Zhang Xinmiao is willing to be the lead goose, leading the villagers onto the road to prosperity

◆Zhang Xinmiao (left) instructing villagers on planting techniques in a vineyard

○Person Profile

Zhang Xinmiao, male, 33 years old, became a university-graduate village official in Zhongliaoxi Village, Jiyi Township, Qingxu County, Taiyuan City in 2007, joined the Communist Party of China in 2009, and became deputy secretary of the Party branch of Zhongliaoxi Village, Jiyi Township, Qingxu County, Taiyuan City in 2011.

"Vegetables in our village have hit a sales slump, and lately I have been busy connecting with markets to help the farmers sell their vegetables..." For days on end, more than a hundred thousand jin of zucchini from Zhongliaoxi Village, Jiyi Township, Qingxu County, have been sitting unsold in the fields, and Zhang Xinmiao and the village officials have been helping the farmers harvest the vegetables while contacting nearby cities such as Taiyuan and Zhengzhou to sell them. Amid his busy schedule, Zhang Xinmiao still did not forget to negotiate with several online e-commerce businesses. "I plan to design an 'online crowdfunding grape purchase' campaign, using 'Internet Plus' to broaden sales channels for agricultural products and help farmers increase production and income," Zhang Xinmiao told reporters. "Though Secretary Zhang is young, the burden on his shoulders is anything but light. Over the years, he has led us villagers to prosperity; he is a young man with drive and ideas!" When it comes to Zhang Xinmiao, the villagers of Zhongliaoxi Village all praise him endlessly.

Bending down to start with grapes

Nine years ago, after rounds of selection, Zhang Xinmiao, fresh out of university, became a university-graduate village official in Zhongliaoxi Village, Jiyi Township, Qingxu County; nine years later, by bending down and doing real work, he has won trust and respect and become the village's "leader" in prosperity.

Walking into Zhongliaoxi Village, Jiyi Township, Qingxu County, as far as the eye can see, greenhouse after greenhouse stands side by side, planted with various varieties of grapes; some are already ripe and have been put on the market early. Yet nine years ago, this village, whose leading industry was grape growing, could not form a market because of poor access to information and other reasons. "If income does not rise, the villagers' enthusiasm for planting will not rise either." Zhang Xinmiao told reporters that after learning the actual situation, he decided at once to start with grapes.

In 2009, he initiated and organized 69 households of villagers to establish an agricultural cooperative, held training courses on scientific grape cultivation, introduced new grape varieties, and led the villagers to prosperity. By 2016, of the village's more than 2,400 mu of farmland, more than 1,600 mu were planted with grapes, making it a famous specialized grape-growing village in Qingxu County and driving increases in villagers' production and income.

Turning waste into treasure and expanding business areas

In addition to developing the grape industry, the village also planted some vegetables. Seeing unsold vegetables rot for nothing, Zhang Xinmiao then thought of building a small livestock and poultry zone. "Animal manure can then be used as fertilizer in the fields, thus forming a small cycle." In this way, waste was turned into treasure and business areas were expanded. In addition, Zhang Xinmiao also led the villagers to plan and establish an industrial model of cold storage, warehousing, sorting, processing, logistics and direct sales, opened more than 30 affordable fruit and vegetable stores, completed the construction of a 1,000-ton cold storage facility, and gave back 2.26 million yuan in benefits to community residents every year.

Zhang Xinmiao frankly told reporters, "There is no trick to leading villagers in entrepreneurship; the only way is 'down-to-earth hard work'." According to the national policy on selecting and hiring "university-graduate village officials," since 2013 Zhang Xinmiao has had two opportunities to take a post in an organ or public institution in Qingxu County, but he could not let go of the villagers and his work, and he gave up both opportunities. "Over the years, I have developed deep feelings through getting along with the villagers. My work is now closely tied to the countryside. I cannot and am unwilling to leave; I still have a lot to do." Zhang Xinmiao believes that as a Party member rooted in the countryside, he is willing to be a wild goose, a "lead goose" leading villagers in entrepreneurship and prosperity!