Recently, an article circulating on Chinese social media has brought attention to a girl from a poor county in Ningxia, who graduated from a prestigious “211” university in Beijing. The article revealed that despite achieving top scores in written exams for provincial career units in her hometown multiple times, she was suspected of being rejected due to “unfair exams” and lack of family background. She eventually left her hometown, faced job search setbacks, and was tragically found “starved to death” in a rental house. The article has garnered over 100,000 views, sparking discussions both domestically and internationally.
According to reports from Central News Agency, on August 16th, the WeChat public account “Zhengguan” published an article titled “A girl from outside died in my rented apartment”, written from the perspective of a landlord recounting the story of a deceased tenant. Through the deceased’s previous WeChat interactions and subsequent contact with the deceased’s parents, the article pieced together the girl’s life before her passing.
The incident occurred in a certain apartment in Xi’an at the end of June this year. Due to a foul smell emanating from the apartment and the landlord being out of town, the property management forcibly entered and discovered the female tenant’s body. After the police investigation, it was concluded that there was no external interference.
The landlord mentioned that the single woman came from the Western Hui Autonomous Region in Ningxia, working as an accountant, and rented the apartment in April while looking for a job in Xi’an. The rent for the six-month period turned out to be borrowed from relatives in the village by the tenant’s mother.
Coming from a poor mountainous region, the woman’s admission to a prestigious “211” university in Beijing was a source of pride for the remote village. In the years following graduation, her relentless pursuit of a government position saw her achieve top scores in written exams for provincial units in her hometown multiple times, but she continued to be unsuccessful in interviews. For nearly a decade since graduation, she remained unemployed, with her livelihood supported by her farmer parents.
The woman’s last contact with her family via WeChat was on April 20th, requesting money, to which her mother indicated the family’s financial difficulties. Subsequently, the woman blocked her family members on WeChat.
The girl’s parents lamented, “She completed her studies, she was the hope of our whole family, and even the hope of the village – our family relied on her.” The landlord believed this somewhat explained the woman’s dedication to pursuing a government position and the immense pressure she must have felt.
Her family still maintains that the exam was unfair since achieving first place did not secure acceptance, attributing it to their lack of background as a rural family, manifesting significant resentment towards society today.
Surveillance footage showed that after around May 20th, the woman did not leave her residence, did not order takeout, left no signs of cooking, and her phone records showed no communication with anyone, indicating that she likely passed away in extreme isolation.
The article sparked numerous reposts and comments, with many describing a sense of suffocation while reading it. Many netizens striving outside their hometowns expressed understanding for the woman’s feelings, cautioning against fixating solely on pursuing a government position, noting that life offers various possibilities.
The incident had been something I wanted to record, but each time I tried to put pen to paper, it felt burdensome, unsure of where to begin. Just an ordinary day in late June, a phone call plunged me into an emotional abyss for a lengthy period.
My tenant passed away in my house, the body decomposed to the point of being unrecognizable. In a panicked morning, as I was absent from Xi’an, property management, the real estate agency, and locksmith entered the house with my authorization. The property management filmed the process, capturing every second leading up to the door being opened. Hoping it was a false alarm until the locksmith finally opened the door, pointing to the floor inside and softly muttered, “A person is dead.” The word was barely audible; I had to turn up my phone volume to the maximum to hear those three words. The video abruptly ended there.
After the door closed again, the locksmith left, waving it off, dismissing the lock fee as the property management alerted the police, awaiting their arrival. Despite the police responding promptly, being in Xinjiang made the wait feel interminable… Was it suicide? Homicide? Sudden illness? Intruder violence? Or who was the deceased, was it my tenant? Countless questions swirled in my mind.
The police and forensic team arrived; the body was taken away, and the bustle of the 30th floor abruptly ceased that morning.
In early April, while on a business trip to Beijing, I received a call from the real estate agent that someone wanted to rent the house I had entrusted to lease at the end of February. Despite being a small single-apartment of only 50 square meters, due to its location and good renovation, the rent was relatively high. Inquired by many initially, who found it expensive and unleased.
It wasn’t until April that I almost forgot about the leasing matter, but was suddenly informed by the real estate agent of a prospective tenant who swiftly leased the property – a 1991-born single woman from Ningxia, working as an accountant and currently job hunting in Xi’an.
The viewing, inspection, and online contract signing processes went smoothly, except for a hiccup during rent payment. Initially, the tenant requested my Alipay account but failed to transfer the amount. She then added me on WeChat, also failing to transfer promptly, citing a lock issue due to entering the wrong password, necessitating a bank visit to resolve it before the money could be sent.
At that moment, I didn’t pay much attention to this detail…
Carelessly, I failed to realize that her death had already foreshadowed during rent payment. Later, I learned that the rent for the six months was borrowed from relatives in the village by her mother. If time could rewind, I would have advised her not to spend that money and return home. But back then, she even blocked me from viewing her social moments, leaving me almost clueless about her situation.
