Commentary: How to Run a Blended Family of Seven Like a Business

The story of Weng Yanting's blended family provides a profound look into the complexities and solutions for modern family life in China. Weng’s family consists of five children, a situation that brings challenges such as navigating delicate parent-child relationships, coping with significant financial hardships, and managing the intricate tasks of daily living. [para. 1]

Weng’s journey toward building her blended family began in an unexpected way. After nine years of no contact, she reunited with her first love during a ride-hailing experience. Surprisingly, both their daughters were born on the same day, which sparked a profound reflection when Weng observed that her husband’s daughter lived under poorer rural conditions compared to her own city-raised child. This sense of empathy for the other child became a decisive factor in Weng’s decision to establish a family with her former partner, framing her motivation less as rekindled romance and more as compassionate concern. [para. 2][para. 3][para. 4]

Demonstrating maturity, Weng and her husband planned meticulously before merging their families. Recognizing the heightened challenges of a second marriage, they devised a practical “reorganization plan.” This involved integrating their four children during a summer; the children quickly bonded, especially Weng’s stepdaughter who developed a close relationship with her. Financially, the couple confronted their debts—Weng owed 600,000 yuan and her husband owed 200,000 yuan, with no property between them. Weng encouraged her husband to relocate from rural Henan to urban Jiangxi, leveraging her connections to secure work for him, which gradually improved their finances. They also established joint parenting and financial management rules, agreeing to raise the children themselves while separating from past spouses. Notably, child support payments were set aside in a dedicated account for children’s expenses, enhancing transparency and stability over their four-year marriage. [para. 5][para. 6][para. 7][para. 8][para. 9]

To address fairness and motivation among the children, Weng implemented a “monthly salary” system. Each child could earn up to 500 yuan per month by fulfilling tasks divided into personal hygiene, shared household chores, and academic work. The process, initially penalty-driven, evolved into one focused on positive incentives as children shifted their mindset toward earning more. Chores were allocated fairly by drawing lots, and parents covered essential needs like clothing quarterly, ensuring a supportive but disciplined environment. [para. 10][para. 11][para. 12]

Weng’s approach to parenting avoids fears of materialism. She believes parental example outweighs monetary incentives in shaping values. Despite her modest background, Weng became a successful entrepreneur and content creator. Her life serves as inspiration to her children, teaching them the importance of hard work and adaptability rather than rigid adherence to “expert” manuals. She also prioritizes filial piety, ensuring that her actions toward elders become lessons for her children, which has led to their own acts of caring generosity. Independence is also emphasized; her four oldest children have demonstrated strong self-care skills, even running the household themselves for 15 days recently. In May 2024, the family welcomed a fifth child, expanding their “accomplished” family even further. [para. 13][para. 14][para. 15][para. 16][para. 17][para. 18][para. 19][para. 20]

Policy changes have benefited Weng’s family. Living in Fuzhou, Jiangxi, they received a 60,000 yuan subsidy due to favorable housing policies for families with three or more children, as well as discounts on utilities. Weng is optimistic but believes there is room for improvement, advocating that larger subsidies and further support would greatly assist families like hers, especially as the government gradually enhances pro-natal policies to address demographic challenges. [para. 21][para. 22][para. 23][para. 24][para. 25]