Refer China: 1 Finger, 1 Startup ： Man Built a Smart Farm from a Hospital Bed

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Imagine programming an entire smart farm system, wire by wire, line of code by line of code, using only one finger and one toe. This is not a hypothetical scenario, but the reality for Li Xia, a 36-year-old man from Chongqing, China, whose story of resilience and innovation is capturing hearts across the nation.

A paralysed young man in China who can only move a finger and a toe, dropped out of primary school but taught himself electronic circuits by reading books. Photo: SCMP composite/CCTV

Confined to a hospital bed and dependent on a ventilator, Li has achieved what many would deem impossible: founding a successful tech startup centered on a smart agricultural control system.

A Life Defined by Resilience

Li's journey has been one of overcoming immense physical constraints. Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at age five, he was forced to leave school in the fifth grade. Yet, his thirst for knowledge never faded. "My first exposure to computers came from a textbook my younger sister brought home," Li recalls. "Every single concept in that book intrigued me."

As the disease progressed, Li gradually lost his ability to walk, then to care for himself. By 2020, he fell into a coma and underwent a tracheotomy. Doctors gave him little time, and today, he retains movement in only a single finger and a single toe.

The Birth of a Digital Farmer

Defying all odds, Li began teaching himself programming through online forums at age 25. His breakthrough came in 2021 when he discovered soilless cultivation. A bold idea took root: to merge Internet of Things (IoT) technology with modern farming.

Operating a virtual keyboard with his one movable finger and toe, Li spent countless hours designing a complete smart farm control system. The system automates crucial aspects of farming, from nutrient delivery to environmental monitoring.

An Unbreakable Team: A Son's Mind, A Mother's Hands

Li's vision required a physical executor. That role was filled by his mother, Wu Dimei, who has been his full-time caregiver since his parents divorced in 2017.

With zero technical background—she once didn't know what a circuit was—Wu became her son's hands. Following Li's precise instructions from his bedside, she learned to solder control boards, set up network wiring, and maintain equipment. Her most remarkable feat was hand-assembling a remote-controlled, driverless vehicle to collect deliveries for the farm.

"My mum is now capable of doing everything," Li says with pride. "Even though she doesn't understand the theory, she knows exactly how to connect the wires and install everything."

Inspiring a Nation

Today, their farm operates smoothly and profitably. Li plans to diversify into new crops like cherry tomatoes. His story, shared by state media CCTV, has sparked an outpouring of admiration online.

Netizens hail his journey as proof of "limitless possibilities," and many are moved to tears by the powerful partnership between the determined son and his heroic mother.

Li Xia's story transcends a simple business success. It is a profound testament to the power of the human spirit, the transformative potential of technology, and the incredible strength of a mother's love. From his hospital bed, using the most minimal physical means, he is cultivating not just plants, but immense hope.