Despite its purity and good quality, the county's honey wasn't lucrative locally. According to Zhao, dealers would come in from outside and buy it at bargain prices. "Living in the mountains their entire lives, the beekeepers didn't know how to sell their honey any other way, so they had no other choice," he said. "My father and I included."

Zhao's father has been keeping bees for 45 years.

Fortunately, a business incubator in Guyue town in Pingshan opened up new opportunities and changed their lives. It was established in July 2020 to help entrepreneurs start businesses and create jobs for villagers. Covering more than 4,000 square meters, the incubator can accommodate about 70 small and medium-sized enterprises.

After training in sales techniques and learning how to use channels like online platforms, Zhao quit his job as a truck driver in neighboring Baoding and began helping the other beekeepers. When he set up a factory to process honey last year, the incubator also helped him get a food production license. "I see things differently now. I've had so many opportunities since the training at the incubator," he said. "It really broadened my mind."

Last year, Zhao sold 15,000 kilograms of honey through both offline and online channels－much more than in 2020, when he only sold 500 kg. Some is sold through the incubator, which also has a 400-square-meter exhibition center for the county's agricultural produce. It showcases local tea, black fungus, tofu, vermicelli and, of course, Zhao's honey, among other items.

"I am very grateful to the incubator. It has played an important role in my development as an entrepreneur," he said. The incubator has also given Zhao an office, a stand in the exhibition area and warehouse space for his products, all free of charge.

His life has been transformed and his income continues to increase. "I have two cars and two apartments now in the downtown area," Zhao said, adding that his ambition is not to earn more money but to build a solid career and help more people from his hometown become better-off.

He directly employs 20 villagers and indirectly helps support 40 beekeepers, which has created a further 120 jobs.