While many high-level business executives may seem out-of-touch to most people, Alibaba founder Jack Ma took time out from his schedule to surprise a group of young students in rural Hubei by video-bombing their teacher.

Cai Mingjing was in Sanya on Monday, January 14, 2019, to receive a Jack Ma Rural Teacher Initiative award.

Following the award ceremony, the young woman - who teaches at a primary school in the rural city of Shiyan in Hubei - decided to fulfill an earlier promise to her students by showing them the ocean off the coast of Sanya in southern Hainan.

While live-streaming the tropical environment, which many of her younger students may never end up seeing, the entire class - and their teacher - got a surprise they're unlikely to forget: an impromptu audience with China's richest man.

Jack Ma, a former educator himself, decided to insert himself into Cai Mingjing's live-chat as he was walking by, offering encouragement to the students and wishing them a happy Spring Festival.

I never thought Jack Ma would just appear and start talking with the kids, said Cai Mingjing.

54-year old Jack Ma intends to retire completely from Alibaba on his 55th birthday this coming September 10th to devote his time and some of his 40 billion U.S. dollar fortune toward philanthropy, with a focus on education.

(CHINA.ORG.CN)