Live Streaming for Agricultural Assistance: "90s" Internet Celebrity Busy with "Shopping Spree"

On March 15, it was market day in Muya Town, Yingshan County, Nanchong City, Sichuan Province. Internet celebrity Zhou Qin arrived at the town's farmers' market to start another day of live-streaming "shopping spree."

"Excuse me, ma'am, how much per kilogram for the shepherd's purse? I'll take them all," Zhou Qin asked an elderly woman selling at a stall in the market.

"These were dug from the ridge in my field yesterday. There are about 4 jin (approximately 2 kg). If you want them all, I'll give you a price of 7 yuan per jin," the elderly woman replied.

The elderly woman picked up a traditional balance scale and weighed the produce. The weight was so substantial that the scale's weight couldn't hold down the beam. "It's 4 jin, that'll be 28 yuan," she announced.

"I'll give you 30 yuan. No need to give me change," Zhou Qin paid and, after a brief chat, moved on to find the next "seller."

According to Zhou Qin, her live-streaming "shopping spree" specifically targets the elderly in rural areas. When the quantity of vegetables grown by the elderly or wild greens they've foraged is not much, she buys them all. "When there's not much left to sell and the prices are very low, I'll even give a few extra yuan to those warm-hearted and simple elderly people."

Zhou Qin mentioned that she has been live-streaming "shopping spree" for over two years, and she spends every day in the farmers' markets of various townships in Yingshan. She knows exactly which town has a market day and which agricultural products are authentic. She only gets a brief rest on the last day of each decade.

"At the beginning of my 'shopping spree,' I paid out of my own pocket, and the amount of agricultural products I helped sell was not much," Zhou Qin said. Persisting with agricultural assistance live-streaming attracted a large number of followers. Moved by her, the caring individuals in the live-streaming room would show their support through donations. She would then use the donated money to purchase more agricultural products. "I'm just a courier, mainly providing a service to pass on their love," she said.

How does she handle these agricultural products? "Give them away! If there are any left, then sell them!" Zhou Qin explained that after the live-streaming "shopping spree," she would give the vegetables to local sanitation workers. Any remaining vegetables would be taken back to the county town and given to those in financial difficulties. If there were still agricultural products left, she would set up a stall at the entrance of residential communities in the county town and sell them in a semi-gift, semi-sale manner. The proceeds from the sales would then be used as funds for the next day's "shopping spree."

Zhou Qin is from Berlin Township, Yingshan County. She used to run a clothing store and a restaurant. While managing her businesses, she was introduced to the live-streaming industry. With her natural good voice, she sang for her "followers" in the live-streaming room. Over time, she closed her stores and became a full-time entertainment streamer, singing for her "followers." After several years, her live-streaming platform had accumulated over 30,000 "followers," including many caring individuals. These caring individuals, who were unable to find the time or a way to give back, entrusted Zhou Qin, who comes from a rural background, to help the elderly in rural areas increase their income through the "shopping spree" method.

"It is their love that has inspired me to join them in giving back and to persist in live-streaming 'shopping spree' together," Zhou Qin said. (By Guo Ming)