According to SCMP, Li Shibo, a second grader in a rural area of Henan province (China), was discovered by his teacher giving a lunch box to his mother waiting for him outside the school gate.
The teacher, surnamed Wang, said he could not find Li when the afternoon class started on October 14. After searching for the boy, he witnessed a heartbreaking scene.
Li stood behind the school gate, watching his mother outside the gate eating his own free lunch. Occasionally, he gently fixed her hair.
When he saw the teacher approaching, Li almost ran away. He was afraid that he would be reprimanded for giving away his free school lunch to someone else.
Instead, however, Mr. Wang praised Li's kindness. He recorded the touching moment on video and shared it on Douyin, gaining millions of views and positive feedback from netizens.
In another video posted, Li is seen collecting leftovers from his classmates for lunch. He says he only needs a little water for lunch because "I'm still young."
According to Jimu News, a local disabled people's federation, Li also has a mild mental disability. He lives with his mother and sister, who are both mentally disabled. Li's grandmother is bedridden, and his father died in a car accident several years ago.
The boy's family survives on government subsidies and support from his aunt and uncle. Local authorities say they also provide free meals to the family.
The teacher said that he often saw Li's mother wandering around and stopping at the school gate. Many people believed that the boy's mother waited outside to keep Li company, feeling the deep bond between mother and son.
After the clips were shared, thousands of people visited Mr. Wang's account with the hope of donating money and essential goods to the boy's family.
Netizens were moved to comment: "The boy knows his mother is different from other parents, but he still loves her", "This is the highest expression of filial piety"...
Kind people have ordered so many packages online that they almost fill Li's small house. Teacher Wang also said that if Li's mother comes to school, he will personally make sure she gets free meals.
In addition, the local civil authority announced that it will visit and explore other ways to support the boy's family.
