While her classmates and friends were watching American or British TV series online or tuning in to entertainment shows on television, Xu was watching the CCTV agricultural channel, showing particular interest in the Agricultural Business program. She came from a rural family, but unlike many of her peers who dreamed of settling in the city, Xu always planned to return to village life someday.

Her relatives saw her success as a good example to follow in educating their children, but Xu left her job and declared her intention of returning to village life and setting up her own business there.

The move met with strong opposition from her parents and relatives. But only Xu knew that she had been preparing for this move since her first day at university.

She first bought the abandoned school in her village and signed a long-term contract to rent the land behind the school, using the majority of her savings.

"With the farm business gradually getting better and the farm begin to make a profit, some villagers and especially some of my relatives have changed their attitude toward me."

She said now that the business has been firmly established, their scepticism has been replaced with pride.

The first impression visitors get on arriving at the farm is one of neatness. There are rows of cages, each containing a few birds, along with various kinds of fruit trees, flowers and other plants. The place is more like a small zoo or nature park than a farm.

"Peacocks are very sensitive to noise. To keep them calm and in a good mood, I often play light music for them," Xu says.

An adult peacock with brilliant features can sell for 3,000 to 4,000 yuan ($481 to $642). But it takes from three to five years for them to mature, and during this time, there are no profits, only costs. "It would be disaster if they became infected with diseases. I cannot afford to lose any of them," Xu says.

Xu feeds the birds on vegetables and crops she has grown herself, using the bird droppings as manure.

With more stable orders from customers, the farm's business is improving day by day. However, Xu's plans are not limited to more orders.

"I am the daughter of a rural family and I was fully aware of the difficulties my parents went through to raise my sister and I, and how they saved every penny to pay for our college education. I hope to help more villagers escape from poverty," she says.

Contact the writers through hena@chinadaily.com.cn

Ding Luyang contributed to this story.