Chinese son kowtows to adoptive mum, thanking her for funding medical bills by driving cabs

An 18-year-old boy in central China knelt and kowtowed to his adoptive mother after completing the gaokao, thanking her for years of devotion that helped fund his medical treatment.From June 7 to 9, more than 12.9 million candidates sat China’s fiercely competitive national college entrance examination, or gaokao. Among them was Lele, from Xiangyang in Hubei province.Outside the exam venue, his adoptive mother, Ye Huanzhi, waited in a red qipao dress, holding sunflowers and his favourite drink.Ye Huanzhi, above, Lele’s adoptive mother, waits with flowers outside the examination venue. Photo: Jimu NewsTheir bond began on a rainy night in April 2008, when Ye found a newborn boy wrapped in blankets on her way home. His ears were visibly malformed, and his umbilical cord had not fully fallen off.Though of modest means, Ye took him in, named him Lele, and raised him as her own.Lele was later diagnosed with congenital microtia, a condition that left him with only one-third of normal hearing, according to the mainland media outlet Jimu News.Doctors said surgery could cost up to 300,000 yuan (US$44,000), a prohibitive sum for Ye, who worked as a taxi driver.A happy Lele pictured with his adoptive mother when he was a young boy. Photo: Jimu NewsBut Ye remained indefatigable. For more than a decade, she drove from dawn until late at night, saving whatever she could for his treatment.She also took Lele to hospitals in Xiangyang, Wuhan and Beijing in search of medical help.As her story spread, locals began calling her the “caring taxi sister.” Fellow drivers donated money, while members of the public helped the family contact leading doctors.In August 2018, Lele underwent an operation lasting more than eight hours, as Ye kept vigil outside the operating room. The surgery was successful, restoring his hearing and reconstructing his outer ears.Lele and his adoptive mother having fun together when he was younger. Photo: Jimu NewsOn June 7, Lele sat the skills-oriented gaokao, a newer exam model adopted in provinces including Hubei and northeastern Liaoning to help vocational school pupils enter university.Further ReadingAfter returning home, he knelt before Ye and kowtowed three times, thanking her for raising him. In traditional Chinese culture, kowtowing is a solemn expression of filial piety.Ye helped him to his feet and gently told him to enjoy a well-earned rest.It is unclear whether the family plans to search for Lele’s biological parents, but the teenager said he hoped to repay his adoptive mother, who had given him life twice.Anxious Chinese parents wait for their children to come out after sitting the National College Entrance Examination. Photo: AFPThe Alibaba Foundation and local media later awarded the family 10,000 yuan (US$1,500). The Alibaba Group owns the South China Morning Post.Lele said he hoped to study mechanical manufacturing at university and one day give back to society.Their story has resonated across mainland social media.One online observer said: “Even some biological parents might not have done what Ye did. She is a truly great mother.”Another said: “I hope Lele gets into his dream school. His gratitude and sense of responsibility already shine brighter than any exam score.”