The young man previously shared on social media that poor university exam results led him to help his family sell pork. He claimed to wake up daily at 2h to go to the slaughterhouse, then set up his stall and livestream online until the afternoon.

In his videos, Sun stated his family comprised 9 members. As the eldest, he had six younger siblings, including a second sister with a hand disability from an accident and a one-year-old brother with Down syndrome. He claimed to face economic pressure as his mother was pregnant again.

"My classmate just had a son, while I am preparing for a seventh sibling", Sun stated.

Sun Pan, 20, from Shaoyang, Hunan province, has been selling pork since 2023. UDN

Sun's parents, both nearing 50, explained they had many children believing that a large family offered more chances for a better life. His father emphasized that the eldest son bore the responsibility of working to support the family.

Initially, Sun's story garnered considerable public sympathy. However, the Xinshao County Civil Affairs Bureau recently confirmed that Sun's family was not in the dire financial straits depicted online. Authorities revealed the family owned three business properties. Sun's father also confirmed their financial ability to support their children and declined any government subsidies.

Officials further disclosed that Sun's social media account, boasting over 140,000 followers, was managed by a team that orchestrated his narrative. The substantial viewership from his livestreams significantly boosted pork sales, with Sun reportedly selling three pigs on some days. In one livestream, his second sister revealed she had savings totaling 8,400 USD.

Sun Pan, 20, holding his sixth sibling. UDN

Following the official announcement, many online users criticized Sun Pan's family for deceiving the community to profit from online sales. Others condemned his parents' philosophy of having children as an "investment", arguing that it amounted to depriving their children of a future and exploiting their labor.

Amidst public outrage, Sun's social media account faces sanctions from the platform. Under China's cyberspace management regulations, accounts that fabricate stories of hardship to garner sympathy for commercial gain will have their e-commerce features disabled, be banned from livestreaming, or face permanent suspension.

Legally, local authorities are investigating the role of the multi-channel network (MCN) team behind Sun's fabricated narrative. Crafting a story to sell pork at inflated prices exhibits signs of consumer deception and false advertising.

Currently, China's State Administration for Market Regulation and public security agencies are imposing severe administrative penalties, and even pursuing criminal liability, against teams intentionally creating staged content depicting tragic circumstances to profit online.

Bao Nhien (According to World Journal)