Two small counties in China have put in place reciprocal arrangements for their residents to visit tourist spots following a moving story involving people in one place buying the apples of a sick farmer from the other.

The story began on May 2 when Ji Yaozhong, a farmer from Yangxian county of northwestern Shaanxi province, drove a truck carrying 4,000kg of apples to sell in Xianfeng county in Hubei province, central China, the Hubei Daily reported.

He suffered a sudden stroke which left him with a numb right arm and slurred speech. Ji sought emergency medical treatment at Xianfeng County Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Hospital.

Doctors saved his life but said he needs to undergo long-term rehabilitation.

Ji’s wife, Liang Lili, came to take care of him. However, because she does not drive, she had to leave Ji’s truck, with his load of apples, at the hospital.

Ji, 44, is the sole breadwinner for his family. His parents are both sick and his two children are young school pupils.

After learning about Ji’s plight, the Xianfeng hospital issued instructions to its staff on the afternoon of May 4, calling on them to buy Ji’s apples to reduce his financial losses.

Workers from the logistics department drove Ji’s truck to the hospital gate before setting up booths to sell the fruit.