A secondary school graduate from Hunan province has chosen to work alongside her mother on a construction site in Guangdong province to help cover her upcoming university tuition fees, foregoing the more common post-exam travel among her peers. The girl, known by the nickname Yuanyuan, carried bricks on her back at the site after completing the National Higher Education Entrance Examination (gaokao) in June.

Yuanyuan’s mother, Wei Yuangui, 40, has been employed in manual labor at building sites in Guangdong for 16 years. As a single mother, Wei supports her two children, both classified as “left-behind” children in their hometown of Qidong county. The family relies on wages earned through physically demanding work to meet daily expenses.

A video that has circulated online shows Yuanyuan and Wei transporting stacks of bricks to upper floors of the construction site, visibly sweating under the strenuous task. Yuanyuan reportedly carried sets of 10 bricks per trip, while her mother carried approximately four times that amount. Wei was recorded encouraging her daughter, noting that their joint earnings from these trips—20 yuan (about HK$23)—bring them closer to covering university fees.

Yuanyuan acknowledged the toughness of the job but said she is determined to alleviate her mother’s burdens. Wei initially hesitated to allow her daughter to engage in such demanding labor but ultimately accepted her decision, explaining that Yuanyuan developed a deeper understanding of the challenges she has faced through firsthand experience.

The young woman has expressed an interest in pursuing a psychology degree, although specific tuition costs or financial targets remain undisclosed. University fees in China vary widely, with many public institutions charging approximately 5,000 yuan annually.

Online reactions to Yuanyuan’s efforts have been mixed. Several commenters praised both mother and daughter for their resilience and determination, highlighting the grit displayed by Yuanyuan as uncommon among her generation. Others questioned her choice to undertake manual labor, suggesting alternative part-time work such as internships in fast-food establishments that might offer higher wages.

The family’s story underscores the ongoing challenges faced by millions of rural families in China, where the cost of education continues to be a significant hurdle despite government initiatives aiming to expand access to higher learning.