wuhan china mid 1980s wave economic reform sweep china qi jing parent flee poverty farm village seek opportunity bustle city wuhan father find job glass cutter late security guard mother take care home thirty years late country transform qi head reverse direction search future soft-spoken rail thin qi grow city girl whose inkling hardship parent grandparents know come annual trip back village henan province college qi major english grow love romantic british literature one favorite book jane austen emma attract main character woman strength individuality want study sociology graduate school fail make school choice instead apply program turn fresh graduate rural officials red-scarf-wearing young pioneer child like almost classmates member communist youth league teens college professor suggest take next step join communist party seem like logical thing go work party along touch advantage abilities lie say go certain experience add discover kind profession suit dream become clear qi move wuhan central china nearby village assistant local party boss eye-opening experience heavy work load problems far complex imagine two years late move putuan rural township afield run local branch communist youth league organization charge cultivate future party members really want explore flashpoints humanity college theoretical villagers pose complicate challenge sometimes superiors system work felt open mind creative ideas old officials chain command last year help township organize first lotus flower festival attract tourists contact photo studio spend money weekend photos take traditional rob hair extensions flow among lotus field post photos message app wechat local media pick story dub goddess party secretary picture go viral five years new life countryside approach age 30 qi feel like near crossroads would like find boyfriend get marry attempt date rural boys pan long-distance relationship someone wuhan hour away seem practical use fairly optimistic neutral say certain age one opportunities get few few especially women come work family choices must face 'goddess party secretary ponder future fast-moving china