Jobs and joy

The "workshop model" being promoted in Juancheng county, Shandong province, has not only enriched the material lives of local farmers, but also given them a sense of well-being.

Chen Junlan has been employed in a workshop in Shenwei, a village in the county's Dongkou town, for a year. "The workshop offers a flexible schedule, which means I have time to take care of my children," the 45-year-old said.

Chen's husband died several years ago. She has two children, so the extra cash has helped turn her life around. She described herself as "very satisfied" with her average monthly salary of 1,500 yuan ($218).