Feature:Cadresatyourservice:Chinesewaytoinspiritvillagersoutofpoverty_GuangmingOnlineThisfilephototakenwithadroneonApril15,2021showsaviewofShibadongVillageofXiangxiTujiaandMiaoAutonomousPrefecture,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/ChenSihan)byXinhuawritersYaoYulin,ZhangYujieandZhangGeCHANGSHA,Feb.25(Xinhua)--LongXianlanfromShibadong,anethnicMiaovillagenestleddeepinthemountainsofcentralChina'sHunanProvince,isamongthecountry'smillionsofonce-impoverishedruralresidentswhohaveshakenoffpoverty.Donnedinaprotectivesuit,veiledhatandgloves,Longmeticulouslyopensahive,removesthehoneycomb,andgentlyscrapesoffthewaxwithasharpblade.Asthemellowhoneyslowlystreamsout,countlessbeescrowdaroundhim,buttheskilledbeekeeperwon'tbehurried.Unfazed,hecontinuesthetaskathand.Today,theself-madebusinessmancanrakeinmorethan300,000yuan(about42,200U.S.dollars)ayear.ButsuccessdidnotcomeeasyforLong.Heearneditthehardway.Tenyearsago,hewasahardnuttocrackforlocalcadres.Histransformationmayenlightenmanyaroundtheglobeinsolvingacommonheadacheinpovertyalleviation--howtomotivatemarginalizedruralpopulationstoactivelyengageineffortstoimprovetheirlot.China'sfightagainstpovertyincludesallpeopleirrespectiveoftheirethnicity,regionandfamilybackground,targetingthepoorestofthepoorwiththeslogan"leavenoonebehind."Therefore,itfallsongrassrootscadrestoracktheirwitstoprovidebespokeservicesforeveryoneinabidtoendtheirpenury,eventhemostuncooperative.SELECTCOMPETENTPERSONLongXianlan,whowas27yearsoldin2014,wasinfamousinShibadongforhisindolence.Insteadofclimbingmountainstocutlogsforheating,hewouldratherchopuphiswoodenbedforfirewoodandsleeponthefreezingfloor;wheneverthevillagecadrescalledonthecommunitytodevelopindustry,hewouldgrumblethathepreferredtobegivenmoney.In2014,thelocalgovernmenthand-pickedseveralcadres--eacheitherborninlocalruralareasorexperiencedindealingwithruralaffairs--toliveandworkinthevillageandassignedeachalocalhouseholdamongthepoorest.LongXiulin,asmoothtalkerwith13yearsofgrassrootsvillageworkexperience,wasdispatchedfromthelocalcounty'spublicitydepartment.HewaspairedwithLongXianlan.Throughhispreviouspostings,theaccomplishedethnicMiaocadrehadsecuredareputationforhisabilitytonurturecloserelationshipswiththepublic.HisassignmenttoShibadongillustratesthe"targeted"measuresofChina'spovertyalleviationcampaign,ascadresfamiliarwitheconomicswereoftensenttovillagesstrugglingwithweakindustries.Atthesametime,communicationspecialistswouldheadtocommunitiesbattlingwithdisputes.DuringChina'sbattleagainstabsolutepoverty,atotalof255,000teamsweredispatchedtoofferon-the-groundsupportandover3millionpeopleweresenttothecountrysideasspecialcommissionersforpovertyrelief,officialdatashows.Asof2021,HunanProvincealonedispatched21,000povertyalleviationworkteamstoitsruralareas,withmorethan600,000cadresjustlikeLongXiulinpairedwithsome1.7millionlocalimpoverishedhouseholds.BUILDINGEMOTIONALBONDSStartingwithcasualchats,LongXiulinbegantobuildrapportwithLongXianlanwhois17yearshisjunior.HespokeatlengthwithmembersofthevillagecommitteeandcalledinonLongXianlan'sneighbours.LongXiulinsoonuncoveredthatLongXianlanwasabandonedbyhismotherafterhisfather'sdeath,andhisonlyrelative,hisyoungersister,alsodied.ItwasclearthatbehindLongXianlan'sreputationasanalcoholicandbrawler,wasayoung,vulnerablemanwhofeltisolatedduetoalackofloveandcare.LongXiulinbelievedthatthetiesofkinshipmayhelptheyoungmanfindhisway.OnNewYear'sEve2014,oneofthemostvaluedoccasionsfortheMiaopeople,LongXiulinbroughtLongXianlantohisfamilyhome.Theyenjoyedapleasantfamilydinner,andbeforeleaving,LongXiulin'smothergavetheyoungmanaredenvelopecontaining1,000yuan,alongwithsomehand-madecuredmeat,fishandsausage.Aftersomanyyearsofsolitude,LongXianlanwassotouchedbythenormalbutunforgettablefamilydinner,hekneltontheground,kowtowedhishostsand,withtearsrollingdownhisface,shouted:"Mom!"Similarpracticestobetterbondwiththelessself-motivatedvillagerswerealsotailoredaccordingtotheirpersonalityandfamilybackground.Theteammemberspairedwithempty-nesterswouldfrequentlydropbytoattendtotheelderly;thoseself-contemptuouswereencouragedtoexploretheirowntalentslikecarpentryandtodevelophobbiesintoalucrativecareer.Acrosstheboard,thesincerityofthepovertyalleviationcadressoonwonthelocals'trust."Iusedtofeelscaredbecauseoflonelinessandmyhelplesspastanddoubtthattheworkteamwouldneverunderstandthewrenchingsufferingofthepoor,"recalledLongXianlan."However,theydidn'tlookdownonme.Instead,theyinvitedmetodinner,tookmetojointhevillage'sindustrialdevelopmentsothatwecanlearnhowtoearnmoneyourselves.ThatwaswhenIcametorealizethatthereexistssomeonewhoreallycaresaboutme!"hesaid.LongXianlanandLongXiulinarenowbrothers,andthewarmthofhomebroughttheformerapatheticyoungmantruedignityandnewhopeforlifeoutofgrindingpoverty.PROPUPCHARACTERISTICINDUSTRYAfterseveralheart-to-hearts,LongXiulinconcludedthatLongXianlan'sgreatestconcernsatthattimeweremarriageandwork.In2015,theworkteamorganizedablinddateactivity,introducingsinglewomeninnearbyvillagestothebachelorsinShibadong.ThiswaswhereLongXianlanmethiswife.WhiletheotherdesireofLongXianlanchimedwithanotherofChina'stargetedpovertyalleviationpriorityapproaches.Povertyalleviationthrougheconomicdevelopmentisconsideredthemostdirectandeffectivewaytogivepoorareasthecapacityforindependentdevelopmentandhelppeoplefindemploymentlocally,accordingtoChina'swhitepaperonitspovertyalleviationexperienceandcontribution.Withthisinmind,Chinahassupporteditsunderdevelopedruralareasindevelopingvariousindustriesgearedtothelocalresourcesavailable,which,forShibadong,areagriculture,animalhusbandry,Miaoembroidery,laborservicesandruraltourism.LongXiulinandhiscolleaguesinvitedthevillageyoungsterstoattendanindustrialdevelopmentdiscussion,collectingtheiropinionsonfuturecareerssothattheycanprovideeachofthemwithbespokesupport."Dozensofyoungpeoplesharedourownideas.Somewantedtobetourguides,otherswantedtheirownrestaurants,andsomeaskedtobetrainedtooperateanexcavator.Forme,Iwouldliketolearnhowtoplantcropsandbreedlivestock,"recalledLongXianlan.Theirvoiceswerenotonlyheardbuttakenseriously.Thecadressharedfreevocationalskilltrainingandjobopportunities:Hotelchefswereinvitedtotakeonapprentices;technicianslikeweldingworkersofferedon-sitetraining,whileLongXianlanwasamongthosewhoattendedatwo-monthagriculturalcourse.AccordingtoLongXiulin,Shibadonghadallitsnewindustrialprojectsunderamarket-orientedmechanism,withoutsideenterpriseshiringlocaltalent.Governmentfundsalsohelpedfledglingsectorsgainafootholdinthemarket.ItwasnoteasyforLongXianlantofindhisprofitableniche.Hetriedsellingfishandotherjobs,allinvain.Butnomatterwhat,his"elderbrother"LongXiulinwasalwaysthere,findingnewjobopportunities,helpinghimapplyforalow-interestloan,andkeepinghimmotivated."Mybrotherhasalwaysbeensogoodtome.Ifeelobligatedtostriveforabetterlifebyearningmoneywithmyownhands!"saidLongXianlan.BasedonLongXiulin'sdeepunderstandingofthelocalnaturalconditionsandmarketdemands,hepersuadedtheyoungmantojointhehoneybusiness.Embracedbymountains,Shibadongboastsabundanthoneysourcesandbreedshighqualitybees.Thebusinessdidnotrequiremuchintermsofstart-upcapitalandsuitedtheyoungmandowntotheground.Sureenough,LongXianlanprovedtobeafastlearner,andstartedhisownhoneybusinessafewmonthslater.TheworkteamalsohelpedLongXianlanpromotehishoneyproductsviae-commerceplatformsandmediachannels.Thankstothecareandattentionfromhis"elderbrother,"LongXianlanscaleduphissweethoneybusinessquickly,andfoundhisplaceintheworld.PROVIDEFOLLOW-UPSUPPORTTohelpmorefellowvillagersliveabetter-offlife,in2017,LongXianlantooktheinitiativetosetupabee-keepingcooperative.Itnowhas562membersandmanagesmorethan1,300beehives,withanannualoutputvalueofnearly2millionyuan.Theircooperationisbuiltuponacommonbusinessmodelintoday'sruralChina:inordertointegrateresourcesandformanindustrialcluster,LongXianlanrentslocalvillagers'landasbeebreedingbases;whileLongprovidesnecessarytechniques,guidesmembersinbee-keepingandmanagesthebases,thememberscanfocusonbetterbreedingthebees.Afterthehoneyiscollected,Long'scompanywillpurchasethehoneyfromthemembersandprocessandpackagethehoneyintobottlescateringtothemarketdemandforsale.BytheendofMarch2021,thereweremorethan2.25millionfarmers'cooperativesacrossChina,engagingnearlyhalfofitsruralpopulation,accordingtotheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralAffairs.Officialdatareleasedin2019showsthateachfarmers'cooperativereturnedanaverageof1,402.5yuanasdividendstoeachofitsmember,andover3.85millionregisteredimpoverishedhouseholdsnationwidejoinedsuchcooperatives.Toboosttheproductsales,in2020,Shibadongsetupanexhibitionhall,wheretouristscandirectlybuylocalagriculturalproducts,culturalandcreativeproductsandhandicraftsondisplay.Thevillageplanstoaddmorestoriestotheexhibition,includinghighlightsofitsdecade-longpovertyalleviationefforts,sothatthevisitorsattractedbythelocalpicturesquenaturalscenerywillgetalastingimpressionofthevillage'soriginalecologyanditseco-friendlyproductionbasesandbewillingtobringtheproductsinthemountainsbackhome.Withthelocalgovernment'ssupport,ShibadongalsosetupanexhibitioncounterinthewaitingroomofJishoudongrailwaystation,whereurbanitesoftenpassedbyduringtheirhigh-speedrailwaytrips,toexhibitMiaoembroidery,agriculturalproductsandlocalspecialties.Promotionactivitiesarealsoheldonaregularbasisinthevillageorelsewheretohelpselltheproducts.Duringsuchevents,Miaoethniccharacteristicsaresuretodraweveryone'sattention,withbeautifulwomenwearingglisteningMiaoaccessories,singinginMiaolanguage.ThevillagealsodesignedtheirownonlineshopviatheWeChatminiprogram,whichcanbeaccessedaslongasyouhaveanaccountofWeChat,China'scurrentleadinginstantchattingplatform."I'vemarriedtherightpersonintherightplace!Ifirmlybelievethataslongaswearediligentandworkhard,ahappylifeissuretocome.Myhusbandisnolongeradrunkardandhasrealizedourdreamwithhisownhands,"saidWuManjin,hiswife."Iusedtoworkinawell-offcoastalcitywheremybossownedasedanandvilla.Suchaprivilegedlifewasonceadistantdreamforme,beyondimagination.Thatdreamhascometruenow,"LongXianlanraved,addingthatsuchablessingshouldbecreditedtotheperseveringpovertyalleviationworkteam.However,duetofiercemarketcompetitionsandChina'sboominge-commerce,LongXianlanisalittlebitconcernedaboutthepricewaramonghoneyproducers.Hehasdecidedtointroducesomelocallivestreamanchorstohelphiscooperativewintheheartsofcustomers;hehimselfisalsopostingshortvideosonsocialmediaandsharinginterestingmomentsofhisbee-keepingcareertoattractmorebuyers.Itdoesn'tbotherhimmuchthough,asLongXianlanremainsconfidentofhishigh-qualityhoneyproducts,hisdiligentfellowvillagersandthereliablevillagecadres.Acrossthecountry,countlesscadreslikeLongXiulin,continuetoextendahelpinghandandsupportthoseinneedwiththeheavylifting,exemplifyingtheenduringspiritofcooperationandprogressthatcontinuestotransformthelivesofitsmarginalizedpopulation.■ThisfilephototakenonJan.18,2020showsaviewofthebranchvenueofHunanTVSpringFestivalGala2020inShibadongVillageofXiangxiTujiaandMiaoAutonomousPrefecture,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/ChenSihan)ThisfilephototakenonApril16,2021showsLongXianlancheckingahoneybeehiveinShibadongVillageofXiangxiTujiaandMiaoAutonomousPrefecture,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/ChenSihan)ThisfilephototakenonFeb.16,2019showsamatchmakingeventinShibadongVillageofXiangxiTujiaandMiaoAutonomousPrefecture,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/XueYuge)ThisfilephototakenonOct.27,2020showsLongXiulin(1stL)visitingthefamilyofLongXianlaninShibadongVillageofXiangxiTujiaandMiaoAutonomousPrefecture,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/ChenSihan)ThisfilephototakenonSept.4,2019showsLongXianlancheckingahoneycombinShibadongVillageofXiangxiTujiaandMiaoAutonomousPrefecture,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/ChenZeguo)ThisfilephototakenonSept.4,2019showsLongXianlanholdingahoneycombinShibadongVillageofXiangxiTujiaandMiaoAutonomousPrefecture,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/ChenZeguo)ThisfilephototakenonOct.25,2020showsthefamilyofLongXianlanposingforaphotoinShibadongVillageofXiangxiTujiaandMiaoAutonomousPrefecture,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/ChenSihan)ThisfilephototakenonOct.27,2020showsLongXiulin(R)talkingwithvillagerShiBasaninShibadongVillageofXiangxiTujiaandMiaoAutonomousPrefecture,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/ChenSihan)ThisfilephototakenonOct.27,2020showsLongXiulinonavisittovillagersinShibadongVillageofXiangxiTujiaandMiaoAutonomousPrefecture,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/ChenSihan)ThisfilephototakenonOct.27,2020showsLongXiulin(2ndL)visitingthefamilyofLongXianlaninShibadongVillageofXiangxiTujiaandMiaoAutonomousPrefecture,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/ChenSihan)ThisfilephototakenonOct.27,2020showsLongXiulin(L)talkingwithMeiYao,avillageofficial,atthevillagerservicecenterinShibadongVillageofXiangxiTujiaandMiaoAutonomousPrefecture,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/ChenSihan)ThisfilephototakenonApril16,2021showsthefamilyofLongXianlanpreparingbreakfastinShibadongVillageofXiangxiTujiaandMiaoAutonomousPrefecture,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/ChenSihan)Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.