An 84-year-old woman in Zhengzhou of Henan Province lives by collecting garbage and often persuades beggars on the street to work.

Yao Yinyu, who has no children, gets a 270-yuan (US$34) subsidy each month from the government. Yao feels shy and uneasy receiving the money, as she thinks she is a burden on society. So she decided to work and support herself.

Starting in May, she began to pick up and sell waste bottles and newspapers.

www.xinhuanet.com