When Chai was a university freshman he wrote a letter outlining his future plans. He wrote that he would return to his hometown to develop the Chinese leek trade if the vegetable had not been processed and sold to the overseas market in the next four years.

At university Chai not only learned a lot in the classroom, but saved nearly 400,000 yuan ($64,000) by running an online store catering to local college students.

"Armed with knowledge and money, I believe I can do well," Chai says, adding that he has researched family farms in European and American countries.

Chai used 3.3 hectares of farmland from his four uncles who had left the land to work in cities. He then built 11 spacious greenhouses, which stand in sharp contrast to the small greenhouses favored by other families in the village.

"My greenhouses ensure the plants harness the maximum amount of sunlight which is a crucial factor for quality Chinese leek. They are big enough so farmers can enter to take care of the Chinese leek," Chai explains.

The greenhouses cost him 220,000 yuan.

"The other families prefer the smaller greenhouses as they are low cost and can be built easily."

Chai says he helped construct the 11 greenhouses, the rigorous labor helping him lose 20 kg in weight.

Last winter saw most days clouded with smog, which blocked sunlight to the Chinese leek. Chai researched other vegetables' greenhouses looking for a solution to this problem. Eventually he introduced special lights that emit a purple glow. These purple spectrum lights enable the Chinese leek to grow even on cloudy days.

"My fellow villagers depend on the weather, but I work to improve unfavorable natural conditions," Chai says. He is happy to share his experience with other families, he adds.

Chai's hard work paid off. He received a net profit of 300,000 yuan from his farmland last winter.

"What I earned per mu is twice as much as my parents earned in recent years," Chai says.

Chai registered his land as a family farm, a few days after the central government issued this year's first paper, calling for the development of family farms.

"This means our government will pay more attention to family farms. It's good news for me," Chai says.

Family farms mean food safety can be traced back to the family, according to Chai. This will force families to regard food quality as a priority.

"I do think the younger generation will be the main force in developing the family farm because they are open to new things," Chai says.

Chai also tried his hand at potted Chinese leek, which turned out to be a profitable venture.

"However my father was always afraid of losing money from the new trade. He asked me how to sell out the potted leek almost every day," Chai says.

"They agreed to allocate 0.67 hectares for the potted trade this year as they saw huge potential in the new trade," Chai says, with a smile.

Chai says in the future he wants to expand the variety of products made from Chinese leek. "I will develop processed Chinese leek products and sell them to the overseas market," Chai says.

Chai has earned the nickname "General Chai" from his partners. But the young man says he is simply a farmer and he will prove farmers can live a high-quality life in China.

"If I have a son in the future, he will probably end up following my footsteps in the farming trade," Chai says.

Contact the writer at zhaoruixue@chinadaily.com.cn.