"I Only Need Water"... 12-Year-Old Son Secretly Brings School Meals to His Sick Mother

After Serving Food to Her Mother, She Ate Leftovers from Friends
Support Inquiries Flood Across China After Story Revealed

A story has emerged about a 12-year-old Chinese boy who ate food left by friends to feed his mother, who has a mental disorder. On the 29th, Hong Kong media South China Morning Post (SCMP) introduced the story of Li Shibo (12), a second-grade elementary school student living in a rural area of Henan Province, China. On the 14th, teacher Mr. Wang went looking for Li Shibo after he did not appear even after lunchtime. He then found Li Shibo outside the school gate giving a meal to his mother. He watched closely.

SCMP introduced the story on the 29th of a boy who secretly gave school meals to his mother with a mental disability and either drank only water himself or ate food left by his friends.
[Photo by SCMP]

Then Mr. Wang approached Li Shibo and his mother. Li Shibo became anxious, fearing he would be scolded for giving the school's free lunch to his mother. However, Mr. Wang praised Li Shibo's filial piety. Usually, Li Shibo gave his lunch to his mother and ate leftover food collected from his classmates.

In response to Mr. Wang's praise, Li Shibo said, "I am still young, so a little water at lunch is enough for me." Hearing this, Mr. Wang filmed Li Shibo eating and shared the video on social media (SNS). Chinese netizens immediately reacted warmly to the video. They commented, "He knows his mother is different from other parents, but he does not care and loves her," and "This is the most wonderful expression of filial piety."

According to local reports, Li’s mother and older sister suffer from mental illnesses, and they live with their grandmother, who is bedridden. Li’s father passed away several years ago in a traffic accident. Upon learning this, local authorities decided to provide free food to Li Shibo’s family.

Meanwhile, after the story became known, inquiries about sponsorship poured in from all over China for Li Shibo. Soon, many goods sent by numerous sponsors arrived at Li Shibo’s home, and volunteers even requested to stop donations due to the overwhelming amount of supplies.