One day in 2015, a group young people were hanging out in a village, discussing the possibility of building a national brand out of their hometown. “The geographic condition of our village is advantageous. We could organize a Spring Festival for the farmers,” said one of them. 

This is Shi Qingxiang. She grew up in Pinglang Village, Jishou City, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in central China's Hunan Province. The national brand they talked about was the star product in the village – Pinglang tofu.

Shi is called "Tofu beauty" by locals in the scenic village. For generations, her family has been making tofu for a living. She grew up with the sound of stone mill and the smell of beans.

Homegrown beans, spring water and ancient stone mills make the pristine delicacy from the mountains. Bad transport, however, restricted villagers from selling the product outside the remote area. They worked hard day and night only for a small income.

"We had no money and lived form hand to mouth. We got up at about 2 a.m. every day to grind the beans, collect spring water from the mountain with two buckets and carry them back with a shoulder pole. The path was very rugged. We could only take back one or two buckets a day," said Shi.

Life was tough. Yet Shi always intended to earn money on her own. Learning the techniques from her father, she has been exploring different ways to sell them.

Hard work pays off. Quite by accident, an official from Changsha City got interested in Shi's tofu and suggested that she go to the agricultural fair. Shi and her family took their products to Changsha in 2012. Beyond their expectations, the products they prepared in a week were sold out in one morning.

Since then, Shi sensed the high demand for their special tofu and decided to build the brand "Pinglang tofu."

The village secretary told Shi: "Do your best for the industry. You can have all the support from the government." In 2014, a tofu cooperative was set up by 20 households in the village. Each of them borrowed a small loan of 50,000 yuan from the bank.

Supported by the poverty alleviation policy, the tofu business in the village got better and better. Inspired by the idea of having a Spring Festival for the farmers, villagers held a magnificent tofu banquet. It had quite an impact. And Pinglang Tofu became popular.

For three years, their tofu remained in short supply, although they made over a dozen boxes every day. Shi has been offering villagers an annual bonus. Many people have been lifted out of poverty.

“The village used to be quiet. Now it bustles with vigor. We see hope,” said Shi with a smile.

Things were hard back then in Pinglang. But it is not a poor and underdeveloped village anymore. Mountain paths turned into neat roads. Villagers don't have to fetch water from the mountain, as tap water is available, bringing spring water directly to their houses.

The famous and delicious Pinglang tells a long story. With the help of the government, "Tofu beauty" turned her legacy into hope of a better life for the whole village.