Zhang is awarded a poverty-alleviation prize by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development this year for her fight against disability-induced poverty.[Photo provided to China Daily]

It wasn't long, however, before problems began to interfere with her carefully laid plans. Since Zhang's hometown is located in the mountains, a landslide caused by heavy rain and an earthquake in 2017 resulted in heavy damage to her cooperative.

"The loss just robbed me of my confidence to continue. I had already invested all of my money to start, and the cost of repairs was another heavy financial blow. However, it occurred to me that it was I who encouraged other villagers to join the cooperative. If I gave up, I would be lacking in my responsibilities to them," recalls Zhang.

During her darkest hour, villager Zhang Changwa, a member of the cooperative, lent her 20,000 yuan he had saved for his son's university tuition, encouraging her not to give up and reassuring her that everything would be fine. Finally, Zhang Yaping found her resolve, borrowed enough money to repair the cooperative with the help of local government, and restarted her business.

Zhang Changwa's words came true. The cooperative gradually developed into a large-scale operation. This year, it commands 80 hectares of farmland, more than 700 sheep and 120 cows. In 2019, it boasted profits of 500,000 yuan.

The cooperative has benefited 206 households, 96 of which were registered as poor. Some people provided funds to become shareholders of the cooperative, some worked in the cooperative, and others transferred their land for the cooperative to use. Those who provided funds or transferred their land receive an annual dividend.