Love grows in farmers' fields
By Victoria Fei |
August 8, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A program to hire college graduates to work as village officials in Chongming County has taken an unexpected twist as several romances have sprouted, leading to some rural weddings.
For many people, the decision of giving up the chance to work in cities and embrace a "rural" career may sound strange. But a group of young talents have never regretted their choice.
Knowledgeable and full of energy, they find their own value in crop fields and from satisfaction of local farmers.
Chongming County has hired 260 college graduates as "village officials" since 2008, accounting for 34.2 percent of Shanghai's total.
Supporting the young village officials with free accommodation and a bicycle to get around the island, the local government provides a convenient living environment for the young set.
Among the first 53 student village officials serving in Chongming in 2008, seven are still working in county villages today. The rest have either become public servants or work at institutions and enterprises. But almost 70 percent still work in Chongming.
"People think that living and working in rural areas means a dull life of routine. However, my experience in Chongming has completely changed this view," says Guo Shuai, who is one of the 53 pioneers. "Farmland is where I can bring my entrepreneurship into full play and make a difference in the lives of farmers."
These village officials with university education are encouraged to engaged themselves in grassroot works in rural areas while launch their own businesses.
Guo is now serving as the assistant to the Party secretary of Fukang Village in Xianghua Town. He is also a team leader for a chicken-breeding project from which more than 20 rural families are able to make a fortune.
On a 33.33-hectare patch of farmland lies 24 sheds fostering almost 30,000 chickens. That is Guo's workplace.
The daily harvest of eggs has reached 8,500. Its annual output has hit 3 million yuan (US$465,850). Coming from Madian in Henan Province, Guo is regarded as one of the best entrepreneurial village officials in Shanghai.
Although his three-year tenure is about to finish, Guo wants to stay and work with the farmers. It is not only because his egg business has just kicked off, but also because he married Ruan Jiangnan, another college graduate village official in Chongming. Coming from Zhejiang Province, Ruan came to work on the island in 2009.
They clearly remember the time when they first met on the way to a training class for young village officials. It was not love at first sight, as they did not feel any chemistry.
However, Guo was impressed by Ruan's patience and intelligence during the training. From colleague to soulmate, they have achieved a glorious shift.
The couple is not alone in Chongming, as the island county's soil seems to be fertile ground for the seed of love.
A group wedding ceremony for college graduate village officials was held at the Xincheng Park in late July. Twelve couples said their vows to each other. They also showed their resolution in rooting deep on this land.
Hailing from different provinces and cities in China and graduating from various colleges, they gathered on the dynamic island with love for the land and its people.
It is enjoyable to listen to their rural love stories. Most often, their love tales are tied to some local vegetable or fruit.
Bride Ma Jing from Aqsu in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region became a student village official at Huayuan Village in Chongming in 2008. She fell in love with Ji Tongxin, a Shanghai native and also a student village official in the county. Their love is linked to sugar sorghum, a Chongming speciality.
During research on a start-up project, Ji and Ma, who were in the same team, selected sugar sorghum as a breakthrough. Under the burning sun, they left footprints on fields, trying to collect firsthand information on growing sugar sorghum. As soon as they had free hours, they would analyze the information from the planting to the preservation of sugar sorghum.
The challenge and fun sparked a romance. Nowadays, the couple has agreed to stay and continue their efforts to make Chongming a better eco-island.
Not all love stories, however, are as romantic as that of Ma and Ji's. Most couples find their happiness based on a normal and routine rural life.
Zhu Yongkang, a local college graduate village official, says: "A warm greeting and compliment from farmers can be our best gift, through which we can see our value. Although we don't live in urban areas with high-rises and a wonderful nightlife, we find our happiness in an ordinary life."
Zhu's bride, Ling Lin, is also a village official. She used to work at a village close to Zhu's. Both have since become public servants. The couple says they will face all challenges from both work and life together.
The story between Liu Yanfeng and Zhu Aiying started by joining an online group for young village officials.
Later they found they both served in Shuxing Town in Chongming and started to collaborate with each other. By organizing and participating in local events, they discovered that they both wanted to lead a simple and rich rural life.
