Peng Peng is 8 years old, and those who have met him say that his father Du Xin is carved from the same mold. Not only do they have similar eyebrows and eyes, but their personalities are also the same. Both of them love to laugh. In March 2025, Du Xin drove the second-hand car she had bought and pulled Peng Peng, who had cerebral palsy, from her hometown of Fuyuan City, Heilongjiang Province. After converting the vehicle into a coffee selling car in Henan, she headed north. The appearance of the coffee cart is very old, but the newly installed floor and coffee making belongings inside the car are shiny and shiny. Peng Peng sits in the exclusive seat and smiles.
More than a year ago, Du Xin never thought that he and his son would live in Beijing. He originally wanted to be a "migratory bird", taking his sick son to see the outside world, selling coffee all the way, supporting himself and his son, and doing whatever he went. In May 2025, the father and son took a break next to the Shimayu Dam in Miyun, but unexpectedly, a stall called "Xin Zhe Coffee Father and Son" was added here from then on. In just a few months in Beijing, some people gave up their stalls for him, some provided free shelter, and rehabilitation centers extended a helping hand to provide free rehabilitation training for children. More people came from all over Beijing to take care of Du Xin's business… Coffee father and son stopped in Beijing.
In the short video, he recorded the goodwill from all directions, as well as the moments of his life with his son. The father and son faced each other and smiled contentedly. A while ago, Du Xin wrote lyrics about her story with her son and used AI to create a song. The lyrics read: "The water in Miyun is as blue as a dream, my coffee truck is parked by the shore, and you, who are 8 years old, are sitting in a wheelchair watching the sunset
Recovering and spending all savings, starting a 'migratory bird' life with son
On a vacant land next to the Shimayu Dam in Miyun in early summer, an old car with a mottled paint surface and a 14 year old car parked quietly on the roadside, and the car mounted coffee machine was running. In the back seat of the car, Peng Peng was half lying in her exclusive seat, her round eyes staring at the news screen on the tablet without blinking, and her small hands occasionally swiping the screen. In the car, Du Xin deftly made coffee, extracting, adding ice cubes, and filling cups, welcoming cyclists and tourists coming and going. He occasionally looked up at his son and watched Peng Peng's small hands swipe on the screen. Du Xin was particularly pleased and said, "This is a new skill we have recently mastered. My son's ability to swipe the screen and watch videos independently shows that his little head is growing
In the coffee cart, Peng Peng was half lying on the seat, her small hands scrolling through the video. Photo by Wang Wei, a reporter from the Beijing News
Eight years ago in winter, Peng Peng was born in Fuyuan City, Heilongjiang Province. Peng Peng's mother was plagued by complications during pregnancy and had to undergo an early cesarean section at seven months and fourteen days. When the little one landed, he weighed only three pounds and six taels, and his body was as weak as a ball of cotton. Within a few days, he suddenly experienced heavy bleeding in his stomach and digestive tract, and his stomach was unable to absorb nutrients. In just five days, the baby in the swaddling clothes has lost weight to only two pounds and eight taels. During those days, Du Xin shuttled back and forth between the obstetrics department on the 25th floor and the neonatal ICU on the 26th floor of the hospital, feeling anxious as she stepped on layers of stairs. He stays in the hallway all day, afraid of hearing the doctor call him to sign. In five days, he signed seven critical illness notices.
After finally breaking through the gates of hell, Peng Peng was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. From then on, rehabilitation training became the entire life of the father and son, and in a blink of an eye, it was seven years. Over the past seven years, our family's savings have been spent like running water. Due to a leaking roof and continuous rain, Du Xin's 74 year old father suffered a sudden stroke and had difficulty moving around, while her 70 year old mother stayed by the bed to take care of him.
Days are already difficult, and in the spring of 2025, Peng Peng's condition will suddenly deteriorate. Du Xin felt that he could no longer let his family worry about him and Peng Peng. At the same time, he also wanted to take his child out and see the outside world, which might be helpful for his son's recovery.
