A blind grandmother in rural China is caring for her 12 grandchildren alongside her partially deaf husband, after all four of their sons left the village to seek work in cities. The 69-year-old, Li Ziai, lives with her family in a small house in Huaihua, Hunan Province, where she manages all household chores despite her disability.
The couple's sons and their wives have migrated to urban areas for employment, leaving the children behind. Li's youngest grandchildren are newborn twins, while the others range from toddlers to pre-teens. The family consumes 5kg of rice daily and relies on purchased vegetables as their own garden can no longer meet demand.
Li told Chinese media that her grandsons now guide her when she goes out, a task previously done by her sons. She expressed understanding for her children's decision to leave, stating that staying would not allow them to support themselves. However, she acknowledged the hardship, noting that after she and her husband die, the children will have to fend for themselves.
The story highlights the issue of 'left-behind' children in China, where over nine million children live in rural areas while their parents work as migrant labourers in cities. Li's daughter-in-law, Xiong Tingting, said the family is too poor to stay together, and she plans to join her husband in the city after the Lunar New Year.
