Do you remember in March we posted an article talking about a Shanghainese man that went viral? Many people were so amazed by his literary talent and speeches that they began filming him and posting it on Douyin.
Such as this one from Mr. Shen: “In front of the vast sea of culture, we are all frogs in a well, and the knowledge we acquire is far from enough. So, we need to keep learning.”
If you missed it, check out the article here: How This Homeless Man Goes Viral in Shanghai!?
Today we have an update!
His popularity was SO unexpected!
He thought he would continue with regular life which consisted of going out at 2 am pushing his tricycle to pick up trash. However, a few days after he went viral, his life completely changed! He underestimated this era’s infatuation with internet celebrities.
He said, “For me, the life of wandering is not terrible. It doesn’t matter if I go back to “normal life” again, I have adapted to it for so many years. I don’t think now I can go back anymore.”
Mr. Shen said he’s experienced very unusual treatment in the days after going viral, “I wave my hand and it causes a sensation.”
More and more people have watched him every day. It worries him deeply that no one can control the order.
Many people do not really know him or even like him, but are just pursuing him out of all the hype around him.
At the end of March, a week after going viral, he was evacuated from his shelter near the Yanggaonan Road metro station in Shanghai. Mr. Shen, 52 years old, took a shower, changed his clothes, received a haircut and shave, and ended his 26 years of wandering.
About 5 agencies contacted him to offer him a package. They all tempted him with the idea of getting rich overnight but Shen Wei refused all of them. But no matter how hard Shen Wei tried to throw cold water on it, there was constantly a group of live-streaming followers. They offered to pay for his daily expenses and tried to persuade him to become an anchor.
After weeks of being followed and persuaded, Shen Wei finally gave in and accepted an offer as a network anchor.
Mr. Shen’s first impression was that he would be taken advantage of and asked to give money or something that was beyond what he morally thought right. After his first live broadcast, he realized he could continue to chat with people on camera as before and make a steady income.
Mr. Shen said, “One night, I was taken to a hotel by some live streaming followers. I finally decided to go live in a five-star hotel in Shanghai Jinmao tower for more than 2,000rmb a night!”
He expresses how nervous he was at first, “I got the hang of it quite quickly– how to make people laugh, how to digress, how to be humorous, how to stir up the atmosphere, and how to keep up with the times.”
A month into his live streaming career, Mr. Shen’s received over 300,000 RMB from netizens fans and more than 100,000 RMB a month commission deposited into his bank account through the live streaming platform!
Seeing Mr. Shen’s life after going viral, many people sighed and said that the master was not immune from vulgarity and he began to make money and buy a big house.
However, Mr. Shen says he has not been corrupted. He’s donated all of the rewards on May 7 to Shanghai social welfare institute.
What do you think of Mr. Shen’s transformation?
Has he sold out or is he making a difference for a good cause?