The problem of livelihood is right in front of us. Peng Peng is unable to speak normally and tends to cry emotionally, requiring constant attention. Du Xin first thought of setting up a stall to sell pancakes. He could knead the dough, spread the pancakes, and flip them over. The process would take four or five minutes, and if the child suddenly started making a fuss, he would be completely helpless. Thinking back and forth, Du Xin remembered that she had sold coffee before, and it only took a minute to make a cup of coffee. Even if Peng Peng had an unexpected situation, he could immediately stop his work to appease her.
A bold idea took shape, and Du Xin decided to buy an old car, convert it into a mobile coffee truck, and take her son to be a "migratory bird", walking around in the warm climate to make a living by selling coffee. He emptied his last bit of savings and bought this weathered 14-year-old car. On March 9, 2025, Peng Peng spent all the money on her last rehabilitation class in Fuyuan. On March 10, Du Xin drove Peng Peng and kicked on the "migratory bird" lifestyle.
A beam of light in the darkness: A cup of coffee conveys kindness to strangers
Du Xin has set her first stop at Xuchang, Henan. There are young brothers who have known each other for many years, as well as tools and venues that can help him complete vehicle renovations. After traveling thousands of miles, the father and son arrived in Xuchang. Du Xin personally carried out the vehicle modification. Peng Peng spends most of his day in the car, and I have to use environmentally friendly materials. Even if the price is much higher, I will never compromise. "On April 25, 2025, the renovated mobile coffee truck was completely refreshed, with the narrow compartment divided into an operating area and a rest area. Peng Peng's exclusive seats were soft and safe.
The car has been modified, but Du Xin is unsure. After seven years of focusing on his child's recovery, he has long been disconnected from the outside world's livelihood. On April 29th, Du Xin gathered the courage to release his first short video, in which he said, "There are more than just hospitals and homes in the world. If you can't afford a RV, just build a home
Around the May Day holiday, the Central Plains were covered in lush vegetation and had a suitable climate. Du Xin has decided to drive north from Xuchang, but he hasn't made up his mind where to go yet. Arriving at a highway service area, he stopped the car to rest. As soon as the car came to a complete stop, a private car behind was about to leave. The woman in the passenger seat looked up and immediately grabbed her husband who was about to drive, saying, "Wait a minute, I saw this car in a short video
The woman walked up quickly and smiled, expressing her desire to buy a cup of coffee. Du Xin quickly waved her hand and explained, "I just stopped to rest. The machine hasn't warmed up yet, and it takes more than ten minutes for a commercial coffee machine to start." "It's okay, let's wait." The couple chatted with Du Xin about Peng Peng's recent situation.
More than ten minutes later, a cup of coffee with a strong aroma was handed to the woman. When scanning the code for payment, the other party directly transfers 100 yuan. At that moment, Du Xin froze in place. At that time, he was already penniless, relying solely on credit cards to refuel his car, and could only barely repay the minimum monthly payments. This 100 yuan is not simply revenue, but a beam of light when falling into darkness.
At that moment, I felt my heart suddenly brighten up, and we father and son had hope again. I didn't know how to express it, so I could only keep saying 'thank you'. Looking back now, Du Xin still couldn't calm down. This first cup of coffee was a kindness he had never met before, which gave him the courage to move forward again.
Leaving Henan, the car drove north into Tianjin, and Du Xin sold coffee at Tanggu Service Area and the entrance of Tianjin Polar Ocean Park to earn some living expenses. But he still has no idea where to go next.
At this point, a friend I met in Tianjin suggested Du Xin, "Go to Miyun, where there are many cycling enthusiasts and the coffee business will be better
The female vendor stepped out of the stall and said, "Just focus on doing business here
On May 6, 2025, the father son coffee truck drove into Miyun. Du Xin, who was unfamiliar with the place, drove around looking for a suitable stall location. He first set his sights on a riverbank on Zuodi Road where fishing enthusiasts gathered, with rows of fishing rods standing on the shore and many people. But for the whole day, he guarded the coffee cart from early morning until dusk, with people coming and going around, but he didn't sell a cup of coffee.
