Summary in Plain Language
This is a typical example of how unexpected fame can intrude into ordinary people's lives. Chen Jinao, a 75-year-old man from Shaoxing who lost his only child, initially spent just 6 yuan on a gourd plant to add some green to his backyard. Unexpectedly, the 7 gourds he grew bore a striking resemblance to the characters from his childhood favorite, "Huluwa" (the Gourd Brothers). When netizens photographed them and posted them online, he became an internet celebrity, known as "Grandpa Gourd." A large number of tourists and internet influencers flocked to his home, causing the once quiet backyard to be overcrowded and noisy, to the point where his grandmother suffered a headache and Grandpa could hardly rest. In the end, he had to cut down all 7 gourds and store them in the attic, stating that he likely wouldn't plant them again next year. The whole phenomenon, from gaining fame to a hasty end, took only 3 days. It may seem like a broken fairy tale, but it reveals common issues in the age of internet fame that everyone should reflect on.
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Detailed Explanation
1. Why did the ordinary gourds become so popular online? People weren't really interested in the gourds themselves; they were reliving their childhood memories.
Gourds are not valuable crops, and even if they looked perfect, they wouldn't fetch much money. Their sudden popularity was a result of emotional resonance: short-video platforms excel at creating content that evokes strong feelings without much cost. The old courtyard in the Jiangnan water town, the kind-hearted elderly man, and the 7 gourds that matched the "Huluwa" characters all combined to evoke collective memories for people born in the 1970s to 2000s. People said they were going to "visit Grandpa," but in reality, they were revisiting the summer they spent watching "Huluwa" on TV as children, seeking a sense of escapism from real life. The gourds and Grandpa Chen were just a medium for these memories; most people didn't care about his daily routines. This misplaced focus was the root of the subsequent problems.
2. Why did all the good intentions eventually force Grandpa to cut down the gourds? Boundless kindness can also be disruptive.
Many tourists didn't realize that their good intentions could cause trouble. Grandpa's home was a private residence, not a paid attraction, and he hadn't signed with any influencer companies or received any money. Tourists shouted from across the river, expecting him to come out and pose for photos; influencers used lasers to point at his house during live broadcasts, and no one paid attention to the signs urging the elderly to rest. This kind of behavior treated Grandpa like a figure in a theme park, with the elderly bearing the costs—having to respond frequently and his grandmother suffering from the noise. This kind of self-righteous kindness essentially violates others' privacy.
3. Internet fame doesn't care about people; it only cares about profitable "check-in attractions."
As soon as the gourds were cut down, merchants started selling fake versions to capitalize on the fame. This is a common pattern in the internet world. Previous incidents, such as the internet-famous "Lonely Tree" in Xi'an and the "Bowtie Grandma" in Wukang Road, show the same logic: all parties involved—internet influencers seeking followers and donations, local merchants wanting more tourists, and platform operators looking to boost traffic—don't care about the people affected. They only want symbols that attract people to check in and spend money. If the real gourds are gone, fake ones can still generate traffic. The elderly couple, who had lived peacefully for over 20 years, were disturbed by the sudden attention and had to close their home again. This stark contrast between sudden fame and subsequent neglect is even more painful than the years of solitude, but no one cares; the internet quickly moves on to the next hot topic.
4. True empathy doesn't require traveling far; a distant glance is enough.
The story of the "Green Grandma" in New York serves as a contrast: she wore green clothes, and people would greet her and take photos without bothering her. Her peaceful life continued until she was in her 80s. The beauty we seek doesn't require us to be at the scene; the emotion from childhood memories is enough. We don't need to travel hundreds of kilometers to disturb others. Many beautiful things are like flowers in the mist; it's better to appreciate them from a distance without disturbing them.
Conclusion
No one really won in this incident: netizens didn't get the fairy-tale experience they wanted, the elderly couple was troubled, and the fame only brought short-lived attention. Perhaps the only positive outcome is that more people are now advocating for peace and respect for the elderly. We realize that what we desire is not just a few gourds but the quiet, peaceful life of these two people. Respecting their privacy is more meaningful than taking hundreds of photos.