A man has been detained by the police after allegedly trying to sell his own son on the streets of southwest China. The 29-year-old father was arrested on Wednesday after trying to sell his four-month-old son.

According to People's Daily Online, the man was spotted along with his 30-year-old wife on the streets of Chengdu in Sichuan province on Monday afternoon. They were seen with the baby, asking people along the street if they want to adopt him.

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The man, completely unfazed even with the rejection he received, was heard offering the baby to someone on the phone, saying “if you want to take the baby away, you need to pay 18,000 RMB (or $2736 USD) up.”

On Wednesday, they were arrested after local residents approached authorities, reporting that a man and a woman were selling a baby on the streets.

Upon arrival at the police station, the couple showed police their marriage certificate. They claimed that they were selling their little son as they thought it would provide for him a “better life for his sake.”

Although they were confirmed to be husband and wife, the man was taken into custody for suspected child trafficking. The woman, on the other hand, was sent back to her hometown in Shandong province and has been under constant surveillance.

The man said that he is the only one working to provide for their family. He used to be a construction worker, earning 180 yuan per day. But after losing his job, he has had difficult time looking for another.

He said that him and his wife decided to sell their son after their savings ran out.

The man said after what has happened, he still wants to have a daughter once life becomes better. He said that girls are “more obedient and less burdensome.”

Tagsman sells baby, child-trafficking, Chengdu, Sichuan, Man sells baby in Chengdu