Five years ago, Zhang Xin was an office worker at a multinational company in a coastal city. Today, she has become "Zhang Xiaosi," a social media influencer with 486,000 followers, known as the "village daughter" in Zhujiaping Village, Yishui County, Shandong Province, and recognized as one of Shandong's "Top 10 Hometown Livestreamers." Her journey reflects a broader trend of digital technology empowering rural revitalization.

Located in the heart of the Yimeng Mountains, Zhujiaping Village was once a quiet settlement facing challenges common to many Chinese villages: aging populations and youth migration. After returning home in 2020 to care for her father diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer, Zhang noticed the struggles of elderly villagers—some unable to use smartphones to pay utility bills, others unable to sell their harvests.

Her turning point came when a casual video of elderly villagers chatting went viral. In 2021, Zhang organized the "Thousand-Year-Old Group," featuring elderly villagers performing simple hand dances. Their performance to the song "The Dearest Person" garnered over 100 million views, bringing unexpected fame to the village.

Recognizing the commercial potential, Zhang pivoted to livestream sales. After intense preparation, her first two-hour livestream sold over 100 orders of village peaches—a breakthrough moment. The village quickly established an e-commerce center with full supply chain capabilities, while Zhang opened a 500-square-meter agricultural support studio with free livestream rooms for villagers.

The results speak for themselves: In 2024, Zhujiaping's cherry sales grew 35-fold year-on-year, with over 20 local products now sold nationwide. Zhang has since trained over 3,000 people in rural e-commerce, with 200 becoming successful online sellers themselves.

Beyond commerce, Zhang initiated a "Warm Heart Canteen" serving free lunches to seniors and promoted cultural reforms through viral videos advocating simple weddings and funerals. Her efforts have visibly transformed village life—reducing conflicts, reviving cultural activities, and inspiring youth to reconsider rural opportunities.

Now a municipal people's congress representative, Zhang remains rooted in her village identity. "My roots, my emotions, and my responsibilities are all here," she says, surveying the terraced fields that shaped her childhood—now buzzing with the energy of her digital-age revival.