It is the first week of a new semester, but homework is not the only thing that worries Li Qiaoli, a 16-year-old senior high school freshman in Xitang village in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province.

The sisters light candles on Li Yuanlei's 10th birthday cake in their mother's hospital room.

Two years ago her father died of tuberculosis, leaving her with only 600 yuan (US$88) in savings, a mother with severe mental illness who cannot care for herself and her 8-year-old younger siser, Li Yuanlei.

Since then, Li has had to shoulder the responsibility of supporting and raising her family of three on monthly basic living allowances provided by the government: 120 yuan per person, 4,320 yuan per year for the entire family. Other than Li's mother's medication and boarding expenses for Li and her sister at school, the family has lived on 100 yuan a month for two years.

Li Qiaoli cries when her mother can't recognize her and her sister.

Her mother's condition worsened in March this year. With the help of donors and local media, she has since been hospitalized. A local school, Guli, has provided free educations as well as free books, meals and accommodations for the sisters.

However, Li's mother's contract with the hospital for free treatment will expire by end of September and Li worries that her mother will be kicked out of the hospital while she and her sister have to drop out school.

"I would do anything to make my mother feel better," she said.