Pei Mingjun, a farmer in Peizhai village, Henan province, is always quick to show off his two "red books" -- his real estate certificate and shares paper.

Polio in his childhood left the young man with a pronounced limp. He married, and their son was born. The couple, however, was so poor to feed and provide clothes for the baby.

People in the village helped them with cloth, shoes and milk powder.

Pei Mingjun came to Pei Chunliang, secretary of the Communist Party of China committee of Peizhai village, asking to buy shares of his company with 20 yuan ($3).

There were eight poor families like Pei Mingjun's. Pei Chunliang, also an entrepreneur running a 3,000-strong corporate group for building materials, chemicals, finance, tourism, hydropower and e-commerce, gave each of the eight families shares worth 20,000 yuan, from which they receive dividends of more than 2,000 yuan every year.

"I hope no one is left behind when the village works hard for a decent life," Pei Chunliang said.