From city life to rural roots

Support that matters

The path of entrepreneurship hasn't always been smooth. In July 2023, an outbreak of swine fever devastated Sun's pig farm. "At that time, I really felt like giving up and returning to the city to get a job," she recalled.

But just when things seemed most difficult, help arrived. Yingshan's technology and agriculture bureaus sent experts to provide on-site guidance for disease control and recovery. The head of the local e-commerce association helped improve logistics, and the county government pledged 1 million yuan to support the construction of a new farm.

"They told me it's not easy for a young person to return to the countryside," Sun said.

It was this hands-on support that convinced her to fully commit to rural life.

The new pig farm is currently under development, featuring three modern pigsties with a capacity for 1,200 pigs, along with mechanized feeding equipment.

"We used to be small-scale, scattered farmers," Sun said. "Now it's time for a scientific upgrade."

She's also pleased that the county's e-commerce industrial park has reduced logistics costs, making nationwide shipping 30 percent cheaper than before.

Sun uses her growing influence to help others as well. Every two weeks, she hosts a livestream to promote and sell local products — dried beans, rapeseed oil, wild chrysanthemums, and more.

One chicken farmer, nicknamed Little Ming from a neighboring county, saw his egg orders multiply after Sun featured him in her videos. So far, she has helped more than 50 households sell over 50,000 yuan worth of homemade goods.