By Zhao Yu

Luo Guoyin, a 79-year-old resident of Fenghua District, arrived at the Tangyun Xijiang Canteen in Tang'ao Village one morning, carrying freshly harvested peanuts and corn from his farm. "Xingfei, I brought some more produce. Same as before, I will have a bowl of beef noodles," he said.

He called over Jiang Xingfei, founder of the canteen. After weighing the peanuts and corn, Jiang suggested, "The value of these items exceeds a bowl of beef noodles. Should I give you the difference in cash, or would you prefer some extra toppings on your noodles?" Luo smiled and waved her off. "No need for cash. Just give me extra tripe. It's my favorite."

This exchange has become a familiar sight at the Tangyun Xijiang Canteen, where villagers can either pay for meals at affordable prices or trade their farm produce for dishes of equivalent value. The two-story canteen, which opened last week, has also attracted tourists by offering budget-friendly dining options.

Jiang Xingfei, 56, is a respected agriculture entrepreneur in the area. In 2022, after years of working away from her hometown, she returned to Tang'ao Village, where she rented nearly 1,000 square meters of vacant properties. With local support, she turned the space into a "Common Prosperity Workshop".

"Xingfei is truly dedicated to helping the community," said Jiang Minghui, Party Secretary of Tang'ao Village. "After returning, she set up a rest stop for tourists as well as a store selling local produce, providing convenience for visitors and revitalizing Tang'ao's underutilized resources."

Through her work, Tang'ao Village now has new business ventures that greatly boosted the village's rural revitalization efforts. "These ventures have expanded the sales of our produce, provided more dining options for tourists, and enhanced the overall visitor experience," Jiang Minghui explained.

Before Jiang Xingfei's initiative, Tang'ao Village did not have many restaurants. There were few places where tourists could savor authentic local food. That has now changed.

Jiang Xingfei has more entrepreneurial projects in the works. One involves transforming the rooftop space of a nearby hillside building into a café, where villagers and tourists can enjoy coffee under the open sky and unwind in the peaceful rural setting.