A series of struggles and successes

In Clarke's eyes, these people represent four different stages of the process to achieve a xiaokang society.

"We'll see people transformed from rural peasants into factory workers, truck drivers, circus stars and even multimillionaires," Clarke says. "All of these people started with nothing. They are real-life rags-to-riches stories, but they're far from being a fairy tale.

"Each film tells the story of Chinese people born into poverty whose lives are transformed by riding the wave of China's historic economic renaissance," Clarke says. "And, finally, in our fourth film, we tell the inspiring story of rural people who, after shaking off their lives of poverty and succeeding beyond their wildest dreams－are now using their resources to return to their hometown to help those people who had been 'left behind'."

As the director explains, this final story depicts a miniature version of a xiaokang society created by people who are determined not to forget the hardships of their humble beginnings, and feel an obligation to assist the next generation of villagers to live more comfortable and productive lives.