The prime of life was meant for striving, so what was the final straw that broke her? The investigation had concluded, the police arrived, but her cause of death remained a mystery. And just like her ashes and belongings were eventually disposed of by her father, vanishing without a trace, leaving no answers.
Sorting through these memories, feelings of turmoil lingered, encountering too many unsettling aspects of Chinese society and rural norms.
Times when I felt outrage – why chose to seek death among endless methods, why succumb within the rented walls mirroring a substantial loss; why abruptly depart without a word, placing suspicion on me too. But as the case delved deeper, I couldn’t harbor resentment. I lamented the premature passing of a young life, and empathized with her destitute parents who continued their arduous lives while their daughter rested in the soil. Tears flowed at the thought of the impoverished and backward customs of the Northwestern poor regions…
After the forensic team removed the body, the police promptly contacted her parents.
And since her passing, there had been no contact with any family members.
Why refuse a lifeline and block everyone?
The answer we’ll never know… only inferred from the minute details in police possession, suggesting the girl’s proud and studious nature from an early age, but even turning down a token sum of 1,000 yuan, feeling it wasn’t up to par. In contrast, her parents provided a glimpse into their unwavering expectations, revealing their hefty sacrifices to support their jobless daughter for nearly a decade. The sacrifices of a poor rural family that raised a daughter in Beijing, a feat deemed exceptional.
The residential area where the deceased county was located only rid itself of poverty in 2019. Moreover, the rural regions of the Western Hui Autonomous Region in Ningxia had long struggled with gender inequality, where few from impoverished families pursued education, often becoming wives early. However, during my face-to-face interaction with the deceased’s father, he disclosed the profound expectations they held for their daughter, “She completed her studies, she was the hope of our whole family, and even the hope of the village – our family relied on her.” Here, I seemingly grasped the girl’s persistence towards the government examinations and felt the immense pressure she carried.
Towards early June, the girl’s family remained unable to contact her, filing a report. Being in Xinjiang, I stayed in touch with the investigating police, who assured me that returning immediately was futile and sought to await the deceased’s parents’ arrival from Ningxia to Xi’an for DNA verification, confirming her identity as my tenant.
Continually inquiring about the cause of the girl’s demise, the police were cautious and only disclosed that the estimated death interval ranged from two weeks to 20 days, attributing the advanced decomposition to Xi’an’s sustained high temperatures. Initial observations within the property suggested cleanliness and intact windows, minimizing the likelihood of foul play. However, a more detailed on-site investigation, combined with retrieving the deceased’s phone records, building surveillance, and shopping logs for additional external inquiries, was needed for validation. Following a coherent presentation of the case facts, it wasn’t too late for my return.
The deceased’s parents hurriedly arrived from Ningxia that same evening, with the police informing me that DNA samples had been collected, expecting results within 2-3 working days for my departure. Amid their emotional turmoil, unable to accept the situation, the police’s heartfelt words of sympathy resonated, “There’s nothing we can do.”
On the final day of June, I requested an extended leave from work, flying to Xi’an.
Mid-flight, I received three unanswered calls, each from the investigating police, reaching home in the early morning, I texted the officers, notifying my return and offering full cooperation with the inquiry.
For the first time in my life, mandated to provide a statement, I found myself in an inquiry room providing a detailed account. Despite my late arrival, the preliminary peripheral investigation conducted by the police had nearly concluded. Besides ensuring the case file was comprehensive, narrating the deceased’s parent’s unwillingness for a forensic autopsy to ascertain the cause of death, cemented the necessity for my testimony. Supposedly, lawfully, direct contact with the decedent’s kin was inessential, bearing no obligation for compensation. As the police could manage the estate’s inventory, I was excused from involvement.
Marveling at the complex investigation unraveling before me, slowly painting the last two months of the girl’s existence, a life that pained any beholder.
I stood as the sole WeChat contact for the girl’s last communication thread, despite her blocking others while permitting digital communication only with me. Providing the timeline and messaging nuances initiated over WeChat, I upheld my habit of not erasing chat logs, preserving each interaction impeccably.
On April 9th, the real estate agent facilitated her onboarding on my WeChat and remitted the half-year rental fee. After her transaction, she sought any clarifications, acknowledging my availability for queries. However, the dramatics unfolded when she inquired about the electric clothesline’s operation on the balcony while gathering all plush dolls in a designated area and sent images, stating disinterest in the items. Advising her to dispose of the toys if she needed the space, she reassured she wouldn’t need the cabinet.
Come April 17th, she contacted me via video call and voice messages, but my ongoing meeting led to a decline, calling for a message. She nervously expressed a sudden visit by a gas company representative, claiming noncompliance with the apartment’s gas pipeline. Insisting that I speak with the individual, I probed her diligence in validating his credentials. Without much response from her end, the visitor reportedly left as soon as she inquired about his identification, leaving me skeptical. I immediately consulted the property management, receiving no confirming reports of a gas company survey that day. I perceived her vulnerability and naïveté, considering how easily she could be deceived.
