An Ordinary Person’s Livelihood

Reform and opening up have transformed cities and countryside alike. This is an indisputable fact. Xiaowangzhuang Village was once an inconspicuous little hamlet, with few residents and little land, where people relied on traditional farming to make a living. In such an environment, the villagers’ only way to change their circumstances was to study, pass the entrance exams, and secure a stable government job. When the winds of reform and opening up swept through, the new village Party secretary, Wang Tiancheng, led everyone in changing their thinking and embracing new ideas. They actively developed sideline industries and opened small businesses, turning Xiaowangzhuang into a “model village” for the county. But even after Xiaowangzhuang found success, it did not rest on its laurels. The old, middle-aged, and young generations pooled their strengths, worked tirelessly, and boldly explored new possibilities, setting out on a broad road that would transform their village into a city. In doing so, they fulfilled the whole village’s dream of trading their “mud rice bowls” for “golden rice bowls.”