In 2003, Zhang Xuankai, after recommended by the villagers, became the secretary of Shuanglong Village, Hekou Town, Xundian County, Kunming City. The three generations of Zhang’s family have devoted to the career being as a cadre in this village.

Shuanglong village used to be a place where its people were not able to get the access to water, electricity, and mobile service. After Zhang’s coming, the water pumping project, tobacco industry, and telecommunication facility are improved, as well as the living condition of villagers. 

Zhang Xuankai. [Photo/Yuan Hongkai]

Water supply is the top priority

It takes more than an hour to drive from Xundian County to Shuanglong Village where Niulan River flows by. With an elevation of more than 2,100 meters, the village is a typical karst landform which is rugged and poor in natural resources. It has 11 groups of villagers, about 1,768 people, living in a 26.8-square-kilometer area.

Shuanglong village, Hekou Town, Xundian County. [Photo/Yuan Hongkai]

In the past, people had to go to Longtan, a small pond, to carry their domestic water back from one kilometer away. Zhang Xuankai and his brother often drove the carriage to fetch vats of water.

Because villagers were all dependent on the pond, Zhang had to hurry early in case the water was muddied. He needed to fill 4 vats at a time, which was only enough for two days for livestock and them.

The problem of water supply was considered ever since Zhang’s father was the secretary. Diesel engines were bought to pump water up. Two days later, the village couldn’t afford the money to buy diesel, so the matter had to be dropped.

In 2003, Zhang Xuankai was elected as the secretary. He decided to take the water supply issue as the top priority, and paid close attention to infrastructure construction. “To ensure a better life for the villagers, the first thing we need to do is to solve the problem of drinking water,” Zhang said. “Second, we need to improve infrastructure problems such as roads, and third, we need to deal with telecommunication problems. These three things limit the development of Shuanglong Village.”

Zhang Xuankai (the 2nd from left) visits household in Shuanglong Village. [Photo/Yuan Hongkai]

At that time, the Shuanglong Village Committee didn’t have a penny. It’s hard to get enough money for building facilities. However, Zhang didn’t give up. He went to the Kunming Intermediate People’s Court which was responsible for helping Shuanglong Village to coordinate and ask for support. Zhang also went to the villagers’ houses to listen to their opinions, and went to fields to research into ways of water diversion.

With the help from Kunming Intermediate People’s Court, in 2005, Shuanglong Village built one water pumping station, and one water storage pond. About 15-kilometer water pipeline was laid through three places and the only primary school in the village. The problem of water drinking for more than 670 people and 1,500 livestock was solved, ending the history of no running water in Shuanglong.

There were still 8 groups of villagers where running water can’t reach. People could only go down the path to the river and carry water by themselves, which was not only troublesome but also dangerous. Zhang Xuankai repeatedly asked the government sector for help. With the multi-support from the society, all 11 groups of villagers in Shuanglong had the access to water in 2009.

Zhang Xuankai often goes to the village to ask people about their water use. [Photo/Yuan Hongkai]

Fight the worst drought and end the “no drinking water era”

In 2009, Yunnan was hit by the worst drought in 100 years, which was extensive and serious, leaving more than 1,500 people without water in Shuanglong Village. The government of town sent water trucks to places where the roads were wide and flat, but the villager living in mountains had to rely on themselves to carry water from the Niulan River. There was not enough water to drink, let alone carry out productive labor.

“I couldn’t go to bed until 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning at that time, I always thought about how people could drink clean water.” Zhang Xuankai often went to the most arid areas to do the research, and climbed to the top of the mountain to observe the terrain. The Niulan River in front of him was winding along the valley. Although the water flow was small in the dry season, as long as it could be led uphill, it could meet the needs of villagers for production and domestic use.

Finally, Zhang Xuankai came up with a set of solutions. He called general Party branch meetings and household meetings to mobilize the villagers dig deep for water. They found a source and introduced it into the villagers’ home.

As for those living on steep mountains, Zhang Xuankai took part of the working funds of the Village Committee, and bought pumps, large tanks and water pipes. Starting from Niulan River, the water was pumped in six stages and transported to each villager’s cellar.

