Under the lamplight, she sets up her stall, selling crispy 3 yuan ($0.44) skewers. By 10 pm, as tourists start to leave, Yan Lili quickly packs up and continues her journey, delivering late-night snacks with her daughter on her back. She tirelessly works until 2-3 am, regardless of the weather…
Yan Lili left Hangzhou for Chongqing to forge a new life, all because of a wish: for her daughter to stand on her own feet one day and live independently, even without her mother by her side.
Recently, the heartwarming story of this resilient mother-daughter duo went viral online. A netizen commented, “Her perseverance and sacrifice shine a light on the child’s dark future, showing the greatness and boundlessness of a mother’s love.”
Yan Lili firmly shares, “Because I am her mother, I brought her into this world. I cannot give up. I believe she will stand up, wear a pretty dress, and stand before me.”
A solitary mother carries her child on a journey of survival and healing
“Zou Jiayu, let’s start work, my child!” On the evening of May 23, Yan Lili carries her daughter and pushes a small cart with the words “Mother of Jiayu from Chongqing” to her usual spot on Jiaxin Road. Her obedient and adorable daughter, though physically weak and lacking the strength to even hold her milk bottle, gently leans on her mother’s back and occasionally strokes her hair, calling out, “Mom.”
“Selling food requires cleanliness above all else,” Yan Lili replies to her daughter as she skillfully prepares the food. The aroma of grilled sausages fills the air, inviting passersby.
The mother and daughter are constant companions on this journey.
“Crispy sausages here, delicious crispy sausages, 3 yuan for one, 5 yuan for two…” Yan Lili calls out to attract customers, and her daughter occasionally joins in. Though their earnings are modest, Yan Lili persists. Every penny counts toward her daughter’s rehabilitation expenses and their hopes for the future.
Among the many street vendors, Yan Lili stands out in her delivery uniform. After 10 pm, she packs up and carries her daughter to deliver food in the surrounding areas until 2-3 am.
“I’m not afraid of climbing stairs or slopes, but I dread the rain. My daughter can’t be away from me, even for a moment, so I carry her with me. But for her, no matter how tired I am, I never feel burdened,” she shares.
Three times, she fought to bring her daughter back from the brink: A mother’s love knows no surrender
Yan Lili cannot deliver food during the day as she dedicates that time to her daughter’s rehabilitation. She is always present, even secretly watching from outside the door, to ensure her daughter’s comfort and the effectiveness of the exercises.
Recounting her story, Yan Lili can’t hide her sorrow. Hailing from Jiangxi and married in Zhejiang, her daughter was diagnosed with severe meningitis at just two months old. She underwent surgery and faced death.
Zou Jiayu undergoing rehabilitation therapy.
Post-surgery, she endured two additional surgeries due to brain hemorrhage and relapses. Though her life was saved, she was left with severe disabilities: cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Jiayu, now over two years old, cannot turn over, sit, walk, or speak. Her epilepsy manifests in seizures at night. Currently, she is classified as having a first-degree motor disability and a third-degree intellectual disability.
“My daughter’s illness drained our savings, and borrowing from everywhere else. Many people advised me to give up, but she came into this world because of me. I am her mother, and I cannot bring myself to give up,” Yan Lili resolutely shares.
She and her husband separated due to differing opinions on their child’s treatment. “I know he has tried his best!” Since then, Yan Lili has been raising her daughter alone, earning a living, and seeking treatment.
The path to recovery and the warmth of a community
After extensive research, Yan Lili learned that Chongqing offered excellent rehabilitation centers, so she brought her daughter there in January this year. Since then, her daughter has made surprising progress.
“Before, Jiayu couldn’t sit up by herself, but now she can sit for over ten or even twenty seconds, and this duration is gradually increasing. She couldn’t turn over by herself either, but now she can. Her clenched fingers are slowly opening up, and her grip has improved…” Yan Lili proudly shares videos of her daughter’s progress.
She was deeply moved when her daughter clearly called her “Mom” for the first time. “More than two years of hard work have not been in vain; it’s all worth it. This April, she even kissed me! Lately, she’s been able to sing along to a couple of nursery rhymes…” she says.
Living in Chongqing for a few months, Yan Lili has witnessed her daughter’s progress and experienced the city’s warmth. She came to Chongqing through the introduction of another mother with a sick child. This fellow mother not only helped her find a place to stay but also guided her to sell street food on Jiaxin Road, sharing her experiences in making a living.
The daughter’s progress is a significant source of motivation for Yan Lili.
Yan Lili is touched by the help she has received from strangers: “My downstairs neighbor, seeing that I’m raising my child alone, often comes to help. When I’m selling food, the vendors next to me help push my cart. Once, I was delivering food until 2 am, and Jiayu was hungry, so I asked a noodle shop for hot water. Two customers there not only ordered an extra bowl of noodles but also gave my daughter a red packet. One night, while delivering food, someone saw me carrying my child and gave us fruit, milk, and bottled water…” She is incredibly grateful for everyone’s support.
The mother who helped Yan Lili find accommodation and guided her to sell street food in Chongqing is also a strong mother herself, known as “Mother Xiao Jingling.” Her daughter also undergoes rehabilitation therapy.
“The road to recovery is not easy. Having accompanied my daughter on this journey for years, I understand the hardships involved, so I’m happy to help in any way I can!” she shares.
Facing the reality of her growing and heavier daughter, Yan Lili asserts, “I’m not afraid of not being able to carry her. I have a lot of strength. As long as I see her making progress every day, I will have the motivation. I firmly believe that she will stand up!”
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