Unexpectedly popular
On a hot summer day, Yanhui Village, Ji'an, Jiangxi. Seven-year-old Fan Xiaoqin and his brother were playing in the field in front of their homes, and the two children chased after me, with innocent smiles on their faces.
It's just a playtime for ordinary farm children, plain and cozy.
On this day, cousin Huang Xinlong returned to his hometown to visit relatives, and he raised his mobile phone to record the rare intimate picture of the two brothers. The two of them laughed and didn't notice their cousin's arrival at all.
Huang Xinlong posted the photo online, hoping to share the children's happiness with family and friends. Unexpectedly, this seemingly ordinary life photo unexpectedly became popular on the Internet.
In the photo, 7-year-old Fan Xiaoqin's facial features are very similar to the popular business giant Ma Yun, which makes many netizens praise the existence of this "little Ma Yun".
What's even more surprising is that Jack Ma himself saw the photo. He personally reposted the photo on Weibo and left a message "I feel like I'm looking in the mirror", pushing the coincidence to a climax.
In an instant, the search for "Jack Pony" became a hot spot of national attention, and all eyes converged on this remote mountain village, eager to see the true face of this child.
Behind the hustle and bustle, the unknown situation of this ordinary farmer is also revealed. It turned out that Xiaoqin's father, Fan Jiafa, had his legs disabled due to a work injury, and his mother had been bedridden for a long time, and the family barely relied on a meager disability allowance to survive.
The two brothers should have been able to read and write, but their families were poor and could not afford to go to school.
After becoming popular overnight, Xiaoqin became a local star. This ordinary rural family has also embarked on a different life path under the arrangement of fate. For them, the quality of this road is full of unknowns, opportunities, or challenges, all of which are shown by a photo, and even Xiao Qin himself is ready or not.
Flying windfall, how to choose
The unexpected popularity brought overjoyed help to the impoverished Fan family. Many well-wishers took the initiative to contact the door and deliver daily necessities such as rice and cooking oil. Business owners in the village also came to visit and sent cash as a token of condolence.
For the long-struggling family, this sudden kindness made the Fan family father and son a little overwhelmed.
Xiao Qin's father, Fan Jiafa, was excited and grateful. Over the years, he has carried the livelihood of the entire family as a disabled person, struggling to maintain the food and clothing of his young children and old mother.
Unexpectedly, a chance directly changed the trajectory of their lives.
However, Fan Jiafa is also deeply worried. Will the huge concern for fame and fortune change the temperament of the two children? Will the assumptions and packaging of the outside world lead the children who should be simple astray? A shallow rural father is torn between dividends and worries, and does not know what choice to make.
In the winter of 2017, businessman Liu Changjiang came to the door and wanted to bring Xiaoqin to Hebei for development and provide Xi and job opportunities. In addition, there is a considerable amount of monthly living expenses, which is already very considerable for a rural family.
Fan Jiafa was skeptical about this at first, but after seeing Liu Changjiang's savings, he finally decided to let his 7-year-old son leave home to develop.
For a father with limited knowledge, choosing to trust a seemingly well-known businessman may be able to change the fate of his son. Allowing children to see the outside world is also a kind of expectation and blessing to a certain extent.
Fan Jiafa can't imagine all kinds of variables in the future, he can only pin his hopes on this.
Rural life after the lead has been washed away
However, the good times did not last long, and after living in Hebei for 4 years, at the beginning of 2021, 13-year-old Xiaoqin was terminated by Liu Changjiang, and the rich urban life came to an abrupt end. For a child in the growth period, all this change is undoubtedly a huge shock.
Just returned to his hometown, Xiao Qin could still take the initiative to say hello to his elders, and his childish smile was still faintly visible. But soon, he showed his nostalgia for money and a luxurious life, reaching out to ask for money when he saw people, completely losing his former innocence and kindness.
What makes the father, Fan Jiafa, even more sad, is that both brothers have been tested for mild intellectual disabilities, which is directly related to the mother who gave birth to them. For a while, huge surprise and self-blame overwhelmed this already difficult father.
The two sons he cared about had such congenital deficiencies, what a blow to him.
وٴ And life went on, Fan Jiafa had to cheer up. Fortunately, after his cousin Huang Xinlong returned to his hometown, he recorded the bits and pieces of the Fan family through video.
