A woman from central China who started doing chores at the age of five and left school at 15 to support her disabled parents has gone viral for selling vegetables in her village.
Li Yayun, 27, from Henan province, is known online as Li Fugui. Her videos of rural life and heartfelt interactions with elderly villagers have earned her over 7 million followers on mainland social media.
Admired for her beauty and warm personality, fans have nicknamed her the “Vegetable Xi Shi” in reference to one of ancient China’s legendary beauties.
According to the mainland media outlet Jiupai News, both of Li’s parents have severe intellectual disabilities.
Her mother requires full-time care, while her father, who has the mental capacity of a six-year-old, can cook simple meals and ride an electric tricycle.
Li started doing household chores at the age of five and left school at 15 to support the family, taking jobs in sales, barbecue stalls and as a make-up artist.
She married at 19 but divorced a year later when her husband refused to share carer duties. After her grandmother died in 2020, she and her grandfather took over the care of her parents.
In recent years, Li has walked from village to village with a small cart, selling essentials to elderly residents who cannot travel far. With most young people working away, many elderly live alone.
“In the past, they had to walk hours to reach a market. I just want to make life easier for them. I am not in it for the money,” said Li.
She sells tofu, cold noodles, vegetables and pastries, often for just a few yuan.
In her videos, Li is often seen slipping extra tofu to elderly villagers or letting them try food for free. She also helps them dry wheat, make calls and fix phones.
Many treat her like their own daughter and often invite her to meals.
Years of working under the sun have left her hands calloused and her skin deeply tanned.
Every day, Li cooks for her parents, teaches her father to write and helps her grandfather care for fruit trees.
She also sells produce online and once used her earnings to take her grandfather on a trip to Beijing.
In June, Li dispelled rumours that she earns more than one million yuan (US$140,000) a year, saying her income is only slightly higher than that of an average office worker.
She said that all of her income comes from online sales and that she never accepts advertisements.
Li also said she is not looking for sympathy, only trying to make life brighter for her family.
“Many people with disabilities have it even harder, yet they still embrace life. I have no reason not to do the same,” she said.
Li’s story has captured widespread attention online, with related posts garnering more than 10 million views.
One online observer said: “The simplicity and sincerity of Li and the elderly villagers always move me. You just do not find that in fast-paced city life.”
“She is like a sunflower blooming in barren soi, strong, independent, and graceful,” another commented. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
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