In Gaotian village, Liuyang, Hunan province, a quiet revolution is underway, challenging long-held traditions about death and the human body. Xing Changxi, a 69-year-old farmer, became the first resident to register as an organ donor. Upon his passing in August, his family honored his final wish by donating his body to a medical school in Changsha, where it will serve as a ‘silent mentor’ for student doctors over the next three years. This act of selflessness has inspired a wave of similar commitments in the village. By September last year, 164 residents had registered as organ and body donors, a remarkable figure in a village of 7,200 people. Xing’s decision was sparked by a 2018 newspaper article highlighting how organ donations save lives and advance medical education. Despite initial skepticism and questions from villagers, Xing’s legacy has fostered a cultural shift. China’s voluntary organ donation system, established in 2010, has seen significant growth, with over 7.05 million registered donors and life-saving impacts on thousands of patients.