Traditional hemp crafts bring villagers prosperity

At first, Zhang, who was occupied with her own work, refused the invitation.

But during a visit to the village, she found most of the left-behind villagers were elderly people, women and children who led difficult lives, which led Zhang to decide to help them.

In December 2017, Zhang started the first training session, which attracted a lot of learners. And Zhang taught the villagers diligently with all her expertise.

The 75-year-old Li Shixong and his wife Lei Xiumei were relocated to the village from their hometown in Pengyang county in 2014. In their new home, they lived on a monthly pension of 255 yuan ($37) and incomes from the transfer of their land and a cow.

Learning that there was no age limit for attendees of the workshop, they signed up and became regular workers in the handicraft workshop.