豆腐西施丨扶贫故事

2015年的一天，一个普通的村落里，几个年轻人正聚在一起，讨论着能否把他们的村子打造成民族品牌。“我们村的地理条件很优越，可以组织“农民春节”，有人提出了一个大胆的想法。

One day in 2015, some young people were hanging out in a village, discussing the possibility of building a national brand out of their hometown. "The geographic condition of our village is advantageous. We could organize a Spring Festival for the farmers," a bold idea came up.

湖南坪朗村。Pinglang Village is located in central China's Hunan Province. /CGTN

这个村民就是石清香，自小生活在湖南省湘西土家族苗族自治州吉首市坪朗村，他们口中的民族品牌，正是村里的招牌产品——坪朗豆腐。

This is Shi Qingxiang. She grew up in Pinglang Village, Jishou City, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in central China's Hunan Province. The national brand they talked about was the star product in the village - Pinglang tofu.

“豆腐西施”石清香。Shi Qingxiang is called "Tofu beauty" by locals. /CGTN

在美丽的坪朗村，石清香被当地人誉为“豆腐西施”， 家中祖祖辈辈都以做豆腐为生，这个美丽的姑娘，是听着石磨的吱呀声、闻着豆香长大的。

Shi is called "Tofu beauty" by locals in the scenic village. For generations, her family has been making tofu for a living. She grew up with the sound of stone mill and the smell of beans.

传统石磨。An ancient stone mill. /CGTN

自家种的豆子、本地的山泉水，加上古老的石磨，共同创造出大山里的纯正味道。然而，在这个闭塞的小村子里，由于交通也不便，产品再好，也没办法运出去。制造这些美味的人，日复一日的辛劳，也只能换来微薄的收入。

Homegrown beans, spring water and ancient stone mills make the pristine delicacy from the mountains. Bad transport, however, restricted villagers from selling the product outside the remote area. They worked hard day and night only for a small income.

“那时候根本就没有钱，吃了上顿没有下顿。（家人）每天早上两点多钟就开始起来磨豆腐，（没有自来水），拿着扁担桶上山去挑水，山路崎岖难行，一天也就挑个一两桶” 石清香回忆道。

"We had no money and lived form hand to mouth. We got up at about 2 a.m. every day to grind the beans, collect spring water from the mountain with two buckets and carry them back with a shoulder pole. The path was very rugged. We could only take back one or two buckets a day," said Shi.

扛着扁担走山路挑水。Shi collects spring water from the mountain with two buckets. /CGTN

生活不易，石清香一直想着，要靠自己的努力，通过劳动来赚钱，她接过父辈做豆腐的手艺，一直寻找着出路。

Life was tough. Yet Shi always intended to earn money on her own. Learning the techniques from her father, she has been exploring ways.

长沙农博会上的豆制品。Dried tofu sold at Changsha agricultural fair. /CGTN

功夫不负有心人，一个偶然的机会，长沙的驻村干部注意到了石清香做的豆腐，便对她说，有机会可以去参加农博会。2012年，石清香一家精心准备了自家产的干豆腐 水豆腐，运到长沙参会，意想不到的是，仅仅一个上午，就把一个星期的货品全部卖完了。

Hard work pays off. Quite by accident, an official from Changsha City got interested in Shi's tofu and suggested that she goes to the agricultural fair. Shi and her family took their products to Changsha in 2012. Beyond their expectations, the products they prepared in a week were sold out in one morning.

从那个时候，石清香就感觉到，村里的豆腐可以做起来。也是在这时，看到了商机的石清香，决定将“坪朗豆腐”做成产业。

Since then, Shi sensed the high demand for their special tofu. She then decided to build the brand of "Pinglang tofu."

坪朗豆腐。Pinglang tofu. /CGTN

村里的书记找到石清香：“你要把这个产业做起来，有政府在支持你。” 2014年，利用小额贷款。坪朗村的二十户村民每户贷了五万块，成立合作社做豆腐。

The village secretary told Shi: "Do your best for the industry. You can have all the support from the government." In 2014, a tofu cooperative was set up by 20 households in the village. Each of them borrowed a small loan of 50,000 yuan from the bank.

“豆腐西施”石清香。Shi Qingxiang is called "Tofu beauty" by locals. /CGTN

有了扶贫政策的支持，村里的豆腐生意越来越顺利。2015年，农民春晚的想法提出之后，村里举办了一次壮观的豆腐宴，获得了巨大的社会反响，坪朗村的豆腐火起来了。

Supported by the poverty alleviation policy, the tofu business in the village got better and better. Inspired by the idea of having a Spring Festival for the farmers, villagers held a magnificent tofu banquet. It had quite an impact. And Pinglang Tofu became popular.

坪朗村豆腐宴。The tofu banquet of Pinglang Village. /CGTN

三年过去，合作社的豆腐供不应求，每天能做十几箱，每年。石清香都会给村民们分红，不少村民摆脱了贫困。

For three years, their tofu remained in short supply, although they made over a dozen boxes every day. Shi has been offering villagers an annual bonus. Many people have been lifted out of poverty.

“原来的村子觉得挺安静的。现在不一样了，这个村挺热闹的，我们也看到了曙光。”石清香高兴地说

“The village used to be quiet. Now it bustles with vigor. We see hope,” said Shi with a smile.

坪朗村村民。Residents of Pinglang Village. /CGTN

以前虽然艰苦，现在的坪朗村，早已不是那个条件落后的贫困村了。山路变成了整齐的公路，村民们也不用再上山挑水，家家户户都通自来水，直接把泉水引到家里。

Things were hard back then in Pinglang. But it is not a poor and underdeveloped village anymore. Mountain paths turned into neat roads. Villagers don't have to fetch water from the mountain, as tap water is available, bringing spring water directly to their houses.

坪朗豆腐，一道清香美食，一个悠久的故事。在政府的帮扶下，“豆腐西施”用一双巧手，把它变成了一种传承，更是全村美好生活的希望。

The famous and delicious Pinglang tells a long story. With the help of the government, "Tofu beauty" turned her legacy into hope of a better life for the whole village.

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