Shibadong Village is an ordinary small village in the western Hunan province.

A year after his inspection tour of Fuping County in Hebei Province,general secretary Xi Jinping of the CPC Central Committee put forward the concept of “targeted poverty alleviation” for the first time on November 3, 2013 here in Shibadong Village. Located in Huayuan County, Hunan Province, Shibadong Village is a quiet outlying village hidden among the tall Wuling mountains and it is an impoverished village of the Miao ethnic groups. When general secretary Xi Jinping visited the villagein 2013, as much as 57 percent of the villagers lived below the poverty line.

Shi Basan, a villager there, remembers clearlythe day whengeneral secretary Xi came to her home and sat down with her family to do some accounts about the family income and expenses. General secretary Xi also inquired them about the family problems and plans. Xi was shown around her home to see her barn, bedding, kitchen, and even the pigsty, and Xi encouraged Shi’s family to build up confidence and create a more beautiful life with hardwork and wisdom.

“ He hopes that we villagers should have a clear ideaabout what we want to grow or raise rather than shouting empty slogans or setting in feasible goals. In the anti-poverty campaign, we should seek truth from facts, adjust measures to local conditions, seek classified guidance and take targeted measures in poverty alleviation.” recalls Shi Chengfu, a villager in Shibadong.

In 2016, when general secretary Xi Jinping was reviewing Government Work Report with Hunan Delegation during the Two Sessions, Xi was doing the accounts with the delegates about the villagers’income growth and he recalled his visit to Shibadong Village.

“ It was in Shibadong Village that I formally proposed‘the targeted poverty alleviation’. How much is the per capita income there now?”asked general secretary Xi.

“ The percapita income was 1,,680 yuan when you came then. Now it has increased to be 3,580 yuan.” said Guo Jianqun, governor of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. He also told general secretary Xi that the villagers’ income has increased remarkably, and that Shibadong village has taken on a new look and developed into a civilized village and a designated tourist village in Hunan Province. Governor Guo added that with more smiles on their face, the villagers have stronger desires for further development. And it is even much easier now for older single men to find a wife.

“How many men got married last year?” asked general secretary Xi.

“ Seven. They are the seven older men.” answered Guo Jianqun.

Hearing that, Xi said happily, “ I have read the series reports recently and felt greatly relieved about it. It is a good example for others to follow. With greater determination, clearer roadmap, and more targeted measures, we will surely win the fight againt poverty and attain the poverty alleviation goals as scheduled.”

In 2016, all the villagers in Shibadong shook off poverty.

“ Doing accounts” is the most vivid intepretation of the targeted poverty alleviation.