People with various goals have swarmed the remote village, with some villagers saying they counted up to 50 visitors to the boy's house in just one day.[Photo/VCG]

Born into a poor family, Fan Xiaoqin and his elder brother have never attended school.

Fan Jiafa, the father of "mini Jack Ma," had his right leg amputated as a young man after being bitten by a viper. Left with only one leg, he was pressured to marry a mentally disabled wife who suffered from polio. Later, the couple had two sons, both of whose learning abilities are stunted.

The family has always struggled with poverty, getting by only thanks to a minimal allowance from the government. To make matters worse, Fan's 80-year-old mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Now, the one-legged man must shoulder all the housework and still make money to support his family.

Fan's daily routine already necessitates a tight schedule, so random visits made by non-profit organizations, government workers, journalists and businesspeople who want to take advantage of his son's fame only add to his burden. The frequent visits have also generated rumors among the villagers, with some claiming that Fan is using his son as a tool to collect money. The rumors have greatly upset Fan, forcing him to constantly refute untruths.

Nevertheless, Fan is also grateful to many of the people who visit, especially when they bring everday essentials and donated funds. He says the only wish he has for his sons is that they have access to good education.