China’s modernisation demands bold exploration. This age of reform provides us with unprecedented opportunities. The 1980s were a volatile time for China’s reform. Things back then would seem very alien to you. It is now common to see supermarkets well stocked with different products at different price level. Things were not like this when Reform and Opening-up Policy was initiated. There was no free circulation of food items at that time, and the price was not set by producers. The concepts of “labour” and “labour market” were not allowed to be adopted. At the beginning of 1982, inspired by the work done at the China Rural Development Research Institute, I, together with a group of young teachers and graduate students, set up a research team on circulation and market committed to the study of rural economy and reform. Our work was supported and sponsored by the Rural Policy Research Office of the CPC led by Mr. DU Runsheng. Mr. DU gave us guidance on tasks and methodologies, and encouraged us to participate in the surveying, research and deliberations on rural economy and reform. In 1984 I took part in the organising work of Moganshan Conference. In 1986, I was transferred to Rural Development Research Centre of the State Council (RDRC) whose head was Mr. WANG Qishan. One year later, I assisted Mr. WANG in setting up the office of Rural Reform Pilot Areas in RDRC, where we had done a lot of experiment work, such as rural land contract system, as well as food supply and marketing system. At that time, we often had conflicting opinions in many tough policy discussions. Sometimes we were even totally divided. But thanks to Mr DU’s open, equal and inclusive style, many policies eventually came into fruition through the process of research, experiment and evaluation.