Classmates give up their most treasured possessions to help a top student with seriously ill mother
Classmates of a top student in eastern China who planned to quit school to stay by her mother in intensive care gave up their most treasured possessions to help her family.
Cao Feng, a top student at Yuwang Secondary School in Huaiyuan county, Anhui Province, faced a heartbreaking dilemma when she learned her mother's condition had worsened. Her mother is in the ICU fighting respiratory failure, and her father, who has liver cancer, must work long hours as a ride-hailing driver, leaving Cao to care for her mother. Her siblings were earning money, but Cao felt compelled to be by her mother's side, her last act before returning to her studies.
In a touching display of solidarity, Cao's classmates rallied to support her during her absence. They each contributed items of personal value, such as online gaming accounts, Ultraman cards, sports star jerseys, an album of a favorite singer, and a barely worn pair of shoes bought for a physical education exam. These precious possessions were then sold to help cover her mother's intensive care expenses, which amount to 10,000 yuan ($1,500) per day.
Cao's emotional farewell to her classmates, captured on video and shared on Douyin, garnered immense attention. Her post garnered over 12 million likes and 250,000 comments, and the school community rallied behind her with chants of "Keep going, Cao Feng!" throughout the corridors. Her dedication to her studies remained unwavering, despite the overwhelming challenges she faced.
Her teacher, Li Chengjie, reported that Cao had occasionally missed homework assignments during the school break, explaining that her mother's illness required constant care.
The school's head of student affairs, Cui Miaomiao, emphasized that teachers regularly monitored Cao's studies, daily life, and mental health, ensuring she received the necessary support. The school has offered to assist her in completing late registration for the gaokao, China's national college entrance exam, and has waived all of Cao's fees for her final year of schooling.
Additionally, the Huaiyuan county education bureau has granted her a national high school student grant for the autumn semester. Cao plans to take the gaokao in 2027, making her dream of attending college more attainable despite her family's dire circumstances.
Written by urgent.news from VnExpress International's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
