Details, not judgments

Asked about recent changes, villagers' spiritual state, and her preparation for Liangzhuang Twenty Years, Liang says it lies in long-term, daily observation. "When I write, I do not focus only on visible change, but on people's real lives." She adds that after early infrastructure upgrades, change has slowed. More new houses have been built, but village roads have become more cluttered, and rivers are left to rise and fall without much maintenance.

Liangzhuang Primary School, once a pig farm, became a furniture factory five or six years ago. A government-funded public square is now a new hub where villagers rest, chat, dance, and play drums. Her late father once hoped their old home could become a library, an idea she still hopes to realize, though she has yet to find a way forward. Still, she believes improving rural public spaces — sanitation, greening and roads — can boost villagers' physical and mental health.

Liang stresses the importance of writing within specific historical contexts and focusing on detail rather than sweeping judgments. "Literature is a deeply personal form of expression, and details are its lifeblood — the key to resonating with readers," she says. She avoids rural-themed short videos which she finds hard to verify. In an age of fragmented information, she values systematic, on-the-ground research more than ever — one reason nonfiction has gained renewed attention.

She hopes to break down stereotypes behind labels such as "farmer", "worker", and "teacher" and restore individual stories in her writing. Her deep connection with her hometown during writing has also brought her strong spiritual support, inner growth, and a renewed bond with her childhood and younger self.