'Cried many times': 10-year-old girl leaves heartfelt note, Rs 7,200 for parents before they leave for work

Xinyu’s parents return home once a year during the Spring Festival. (Image credit: QQ.com)

• 10-year-old Xinyu left a heartfelt note and money for her parents
• Xinyu's parents work far away, returning home once a year
• Family videos received over 10 million views on social media

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A 10-year-old girl from central China touched millions of hearts after leaving a handwritten farewell note and money for her parents before they left for work.

Xinyu lives with her grandmother and younger brother in Shangqiu, Henan province, while her parents work far away in Suzhou, eastern China.

According to mainland reports, Xinyu’s parents return home once a year during the Spring Festival. This year, the holiday lasted from February 15 to 23, making it the longest break in recent years.

Before leaving for Suzhou on February 23, Xinyu’s father, surnamed Xu, told his children about their travel plans.

The night before leaving, the couple went to check on their children. They found a heartfelt note from their daughter along with  805 yuan (about Rs 7,200 or US$120) in cash.

“I have cried many times in my room because I do not want you to leave, but I understand you are working hard for our family,” Xinyu wrote in the letter.

She told her parents she would not cry or try to stop them from leaving, knowing that doing so would only make them feel worse. “This is the only thing I can do for you. Please use the money to eat and drink well, do not hesitate to spend, and stay safe. Do not be too tired or sick,” she wrote.

She also promised to behave well, study hard, listen to her grandmother, and care for her younger brother as the “little grown-up” of the family. Xu and his wife were so emotional after reading the letter that they could not bring themselves to read it again.

“When my daughter received her lai see, she mentioned buying new things, but we never imagined she would leave it all for us. Her thoughtfulness really touches our hearts,” Xu told the mainland media outlet Xinwenfang.

In a video, the couple, who planned to leave quietly, ended up waking their children when they started the car. Xinyu and her younger brother stood by the window and waved goodbye to their parents.

In another video shared by Xu, Xinyu proudly showed her school certificate to her father through the family surveillance camera.  Xu later expressed regret and helplessness about having to raise his children from a young age. “For the sake of our livelihood, we had to be separated,” he said.

The couple reportedly plans to save money in 2026 so they can return to Henan for work in the future. Their videos have received more than 10 million views on mainland social media.