Many people consider overseas Chinese students to be elites in their fields of study. However, a great many of those students (including many women) have given up opportunities to work in other countries (in which they have studied), and they have returned home to China to work for rural residents' well-being. No matter how far the young people have traveled to pursue their studies, the residents' well-being has remained their top concern.

Qin Qian

Establishing Life Goals

Qin Qian, a returnee from Australia, has devoted all of her efforts to helping rural residents escape poverty since 2016, when she was appointed first secretary of Sunzhuang (a village in Xihua, a county in Zhoukou, a city in Central China's Henan Province).

Qin was born in 1986 in Zhumadian, a city in Henan. She considers her father, who works hard and who is always ready to help others, her "role model."

Qin applied to the department of law, under Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU, in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province), during the university-entrance examinations in 2002. She hoped to become a lawyer and then use that legal knowledge to help people protect their legal rights and interests.

Soon after she graduated from SYSU, in 2006, Qin began studying in the postgraduate international and comparative law program at University of Wollongong, in Australia. Two years later, she received a master's degree in law. Within a short time, she returned to China. She hoped to work in a legal institution, so she could help disadvantaged residents protect their rights and interests.

A short time after, Qin learned a township in Henan was recruiting cadres to work for several of its villages. Immediately, she decided to apply for a job, so she could help rural residents improve their lives. She was the only returnee (from Australia) who volunteered to work in the countryside.

"Many people asked me why I chose to work in the rural area. That made me ponder how we young people should establish life goals and pursue our dreams," says Qin.

When she reported for work in the township, Qin received a short message (from her father), through which the elderly man encouraged her to work hard. That strengthened her determination to devote herself to her career.

Helping Villagers Escape Poverty

In 2016, the Henan Communist Youth League Committee appointed Qin as Sunzhuang's first secretary. Immediately after she assumed her new position, Qin helped villagers escape poverty by promoting the sales of pepper and chili soup (Xihua's delicacy) across the country. During the past several years, Qin has spared no effort in raising Chinese — and the world's — awareness of the soup. For example, she has registered a brand — Shaomanlou — for the soup. She also selected a young man (among many competitors), who returned to Sunzhuang to start his own business, to lead villagers in promoting sales of the soup.

To make it easier for villagers to receive medical treatment, Qin has promoted the establishment of the telemedicine system in Sunzhuang . It is the first village-level telemedicine system in Henan. Through the system, rural doctors may consult doctors with urban medical institutions about the remedies for patients' diseases. As a result, villagers no longer have to travel a long distance to see a doctor.

Through her contacts with the villagers, Qin has realized greater efforts must be made to improve rural children's education, to eliminate the "root" of poverty. With Qin's encouragement, a company (in Xihua) donated intelligent, multimedia teaching equipment to Sunzhuang's primary school in June 2017. Qin has also encouraged entrepreneurs, from various regions of the country, to donate money, clothes and study accessories to impoverished students.

Qin Qian is at work.

Close to Villagers' Hearts

In 2018, as her term of office was about to end, Qin decided to stay in the post. The look in the villagers' eyes made her stay. She realized the rural residents, who treated her as if she were a member of their families, wanted her to help them improve their lives.

To ensure villagers would make persevering efforts to realize their dreams of getting rich through hard work, Qin has encouraged outstanding entrepreneurs (in Sunzhuang) to help the rural residents escape poverty by developing production and/or craft-making skills.

Influenced by Qin, many young villagers have joined Sunzhuang's Communist Youth League branch. The committee has organized volunteers to help and care for "left-behind" children and elderly residents who live alone.

Given the remarkable achievements in her work, Qin in recent years has received accolades and special titles, including a National Model Worker, a National March 8th Red-Banner Holder and a national model fighter against poverty.

"Through my experiences, I have realized young people should integrate their individual ideals in the realization of the Chinese Dream. They should also apply what they learn in helping rural residents escape poverty. In this way, the young people can achieve their self-realization," says Qin.

Photos Supplied by Qin Qian

(Women of China English Monthly October 2021 issue)