Born in 1986 in Jinzhou, Liaoning province, Yuan Lidong entered the world with the rare condition Phocomelia, which prevented his limbs from developing. His parents, seeing their son as merely a torso, were once desperate, considering abandoning him in the harsh winter cold. However, the child's heartbreaking cries made them stay. His mother resolved, "No matter what, we must raise him to adulthood." From that moment, his family dedicated themselves to teaching him self-reliance, utilizing the remaining parts of his body. Refusing to surrender to fate, Yuan transformed his mouth into his "hands." He diligently practiced holding chopsticks to eat and drink, turning book pages, and typing. In the early days, his mouth swelled, bled, and his teeth ached, yet Yuan was determined not to ask for help.

Without limbs, Yuan Lidong practices dressing himself with his teeth and uses his mouth to hold chopsticks for eating and drinking. Photo: 163.com

At 14, Yuan joined his father, busking in various cities across China to earn a living. His remarkable resilience and singing voice captivated Chai Panxia, a young woman without disabilities. Despite strong opposition from her family, Yuan and Chai Panxia married in 2008 and welcomed their first son shortly after. As economic burdens mounted with a growing family, Yuan decided to venture into livestreaming video games—a field that typically demands extremely fast hand movements. Lying on his side in bed, he used his mouth to hold a chopstick to control the mouse and type.

Yuan's perseverance helped him become a skilled gamer, earning him the nickname "Chopstick Brother." The compelling image of the man, often drenched in sweat, expertly controlling virtual characters with his mouth, attracted hundreds of thousands of followers. This success provided him with a stable income to support his wife and children. However, after three years, the intense work took a severe toll on Yuan's spine and teeth. Following his doctor's advice, he gave up gaming and shifted his focus to livestreaming sales of local agricultural products. He also opened a small supermarket with his wife, diversifying their income streams.

Yuan Lidong, from Liaoning province, China, once busked on the streets to make a living. Photo: 163.com

"Difficulties are not scary; the scariest thing is to give up on yourself," Yuan stated. Once perceived as a lost cause, he now not only supports himself but also provides care for his parents and stands as a strong pillar for his wife and children. His life story exemplifies extraordinary determination and the power of human spirit to overcome adversity.