A Chinese Female Doctor Named Weng Gains Attention for Collecting Trash to Make Ends Meet
Low Doctor Salaries in China Behind Her Story
A story about a female doctor in China who collects trash as a side job to make ends meet has drawn attention. In China, it is not uncommon for doctors to take on additional jobs due to relatively low incomes in the profession.
On May 19 (local time), international media outlets such as VGT News and Sohu.com reported the story of Weng, who leads a "double life" by working as a doctor at a hospital during the day and collecting trash at night.
Weng (26), a Chinese woman who works as a doctor at a hospital during the day and leads a double life by collecting trash at night. VGT News
Weng works as a rehabilitation medicine doctor at a private hospital in Chengdu, China, where she is responsible for patients' rehabilitation treatments, including physical therapy and exercise therapy, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day.
After finishing her hospital shift, she heads to a recycling center and becomes a completely different person. Weng explained, "My parents run the recycling center, so if I work more, it reduces their workload and I also learn 'survival skills.' I often come here to help my parents." At the recycling center, she mainly collects and sorts metal waste, working until 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. each day before leaving with her parents.
The reason Weng leads this "double life" is because doctors' incomes in China are not very high. In small cities, doctors' monthly salaries are only about 300,000 won. Weng's monthly salary as a doctor at the hospital is about 4,000 yuan (approximately 770,000 won). Sohu.com noted, "Considering the cost of living in Chengdu, this is barely enough to cover basic expenses."
Weng, a 26-year-old Chinese woman who works as a doctor at a hospital during the day and leads a double life by collecting trash at night. VGT News
However, through waste collection, she is earning more money than her doctor's salary. Weng said, "Since the money comes from my parents, you could call it an allowance, but it is essentially a salary. The income I earn from collecting waste is higher than what I make as a doctor at the hospital." She also expressed pride, saying, "Because I often sort waste and carry trash, my arms have actually become more muscular."
Local internet users who read her story reacted by saying, "It's impressive to see someone working so hard," "It makes me reflect on myself," "Doctors' salaries are lower than I thought," "Maybe I should collect trash too," and "It's admirable how she helps her parents."
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