Xie Huaian, once a deputy director in the Capital's Ministry of Revenue, was caught up in the struggle between the old and new factions and falsely accused of “forming a clique for personal gain and embezzling state funds.” His entire family was exiled to Qinzhou in Lingnan. Taken from a life of fine food and fine clothes in the Capital to a pestilential land in Lingnan, Xie Huaian refused to give in to despair. Drawing on his knowledge of Central Plains farming techniques, medicine, and cuisine, and making use of Lingnan's abundant mountain and sea produce, he led his family from mere survival to putting down roots, from putting down roots to prosperity, and from prosperity to improving life for the whole region. In the end, his name was cleared, but he chose to stay.
