Li Lanyu, 78, sued her son for not supporting her in Chengdu, Sichuan province.

The case was heard on Tuesday but no verdict was issued, Western China Metropolis Daily reported on Thursday.

Li said that in 2009 her husband died and two years later her youngest son passed away.

However, she claimed, that her eldest son, Li Wanglun, did not subsequently fulfill his responsibilities in caring for her. Overcome by emotion, she shouted in court: “the son forgot his mother”.

Li wanted her son to visit her every month and was also seeking monthly supplies of 180 kg of food and 7.5 kg of vegetable oil.

Liang Hui, Li's wife who represented him in court, said that her mother-in-law was entitled to 255 yuan ($41.5) rural endowment insurance each month. On top of this, Liang claimed, she rented out land and had other incomes, adding that her situation was not as miserable as she claimed.

The two sides did not reach an agreement on the court.