PROUDLY perched in the 374-square-metre home of villager Ma Riquan are brand-name goods including a Panasonic television set, a Pioneer karaoke machine and a Pioneer hi-fi. Air-conditioners grace the bedroom suites.
''I am just average in the village terms of wealth. Some households here have several million yuan,'' said the 49-year-old farmer-turned salesman.
Like fellow villagers, he has gained wealth with the blessing of government's policy on farmers.
''Since 1984, farmers here are allowed to work in enterprises as well because there is not enough labour supply to cope with the growing economy,'' he said.
That has given Mr Ma's family an opportunity to tread the road to relative affluence.
Before 1984, his family of five lived from hand to mouth. Last year, his family of seven - with a daughter-in-law and grandson - earned more than 70,000 yuan (about HK$62,000).