In Dulicun Village, Chaling, a 43-year-old villager strives to escape poverty through lotus root cultivation

Lei Aijin's lotus root field. Photo by Xie Hui

Layer upon layer, swaying in the wind, the 15-mu lotus pond has become a scenic sight in Dulicun Village.

The 43-year-old Lei Aijin stands by the pond, gazing at the greenery and breathing in the fresh fragrance, feeling very grounded and gratified. For 5 years, her family has been like these lotus flowers, keeping their feet on the ground and working hard, step by step escaping the mire of poverty.

Lei Aijin working hard in the lotus root field, standing up to wipe the sweat from her forehead when tired. Photo by Xie Hui

Lei Aijin is the contractor of this lotus pond. Lei Aijin's family has 5 members. She herself suffers from neurofibromatosis, her father-in-law has been paralyzed in bed for 8 years after a stroke, her husband Lei Dingfu is short in stature, and others think he is too weak, so they rarely hire him for work. Their two children are 10 and 8 years old and still in school.

All along, Lei Aijin has worked hard to hold this struggling family together. Facing the reporter, she said firmly: "I have children to put through school and elders to care for. Only by working stubbornly can there be a way out."

Lei Aijin working hard in the lotus root field. Photo by Xie Hui

Nature is fair. Dulicun Village, located by the Mishui River, has soil that is not fertile, yet it is suitable for growing lotus roots. Five years ago, Lei Aijin and her husband dug a 5-mu lotus root pond. Last year, they contracted another 10 mu. These 15 mu of lotus root ponds carry the hopes of her whole family.

Whether the wind blows or the rain falls, the couple can always be seen working in this lotus root pond. Wang Ziran, the leader of the poverty alleviation task force in Dulicun Village, clearly remembers that during last year's Spring Festival, when he returned to the village at 12 midnight and passed by this lotus root pond, he found Lei Aijin's family still harvesting lotus roots.

When growing lotus roots, sales are key. To get a good stall, at 3 a.m. they have to drive to the county farmers' market nearly 10 km away to sell lotus roots.

Effort always brings rewards. Lei Aijin calculated carefully: the annual output of lotus roots is about 4,000 kg, and after selling them all, the net income is nearly 20,000 yuan, "at least solving the family's food and clothing problem."

Lei Aijin working hard in the lotus root field. Photo by Xie Hui

After the poverty alleviation task force arrived, they listed Lei Aijin's family as a key poverty alleviation target and provided bottom-line assistance. Last year, her family received a 3,000 yuan subsidy for lotus root cultivation and a 2,000 yuan education grant. This year, her family received 1,500 yuan in dividends from shares in the village base industry. The task force also raised 10,000 yuan to install doors and windows for her family's new house.

Speaking of the future, Lei Aijin is full of confidence. Her two children do fairly well in school and are very sensible. On weekends they take the initiative to do housework at home and also help care for their grandfather. This makes her very gratified.

Zhuzhou Daily, reporters/Zou Jiahu, Hu Wenjie

Editor/Qingqian

Submission email: [email protected]

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