At the beginning of 2024, Zhang Yongjun actively responded to the call to serve as the first secretary dispatched by North China University of Technology to Huangyukou Village in Jiuxian Town, Yanqing District, dedicating himself to the frontlines of rural revitalization. Since then, he has treated the village as his home and the villagers as family, measuring every inch of the land with his footsteps and shouldering responsibilities through tangible actions. Across the vast fields of Huangyukou Village, he poured his heart and soul into writing a moving chapter of wholehearted service to the people.
**Party Building as the Guiding Force: Strengthening the "Bridgehead" of Rural Revitalization** Upon arriving in Huangyukou Village, Zhang Yongjun faced the challenge of building a well-structured Party member team. The village Party branch had 24 members with an average age of 56, and three of the four village committee members were over 60, indicating a need to enhance the Party organization’s effectiveness.
"Whether villagers prosper depends on the Party branch," Zhang Yongjun firmly believed. He prioritized strengthening the village Party organization, focusing particularly on cultivating a younger generation of Party members. During those days, he spent mornings consulting veteran Party members for advice and evenings in deep discussions with village committee leaders. Through persistent efforts, he successfully recruited a young probationary Party member and nurtured an active applicant for Party membership.
The infusion of new vitality reinvigorated Huangyukou’s Party organization. Inspired by Zhang’s sincerity, veteran members reignited their enthusiasm, while the younger generation brought fresh ideas and energy. The Party branch’s cohesion and effectiveness significantly improved, laying a solid foundation for rural revitalization.
**Empowering Industry: Igniting a "New Engine" for Prosperity** In Yanqing, Huangyukou Village is renowned for its sweet and crisp apples, thanks to its favorable geographical conditions—sunny slopes, sandy soil, ample sunlight, and significant day-night temperature variations. Beyond its 200-plus acres of apple orchards, the village also grows cherries, plums, and other fruits. However, despite their quality, these fruits struggled to fetch fair prices due to limited sales channels and pressure from supermarket buyers.
Initially, Zhang attempted to connect with supermarket chains but met resistance from farmers who preferred selling independently rather than accepting low wholesale prices. Undeterred, he pioneered a dual-track model of "brand empowerment and quality-driven growth." He established the regional brand "Guoyun Huangyukou," secured trademark registration, launched official social media accounts, and organized an apple harvest festival—transforming local produce into a recognizable, story-rich regional brand.
Simultaneously, he built an e-commerce network ensuring freshness from orchard to table, promising delivery within 24 hours. For bulk orders, he personally drove shipments to Beijing, achieving a five-hour delivery window. This quality-first approach doubled the prices of Huangyukou’s apples and cherries compared to supermarket rates. Over two years, Zhang helped villagers sell nearly 400,000 yuan worth of fruits, proving that "good produce deserves good prices."
Beyond fruit sales, Zhang initiated a "Field Adoption" project, allowing urban residents to experience farming while securing advance income for villagers. Additionally, Huangyukou became an international nature classroom, hosting nearly a thousand students and teachers from dozens of countries, enriching local culture and boosting income for farmers and homestays.
**Serving the People: Building a "Bridge of Hearts" Between Party and Community** In Huangyukou, Zhang Yongjun was not only an industrial leader but also a trusted confidant for villagers. He secured funding to renovate the dilapidated village committee office, turning it into an efficient service hub. When heavy rains caused road collapses, he mobilized Party funds for timely repairs and installed over a hundred apple-shaped solar streetlights to illuminate villagers’ paths.
His routine included visiting disadvantaged families, offering haircuts, tutoring left-behind children, organizing free medical clinics, and even serving as a wedding witness. These small acts of kindness accumulated into a sea of trust between the Party and the people.
As his two-year tenure nears its end, Zhang reflects: "The value of grassroots work lies in walking the fields, earning trust through action, and delivering tangible changes. Villagers care not for lofty theories but for visible improvements in their lives. Only by staying grounded, listening, and solving real problems can we truly connect with them."
Through sincerity and hard work, Zhang Yongjun has won the villagers’ trust. His vision—"making agriculture a promising industry, farming an attractive profession, and rural areas beautiful homes"—remains his unwavering mission. In the grand journey of rural revitalization, he continues to write a remarkable chapter worthy of the times and the people.