Chongqing - In the rural fields of Kaizhou District, Chongqing, Cheng Zhongkun, known online as “Model Kun”, walks through the mud in high heels, camera in hand, surrounded by laughter. What seems like a surprising contrast has become his most authentic and distinctive mark of rural life.

Through his short videos, Cheng captures the joy of elderly villagers, the rhythm of the countryside, and the stories behind local agricultural products. Viewers affectionately call him “the High-Heeled Secretary”, a name that reflects both his humor and dedication.

Once a luxury goods salesman in the city, Cheng felt disconnected from urban life. When his mother fell ill, he returned home to care for her, not knowing this decision would set him on a new path.

He began filming everyday life in his hometown, villagers chatting, working, and laughing together. "I just wanted to record the joy I see every day here," he says. Maybe that's why people like my videos—they’re real. I’m not trying to create a persona or stage a drama. I’m just recording life, and sometimes, real joy looks a little unexpected."

Cheng’s initial entrepreneurial effort focused on selling local wogan tangerines, a citrus fruit that had previously been hard to sell or achieve good prices. After his videos helped the tangerines sell successfully, he expanded to other agricultural products. Among his new initiatives, he began purchasing rapeseed from villages in the highland areas of Chongqing and producing rapeseed oil to be sold more widely.

Beyond entertainment, his work has a tangible impact. Through livestreaming and creative storytelling, Cheng has helped sell over 150,000 orders of local produce, generating nearly 10 million yuan in revenue and benefiting more than 6,000 villagers. Today, he is expanding his efforts to nearby villages, helping more communities promote agricultural products and generate income.

For 84-year-old Wang Shenqiong, filming has become a source of daily happiness. "He always invites us to join him," she said, "when I sit alone, it feels dull, but when we make videos together, we both feel happy." As local villager Cheng Chao explains, "My parents also join his videos. What he’s doing is really positive. Instead of just watching TV or playing on their phones, they get to laugh and have fun with everyone."

By combining creativity, community engagement, and entrepreneurship, Cheng demonstrates that rural life can be full of vitality, opportunity, and joy. "If someone else returned to our village, they could do the same, maybe even better,” he says, "what matters is the heart to make your hometown better."

From laughter in front of the camera to real economic and social change, Cheng Zhongkun's story shows how imagination, rooted in soil, can transform communities far beyond one village.