In Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, a food delivery rider got into a physical altercation with the head and deputy head of a Meituan station after his salary was deducted. He then pulled out a fruit knife and injured both the head and deputy head, sparking widespread attention and sympathy online. Netizens cautioned against bullying honest people, warning that pushing someone too far could lead to unfortunate consequences.
On the morning of November 5th, the Qiaoxi Branch of the Shijiazhuang Public Security Bureau in Hebei Province issued a police report stating, “Around 14:30 on November 4th, an incident of injury occurred near the intersection of Minsheng Road and Dajing Street in our district. Due to a work dispute, a man named Li (male, 28 years old) used a tool knife to injure two colleagues. The police arrived at the scene and immediately apprehended Li. The injured parties were promptly taken to the hospital for treatment and are not in life-threatening condition. Currently, the case is under further investigation.”
Following this vague statement from the police, social media platforms in mainland China quickly stirred up discussions and circulated related videos, some of which were promptly taken down due to their graphic content.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the incident stemmed from a discontented delivery rider at a Meituan station in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, who demanded to resign. In response, the station manager deducted 80% of his wages, reducing his earnings from 5 yuan per order to 1 yuan, resulting in a wage difference of approximately 3000 yuan per month. The rider, feeling aggrieved, confronted the station manager indoors and was physically attacked before the conflict escalated outside.
In a disadvantaged position of one against two, the rider lost control of his emotions, took out a fruit knife he carried with him, and stabbed both the station manager and the deputy, causing one to fall to the ground on the spot and injuring the other.
Informants believe this incident is similar to the labor exploitation cases involving intermediaries that occurred in the past two years, illustrating how exploitation can lead to extreme reactions.
Rumors initially circulated indicating one fatality and one injury, but the police report clarified that both injured parties are not in a life-threatening condition at present.
Public records show that the station manager at Meituan is responsible for overseeing the operations of a “food delivery station,” which typically manages the delivery riders, order distribution, and daily operations within a specific area, such as a commercial district or residential neighborhood.
Online sentiment largely sympathizes with the food delivery rider, with many expressing that “bullying honest people often leads to consequences that one must confront eventually.”
Eyewitnesses also shared their accounts, noting that the rider who carried out the stabbing did not attempt to flee and showed remorse. One eyewitness mentioned, “Despite the violent incident, the rider did not immediately resort to using the knife, but only after being assaulted and choked by the station manager and deputy.”
Video footage circulating online captured the rider’s calm and cooperative demeanor when being escorted by the police, with colleagues nearby observing the situation calmly, as if it were a minor incident on the street.
In one video clip, as the police were about to remove the rider from the scene, they discovered the small knife used in the attack. The officer questioned, “Is this the knife?” before picking it up without gloves, prompting surprise and questions from viewers regarding the handling of potential evidence.
Many netizens voiced support for the food delivery rider, engaging in discussions regarding possible legal consequences. Some suggested potential prison terms based on legal interpretations, highlighting the complexities of self-defense laws in such cases.
Furthermore, supporters across various regions proposed solidarity with the rider, emphasizing the need for collective action among food delivery workers when facing unjust treatment.
There were also calls to crowdfund for the rider’s legal defense, emphasizing the importance of securing the best legal representation. In one instance, a netizen from Inner Mongolia suggested, “Each person donates 10 yuan, and let’s see who dares to mistreat honest individuals.”
Commentary online framed the clash between the Meituan station manager and the food delivery rider as a stark manifestation of the conflicts within the new operational platforms. The escalation from verbal disputes to physical altercations and ultimately to a violent clash was seen as an eruption of individual grievances. While the rider will bear responsibility, there were calls for accountability on the part of the station manager for the misuse of power.