Sichuan auntie develops recipe for success amid virus tragedy

Yu made 13 livestreams in February, teaching how to put together Sichuan home-style dishes, including steamed beef with fried rice powder and sauteed garlic sprouts with cured meat.

A 47-minute livestream about stir-frying pork liver and kidney, was watched by a total of 19,000 people with simultaneous viewers reaching 1,437 at one time. It also attracted 129 new fans to follow her account.

A recent report by QuestMobile on the impact of COVID-19 on China's mobile livestreaming industry found that the time that every netizen spent on mobile internet since the outbreak has increased by 21.5 percent compared to that at the beginning of this year, especially on video-related apps.

However, the quake survivor finds it hard to stand in the kitchen for four to five hours every time for a livestream, from doing preparations beforehand to cleaning up the kitchen afterward.

Yu was the only person to crawl out alive of a six-floor office building destroyed by the quake. She still suffers pain and discomfort in her waist.

Also, the food cooked during one livestream is more than what a family of four can eat in one meal, especially considering that they cannot invite friends or relatives to share with them given the outbreak.

According to local regulations in Sichuan province, only one person of a household is allowed to go out for shopping twice a week during the outbreak.

Sometimes Yu had to visit several places in order to purchase what was required for cooking.

"I feel happy and satisfied that I can do something meaningful instead of sitting around at home. This is also what I can repay to society for the love and care that I once received after the earthquake," Yu said.

So Yu's sisters, who didn't initially think it was a good idea to start livestreaming, even offered a hand in buying raw materials for her cooking.

A follower from Pingdingshan, Henan province, who spent a few years in Sichuan province, was an immediate fan of Yu's livestream. Every time Yu livestreamed, the follower would work as a typist recording tips in the comments for others.

Guo Rong, a 30-year-old television director working in Shanghai is one of the 1,182 followers of Yu on Douyin.

"We rarely cook at home. At first, I asked my mom to watch the livestream with me so that she can prepare delicious food," Guo said.

Guo only got the chance to practice what she've learnt from Yu after returning to Shanghai in March when she had to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine.

"I was eager for spicy food then," Guo said.

Now, thanks to the livestream, she has successfully made mapo tofu and spicy dry hotpot at home.

At the end of February, Yu prepared 10 bottles of homemade chili oil for her fans to thank for their support.

"I'm so happy when they said the oil is very tasty and they love it," she said.

Now life and work are gradually returning to normal as the family went back to Shanghai.

Yu is still expecting her next livestream amid the family's busy daily schedule.

She also wishes that she could open a restaurant that serves homemade Sichuan style food for more people in future when her grandson goes to school.

"I enjoy cooking Sichuan gourmet food. Sharing my happiness with more people will be much better than enjoying my happiness on my own," Yu said.