Wang Tao and wife Zhang Yu talk about their experience as fresh college graduates who became village officials. [Photo by Sun Tao/China.org.cn]

What helped the two through the arduous period was each other's support and encouragement. Wang and Zhang became a couple during this time, and just like their commitment between themselves, they helped each other to stay true to their original purpose — to fulfill their dreams through contributing to the rural work.

"It was not only a test to our work, but to our love as well," Zhang said. "Thanks to all challenges and difficulties I went through with him, we finally learned where our lives' mission lied."

Turning points and opportunities

Zhang said a major turning point in their work came in the winter of 2006, when she learned of one village family's dire need for help after their child was diagnosed with leukemia.

Back then, the government had yet to begin providing financial aid to low income families in rural areas, and the child's parents likely would not have been able to afford treatment by themselves.

Knowing this, Zhang and her husband donated several thousand yuan to the family. "Though it was not a lot of money, the villagers quite appreciated our help at the time and were more willing to work with us ever since," Zhang said.

It was at that point the couple realized that improving the well-beings of local people should be the priority and focus of a village official's work.

Farmers in Xingshou county used to grow corn, but Wang said this crop was not providing sufficient or stable income to the impoverished families. He saw an opportunity in China's market-oriented reforms to its commune system, giving farmers the right to decide what to grow and how to grow them. 

After much consideration, Xingshou decided to grow lilies, strawberries, apples and nuts, which would take over much of the field originally used only for grain crops.