Liu Xuesong, who codirects the TV series with Zheng, recalls that he was invited to join the project after the script was finished.

Visualizing the scenes in his mind, Liu says the series has a unique story to tell, shaking off stereotyped narratives to re-create a realistic view of the complexities of life in rural China.

He comments that actress Zhao, who has a large fan base from portraying beautiful and powerful heroines in a string of hit costume dramas like The Journey of Flower (2015), found her feet in the role quickly, matching the protagonist's temperament thanks to her own personal background as a native of rural Hebei province.

"As a talented actress, Zhao has spent a lot of time researching her character, exemplified by details like always putting her hands in her pockets while walking or speaking, mimicking the gestures typical of a rural woman," says Liu, adding that such details also hint at the character's complex inner emotions.

After serving the People's Liberation Army in the far-flung areas of Yunnan province for seven years, Liu says he got used to rural life thanks to the multiple jobs he did during his time in the military, which helped him to master cooking, farming and the maintenance of livestock.

Those years prepared him for the TV series based on rural life, Liu says, noting that he has also learned a lot from local farmers, ensuring that all the details in the series, from village home designs to characters' costumes and props, look as real as those in a Chinese village in the late 2000s.

In line with China's rural revitalization vision, recent years have seen a greater number of TV series set in rural areas, and many center on poverty elimination, says Liu.

"What is also important is to get rid of 'poverty' in the spiritual sense. We hope the new series will raise awareness about changing biases and indecent traditions in rural areas," he says.