A 20-year-old woman surnamed Zhu in Zhengzhou, Henan province, is accused of embezzling roughly 17 million yuan ($2.3 million) from her family's wholesale beef business between July 2024 and November 2025 [1]. Zhu managed the business’s finances beginning in 2021 after dropping out of vocational school in 2020 [1].
Bank records show more than 17 million yuan was transferred from the business account to an unnamed short-video platform over the alleged 17-month period [1]. Nearly 11 million yuan went to livestream tipping, while more than 6 million was spent on card-opening games linked to the platform [1]. The largest recorded single transaction amounted to 100,000 yuan [1].
Zhu’s father said the missing funds included at least 3 million yuan borrowed from relatives and friends, along with 5 million yuan provided by business partners [1]. "This 17 million yuan is everything we have," he said. He added, "The only way there’s any chance of getting it back is if it’s classified as embezzlement" [1].
The alleged theft was uncovered in November 2025 when her father found the business account empty [1]. Zhu and her father reportedly turned themselves in to local police on April 20, 2025 [1].
A local lawyer told media Zhu could face prison terms ranging from 10 years to life if convicted of embezzlement [1]. Authorities have not disclosed further details on any ongoing investigation or trial dates.