Elderly Chinese Couple Who Shared $3 Lunchboxes Leave 1.1 Billion Won to Sick Children

Supporting Treatment for 455 Children with Congenital Heart Disease
A Life of Frugality in an Old Home... Donating Nearly All Their Assets

The story of an elderly Chinese couple who donated nearly all of their assets—5 million yuan (approximately 1.126 billion won)—to help children with congenital heart disease has come to light belatedly.

Duo Yinglong and Lu Suying couple who donated 5 million yuan (approximately 1.126 billion won) to help 455 children with congenital heart disease. SCMP

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on July 6, a charity exhibition was held in Shanghai at the end of last month to highlight the lives and philanthropic deeds of Du Yinglong and Lu Suying. During their lifetimes, the couple donated a total of 5 million yuan to support treatment for 455 children with congenital heart disease.

Mr. Du worked as a teacher at a university in Shanghai, while his wife, Ms. Lu, was a physician at the same university before they both retired. Mr. Du passed away in 2018 at the age of 81, and Ms. Lu died last year at the age of 92.

Their charitable journey began in early 2018, when Mr. Du spotted a fundraising poster in front of Shanghai Yoda Cardiothoracic Hospital appealing for aid for children with congenital heart disease. The couple first donated 500,000 yuan (about 112.6 million won) to cover the medical expenses of 10 children, and soon after contributed an additional 4.5 million yuan (about 1.013 billion won).

A hospital charity officer who visited their home found the couple living in old and modest conditions and tried to persuade them to keep some money for their later years. However, Mr. Du insisted, saying, "Neither of us have many days left," and added, "With our pension and savings, we do not need much money," reaffirming their intention to donate.

While the couple spared no expense to help others, they rarely spent money on themselves. Inside their home, glasses repaired with adhesive bandages and several notebooks recording daily expenses were found. It was reported that during his lifetime, Mr. Du would often buy a 17-yuan (about 3,800 won) lunchbox at a local cafeteria and share it with his wife.

Despite their frugal lifestyle, their home was filled with reading journals, newspaper clippings, an old record player, a violin, and badminton rackets. Mr. Du, who had extensive stock market experience, also kept regular records of market trends in his notebooks.

The couple had previously made regular donations to earthquake-affected areas, drinking water aid projects, and student scholarships. In April, the Shanghai Overseas Chinese Foundation carried out a sea burial in accordance with the couple’s will, stating, "The 455 children who received help will always remember the love left behind by these two individuals."

Upon hearing their story, Chinese netizens remarked, "Their souls shine brightly," "They lived a life without selfishness—truly great people," and "We pay our deepest respects to the elderly couple."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.