The development of rural industries enabled millions of former farmers to continue living
close to their home villages. There was a saying that reflected the condition of these farmers
working in rural industries: „leave the farm but not the village; enter the factory but not the city‟. Despite their non-agricultural jobs, these workers maintained ties with farming and
could provide support in the busiest farming seasons (normally sowing and harvesting),
when mass farm labour was needed for short periods. In addition, the partially reformed
hukou system continued to put restrictions on migration, and was another reason for people
working in the towns close to their villages (Goldstein, 1990; Chan, 1994; Shen, 1995; Chan
and Zhang, 1999; Solinger, 1999).