That experience gave her knowledge that could help a beginner avoid common mistakes.
She understood the practical demands of operating a food stall.
She was familiar with the routines involved in preparing and selling food.
And she knew that success required more than simply having a product available.
When Shen began his venture, he benefited from her guidance.
This is a form of family mentorship.
Many small businesses begin with knowledge transferred between generations.
Parents teach children how to prepare products, communicate with customers, maintain equipment, or manage daily operations.
Children may eventually develop their own ideas and approaches.
Sometimes they introduce new technology or different marketing methods.
Other times they simply discover that they enjoy a family trade more than anyone expected.
Shen's experience appears to have followed part of that pattern.
His mother introduced him to a field she understood.
He approached it with enthusiasm.
And his early results encouraged him to consider continuing.
The irony is that Deng initially wanted to use her business experience to discourage him from leaving school.
Instead, that same experience helped him explore a potential career.
This does not mean she made a mistake by giving him the opportunity.
Practical work can be educational regardless of whether it produces the outcome a parent expects.
Shen learned about responsibility, customer demand, and the effort required to earn money.
Deng learned something about her son's interests and motivation.
The lesson changed, but the experience was not necessarily wasted.
Why the Story Sparked Debate Online
When the incident circulated online in September 2024, it attracted attention because of its unexpected outcome.
The humor was immediately apparent.
A mother wanted her son to experience difficult work so he would appreciate school.
The teenager discovered he enjoyed the work and reportedly generated 10,000 yuan in sales.
Instead of asking to return to class, he became more determined to run a business.
But the story also generated discussion about the value of education and the importance of respecting young people's interests.
Some commenters supported the idea that traditional schooling is not the only possible route to a successful career.
Others appreciated Deng's willingness to recognize her son's independent thinking.
According to coverage by CNA's 8days, online reactions included support for learning practical skills and praise for the mother's comparatively flexible approach.
Those reactions reflect a broader debate.
One perspective emphasizes the importance of formal education.
Supporters of this view argue that qualifications and structured learning can provide a foundation for future employment, career flexibility, and professional development.
Another perspective emphasizes practical ability and individual motivation.
People who favor this approach may argue that a young person who demonstrates genuine talent in a trade or business should have opportunities to develop that talent.
These perspectives are not necessarily incompatible.
Education can support entrepreneurship.
Practical work can strengthen academic understanding.
And young people may benefit from combining different forms of learning.
The more difficult question is how to balance immediate enthusiasm with long-term planning.
A teenager may feel strongly about a career choice at 17.
That enthusiasm deserves to be taken seriously.
But young people are also still developing their understanding of financial risk, employment opportunities, and future responsibilities.
Parents therefore face the challenge of respecting growing independence while continuing to provide guidance.
Deng's situation made that challenge unusually visible.
Her son was not merely expressing an abstract dream.
He had already begun working and had experienced encouraging results.
But his mother still had reasons to worry about the consequences of leaving school.
The public discussion reflected both sides of that tension.
What Parents Can Learn From Deng's Experience
The most useful lesson from this story may not be that Deng's parenting strategy failed.
It may be that she discovered something about her son that ordinary arguments had not revealed.
Before the experiment, she knew that Shen was unhappy with school.
She knew his grades were declining.
And she knew he wanted to leave.
But once he began selling food, she saw a different side of him.
He was prepared to work long hours.
He demonstrated enthusiasm for serving customers.
He appeared interested in developing the business.
And he began setting practical goals for the future.
Those observations provided information that could help her understand his motivations more clearly.
For parents, this illustrates the value of paying attention to what children actually do, not only what they say.
A teenager may insist that school is pointless while showing great interest in a technical hobby.
Another may dislike conventional assignments but spend hours creating music, designing products, or learning programming independently.
Such interests do not automatically justify abandoning education.
But they can provide clues about possible career directions.
Parents may be able to use those clues to encourage more relevant learning.
A child interested in cooking might benefit from culinary training.
Someone fascinated by vehicles might explore mechanical engineering or automotive technology.
A teenager who enjoys selling products might become interested in accounting, marketing, or business management.
The goal is not necessarily to replace education with work.
It is to help young people see how education can support the things they already care about.
Deng's experiment also demonstrates that parents cannot guarantee the outcome of every lesson.
Children have their own preferences and interpretations.
Sometimes they will reach conclusions that adults did not expect.
The challenge is responding constructively rather than treating every unexpected result as a failure.
The Value of Listening to Young People's Ambitions
At 17, Shen was approaching adulthood but still needed guidance.
That combination can make conversations about the future particularly challenging.
Teenagers often want greater independence.
They may feel ready to make decisions about education, work, and personal goals.
Parents, meanwhile, may be more aware of long-term consequences.
Both perspectives can contain valuable insights.
A teenager may recognize an interest or ability that has not been obvious to adults.
A parent may recognize risks that a teenager has not yet considered.
Constructive conversations require room for both.
In Shen's case, his mother initially hoped to change his mind through direct experience.
But when the experience strengthened his determination, she faced a choice about how to respond.