In the heart of Huashan Village, Mulan County in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Chen Lili is rewriting the rules of rural entrepreneurship! With just a smartphone 📱 and her unique storytelling style, she's livestreaming her rice harvests and connecting with customers nationwide.
After graduating in 2016 and building a career in Beijing's online media scene, Chen dreamt of a different life. In December 2021, she tried livestreaming her hometown's rice—and within hours, she received 6,000 orders! That moment made her realize that big changes start with small steps: smart technology can truly transform rural living 🚀.
Taking a courageous leap in May 2022, Chen returned to her roots, leaving her urban career to embrace rural entrepreneurship. Her authentic approach quickly resonated with viewers, and her follower count soared past one million!
Not stopping at online sales, Chen began signing rice procurement contracts with local farmers in 2023, encouraging them to cultivate higher-quality rice varieties with guaranteed buy-back prices. By 2024, her initiative had expanded to 400 hectares, benefiting 90 farming households and raising their collective income by 1.8 million yuan (nearly $250,000). Villagers like Ma Xiuying now plant their entire land with the improved variety, reaping the rewards of digital innovation in agriculture.
This inspiring story shows how technology and genuine passion can transform traditional farming into a modern success story, proving that even in rural areas, digital innovation is the future!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
