On the winter solstice, 58-year-old villager Guo Darong stood at the gate, listening attentively to the rumbling sound of large tractors plowing the farmfield at Dalin village in central China's Hubei province.

30 years ago, Guo lost his eyes in an accident and underwent three major surgeries. He not only spent all his savings but was also in debt. Without the help and encouragement of his relatives, friends, and neighbors, Guo said, he could not pull through the 30-year-long ordeal.

“I have to learn sideline farming, such as raising pigs and growing tobaccos and medical herbs, among many others,” Guo said.

Three decades of hard work has paid off. Guo has now become a fairly famous in his hometown as a sideline farming expert and is admired by all his villagers. Living in a small and cozy villa with a private car, Guo is happy and enjoys a happy life now.

"I'm well off now. And I want to help my neighbors to achieve prosperity," Guo said. Inspired by Guo’s hard working spirit, more than 10 households in Guo’s village have now been lifted out of poverty.

Guo’s village was lifted out of extreme poverty in 2018. Today, all the villagers have earned more income than before.

(Photo by Xinhuanet/Chen Quanlin)