Earlier this month, Zhang, a fifth-grade student from Ha Bac province, entered a shoe store with a stack of mot-yuan banknotes (approximately 0.14 USD or 3,500 VND). He expressed his desire to find a good pair of shoes for his mother's birthday, as he noticed her everyday shoes were very old and worn.

The stack of loose change totaled approximately 200 yuan (nearly 700,000 VND, or about 28 USD). This was all the pocket money Zhang had carefully saved since last May.

Moved by the boy's sincerity, the store owner decided to offer a special discount. Ultimately, Zhang only paid over 100 yuan for the white sports shoes. The owner also told the boy that if the shoes did not fit his mother, he could easily exchange them. She filmed the interaction to set an example for her daughter, commenting that Zhang was a child who "came to repay his parents".

The stack of loose change Zhang brought to the store to buy shoes for his mother. Photo: Douyin.

The stack of loose change Zhang brought to the store to buy shoes for his mother. Photo: Douyin.

The video quickly went viral, attracting millions of interactions. "This is truly heartwarming. If I were his mother, I would cherish these shoes more than anything", one user commented.

Some suggested the store owner should have given the shoes for free, but many disagreed.

"It is important that the boy paid for the shoes himself. He needs to feel proud of his half-year effort, rather than receiving a reward without effort", one person wrote.

Users discovered the money was given to Zhang by his grandmother for weekly snacks, but he couldn't bring himself to spend it.

Zhang's mother later posted a video trying on the shoes her son gave her, expressing immense joy. She shared that her family did not teach their child about filial piety through books, but always brought him along when they cared for the elderly.

"I was surprised to see him quietly observe, learn, and grow from his parents' actions", the mother confided.

Khanh Linh (According to SCMP, China Daily, Douyin)