New Delhi, March 10 -- Huang Xuanni grew up as the sixth of seven daughters in a family that clearly preferred sons. This is the story of a 44-year-old businesswoman from Hunan province in central China.

Her parents barely paid attention to her. She ate alone on the doorstep, and they rarely even remembered her name. In one heartbreaking incident, her parents abandoned her on a mountain when she fell ill. A stranger found her and brought her back home, according to the South China Morning Post.

Life was no easier at school. She walked nearly three hours over mountains to reach it. She carried food from home with just one yuan ( Rs.13 at the present rate) as weekly pocket money. She often had her rice stolen by classmates.

Despite all t...