Society

Men taking care of 100-year-old mother remain single

By Jia Xu (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-01-06 10:24

 

Wang Shikuan, 76, takes his 100-year-old mother to the workplace on the far site of another village in Zaozhuang city, East China's Shandong province on August 4, 2010.[Photo/Zaozhuang dzwww.cn]

Two brothers Wang Shikuan, 76, and Wang Shixi, 73, have been taking care of their 100-year-old mother for more than 30 years in Zaozhuang city, East China's Shandong province, dedicating their time to their mother and foregoing marriage.

The two are lodged in a small bungalow with a remote relative and their blind mother. They have carried their blind mother every day to work in a field miles away for six years. "These two are good sons. They never complain, never shirk responsibility and always take good care of their mom though they live under the poverty line", a neighbor surnamed Zhang said.

Wang's family income is about 1,000 yuan ($150) per month while the medical care cost Wang's mother faces reaches 300 yuan ($45), adding to the burden the brothers face.

"We don't have money to spend on other women. We don't think women would want to get married with poor men like us, plus a blind mother," said one. "For us, mom is everything we live for, and it's enough," the other added.