Impressive livestream debut for high-profile mother

Jiang Qiulian, whose daughter tragically lost her life in a fatal stabbing seven years ago in Japan, launched her first livestream sales event on Monday, attracting a huge audience and media attention.

The mother's 24-year-old daughter, Jiang Ge, was stabbed to death in 2016 by her roommate's ex-boyfriend in Tokyo. Liu Xin, Jiang Ge's roommate at the time, had locked Jiang outside the Tokyo apartment to keep the assailant at bay.

Devastated by her daughter's death, the bereft mother launched a lawsuit in China against the roommate. The lawsuit held Liu accountable for her role in Jiang Ge's death, and after more than five years, the mother was awarded compensation totaling 696,000 yuan ($95,200) in June, which she donated to a local volunteer association in Qingdao, Shandong province. The case has been making waves across Chinese internet communities through the years.

Monday night's livestream, which commenced at 8 pm and continued until 11 pm, managed to captivate an astounding 15.1 million viewers, with a high of 100,000 people tuning in simultaneously.

During the livestream, Jiang, 54, offered viewers an array of everyday products, including snacks, tissues and kitchen supplies.

In just three hours, she sold nearly 60,000 items, amassing a staggering sales revenue exceeding 1 million yuan, according to a report from news website ThePaper.cn.

Jiang admitted to feeling nervous about her livestream debut, despite having faced numerous media cameras without anxiety in the past.

"I don't know where to look. I used to face so many media cameras without feeling nervous, but now I'm a bit anxious," she confessed.

Looking inexperienced in the livestream, Jiang struggled with sales pitches and camera angles. However, she continuously reassured her audience, saying: "Don't rush to buy, and we have plenty of stock. Look at the feedback from previous buyers before placing your order."

In response to viewers sending virtual gifts during the livestream, Jiang reiterated: "There's no need to send me gifts. Your greatest support is purchasing good products.

"I don't have a professional team, and I'm just doing this on my own," Jiang Qiulian had previously told tianmunews.com. She viewed livestreamed sales as a way to earn income and support herself, given her current health condition that prevents her from engaging in physically demanding work.

When asked about her reasons for delving into livestream sales, Jiang explained: "Fighting for justice is the only motivation keeping me going. But I can't just wait for justice every day. I need a business to enrich my life and provide the economic foundation necessary for my path to justice and retirement."

She said: "In my view, live-streamed sales are like bringing my small supermarket online. The purpose remains the same: making money. However, I prioritize product quality and service for customers, with profit coming second."