This kind of positive content has attracted the attention of many people, and the small income brought by the video has also added a little help to families in need.
Today, the father and son live a simple life in the village. Xiaoqin and his elder brother went to the village school to read and write, and his father made a living by handicraft. Despite the fact that life was still tight, they learned to be content and support each other.
After the hustle and bustle faded, the Fan family found peace and meaning in life. They have experienced the ups and downs of life and ushered in the dawn of growth.
The potential harm of affluent living
In the few years he has lived in Hebei, Xiao Qin has lived a different life from ordinary people. He lives in a two-storey bungalow, is picked up by a special car every day, and has an exclusive nanny to take care of his daily life.
This "superior" environment makes an ordinary rural child feel novel and uncomfortable.
What's even more worrying is that Liu Changjiang spared no effort to package Xiaoqin's image for the sake of marketing results. A child who was supposed to be innocent was changed his birthday and "collided" with Ma Yun, and was pushed onto various stages from a commercial point of view.
At the birthday party, hundreds of strangers sat around, and the banner font advertised "Alibaba Prince". Everything is so smooth and glamorous, but also jaw-dropping.
Is the spotlight beneficial to a child's spiritual growth? Will the lasers and screams that Xiao Qin is forced to face leave a wound on his tender heart? However, he is still too young to resist the spread and exploitation of the adult world.
When he was really "abandoned" and returned to his hometown, the change in Xiaoqin's personality had already appeared. His obsession with money and his nostalgia for a luxurious life all show that these years of experience have brought damage to a child's spirit.
If we stand in the perspective of our father Fan Jiafa, perhaps the original choice changed abruptly, which was very helpless and painful.
The suffering will eventually pass, and Xiao Qin still needs time to heal these wounds. We also need to reflect on the potential harms of using others or children. Every life is unique and fragile, and we have no power to change the nature of any soul.
The dividends fade and life goes on
In the video, the picture of the three members of the Fan family working in the field is very simple. The 13-year-old has grown much taller, and his cheeks are radiant with a healthy flush. Following his father's example, he drove the plough with great difficulty, turning up heavy dirt in the field.
The wrinkles on Fan Jiafa's face deepened, but his expression revealed calmness about life. He instructed his two not-so-smart sons, patiently imparting the know-how and techniques of farming over and over again.
The simple conversation between father and son is full of love and encouragement.
Cousin Huang Xinlong also often came to help, doing farm work with them and sharing heavy responsibilities. Xiao Qin had already begun to learn to take care of his sick old mother in bed, and took the quilt and white porridge from his father's hand, his face full of admiration.
These ordinary daily routines healed their wounds brought about by fame and fortune. Find the meaning of life in the most authentic work. Xiao Qin is no longer wary, but closes to this cousin who has never met but lives in the same place.
A dividend has passed, and Xiaoqin has found the strength to continue to grow. He bent down in the field, soaking in the nourishment of his labor. The father's teachings and the brother's company warmed the child's once lost heart.
Life is still simple, but they learn to care for each other. After the wind and rain, the Fan family greeted the new journey with strength. The glory of the past has become a cloud of smoke, and tomorrow will still be beautiful, and they will move forward into the future together.
Fan Xiaoqin's experience makes us think about the true meaning of family, growth and happiness. An accidental photo directly changed the fate of an ordinary farmer, and also tested their wisdom in the face of rapids.
We can't judge their choices because everyone makes their own decisions in a limited environment. There is no perfect answer on the road of life, only the vision and courage to adapt to the times.
On the other hand, it is also thought-provoking to experience the ups and downs.
Perhaps we need to step outside the framework of success and look at life and humanity in peace. Every life is unique and has its own shortcomings and difficulties. If we put ourselves in the shoes of others, we may discover the essential meaning of life.
Life is full of unknowns, and we all pursue the good life in our minds on different paths. Success, in fact, is just a way to satisfy the needs of the heart.
The story of the Fan family's father and son inspires us not to be deceived by appearances, and to experience life and human nature with our hearts.
The magnificent waves will eventually subside, and life will continue to move forward. We should be grateful for what we have now, and warm this beautiful world with love. I believe that Xiao Qin and his family will definitely find strength in life and continue to walk.