On January 19, as the first heavy snow of 2026 blanketed Zhengzhou, it marked the 30th day that Meng Shicheng had been broadcasting his martial arts performances live on the streets. Late into the night of January 23, a reporter found Meng broadcasting live in Jinshui District. The reason behind his "street performances" was the family's tragic circumstances: his mother had passed away from cancer in mid-2025, and by the end of that year, his father was diagnosed with bile duct cancer, leaving the family over 200,000 yuan in debt. As the eldest son, the 20-year-old shouldered the heavy burden of his family, combining live streaming with selling goods to scrape together his father's medical expenses.
Over the past month, compassionate citizens have traveled 20 kilometers to press donations into his hands; kind-hearted individuals donated 50,000 jin of Chinese yam, and a long queue of helpful citizens formed in the winter night to assist with unloading the delivery truck. On that bitterly cold street, the 20-year-old youth practiced his martial arts live, "fighting back against the illness."
On January 19, many parts of Henan welcomed the New Year's first major snowstorm, with outdoor temperatures in Zhengzhou plunging to -9°C. At 9 PM, as commuters hurried home, some noticed a young boy performing martial arts in the snow at the intersection of Hongzhuan Road and Zhengliu Street, with only a mobile phone live-streaming his act. His hands were red from the cold, his body shivered uncontrollably, and his exhaled breath froze into ice on his hat, yet he continuously thanked the viewers in his live stream.
When curious social media influencers asked why he braved the snow to broadcast, he explained, "In 2025, my mother was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. Then in December, my father was also diagnosed with bile duct cancer and urgently needs surgery. Our family is over 200,000 yuan in debt for medical bills. Without money, my father might have to stop his medication. I had no choice but to try this method to save my father." The boy's maturity and his family's plight moved many netizens to tears, with numerous comments asking how to help, though some questioned if it was merely a publicity stunt.
By 8 PM on January 23, the boy had started his live broadcast again at the same spot. When the reporter arrived, he was busy packing charity yams for passersby who wished to help. The boy introduced himself as Meng Shicheng, born in 2006, originally from Xuchang, and currently a third-year university student. "When my father was diagnosed with bile duct cancer, it was already at a mid-stage. I used my scholarship money and borrowed from relatives to gather 30,000 yuan, but we still need over 100,000 yuan for medical expenses," he shared.
To earn money, Meng turned to street performance. "Last year, I did some live streaming to try to save my mother. Now that she's gone, I just want to keep my father. I'm a sports major and learned martial arts in high school. So, I decided to use my skills to live-stream and earn money. To attract more viewers, I perform outdoors, which also helps me stay warm." For over a month, Meng Shicheng has been broadcasting live at noon or in the evening on the streets, then visiting the hospital to care for his father after his shifts. "I have a younger brother who's taking his high school entrance exam this year. He doesn't know how serious our father's condition is; I don't want to disrupt his studies."
Shouldering the family's burdens, Meng fights on the streets with his fists and feet as his weapons, "battling the illness" for his father, gradually paying off the hospital debts. However, in mid-January, his father's condition suddenly worsened, and he was admitted to the ICU. "It costs almost 10,000 yuan per day. If the debt gets too high, treatment might stop. I can't let that happen."
On January 8, after learning of Meng's situation, a kind-hearted individual donated 50,000 jin of Chinese yam in batches, free of charge. "I sell the yams during my live streams on the street. Every day, about a hundred kind people stop by to buy some, and many just scan a donation and leave without taking anything." After a video of his snowy night broadcast was shared by a social media influencer on January 20, more and more compassionate people spontaneously came to his直播 location to offer assistance.
From that day on, during the cold winter nights, a kind-hearted girl helped him by thanking viewers in the live stream, a fellow townsperson donated a thick down jacket to keep him warm, and caring aunts assisted in packing yams for customers, bringing him hot water and meals so he could have a warm bite to eat on the street. On the evening of the 23rd, the second batch of 10,000 jin of donated yams arrived at his broadcast spot. Several helpers appealed during the live stream for nearby residents to lend a hand unloading the truck. Within just half an hour, over ten people showed up, including two primary school boys.
They formed a long human chain, shuttling back and forth between the truck and the unloading point. After an hour, covered in dust, they finished the task, exchanged brief greetings, and then waved goodbye as they left. At 10 PM, Zhengzhou resident Jin Fengqi arrived with her two sons to find Meng Shicheng. She took his ice-cold hand and pressed 5,000 yuan into it. Jin Fengqi said, "This afternoon, my younger son saw Xiao Meng's story on a short video and said, 'Mom, let's help this big brother.' So tonight, after picking up my eldest son from his first year of high school, we came straight here to donate. Every little bit helps."
She told the reporter that Meng's story deeply moved her: "His mother just passed away, and now he's facing another huge challenge. He's so young, only a few years older than my eldest son. It truly pains my heart." In the freezing night, Jin Fengqi and her two sons shared a hug with Meng Shicheng. She reassured him, "Don't worry, child! With your determination, everyone will support you."
Shop owners near his直播 location, upon learning of his situation, offered help in various ways: some provided free storage space for the yams, others gave him opportunities for live-stream sales, and some donated fruits and vegetables for him to sell for charity. During the three-hour interview, the reporter witnessed many such acts of kindness. Meng Shicheng expressed his gratitude repeatedly: "Zhengzhou has embraced me once again. I promise everyone that in the future, I will become someone who contributes to society and live up to all the help I've received."
If you wish to offer assistance, you can contact Meng Shicheng at: 13838288354.
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