance if needed. Many internet users rallied behind Zhang, arguing that blame should fall on the driver, not the person offering help, viewing the warm meal as the most precious moment of joy in the elderly man's final day.
