On October 29th, the phrase “Leadership said if someone dies at home, just hold your nose” trended on social media, sparking discussions among netizens.
A screenshot of a WeChat group chat went viral on October 28th, where a project leader in Mianyang, Sichuan, asked all project staff to prioritize project work and said, “If someone dies at home, just hold your nose.” On the morning of the 29th, staff from the Mianyang City Internet Information Office responded to the media, stating that they are currently verifying the situation.
In the screenshot, a project leader named Pu Moyang messaged everyone, questioning if they understood their responsibilities and positions in the project. He emphasized the need for diligence and responsibility, stating that vacations should be based on work situations and not a necessity. He further said, “Since you are here at this project, project work should come first. If someone dies at home, just hold your nose. Handle project matters first, then deal with personal issues. Maybe it’s my personal view, not sure if it’s acceptable!”
The screenshot included the phone number of the leader who made those remarks, indicating that the number is registered in Mianyang, Sichuan.
According to Jiemu News, on the morning of the 29th, attempts to call the aforementioned phone number were unsuccessful. Some netizens managed to find the person’s WeChat and Alipay accounts linked to that phone number. However, transactions to the number displayed a message stating that “this phone number cannot receive transfers at the moment.”
Officials from the Mianyang City Internet Information Office stated that on the afternoon of the 28th, they noted the situation and found that some netizens located a construction company in Mianyang under the name of Pu Moyang. The company is registered in the Youxian District of Mianyang, and they have forwarded this information for investigation.
Public records show that there is indeed a decoration construction company under the name Pu Moyang registered in the Youxian District of Mianyang.
A man who answered the phone at that company mentioned that his name is also Pu Moyang but asserted that he is not the one who made the controversial statements. He explained that his engineering company is a shell corporation, and upon seeing the screenshot on the 28th, he received numerous unknown calls, prompting him to switch his phone to airplane mode in the afternoon. He clarified the misunderstanding with local officials when he turned on his phone on the 29th.
The phrase “Leadership said if someone dies at home, just hold your nose” trending, with many netizens commenting on the issue.
One user speculated, “Could it be that Pu Moyang no longer has any family left?”
Another commenter wrote, “Maximizing company profits at the expense of draining the last bits of personal relationships from employees?”
However, some netizens believed that the individual was simply using a metaphor and that it was not meant to be taken too seriously.