6-Year-Old Boy Supports His Disabled Father by Begging on Knees
"I left home before my child hugged me and cried, saying 'Dad, no matter how difficult it is, please don't die. I am still here.'"
According to China Daily (Ge Qiwei, Zhang Huanrui), in 2009, a traffic accident injured Wang Lidong, a man from Henan Province. After his injury, his wife left home with their daughter. Due to the disability caused by his injuries, Wang Lidong lost his ability to work. For the sake of survival, he had no choice but to beg on the street for a living. To take care of his father, Wang Lidong's 6-year-old son also came to the streets of Zhengzhou, begging by kneeling down to passers-by to support his disabled father. This little boy who supported a family with his tiny shoulders moved millions of netizens after being reported by the media.
**Traffic Accident Caused Disability, Wife and Daughter Left Home**
**Survival Forced Him to Beg with His Son**
"That traffic accident destroyed everything I had. The perpetrator has never been found." In September 2009, while working far away in Guangzhou, Wang Lidong was involved in a traffic accident on his way home from work. The hit-and-run driver fled the scene and remains at large. In November 2009, after two months of treatment costing nearly 200,000 yuan, Wang Lidong used up all the savings he had accumulated over more than a decade of working. With no money left for further treatment, he had no choice but to be discharged from the hospital. Since he did not receive thorough treatment, his body never fully recovered, and his injuries caused him to walk with difficulty.
After the traffic accident, Wang Lidong basically lost his ability to work. In October 2010, his wife left home with their 15-year-old daughter without saying goodbye, and they have not been in contact with him since. A migrant worker lifted a car to save a girl who was run over, continuing to decline an advertising company's invitation.
For the sake of survival, Wang Lidong had no choice but to bring his son to Zhengzhou and rely on begging on the street for a living. When he was unable to get up, his 6-year-old son Menghao would go out on the street and kneel down to beg for food for him.
**Love Assistance Encounters Empty Promises from Merchants**
On September 17, 2011, after being reported by the media, a public welfare activity titled "Great Love Warms Hearts" organized by a flooring merchant was held at Zhumadian Century Square. On the day of the event, some netizens specially traveled from Baoding to Zhumadian, personally handing over more than 1,000 yuan in love donations to Wang Lidong, leaving only 200 yuan for their own return fare. The event raised nearly 6,000 yuan in love donations for Wang Menghao.
On the day of the event, Menghao received only 3,000 yuan. The flooring merchant promised to transfer the remaining 3,000 yuan to Wang Lide's account a few days later.
On October 17, 2011, the reporter contacted Wang Lide. Wang Lide told the reporter that he was still relying on begging for a living. The donation promised by the flooring merchant during the event had never been given, nor had they been in contact with him. Despite several inquiries, he received no response. Regarding such results of charitable assistance, he felt powerless and helpless.
**Editor's Note: Afraid of getting too fat to receive money, the 6-year-old boy said he doesn't eat meat**
A well-known video website features a video titled "6-Year-Old Boy Begs to Support His Father, Unaware What Children's Day Is" about Menghao.
In the video, a round-faced little boy, wearing dirty and torn clothes, kneels down to beg, speaking words beyond his age:
"Don't fool me, if you fool me, what will happen to my dad?"
"Would you feel at ease leaving your dad to go to school?" "No... I wouldn't..."
"For birthdays, I don't buy things. We don't have money; eating is enough. Have some rice, stir-fried tofu..."
"I don't eat meat. Eating meat makes me too fat. If I'm too fat, people won't give me money..."
In the video, this 6-year-old boy lives with his father in a dark small house of less than 5 square meters. He bought two lunches, but his father didn't eat, saving it for him to eat in the evening, as he was still growing.