Wang Xiaowei peels sweet potatoes with local elderly in Longquan, Lishui. [Photo/Tide News]

In Longquan, a county-level city in Lishui, Zhejiang province, Wang Xiaowei, general manager of Sheyuan Agricultural Comprehensive Development, is a familiar figure in the sweet potato drying fields.

Once a stylish professional in Hangzhou's fashion scene, she has transformed into a sun-tanned, new-generation farmer. Returning to her hometown to revive a traditional family craft, she has turned sweet‑potato drying into a thriving industry that now boosts the income of over 150 local households.

After building a successful career — and life — in Hangzhou, Wang was called back by her aging father, who urged her to take over the family business. Despite initial struggles — from blistering her hands while peeling potatoes to facing repeated sales rejections — she persevered.

A turning point came when she began documenting the traditional drying process on short-video platforms. Her authentic clips attracted orders, including one for over 500 kilograms of sweet potato starch.

Building on this, she transformed the workshop into a live-streaming hub, giving local hosts space and supplies. This initiative led to online sales of 15,000 kilograms of dried sweet potatoes in just two months.

Now, Wang focuses on empowering elderly locals, who earn daily wages working in the drying yards. This year, her base and neighboring growers planted 1,200 mu (80 hectares) of sweet potatoes, expected to produce 250,000 kilograms of dried products, with projected sales exceeding 5 million yuan ($713,625).

Wang has since enrolled in agricultural studies, mastered video editing, and obtained a drone license to help modernize the traditional trade.