Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

AsiaWire

This video seen 150 million times shows an elderly scrap collector bursting into tears and begging a village official to let her donate everything she has to Wuhan.

Xu Meiying, 73, who makes a living selling waste such as glass and plastic bottles, is said to have offered 10,000 RMB (1,090 GBP) in cash to help support front-line efforts in Wuhan, capital of Central China’s Hubei Province.

But Ms Xu, who lives in the village of Donglin in Jiangyin City in East China’s Jiangsu Province, was turned down, with officials believing the poverty-stricken woman should keep the money for herself.

However, on 2nd February Ms Xu returned again, crying in the office of village secretary Liu Jinlong, who said he finally accepted the scrap collector’s selfless offer.

Mr Liu said: “She donated all the money she uses for food, and everything she earned from selling waste.

“It was 10,000 RMB (1,090 GBP) in total.

“I really couldn’t accept it, but she came crying to us twice, so we sent it to Wuhan.”

The funds were reportedly remitted to a designated account in Wuhan, as per Ms Xu’s wishes.

Village officials said it was not the first time Ms Xu displayed such a selfless act despite her own dire economic conditions.

Before Chinese New Year, Ms Xu is said to have offered 2,000 RMB (220 GBP) in donations to her local village.

When that was turned down, she went around giving each and every household 100 RMB (11 GBP), reports said.

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