Step-mother Changes the Lives of Her Stepchildren

Ms. Weng recently became a popular figure on social media and has been praised as "the best stepmother in China" after sharing videos about her family life online.

In 2016, Ms. Weng's life in Jiangxi Province fell into crisis. She was overwhelmed with debt and going through a divorce. She sent her two children to stay with their grandparents while she worked hard to pay off her debts.

In the summer of 2020, during a business trip to Luoyang, Henan Province, Weng reunited with her ex-boyfriend, Mr. Guo, a taxi driver. He was also in a similar situation—he had debts, was divorced, and had two children to raise.

Ms. Weng, Mr. Guo, and their children. 

Upon reuniting, Mr. Guo decided to pursue her again. However, Weng had no intention of remarrying. She made unreasonable demands to discourage him, such as asking him to lend her money and lose weight. Mr. Guo gradually met her requests.

"When I said I would never leave my two children, he promised to move to Jiangxi with me," she said.

Eventually, Weng was won over. At this point, Mr. Guo took her to visit his children. This meeting marked the beginning of the relationship between the stepmother and her two stepchildren.

At the time, Mr. Guo’s son was 8 years old, and his daughter was 6. The little girl caught Weng’s sympathy as she was facing physical and psychological issues. During their first meeting, she wore old, dirty clothes and no shoes. Her eyes were filled with fear, and Weng even noticed lice in her thin hair.

Weng realized she couldn't let the children live like this anymore. She suggested that Mr. Guo bring the children to live with her in Jiangxi.

The four children, all around the same age, quickly became close friends. They spent every day playing and studying together. When the vacation ended and it was time to part, they hugged and cried, not wanting to leave. From then on, the two families became one.

Weng enrolled all four children in various extracurricular classes. Every night before bed, she would read stories and chat with them. She also encouraged her stepdaughter to read and practice public speaking at home, helping her become more comfortable in front of an audience. Under Weng's nurturing care, the shy girl blossomed into a confident and open individual, eventually calling Weng "Mom."

Seeing the children’s transformation, Weng began teaching them independence. Since all four children loved cooking, she taught them how to prepare meals. She openly managed household expenses, giving each child a set allowance, along with rewards and punishments to help them develop financial management skills.

From a girl who had to struggle from a young age, she became a happy, confident child thanks to her stepmother. 

"Whenever I’m free, the children help me at the bakery. On my birthday, they organize a big celebration for me," Weng shared.

Now, Weng and Mr. Guo are married and have a fifth child. The older siblings are not at all bothered by the arrival of their baby brother. On the contrary, they eagerly take turns caring for him, seeing it as a reward to be close to him.

When this mother of five shares her daily life online, the warm and loving family atmosphere has received many likes and attention. Some people even wonder if she fears the children's biological mother might come back to take them away. However, Weng explains that she is simply doing what any mother should do.

"Love should not be divided, and it should never depend on blood relations," she said.