Government service

"I never forget my identity as a deputy of the people and a member of the Communist Party of China," Qiu said.

She and her cooperative, which has about 1,500 employees, with many members of the CPC, joined in the effort to fight the coronavirus in Ninghai in early 2020 and to help those in need in their unique way.

From early February after the outbreak, Qiu donated fruit to 150 front-line medical workers in Ninghai county for several months.

"I became a deputy of Ninghai county's People's Congress in 1996. Since then, I told myself to speak for the farmer," she said.

Qiu has made several proposals such as strengthening the team of agents for agricultural products and lowering the price of water and electricity used for farming.

In 2006, Qiu got a message from a girl, saying, "I'm a student, and my parents grow watermelons. I hope you can help my family sell them."

Qiu was worried the message was a fraud at the beginning, but she replied anyway and asked the location of the farmland.

"When I came to her house there were only two beds in the room. I could tell they were experiencing hardship," she said.

The watermelons were successfully sold in Qiu's vegetable market. Further, the company sponsored the girl until she graduated from the university and joined the Navy.

When problems beyond her ability come along, Qiu finds others to help those in need.

In 1989, an 11-year-old girl came to the orange orchard where Qiu was working, asking for a job wrapping oranges. She needed money, as Qiu found out, because her father was sick and her mother was raising three children alone. To convince them to go back to school, Qiu contacted the government as asked officials to help the family.

"I treasure the honor as a national model worker, and I'm deeply touched by the trust of farmers and local governments," she said. "It has been my passion over the past 35 years to deliver agricultural products to more people, and I hope to carry on the mission."