It’s Normal for a Four-Year-Old to Pick Locks. I’m Not Three

“A dad who drinks, a mom who plays cards, and a four-year-old boy earning money to support the family.” That was how the viewers of the livestream show Summer Vacation Exposé described Shen Fan. Four-year-old Shen Fan was a locksmith, and all it took was a little demonstration. The viewers immediately declared him “born to pick locks.” … A customer was skeptical: “You’re only four. You can pick locks?” Shen Fan calmly replied, “Picking locks at four is perfectly normal. I’m not three.” The customer didn’t believe him and handed him a lock. “Come on, kid. Let’s see you open this.” But Shen Fan held out his little hand. “My dad charges a hundred to pick a lock. I only charge fifty.” One customer deliberately gave him a hard time. “Open it quickly, kid, but don’t scratch the lock.” Shen Fan’s eyes lit up. “Uncle, that’s a delicate job. It costs extra.” … Shen Fan’s antics kept making the viewers laugh. But they had no idea he’d come up with more and more outrageous tricks. … As they laughed, the viewers began to realize something was off. “What? You can make that much money just picking locks?” “He earns more in one day than I do in a whole month.” “I want to learn locksmithing. Please take me on as an apprentice.”