Decades ago, Xixinzhuang was a poor village located on the banks of the Yellow River in China. Today, it has become a thriving community with modern industries, thousands of jobs and a much higher standard of living.

Behind that transformation is 75-year-old Li Liancheng, a recipient of the Communist Party of China's July 1 Medal in 2026.

Li never attended school, but spent years learning through experience. After becoming the village's Party secretary, he focused on attracting businesses, improving infrastructure and creating jobs instead of seeking opportunities elsewhere.

He often says that a leader should be willing to "take the harder path." That idea shaped the way he worked. Over the years, the village's annual economic output grew to billions of yuan, while the average income of locals increased steadily.

Despite the changes around him, Li still considers himself simply "one of the farmers." For him, success is not measured by personal achievements, but by whether more families can find stable work, earn a better living and choose to build their future in the village they call home.