A post-80s young man forges a path to prosperity

"I've been raising pigs for quite some years." Wang Dongwei said as he turned his head to talk to the reporter while putting feed into the automatic feeding trough. Living in Group 13 of Shicaogou Village, Guojiadian Town, Lishu County, he has been raising live pigs for nearly 10 years. Today, his family can send more than 400 live pigs to market each year, with very considerable economic returns.

Whenever the topic of raising pigs comes up, Wang Dongwei always has endless things to say. "It's all been honed over so many years, and I've become more and more familiar with this trade." Wang Dongwei, 28 years old this year, has both the drive of a young person and the maturity and steadiness of the post-80s generation. How did this simple, honest young man embark on the path of breeding? With questions in mind, the reporter began chatting with Wang Dongwei.

Wang Dongwei, who loved to play as a child, did not do well in school. Before he even finished high school, on his family's suggestion, he went to a technical school to study lathe operation for a year. After completing his studies, he went out to work on his own and began doing related work. After two years of "struggling and striving" away from home, Wang Dongwei realized that this kind of life was not a long-term solution. The heavy work did not bring him corresponding income, and on top of that, the cost of living elsewhere was high, so he began to develop the idea of returning home to start a business. After a period of careful consideration and after obtaining his family's consent, he quit his job and returned to his hometown.

Because his parents both had experience raising pigs, relying on this advantage, Wang Dongwei also began engaging in breeding. Under his parents' guidance, Wang Dongwei's breeding business got off the ground very quickly. He said, "At first, I was just trying it out, but unexpectedly, it really got better and better." When he first started raising pigs, there was only one barn, with an area of several tens of sq m. Every day he needed to feed the pigs on time, clean the pig barn, and also regularly give vaccinations and observe growth conditions. Although it was hard work, after all it was his own business, and Wang Dongwei was full of drive.

The path of breeding can never be smooth sailing. During these years of engaging in breeding, Wang Dongwei also suffered losses. He recalled that one year, the market for fattened pigs was poor, and with that batch of pigs, not only did he not make money, he also lost several tens of thousands of yuan. At that time, because he was so anxious, his throat became inflamed and he could not even speak. In addition, because the scale of breeding grew larger and larger, taking care of it became more and more taxing. Sometimes when a sow gave birth, he had to stay guard in the pigpen all night after night, afraid that these money-making "treasures" would go wrong. For the Wang Dongwei of today, these things have long since become routine.

In 2013, Wang Dongwei met his wife and married. After marriage, he worked even more diligently and hard. Last year, the birth of his daughter made Wang Dongwei a father, which gave him a greater sense of responsibility and made life feel even more promising. "I have to let my wife and daughter live a good life." Several tile-roofed houses with bright, clean windows, a spacious and tidy courtyard, and two huge pig barns are all the best witnesses to how Wang Dongwei has come along over these years.

Now, in addition to engaging in breeding, Wang Dongwei also works part-time as an intermediary for live pig trading, helping nearby villagers buy and sell live pigs. "I've been raising live pigs for a long time and have a wide network of contacts, so it happens to suit me to work in this line. Not only can it increase income, but it can also help fellow villagers broaden their sales channels. It counts as something meaningful. Now I'm doing pretty well in the live pig trading intermediary business too." Wang Dongwei said.