During the drought, Zhang Xuankai (front row, 1st from right) led the villagers to pump water from Longtan. [Photo provided by Zhang Xuankai]

Li Wenquan, a 66-year-old villager who lives on Houzidong Mountain, said, “Secreteary Zhang is kind to us and responsible for his work. He often comes to ask us if the water is available.” 

Zhang’s spirit of serving the people was praised by all levels of the Party Committee. In 2010, the Provincial Government of Yunnan Province awarded him the honorary title of “Yunnan Advanced Individual for Drought Relief”.

In 2013, Zhang coordinated again with the linked government sector, and set up more than 40-kilometer pipelines to mountains where the water was hard to get to, completely ending the era of “water drinking difficulty”.

Always keep the villagers in mind

No matter what the difficulty was, Zhang could solve it easily, just because he had a spirit of never giving up and willing to study hard to serve the villagers. He not only solved the water problem, but also improved the problems of electricity, telecommunication and road. 

Before 2004, Shuanglong village was dark at night. Only the Village Committee and the primary school had electricity, while the villagers all used kerosene lamps. After the consultation with the power department, Zhang Xuankai successfully reconstructed the power grid which made the whole village bid farewell to the history of kerosene lamp using.

In the same year, Zhang Xuankai organized funds from Qujing Municipal Bureau of Land Resources to build a new shopping bazaar, which solved the shopping problem of the whole village. He also built a total of 8-kilometer new road, connecting the Village Committee to mountains far away. More roads were built in 2013, which greatly improved the travel difficulties of several groups of villagers.

Before 2008, villagers had to climb on the top of hills to get the signal which is weak and from neighbor Qujing City to make a phone call. People made fun of it and said, “the China Mobile indeed requires you to be a ‘mobile person’.” Zhang Xuankai negotiated with the mobile company for many times, and built a total of 10 communication stations by 2020. Now, villagers can make phone calls at home instead of going to the top of mountains.

In addition, Zhang Xuankai has led the villagers to their goal of doubling their income which is mainly from flue-cured tobacco planting. He introduced that almost every household in Shuanglong has the flue-cured tobacco fields. Therefore, Zhang must personally supervised the villagers’ planting of flue-cured tobacco when the ploughing season is coming. The tobacco roasting houses have been converted from the original wood-burning type to the biomass fuel electric roasting type, which has greatly improved the quality and output of flue-cured tobacco. The per capita income has increased from 800 yuan in 2004 to 10,000 yuan in 2020, and every family has a car.

The tobacco roasting houses have been converted from the original wood-burning type to the biomass fuel electric roasting type. [Photo/Yuan Hongkai]

“The Village Committee will not be built until everything is sorted out in the village.” The committee was old until three or four years ago, with five dilapidated rooms and overgrown weeds. Zhang put the affairs of villagers in mind, “because I think the people are the main focus for me.” He said.

“Words can hardly express my gratitude to the villagers,” Zhang said, recalling the villagers who attended to his father’s funeral when heard their old secretary was gone.

The villagers also felt indebted to Zhang for the practical works he had done and got alone with him like a family. They always invited Zhang to have dinner at home whenever they had big parties or celebrated festivals. Zhang would buy some things with his own money and bring them to the villagers. Sometimes he would also help the needy families. 

“Our secretary is the best. He has helped us a lot. Now my life is getting better and better.” Li Wenchang, a 60-year-old villager said.

The Village Committee of Shuanglong Village. [Photo/Yuan Hongkai]

Zhang Xuankai’s selfless dedication has been unanimously awarded by the Party Committees at all levels. He was awarded as Advanced Party Affairs Worker in 2005, Advanced individual of 2006, Outstanding Party Member of 2007, Outstanding Party Affairs Workers in 2009 and so on.

Year after year, Zhang Xuankai still maintains the original intention of serving people, and inherits his father’s work style which is always keeping the people in mind. There have never been any petitions, forest fires or major mass incidents in Shuanglong under his leadership. The people live and work in peace and contentment and move forward to a well-off life.

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(Editors: Christine, Rachel)