Reform and opening-up brought tremendous changes to both cities and the countryside. That is an undeniable fact. Xiaowangzhuang Village was once an unremarkable little rural hamlet, with few residents and a livelihood dependent on traditional farming. In those circumstances, the villagers’ only way to change their lives was to study, get into university, and secure a coveted iron rice bowl.
When the winds of reform and opening-up arrived, the new village Party secretary, Wang Tiancheng, led everyone in changing their thinking and embracing new ideas. They actively developed sideline industries and set up small businesses, transforming Xiaowangzhuang into the county’s “star village” almost overnight.
But even after Xiaowangzhuang prospered, it did not rest on its laurels. The old, middle-aged, and young generations pooled their strengths, striving tirelessly and daring to explore new possibilities. They embarked on a broad path that would turn their rural village into a city, fulfilling everyone’s dream of trading a “mud rice bowl” for a “golden rice bowl.”
