The Qingmiao Hui, or Green Sprouts Society, was an important grassroots rural organization in North China during the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republican period. Its emergence, development, and evolution were closely linked to the unique structural characteristics of villages in North China. Its origin can be traced back to the harvest season in rural North China, when farmers had to ensure their crops were not stolen. To prevent theft, families were compelled to take turns patrolling the fields at night. Wealthier households hired specialized watchmen for this purpose, a practice known as kanqing, or “watching the crops”. Neighboring families would also employ a shared watchman to guard their crops until they were ready for harvest.