Crawling between someone else’s legs has traditionally been deemed a pure humiliation in China, but a university student from southwest China's Chongqing has nevertheless resorted to the move as a way to raise money for the treatment of her deadly disease. Her antics ignited an online storm, with some extending sympathy to the youngster and many others condemning her for unscrupulous expediency.

Li Juan, 23, was diagnosed with acute leukemia in 2014. She was spotted on Monday kneeling alongside her mother in Chongqing’s downtown hub, and begging while ducking through travelers’ legs in a bid to collect money to save her life.

Nine yuan (1.3 US dollars) was the price each time the girl proceeded with the move, read the paper board held by the duo. Details of accounts for WeChat and Alipay, China's mobile payment apps, were also presented for the convenience of making donations.

Li came up with the maneuver after her condition deteriorated following bone marrow transplant surgery she received in 2014. The procedure not only exhausted the savings of her impoverished rural family, but also placed the household in significant debt.

Still in need of around 300,000 yuan (43,504 US dollars) for subsequent medical care, Li told media that she was forced to seek help from others.

“All the money saved by my parents through their toil and moil was drained, and I was already at the end of my rope,” Li told the Paper, adding that the family income -- earned by her mother serving as a cleaner and her father in a Guangzhou factory -- was far from enough to cover her ever-increasing medical charges.

Li contended that instead of an insult or humiliation, crawling between others’ legs for her is rather an expression of hope that she will soon be through the formidable difficulties and afflicting hard times.

The move, however, made online waves after photos capturing the mother and daughter’s gestures were posted and widely shared on China’s Weibo social media platform. While some netizens displayed understanding for the helpless youngster, others showed contempt for her behavior by defining it as simply a stunt.

“She would never resort to the move if she could figure a way out,” @miaolegemiaoshu commented, adding “she must have no better choices.”

Another netizen identified as @niangniangxiaomao shared a different stance, claiming “there must be something wrong with the family’s values.” He further noted that no one would actually give money under the pretext of enforcing on her the contumelious demeanor.

Asked to stop the controversial begging by local officials shortly after the pair was spotted, Li Juan said she now could only hope netizens would donate online. As of Wednesday, Li told the Paper that she had already raised 13,000 yuan (1,885 US dollars) out of her required donation of 250,000 yuan (36,253 US dollars).