China mum’s plan to teach son about hardship backfires, he makes US$1,400 in 10 days at snack stall

BEIJING: A boy in eastern China dropped out of school after earning 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) in just 10 days, a decision influenced by his mother, who initially encouraged him to sell snacks to instil an understanding of hard work and its inherent challenges.

In an interview with the Post, the mother, surnamed Deng, said she concocted the plan when her 17-year-old boy’s grades at a culinary arts and vocation school began to slip.

When she confronted him about the poor performance, her son, Shen, told her that he “didn’t want to go to school anymore” because “studying is meaningless”.

Deng, who had been selling fried chicken at a street stall in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, for more than three years, believed that exposing her son to the realities of a challenging work environment would motivate him to take his education more seriously.

“He didn’t want to face the struggles of school, so I wanted him to tackle the challenges of real life instead. Making money isn’t easy,” she said.

Under Deng’s guidance, Shen used a modified electric bike to build a snack stall and, to his mother’s surprise, took to work immediately.

Shen earned 10,000 yuan in just 10 days, and Deng attributed his success to the unwavering support of loyal customers as well as his hard work.

According to Deng, Shen would wake up every morning and start preparing food at 9am. He would set up the stall at 4pm after a 13-km ride to the location, where he would sell chicken all night. He would return home at 3am.

Now, her son’s goal is to make enough money from the business to buy an electric tricycle.

“He is very diligent. I didn’t expect him to get so addicted to the work,” Deng told the Post.

Ironically, Shen’s success motivated him to drop out of school. Deng said she repeatedly tried to persuade him not to give up on his studies, but he was determined.

“A 17-year-old child has independent thoughts. As parents, all we can do is provide our support,” she told the Post.

“If he can’t live the life he wants, he won’t be happy. My priority is for my son to be healthy and happy. I only need to guide him to not do anything illegal,” she added.

The incident has quickly made headlines on mainland social media.

One Weibo user commented: “School is not the only path in life. If someone lacks interest in studying, mastering a skill to earn a living is also a valuable option.”

“Compared to traditional ‘tiger mums’, Deng respects her son’s thoughts instead of forcing him to study,” another said.

In China, “tiger mums” and “wolf dads” are terms used to refer to strict parents who deploy harsh methods to push their children to study hard.

Xiao Baiyou, the most famous “wolf dad”, set strict rules for his four children. He would beat them with a cane and a feather duster if they did not complete their homework.

In recent years, many young Chinese parents have embraced a “Buddha-like” approach, prioritising their children’s physical and mental well-being over grades and academic performance. – South China Morning Post