A video of a student from a rural area of Yunnan Province receiving a major university admission letter has touched countless netizens in China.

Video screenshots

When the acceptance letter of Dalian University of Technology was sent to his home, the candidate, Yao Shengwang, was returning from digging ginger in the field, carrying a basket full of it with hands covered in soil. He took off his muddy clothes, changed and washed before opening the notice, choking up as he read the contents word by word.

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There are six members in Yao’s family, living in the rural area of Mangshi, Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture. His grandfather and father have physical disabilities. Yao’s family is not well-off but his parents never slacked off encouraging their children’s studies.

After seeing the viral video, Dalian University of Technology contacted Yao to learn his family situation and stated that the school will provide assistance to him according to its scholarship policy, vowing not a single student will be allowed to drop out of school because of financial difficulties.

Some people expressed their willingness to donate money to the family, Yao thanked the netizens who offered to help but politely refused the donations. Yao is determined to study hard and strive for scholarships to ease the financial burden on his family. He is also taking part-time jobs to earn some money.

“I do not want to get too cozy. Coziness would make me lazy but a little difficulty will make me grow faster,” Yao said in a recent video, encouraging netizens to help those who are in more need.