"Nowadays, we hope we can have a comfortable, happy and harmonious life in Chongming," says Zhu, the bride.
For many people, the decision of giving up the chance to work in cities and embrace a "rural" career may sound strange. But a group of young talents have never regretted their choice.
Knowledgeable and full of energy, they find their own value in crop fields and from satisfaction of local farmers.
Chongming County has hired 260 college graduates as "village officials" since 2008, accounting for 34.2 percent of Shanghai's total.
Supporting the young village officials with free accommodation and a bicycle to get around the island, the local government provides a convenient living environment for the young set.
Among the first 53 student village officials serving in Chongming in 2008, seven are still working in county villages today. The rest have either become public servants or work at institutions and enterprises. But almost 70 percent still work in Chongming.
"People think that living and working in rural areas means a dull life of routine. However, my experience in Chongming has completely changed this view," says Guo Shuai, who is one of the 53 pioneers. "Farmland is where I can bring my entrepreneurship into full play and make a difference in the lives of farmers."
These village officials with university education are encouraged to engaged themselves in grassroot works in rural areas while launch their own businesses.
Guo is now serving as the assistant to the Party secretary of Fukang Village in Xianghua Town. He is also a team leader for a chicken-breeding project from which more than 20 rural families are able to make a fortune.
On a 33.33-hectare patch of farmland lies 24 sheds fostering almost 30,000 chickens. That is Guo's workplace.
The daily harvest of eggs has reached 8,500. Its annual output has hit 3 million yuan (US$465,850). Coming from Madian in Henan Province, Guo is regarded as one of the best entrepreneurial village officials in Shanghai.
Although his three-year tenure is about to finish, Guo wants to stay and work with the farmers. It is not only because his egg business has just kicked off, but also because he married Ruan Jiangnan, another college graduate village official in Chongming. Coming from Zhejiang Province, Ruan came to work on the island in 2009.
They clearly remember the time when they first met on the way to a training class for young village officials. It was not love at first sight, as they did not feel any chemistry.
However, Guo was impressed by Ruan's patience and intelligence during the training. From colleague to soulmate, they have achieved a glorious shift.
The couple is not alone in Chongming, as the island county's soil seems to be fertile ground for the seed of love.
A group wedding ceremony for college graduate village officials was held at the Xincheng Park in late July. Twelve couples said their vows to each other. They also showed their resolution in rooting deep on this land.
Hailing from different provinces and cities in China and graduating from various colleges, they gathered on the dynamic island with love for the land and its people.
It is enjoyable to listen to their rural love stories. Most often, their love tales are tied to some local vegetable or fruit.
Bride Ma Jing from Aqsu in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region became a student village official at Huayuan Village in Chongming in 2008. She fell in love with Ji Tongxin, a Shanghai native and also a student village official in the county. Their love is linked to sugar sorghum, a Chongming speciality.
During research on a start-up project, Ji and Ma, who were in the same team, selected sugar sorghum as a breakthrough. Under the burning sun, they left footprints on fields, trying to collect firsthand information on growing sugar sorghum. As soon as they had free hours, they would analyze the information from the planting to the preservation of sugar sorghum.
The challenge and fun sparked a romance. Nowadays, the couple has agreed to stay and continue their efforts to make Chongming a better eco-island.
Not all love stories, however, are as romantic as that of Ma and Ji's. Most couples find their happiness based on a normal and routine rural life.
Zhu Yongkang, a local college graduate village official, says: "A warm greeting and compliment from farmers can be our best gift, through which we can see our value. Although we don't live in urban areas with high-rises and a wonderful nightlife, we find our happiness in an ordinary life."
Zhu's bride, Ling Lin, is also a village official. She used to work at a village close to Zhu's. Both have since become public servants. The couple says they will face all challenges from both work and life together.
The story between Liu Yanfeng and Zhu Aiying started by joining an online group for young village officials.
Later they found they both served in Shuxing Town in Chongming and started to collaborate with each other. By organizing and participating in local events, they discovered that they both wanted to lead a simple and rich rural life.
"Nowadays, we hope we can have a comfortable, happy and harmonious life in Chongming," says Zhu, the bride.
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