Female Party Secretary Yang Guoxia Wholeheartedly Does Practical Things for the People

In the golden autumn month of September, ripe fruits fill the air with fragrance. Walking into Zicaowu Village, Fengrun Town, Fengrun District, Tangshan City, the cement roads are broad and tidy, flowers and trees surround the houses, and laughter and cheerful voices fill the fitness square... When it comes to the changes in Zicaowu Village, the villagers all praise village Party branch secretary Yang Guoxia.

In September 2006, under the doubtful gaze of the villagers, Yang Guoxia began serving as village Party branch secretary. At the beginning of her tenure, more than 50 newly built houses in the north of the village still had no electricity, and people relied on candles for light at night. Yang Guoxia rode her bicycle to the power station many times, pestering them persistently and saying every good word she could, and finally the power station installed a transformer for the village free of charge, solving the electricity problem for some villagers.

Previously, the villagers drank from a 40-meter shallow well, and the water contained impurities and floating matter. Yang Guoxia actively reported the issue to the town government and the district water affairs bureau, secured a beneficial-project quota, and had a 205-meter rock well drilled free of charge. Later, the village also funded the drilling of two rock wells and replaced aging tap water pipes for the villagers free of charge, completely solving the drinking water problem.

In March 2009, the newly formed village "two committees" team launched a road construction project. Yang Guoxia stayed at the worksite to solve problems at any time. After 3 months of intense construction, the two main streets running from east to west and from south to north were completed. After that, 24 more cement roads were built, basically achieving cement road access for every household.

Next, 275 streetlights were installed on both sides of the streets and 260 Chinese pagoda trees were planted. Yang Guoxia obtained 10 sets of fitness equipment and built a fitness square, giving the villagers a good place for leisure and entertainment. In order to enrich the villagers' cultural life, Yang Guoxia formed an elderly dance team and a youth dance team, held two high-quality "Spring Festival galas," and organized the publication of the history of Zicaowu Village.

In 2012, Zicaowu Village needed to shut down 4 mountain quarry sites and 28 lime kilns. Facing the business owners' lack of understanding, Yang Guoxia reasoned with them, explained policies, and helped solve difficulties. Zuo Xuezhi had installed new equipment and was reluctant to demolish his lime kiln. "This industry really pollutes the environment and harms the villagers' health. Why not transform your business and go into farming and breeding?" "You make it sound easy. There is no water on the mountain. What can be grown there?" "I will find a way to bring water up the mountain." Yang Guoxia kept her word, delivered pipes for bringing water up the mountain, and led Zuo Xuezhi and other business owners on visits to learn about farming and breeding. Today, the mountain quarry sites and lime kilns have all been shut down, and the surrounding environment has been purified.

Now, Zuo Xuezhi's breeding farm is beginning to take shape: 230 raccoon dogs, 60 Boer goats, and more than 30 fattening pigs; the jujube trees and walnut trees on the mountain have already borne fruit, bringing in considerable income. Zhang Baoshen, who formerly operated a mountain quarry site, has transformed even more successfully, raising more than 10 kinds of animals including wild boars, meat donkeys, free-range chickens, peafowl, and American turkeys. "I will raise them first and see which ones make money, then raise more of those. Meat donkeys and sheep have good returns. This year I earned more than 100,000!" Zhang Baoshen said happily.

For major village matters and key project construction and other village affairs, Yang Guoxia insists on transparent operation, openness, and transparency. In April 2012, Zicaowu Village was allocated 25 homestead quotas. Her sister-in-law privately came to Yang Guoxia: "My son has been married for many years and still lives in the opposite room with me. Can you get him a homestead?" Yang Guoxia said awkwardly, "Sister-in-law, the village queues by date of birth, and we cannot change the age on the household registration booklet." As a result, her sister-in-law did not get a homestead.

Yang Guoxia has served as village Party branch secretary for 10 years, facing countless difficulties, suffering countless grievances, and mediating countless disputes, yet she still keeps rushing along the road of serving the villagers. "We have mountains and water here. Next, we must vigorously develop tourism and let our fellow villagers live more prosperous lives!" Looking to the future, 53-year-old Yang Guoxia is full of confidence.

Zhu Dayong