A big brother who has been fishing here all year round noticed and walked to the side of the car to remind him, "Young man, it's not good to sell coffee here. Why don't you try Shimayu Dam? There are many tourists and riders there, and the atmosphere is good." Du Xin thanked him repeatedly.
On the morning of May 7th, Du Xin drove to an open space next to the Shimayu Dam. Looking up, the wind and sun are beautiful on the dam, and many cyclists are resting here. There are also nearby merchants selling coffee. Du Xin approached the vendor and asked if they could set up a stall together. The young female vendor smiled heartily and said, "Brother, you can set up a stall, no problem." Seeing Peng Peng in the car, the female vendor also teased the child.
Just after 1 pm, the female vendor tidied up her stall and left first, never coming here again. Du Xin felt very guilty in her heart and sent a WeChat message to the other party, saying, "Sister, come over and don't worry about me." The girl replied, "Brother, just focus on doing business here." From then on, Du Xin and his son and their coffee truck could always be seen next to the Shimayu Dam.
At 11:30 on June 8, 2026, Du Xin arrived at Shimayu Dam as usual, carrying Peng Peng who had just completed rehabilitation training. He parked the vehicle steadily, quickly opened the car door, unfolded the side sunshade, hung up the simple promotional cloth curtain, turned on the power of the coffee machine, and the coffee stall began to open.
Before long, two motorcycles slowly approached and old customers Xiaochun and Xiaotian stopped the car. Du Ge, two ice cream Americanos, "the two greeted each other affectionately. Xiaochun and Xiaotian, who live in Xiwengzhuang Town, rode by here a year ago and accidentally met Du Xin and his son. Since then, they have become regular visitors. Two young people who used to dislike drinking coffee have now fallen in love with this delicious taste. It's not easy for Du Ge to take care of the child alone. We can come over when we have free time to help with the business
Many cycling riders and self driving tourists who come and go have seen videos of father son coffee carts and recognized this special old car. Someone stopped the car, waved their hand in greeting, gave a thumbs up and shouted loudly, "Come on! You must be getting better and better
In addition to selling coffee, Du Xin insists on recording daily life through short videos: there are gurgling coffee machines in the camera, innocent smiling faces of Peng Peng, and simple meals for father and son. After the video spread, more and more netizens came to the dam, including those from Dongcheng, Xicheng, Chaoyang, Haidian, Shijingshan, Shunyi, Fangshan, Mentougou… Some people rode motorcycles for two and a half hours from Daxing to Miyun early in the morning to support Du Xin's business.
Du Xin couldn't remember the faces, so she could only express her gratitude in the video. There are also several young girls who have become regulars here. Every now and then, they ride their bikes to the dam, order a cup of coffee, take out snacks and toys they brought with them for Peng Peng, speak softly to the children, and hum light and lively songs.
The overwhelming love makes me feel flattered
The summer in Beijing is not cool. In August 2025, Du Xin gritted her teeth and rented a small single room in Miyun. Her child now has a small nest where they can take a shower, enjoy the cool breeze, and sleep comfortably every night.
In September, another enthusiastic netizen from Miyun extended a helping hand to Du Xin, inviting the father and son to move to their own residence. That house was originally for rent, but later this netizen stopped renting it and let me and my child live for free, "Du Xin said. The house is on the first floor, equipped with underfloor heating, and the open space in front of the door is spacious, making it very convenient for vehicles to park. Considering the child's life, after much hesitation, Du Xin accepted this kindness. At the end of September, Du Xin and Peng Peng moved into their new home.
Previously, this enthusiastic netizen often came to take care of Du Xin's business, but after Du Xin moved into her new home, she gradually stopped showing up. Du Xin felt guilty and often took the initiative to send WeChat greetings, half jokingly saying, "Why haven't you come? Aren't you afraid I'll take away the things at home and 'run away'?" The other person replied, "Just take care of your child and live a peaceful life. I'm doing well
Du Xin said that in the past, she had no room and no land, and her life seemed to have reached a dead end. Now the sudden love is overwhelming, making him feel flattered. Previously, some self media bloggers took the initiative to contact, and Du Xin even subconsciously became wary, afraid of encountering scammers. Speaking of this experience now, he is filled with gratitude.
