When Daidai realized her father was too old to slaughter two pigs for a traditional community feast in the run-up to Chinese New Year, she turned to social media.
She didn't want him to feel bad.
Can anyone help me? she asked on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, at the end of last week. My father is old. I am worried that he can't handle these pigs.
Daidai, who's in her 20s, promised those who came to Qingfu to assist would be treated to a pork banquet.
In rural Sichuan and Chongqing, large community meals are an important part of culture, featuring twice-cooked pork, steamed ribs, soup, and homemade liquor.
Let me hold my head up high in our village, she said.
Her appeal for help attracted more than a million likes and the response was reminiscent of a feel-good movie as thousands of cars poured into the village.
So many responded that traffic jams brought roads in this part of rural Chongqing to a standstill, with drone images showing cars queuing up, some opting to walk in to avoid congestion.
Daidai later alerted the police about the potential disruption, who dispatched extra officers to manage the overwhelming crowds.
When the pig slaughter and subsequent mass banquet occurred, it captured over 100,000 live viewers online and registered 20 million likes, becoming a tourism highlight.
Tourism officials donated additional pigs to accommodate demand, while local businesses thrived with outdoor seating areas for the influx of visitors.
The celebration, which began with a mere 1,000 diners, swelled to 2,000 the following day amid music, bonfires, and festivities.
Despite exhausting days and minimal sleep, Daidai reflected on the joy and community spirit, expressing gratitude to those who celebrated together.
Without your enthusiasm and passion, there would not have been a feast like this, she noted, heralding a potential new annual event celebrating local culture.
As for her father, he expressed happiness at the turnout, stating, We've never experienced anything like this.
