Yu Youzhen was compensated by the government for property and land she owned as a peasant villager and as a result of this, her family is now wealthy. However, despite her riches, she has been working as a street cleaner since 1998 in order to set a good example for her children. 14 years since her windfall, Yu Youzhen continues to start work every morning at 3am, earning only $230 (1420 yuan) per month. She has 1 day off a week, and only once she asked to go for three days to attend the funeral of her mother in law.