Just considering the address on her identification card, from a remote Ningxia village, I advised her on navigating complexities in urban life, suggesting vigilance to avert potential fraudsters and offered my profession as a public security officer, promising assistance in time of need.
Fast forward to June 3rd, a utility service alerted me about overdue payment, prompting immediate contact with her regarding the bill. As warning signs alluded to a potential power outage and spoilage of perishables in the fridge, my message urging her promptly reached her device late in the afternoon, with a nonchalant response acknowledging she had no food in the fridge.
Revisiting utility payments on June 13th, with the slight arrears signaling a prior power disruption, the 24.17 yuan bill notified a minor increment from the previous 10-day backlog, indicating the power had been cut off by 1 yuan. Learning that the electricity had been severed after 1 p.m. on June 4th, my attempts to prompt a response were met with silence this time.
The last communication with her is imprinted on June 25th, coinciding with property management’s notification of a pungent smell permeating the 30th floor and traceable to my residence. Following failed attempts to reach her, suspecting the worst, I made multiple calls left unanswered until she remained unresponsive; the property management escalated urgency, urging me to unlock the door. Watching them lug a modest suitcase down the building in the crispness of rain, revealed scarce items from the girl’s belongings.
Moments later, the girl’s father unhesitatingly discarded the trolley into a roadside trash bin, devoid of any reluctance or sentimental attachment, walking away without casting a backward glance. Thus, her disappearance unfolded, leaving ephemeral remnants – a whisper of the daughter she once was, a source of local pride fading, a tenant vanished without a trace…
As the literal and metaphorical handing of the carryout took place, an ephemeral brush against her father’s hand as I handed him the plastic bags for a split second left me recoiling like an electric shock. Still reeling from the recent memory of clearing her belongings, the site formerly housing the deteriorated remains, evoked an indescribable sense of disgust.
Little did I foresee when I suggested they walk to the property, a two-lane drive, all without umbrellas amidst the fine rain. Wandering through the bustling thoroughfare, perhaps oblivious to the vacated 30th floor, had anyone in the buzzing crowd discerned a young life’s departure? How do we know if anyone cared? I might remember her solely since the apartment she stayed in would lie idle for the following years, never to be tread upon again, perhaps to be eternally abandoned.
She emerged in this world with high spirits, leaping from remote mountainous confines to the grandeur of Beijing, relishing the glow of her triumphs, only winding down to a pitiful fate – who should bear the blame? Society, family, or the course of her character? The final straw shrouding the camel in life’s brunt left me devoid of answers.
Considering there will be no more dealings with the girl’s family, aware of their extended homeward voyages back to Ningxia, I steered towards a nearby convenience store, purchasing water and bread for their journey, hoping to ease their travels. Scarcely exiting the store, I caught sight of them dragging a minimally laden suitcase down the street, the dearth of the girl’s belongings heart-wrenching.
But in the succeeding moment, the father nonchalantly hurled the suitcase into a curbside garbage bin, swiftly sauntering away, an epitome of detachment. She vanished this way, the bone of contention subsiding, bringing things to a succinct closure…
Portraying courage amid inherent distrust, I momentarily rebuked my erstwhile sentiments of empathy. Astring of endeavors unwillingly resurfacing, his rapid settlement, unhesitant address, precluding any potential schemes or debts as I briefly hesitated moment.
Troubled by the deep-seated mistrust, my act of goodwill in sharing the minor compensation – per the father’s tacit instructions – transpired swiftly. Convicted of invaders harboring suspicion, causelines before venturing into viewing the deceased father’s statement only to be denied, the police keenly read through the stage of borrowing expenses for his daughter, triggering an unforeseen surge of tears during a perplexing meeting at the police station. Concurring with a compensation, I hastened to wrap up, wary of ensnaring myself in such a complex enigma. Following the property handoff for the deceased’s family to collect, I obtained the keys previously kept by the police before experiencing the estate’s sealing – pending the official investigation’s resolution.
The depository wasn’t distant from the police station, a walk of less than two blocks warranted no delayed progress. Yielding the key to them and disclosing the room number, I consigned them to open all windows and promised to await their report downstairs.
Upon their departure, my perch on a bench intensified the emotional turmoil, juxtaposed against the vibrant streets. The bustle of life progressing unperturbed while the corridors echoed the transient sojourn of the forlorn person on the 30th floor, emotionally detached.
Trailing footsteps bustling through commotion, deciphered if the busy crowd acknowledged a vanishing of a young life on the 30th floor, would anyone regard or honor? Perhaps, I’d forever hold her memory close solely by the discrepancies the dwelling bore for unoccupied years, hesitant to recede into, as her financial adversities imposed a persistent reminder of a once existent tenant’s quietude…
Yet, she entered the world venturing from mountain, the pit of her flames roared to light, but fell into a quietus negotiating her plunge – was it society’s err or lineage’s glitch? Or perchance her own disposition bottling distress, I remained bereft of utterances, uncertain of my starting stroke.