Hospital staff sell 4,000kg of apples for stroke-stricken farmer in 19 hours
When a farmer suffered a stroke, hospital staff stepped in to sell his entire apple stock.
On May 2, Ji Yaozhong, a 44-year-old fruit farmer from Yangxian county in Shaanxi province, embarked on a trip to sell 4,000kg of apples in Xianfeng county, Hubei province. During the journey, he suffered a sudden stroke, leaving him with a numb right arm and slurred speech. He sought emergency treatment at Xianfeng County Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, where doctors saved his life but informed him he would need long-term rehabilitation. His wife, Liang Lili, traveled to care for him but could not drive, so the truck full of apples remained parked at the hospital. Ji is the sole breadwinner for his family, supporting two sick parents and two young schoolchildren.
After learning of Ji's situation on the afternoon of May 4, the hospital's logistics department drove the truck to the hospital gate and set up booths to sell the apples. The staff and local residents purchased the entire 4,000kg load within 19 hours, alleviating Ji's financial burden. The story touched many, leading to reciprocal tourism agreements between Yangxian and Xianfeng counties, allowing residents to visit each other's tourist spots for free. The hospital's quick action has been praised widely on Chinese social media.
- Ji Yaozhong suffered a stroke while transporting 4,000kg of apples from Yangxian to Xianfeng county.
- Hospital doctors saved his life but warned of long-term rehab; his family depends on his income.
- Staff sold all 4,000kg of apples in 19 hours via booths set up at the hospital gate.
Why It Matters
A simple act of kindness by hospital staff built community bonds and sparked reciprocal tourism between two counties.