Professional rehabilitation team extends a helping hand: 'My biggest wish is to see my child stand up'
Although life is gradually getting on track in Miyun, Peng Peng's health still hasn't improved. At the end of August 2025, Peng Peng's limbs showed obvious muscle atrophy, sternum collapse, and he leaned back on his seat all day, unable to lift any energy. Du Xin saw it in her eyes, anxious in her heart, and couldn't sleep all night long.
Just when he was at a loss, Gao Yang, the head of Sunshine Star Language Children's Rehabilitation Center in Miyun, came across Du Xin's short video and immediately took his wife and professional rehabilitation team to visit the child. The group carefully examined Peng Peng's physical condition and made a detailed assessment. Du Ge, hand over the child to me, and we will provide free rehabilitation training for Peng Peng. Don't worry, "this sentence was like a reassurance pill, finally landing Du Xin's long held heart.
Du Xin took the child to the rehabilitation center for training. Photo by Wang Wei, a reporter from the Beijing News
At 9:00 am on June 8, 2026, in the rehabilitation training center, Du Xin bent down as usual to lift Peng Peng out of the car and raised her shoulder high. Peng Peng lay on her father's broad shoulders, with curved eyebrows and eyes, making cheerful murmurs. Entering the rehabilitation classroom, the rehabilitation therapists greeted each other with smiles, saying, "Peng Peng is here, are you happy today?" The little one couldn't speak, but smiling was his way of expressing his emotions. Du Xin carefully placed the child on the soft floor mat of the rehabilitation room, then gently brought the door and waited quietly outside.
The rehabilitation room is covered with soft colored mats, and the sunlight illuminates the entire room. The rehabilitation therapists have been accompanying Peng Peng for nearly a year of training, and have already figured out the child's little emotions: during training, whenever Du Xin walks past the door without looking at the child, Peng Peng will get angry. In order to keep the child focused on training, Du Xin would quietly retreat to the corner of the hallway during each class, wait quietly, and never easily look around. Leg compressions, stretches, joint movements… Rehabilitation therapists use warm hands to hold the child's small knees, arms, and shoulders, training little by little.
Rehabilitation training has shown results. During a training session, Peng Peng attempted to sit up alone. This small progress surprised and delighted all the rehabilitation therapists present. My biggest wish is to watch Peng Peng stand up, "Gao Yang said.
The rehabilitation therapist assisted Peng Peng in training. Photo by Wang Wei, a reporter from the Beijing News
I will persist and wait for the implementation of brain computer interface technology
Now, Du Xin has planned a life direction of "walking on two legs": running a coffee business while running short videos. Peng Peng's long-term rehabilitation treatment requires a continuous stream of financial support, with two 'legs' relying on each other, providing an additional guarantee. In addition, when I get old, it should be quite interesting to look back at these videos
Speaking of the future, Du Xin's eyes lit up. He has been closely following the forefront of medicine and has learned that brain computer interface technology for people with cerebral palsy is constantly breaking through and gradually maturing, which gives him hope. I will persist and wait for the technology to land, until my child uses brain computer interface technology
He has aspirations in his heart, one is to work hard to save money and pave the way for his child's recovery, and the other is to have a stable coffee stall and live a more down-to-earth life.
The reporter learned from Xiwengzhuang Town in Miyun District that considering the practical difficulties of Du Xin and his son, a catering enterprise in Yujie took the initiative to provide a fixed venue for Du Xin to carry out operations. However, due to the failure of the hotel cooperation transfer, Xiwengzhuang Town has been in communication with Du Xin and providing assistance. The reporter also learned from the Miyun District Market Supervision Bureau that corresponding support and assistance will be provided.
New Beijing News reporter Wu Tingting
Editor Zhang Lei proofread Li Lijun
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