Xiao Naijun (center), from Central China's Henan province, comes onstage during the award ceremony. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Shi Peihao, an 11-year-old from Northwest China's Gansu province, recently became a local celebrity following an annual event to honor youth who best display the traditional value of filial piety.
Shi was honored alongside teenagers from nine other families as one of the Ten Most Filial Youngsters of 2020, an award presented by China Media Group in association with the Youth Sports Program Center.
Many parents focus on providing their children with improved living conditions while sometimes overlooking the importance of moral education
The ceremony, hosted by veteran anchors Bai Yansong and Ju Ping, was held earlier last month. The awards were presented by a slew of celebrities, including astronaut Yang Liwei, composer Gu Jianfen and Olympic gold medalist Yang Yang.
The ceremony was broadcast on CCTV-1 and CCTV-14, and several of CCTV's digital platforms.
"I've received praise from a lot of people when they encounter me on the street," Shi says.
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"That makes me happy."
During last year's summer vacation, the primary school student in Minqin town came to help his grandfather harvest honeydews. The boy knows every part of the farming process, from irrigation to packaging.
A tourist filmed him working in the field and posted the clip on the popular social media platform, Pear Video.
The short video quickly went viral, garnering tens of thousands of "likes" and even boosting sales of local honeydews on e-commerce platforms.
Shi started helping his father and grandfather cultivate the melons when he was 6 years old.
The boy, who has become strong through practicing taekwondo, volunteers for one of the most tiring jobs－throwing the melons into truck beds.
"I also water the vines, chop wood and tend the fire in my grandparents' home," he says.
"My favorite chore there is feeding the sheep. Sometimes, I talk with them, and they bleat at me. We're like friends."
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Shi also helps his parents with housework. He cooks, washes dishes and sweeps the floor. The boy believes he has a responsibility toward the whole family.
"Our class teacher, Miss Yu, told us to do so. And my parents do the same for their parents, too," Shi says.
"Actually, all of my classmates help their families."
Another award winner was Huang Shihuan, a teen from Guangdong province who shouldered household work to support her father, a doctor who was sent to Wuhan－the Chinese city hit hardest by COVID-19－early last year.
Also awarded were the ethnic Yi siblings Qiu Pingping and her elder brother, who helped their parents overcome poverty.
Most of the youth were surprised to learn they'd won.
"Helping with farm work is very normal for children here. We didn't consider it a big deal," Shi's father says.
The event's producer and director,Chai Shengtao, says the winners were selected from 230 youth shortlisted among thousands of candidates.
"All of the children, who are ages 7 to 16, on the list either take care of the elderly and children in their family, help with housework or perform other moving deeds to support their families," Chai explains.
Most Chinese are becoming better off as the economy continues to advance. But many parents focus on providing their children with improved living conditions while sometimes overlooking the importance of moral education.
Chai says most winners over the past eight years came from families living in poverty. But in 2020, more hailed from relatively average-income households.
"Filial piety is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture. Parents, teachers and society play an important role. Our program shows the beauty and power of morality, and can draw society's attention to help some of the children in need," he says.
"Chinese children's filial piety in the new era focuses more on legacy. That is to say, parents should instruct and influence their children using actions rather than words. By seeing filial youth take responsibility for their families, people can realize moral education's importance."