Chinese actor Xu Peng recently attracted widespread attention after a personal story about returning to his hometown to sell vegetables went viral online.
Many reports claimed that he lost acting opportunities because of the growing influence of AI in the short drama industry.
Xu Peng shared that he had spent eight years building his acting career and had finally earned his first leading role.
In viral videos, he was seen transporting and selling vegetables grown by his family, including green onions, bean sprouts, and onions.
He explained that acting is simply a profession, and if there are no acting jobs available, there is nothing wrong with making an honest living through hard work.
However, on July 7, 2026, Xu Peng clarified that he is not completely unemployed.
He explained that the real issue is the rapid change in the traditional short drama industry, where production schedules have been shortened to just three to five days, leaving actors with far less creative freedom.
Instead of waiting for new offers, Xu Peng decided to return to his hometown to prepare his next career move.
He is currently developing an original live-action short drama that he plans to write and direct himself.
The actor has also established his own company, Qingdao Xingpeng Yuheng Culture Media Co., Ltd., where he serves as the sole shareholder.
In addition, he has secured financial support from investors to launch a free acting training program for aspiring performers.
Xu graduated from the Central Academy of Drama and has appeared in popular Chinese dramas, including Who Rules the World, A Journey to Love, and Blood River. (Overseasidol.com)
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