Zhang Yuxiao, an 11-year-old pupil in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, helps his grandmother. [Photo by Liu Yang/for China Daily]

Before entering primary school, Zhang seldom went out because he had to look after his grandmother and help with housework when his grandfather was working odd jobs to support the family.

It isn't difficult at all for the boy to wash clothes, buy vegetables and feed his grandmother.

To supplement their meager income, he often picks up cans and plastic bottles after school.

When he finally started school at an age much later than most children, he wrote in his diary: "It was my first day at school. I took the bus alone but in the opposite direction. I changed to another bus and finally got to the school from memory".

The boy was so glad when a primary school agreed to enroll him and provide him textbooks and lunch for free.

He picked up used notebooks from his classmates and erased their pencil marks so he could use the notebooks for his diary.

In spite of living a hard life, Zhang is still quite optimistic and positive.