A 71-year-old man in central China, identified by the surname Ru, has experienced a life-changing financial discovery after spending 21 years working as a scavenger. According to reports from the Changde Daily, Ru was unaware that he was entitled to pension benefits for the duration of his time spent in poverty.

In late September, Ru received a bank card linked to a pension account that had been accumulating funds. Upon checking the balance, he discovered a total of 424,204 yuan, equivalent to approximately US$63,000. The discovery came as a shock to the man, who had been struggling to make ends meet through scavenging for more than two decades.

Local media reports indicate that Ru was visibly emotional upon learning of the balance, as he had lived without knowledge of these government entitlements for years. The report highlights a significant gap in communication or administrative oversight that allowed a citizen to remain unaware of substantial financial support for over two decades. While the story has been framed as a stroke of luck, it also underscores the challenges faced by elderly individuals navigating complex social welfare systems in China.