S'porean tourist in China helps look after restaurant when owner had to fetch sick son

A Singaporean content creator has gone viral after stepping in to help a lone restaurant staff member in Jinan, China, by minding her Xinjiang cuisine eatery while she rushed off to pick up her sick son from school.

Muhd Rifqi Solihin, better known online as reefkey, was dining at the halal restaurant at around 3pm when the incident unfolded.

He had been walking around Baotu Spring Park earlier that day, filming content for a campaign, and stopped by the eatery nearby to rest and have a meal.

The incident

@reefkey__ May she be blessed with many customers after this 🥺 📍: Near Miao Jia Xiang, Jinan (opposite Daming Lake) it’s Xinjiang Cuisine Halal Restaurant! #tiktoksg #china #solotravel #jinan #xinjiang ♬ original sound - reefkey__

In a TikTok video that has since circulated widely online, Rifqi recounted how he was setting up his camera equipment in the restaurant when he spotted that the restaurant owner was writing on a piece of paper.

Initially assuming she was simply doing her work, he soon realised she was trying to communicate something important when she called him over.

After translating what she had written, Rifqi discovered that her son was unwell and that she needed to leave immediately to fetch him from school.

Before rushing off, the woman told him to eat slowly. Rifqi, in turn, signalled that he would help look after the eatery in her absence.

"I panicked a little"

Speaking to Mothership, Rifqi admitted that the moment caught him off guard.

“I panicked a little,” he said.

“On one hand, I was there simply to eat and film my own vlog, but on the other, I didn’t know how the locals would react when I explained the situation to them through translation.

“I’m not a local, I’m a tourist, so there was definitely some uncertainty and anxiety in that moment.”

Customers and delivery rider chose to wait

While Rifqi was eating, a food delivery rider arrived to collect an order.

Rifqi explained that the cook had rushed off to pick up her sick child.

Despite the order already being placed, the rider chose to wait. He also helped Rifqi explain the situation to other customers who came in later.

Soon after, a couple walked in to dine.

After learning what had happened, they too decided to wait for the owner to return.

“I was completely shocked, especially by the customers,” Rifqi told Mothership.

“There were so many other food options around, and since it’s a halal restaurant, non-Muslims would have had even more choices elsewhere, yet they still chose to stay and wait.”

He added that while Singaporeans are capable of kindness, he felt the response might have been different back home.

“As for Singapore, I feel people here might be less patient in a similar situation because we’re very fast-paced and tend to look for the quickest alternative,” he added.

“That said, it really depends on the individual and the context. Choosing to leave isn’t wrong either, as long as there’s no ill intent towards the business owner.”

A mother’s love knows no boundaries

The woman returned after more than 20 minutes, during which Rifqi said she repeatedly checked on her son to make sure he was all right.

As Rifqi was about to leave, the woman asked her son to try speaking to him in English.

In the video, the boy shyly asked, “How are you?”, prompting Rifqi to reply, “I am good, thank you. How about you?”

After introducing himself as Tianyi, Rifqi responded in Mandarin, introducing himself in return.

Reflecting on the moment, Rifqi said it challenged his assumptions about people and left a lasting impression on him.

“It taught me to take a step back when it comes to making assumptions,” he said.

“I’m so used to expecting the worst… It made me realise that constantly expecting negative outcomes isn’t healthy, and it’s something I need to work on.”

In the video’s closing captions, Rifqi wrote: “A mother’s love knows no boundaries.”

Elaborating on the line, he mentioned that the decision the woman made stood out the most to him.

“Her job was at stake,” he said. “Leaving a store unattended — let alone entrusting it to a stranger — is a huge risk because some can resort to stealing. Yet she chose to put her son first. That really touched me.”

“The fact that she was willing to trust me with her livelihood just to be there for her child truly showed me how boundless a mother’s love can be.”

Netizens touched by wholesome act

The video struck a chord with viewers online, many of whom described the moment as heartwarming and wholesome.

Several netizens praised Rifqi for stepping in to help, while others said they were especially moved by the patience and understanding shown by the delivery rider and customers who chose to wait.

One commenter noted that the owner's willingness to trust a stranger spoke volumes about the differences in culture and values of the society there.

Top images via reefkey__/TikTok