A two-year-old toddler from southeastern China survived for days on snacks after his 28-year-old mother died in their rental flat, sparking a national discussion and widespread sympathy online.
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The tragedy unfolded on August 17 when police were alerted by a friend who, unable to reach the mother, Zheng Yu, for several days, went to check on her at her home in Cangnan county, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province.
Zheng was discovered dead inside her cluttered home, leaving her young son, nicknamed Mianmian, alone for an unknown number of days.
During this time, the toddler survived solely on whatever he could find – jellies, snacks, a gnawed pumpkin, and herbal tea – all scattered among the bedding in his mother’s 10-square-metre bedroom.
When police finally arrived, Mianmian was found covered in grime, dressed only in a short-sleeved shirt and a soiled diaper in a loft room.
A compassionate neighbour immediately took him in, cleaned him up in their bathroom, prepared noodles with a fried egg, and provided him with new clothes before he was taken to the hospital.
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Zheng, a single mother facing numerous hardships, had a challenging life. Both of her parents lived with intellectual disabilities and relied on welfare support, while she and her sister were raised by their grandmother.
Zheng had three children from three different relationships; her first two children were raised by their respective fathers.