Zhengzhou rider raced 8km in 17 mins with life-saving drug. A 50-yuan tip sparked backlash; rider said it was fair, equaling a third of daily 200-yuan pay.
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A Rider Raced 8km With Life-Saving Drugs. Is a 50-Yuan Tip Really "Too Little"?
On July 26, a delivery rider in Zhengzhou made an emergency run — 8 kilometers, 17 minutes, one vial of life-saving medication.
The customer was grateful. She tipped him 50 yuan ($7).
Then she posted the story online to thank him. And the internet tore her apart.
The Customer’s Thank‑You Post Backfires
To express her gratitude, the customer shared the heartwarming story on social media, praising the rider for his speed and care.
But instead of applause, she faced a wave of criticism. Many commenters said 50 yuan was too little for such an urgent delivery. Some even took screenshots out of context and falsely claimed she had never actually paid the tip.
The online attacks quickly spread, turning a gesture of gratitude into a target of public judgment.
So what really happened that morning?
On the morning of July 26, Zhang Shuaiyuan, a delivery rider for Meituan, picked up his first order of the day. Shortly after, the customer called. Her voice was anxious — the package contained human albumin, a critical drug for a patient at home.
She offered an extra 20 yuan tip on top of the delivery fee.
Zhang promised to get there as fast as he could.
The pickup point was Tianyi Tower in Zhengzhou. The destination was near the North Third Ring Road — about 8 kilometres away. Normally, that route takes over 20 minutes.
Zhang reached the pharmacy in under 5 minutes, waited 2 minutes for the drug to be packed, and set off. He kept to traffic rules but pushed the pace. He arrived at 10:56 AM — 14 minutes earlier than the platform’s estimated delivery time of 11:10.
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The gratitude
The customer was shaking when she took the package. She thanked him over and over. Then she scanned his QR code and tipped him 50 yuan — more than the 20 she had initially offered.
Zhang told her not to worry about the tip and urged her to attend to the patient. The delivery fee for the order was 16.7 yuan; with the tip, he earned 66.7 yuan for that single run.
His average daily earnings: around 200 yuan. This single order covered nearly a third of a day's work.
The rider speaks out
Zhang learned about the online attacks that same night. He was upset — not for himself, but for the customer.
He posted his own clarification: the actual distance was 8 kilometres, he rode safely, and the tip was given on the spot. He attached a payment receipt as proof.
“Seeing a kind customer being cyberbullied for no reason — I feel really terrible,” he said. “Because I already think this order was worth it. The customer already paid the delivery fee. Even without the tip, I wouldn’t have seen any problem with that.”
The customer saw his post and privately messaged him, offering another red envelope. Zhang declined.
Source: 深圳新闻网
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