Hitting the bull's-eye

So Shibadong decided to use what little land it had to plant yellow peaches because of their potential for a rich yield and the suitability of the soil.

I decided to join Jiao during one of her livestreams and learned very quickly that there is an art to keeping a live audience entertained and, what's more, drumming up sales.

In the humid Hunan heat, I floundered like a fish out of water, as Jiao thrived, exuding her passion for not just her hometown but also the wealth it has to offer those outside.

She later invites me to share dinner with her family and friends at their home. The views are spectacular. Lush green paddy fields trail off into the mist that barely disguises the sheer cliffs on the other side of the valley.

As I descend the steep steps to Jiao's home, I am greeted by a gang of local children, predominantly girls between ages 5 and 7. They are intrigued by my presence and immediately begin a playful game of 20 questions. This must be Shibadong's village security team.

"What's your name?"

"Where are you from?"

"What does money look like in your country?"

The game quickly evolves into a language lesson, with the girls shouting out words in the Miao language, only for me to guess the answer in Mandarin Chinese. I fail constantly, to the raucous amusement and delight of the children.

Sadly, pulled away and back to business, at dinner I learn that it's not just peaches that have brought prosperity to Shibadong.

"Shibadong has also developed a growing tourism industry on the back of our beautiful rural surroundings and our unique cultural heritage," Shi Jiajie, manager of Shibadong's rural tourism company, tells me over dinner.