Cover image via Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.
In 2015, a tragic accident claimed the life of 77-year-old Wei Sihao, a man many knew as a humble street scavenger in China's Zhejiang province
But his death revealed a secret that would move millions.
According to the South China Morning Post, Wei was not just a rubbish collector. He was a retired secondary school teacher receiving a monthly pension of 5,600 yuan (RM3,650), living a remarkably selfless double life that no one around him knew about.
For two decades, he quietly donated nearly his entire pension to underprivileged students under the alias "Wei Dingzhao"
His secret only came to light after his death, when his three daughters uncovered this truth while sorting through his sparsely furnished 860 sq ft flat.
Inside, they found stacks of yellowed donation certificates and heartfelt letters from students who had never known the true identity of their benefactor.
Beyond his quiet philanthropy, he was a regular at Hangzhou Library, where his deep love and respect for literature became well known among the staff.
Hangzhou Library was the first in China to abolish library card requirements, opening its doors to everyone, including the homeless
When a patron complained about scavengers in 2008, director Chu Shuqing boldly replied: "I have no right to reject them, but you have the right to leave."
Passionate about history and politics, Wei always meticulously washed his hands before touching the books.
Recalling his dedication, a librarian noted: "Despite being covered in stains, his hands were always remarkably clean."
Long before his death, the 77-year-old arranged to donate his body to science and have his ashes scattered in West Lake
Moved by his hidden generosity, 1,178 people raised 50,000 yuan (RM32,600) in under an hour to fund a memorial.
A crowdfunded statue now immortalises his selfless spirit for future generations.
In 2018, a 160cm-tall copper statue of Wei reading a newspaper was unveiled at the library.
"Strictly speaking, Wei was not really a scavenger during his lifetime, but he became a 'scavenger' of our spiritual world," reflected one individual.
