'Big grandson' brings joy to seniors

Lin Zhipeng, 26, is the only young person still living in his village on the outskirts of Chengdu, Sichuan province.

In many rural areas across China, young and middle-aged adults have moved to cities for work, leaving behind villages mostly populated by elderly people living alone. The few young people who do stay usually live in nearby towns.

However, Lin, who grew up in this village, enjoys rural life and chatting with the elderly. Every few days, he visits the homes of senior residents who live alone, checking on their well-being and keeping them company.

These elderly residents affectionately call him "grandson". Inspired by this, Lin took the name "Dasenzi" (meaning "big grandson" in the Sichuan dialect) for his social media account.

About a year ago, Lin began filming his interactions and daily life with the older generation. His account quickly gained popularity, now attracting over 700,000 followers on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.

He first started by filming his grandparents. His grandmother is very expressive, while his grandfather is more reserved and quieter but often responds in unexpectedly humorous ways, creating a charming contrast that resonates with viewers.

As Lin continued filming more elderly people, he discovered that these seemingly ordinary rural residents each had their own unique personalities.

Moreover, because they speak in the Sichuan dialect, their attempts to communicate with Lin in Mandarin often lead to amusing misunderstandings.

"People like things that feel real and natural. The elderly are very down-to-earth, and we rarely put on any act," Lin explained the reasons for the videos' popularity.

"Also, one notable characteristic of Sichuan people is that they love to joke and can take a joke," he added.

The best part of making these videos for Lin, however, is the opportunity to spend more time with the elderly.

"They really enjoy this kind of companionship," he said.

This experience also allowed Lin to look beyond the humor and see the huge knowledge gap and language barrier between him and the elderly.

"It made me realize that their era has passed," he said.

But Lin doesn't want to portray the lives of rural elderly people living alone as a sad story. Instead, he hopes to show the joyful side: although they live modestly, they still have many moments of happiness.

Despite the knowledge gaps, Lin found that the elderly are easy to get along with.

"When young people chat, they often talk about work, stress, or try to show off and outdo each other. But chatting with the elderly is very relaxing — we simply joke around and talk about everyday things. Everyone is happy," he said.

Lin also observed that the elderly are eager to connect with younger generations.

His grandfather, for example, who was once serious and quiet, had a breakthrough moment during a video shoot. He accidentally made a joke, and when he saw his grandson laughing wholeheartedly in response, it sparked a transformation in him. From then on, he began intentionally telling more jokes.

Practical assistance

Lin also provides material help to the elderly.

Occasionally, he takes on product advertisement projects and uses part of his earnings to purchase items for each senior in the village, ranging from snacks and milk to skincare products and daily necessities.

Lin once arranged for a few elderly couples to have their wedding photos taken — an experience they'd never had when they were young.

He also introduced the idea of a monthly "award ceremony", a heartwarming event where red envelopes filled with money are distributed to the elderly.

"My goal is simply to bring a sense of celebration to their lives and create chances for everyone to come together and enjoy themselves," he explained.

Lin also noticed that a common challenge for the elderly is accessing medical care.

They often hesitate to seek treatment for minor illnesses and find hospital procedures confusing when they do need care for more serious conditions. Whenever possible, Lin helps them navigate these issues.

However, what the elderly need most goes beyond material support and basic care — they long for companionship.

Lin pointed out that while current policies ensure that even the most disadvantaged have enough food and clothing, elderly people living alone also need emotional support — knowing that there are others who care for them.

"A phone call, a visit, or any act of kindness is very meaningful to them," he said.

Lin has always felt this special connection to the elderly and enjoyed spending time with them.

During his college years, while working part-time jobs, he would take elderly people along to help distribute flyers. Later, after opening a clothing store and a cake shop in town, he chose to continue living in the village and maintained regular interactions with these senior citizens.

"These elderly residents are getting older every day, and to be frank, they could leave us at any time," Lin said. "Let's cherish every moment we have with them while we still can."

He also encouraged young people not to let work, money, housing, or cars overshadow what truly matters in life. "Happiness is the most important thing," he said.