Where Has Compassion Gone To ?

Not too long ago, an article was published in a local newspaper in China (the mainland). It contained the story of an old man in his 70s accidentally tearing, with his bicycle, a small rip in the jeans of the teenage daughter of an apparently "noveau riche" woman. This rich woman (she must be; all you need to do is to look at her carefully coiffed hair, her fur-lined coat and, especially, the lap-dog in her arms) started swearing at this poor (both spiritually and economically) man and demanded that he forked over 50 yuan (the equivalence of less than C$10) to compensate for the rip in her daughter's jeans.
The old man opened his wallet and offered the wealthy woman all he had --- a measely 11 odd yuans (less than C$2). The rich woman was not satisfied and continued swearing and cussing at the old man and demanded her 50 yuans.

The old man went down on his knees and pleaded for pity and forgiveness, but this woman would not be appeased.

By this time, a crowd had gathered, among which was a local news reporter. The crowd joined in the plea for compassion, but to no avail. Taking pity on the old man who was still on his knees and had been "kow-towing" for at least a dozen times to the rich woman who continued to swear and cuss the old man, the crowd took up a collection and collected the 50 yuans that was demanded, and handed it over to the rich woman.

With a smirk and a smug look on their faces, the woman snatched the money and with her daughter strutted off.

The question here is --- What has happened to compassion and forgiveness?

Has Chinese morality and that "communist" ideology and all that make us "human" become so capitalistic that the noveau-riche are now deprived off the ordinary ethics of fellowship and respect for the ageds?

What kind of people have they [we] become?