Qi Xiaojing was born into a poverty-stricken farmer's family in 1984 in Horqin Right Front Banner, in Hinggan League, in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. When she was a middle school student, Qi's parents borrowed money from their relatives and neighbors to cover her tuition.

In 2004, Qi was admitted to Inner Mongolia University of Science & Technology, after she passed China's university-entrance examination. Then, she was the only university student from her village. Many villagers lent money to Qi's parents, so the young woman could cover her tuition.

Soon after she graduated from university, in 2008, Qi returned to her hometown. During the past decade, she has inspired herself with her original dream, of helping rural residents live better lives, especially when she has encountered difficulties.

Early in 2013, Qi made a special trip to Chaoyang Edible Fungus Research and Development Center (in Northeast China's Liaoning Province), to learn fungus-cultivation skills. After she returned home (several months later), she began cultivating edible-fungus in greenhouses in Ping'an, a village in Horqin. Within a short time, she earned her "first bucket of gold" by selling fungus.

In 2014, Qi established a strawberry-cultivation cooperative in Ping'an. Within a short time, she set up her family farm (in the village), on which she and her family grow strawberries. Given her efforts to improve her production and business-management skills, the farm has generated a considerable profit (by selling strawberries to visitors to the village) over the years.

In 2015, Qi established an e-commerce service center (in the village). The center helps farmers sell, online, agricultural products to urban residents.

As the saying goes, "God helps those who help themselves." Qi's persevering efforts (in promoting the sales of agricultural products across the country) eventually yielded handsome rewards. Her cooperative generated more than three million yuan (US $461,538) in revenues in 2020. The cooperative has helped more than 400 rural households attain wealth (by selling strawberries).

During the past several years, Qi has helped rural residents develop low-risk and less physically and technologically demanding industries, through which the residents have earned considerable profits. For example, Qi has helped many farmers attain wealth by breeding hens. Qi buys the eggs from the families at a reasonable price. "Qi has helped us a lot. I'm too old to do hard, physical work, but I can breed hens. I used the money, which I earned by selling hens (bred by me), to cover all the costs of my daily expenses last year," says an elderly villager.

During the National Poverty Alleviation Summary and Commendation Conference, held in Beijing in February 2021, Qi was among the award recipients recognized as a national model fighter against poverty.

In April 2022, Hinggan League initiated a project, under which Qi has offered guidance to rural youths, who try to start their own businesses. During the past several months, Qi has shared her career-development experiences with 15 young people (from various regions in the league). Qi has also offered advice to young people on how to improve their entrepreneurship projects.

"I hope more young people will return to our village to start their own businesses, and to do their bit to build our village into a better place," says Qi.

(Source: Xinhua/Women of China English Monthly August 2022 issue)