How deep is the red date obsession of date growers in the desert
Nature is magical, and also fair.
At the foot of the beautiful Kunlun Mountains, however, a completely opposite natural ecology appears - the Taklamakan Desert.
Fortunately, on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert where sandstorms rage, brief contemporary human activity has also created new wonders. Relying on the firm belief that man can conquer nature, supported by policy, and underpinned by high technology, a paradise on earth has been built.
Seeing such a spectacular scene, no one would imagine that this place was once a boundless, empty desert.
Seeing such a lush date orchard, no one would imagine that this place was once a primitive world of flying sand and stones, rarely visited by humans.
But scene after scene before our eyes, with the arrival of one man, the desert that had slept for a thousand years miraculously reached a turning point. Inspired by national policy, he waved his hand and poured in heavy investment. Accompanied by the rumbling of bulldozers and the continuous application of high technology, he not only leveled the hillocks and sand dunes that had plagued humanity for a thousand years, but also channeled the long-buried snowmelt of the Kunlun Mountains, planting dense date orchards; he not only curbed the ravages of flying sand and recreated a desert oasis of vast fertile fields, but more importantly, forged a long-awaited treasure bowl for the surrounding Uyghur people, setting them on a golden road to prosperity through science and technology.
People cannot help but ask: who is this person who dares to challenge the desert? He is Yan Guangbo, chairman of Henan Xuchuangli Technology Development Co., Ltd.
This tough man born in the Central Plains, a well-known entrepreneur famed in the industry for his resourcefulness and decisiveness, why would he set aside the expansion of the highly profitable Xuchuangli company, instead seeking the distant over the near and leaving his hometown, risking the commercial danger that his investment could very likely "go down the drain," acting like a desert knight "throwing money around" far from his native land, devoting himself to building his "Hotan Molan Manor Fruit Industry Co., Ltd."? Why go to such lengths to construct his "date orchard empire"? Where does this courage and boldness come from? And under what circumstances was the elegant yet highly creative name "Molan Manor" born? With a string of questions, the reporter approached this elite figure who could be called a business genius - Yan Guangbo.
He is far more substantial than we imagined. He is quick-witted and clear-minded; with just a few words, one can sense this entrepreneur's breadth of mind and grace, and his bold vision of daring to lead. In particular, his dramatic life experiences, his calm navigation of the business seas, and his grateful heart filled with great love are all the best explanations for why he made such a bold "grand gesture." To understand this loving entrepreneur's "date love" obsession, we may as well follow his inner journey and look at the trajectory of his life. Perhaps recalling the past will be somewhat dry and dull, even somewhat bitter and sad, but more than that, it is inspiring and motivating, free and bold.
The soil of his hometown: it provided him with rich nourishment for life
Yan Guangbo, born in Shenqiu in eastern Henan, had a childhood he cannot bear to recall. The 80 mu of land his maternal grandfather had accumulated through frugal living actually made his mother bear the "notorious" label of a landlord's daughter. In that special era that emphasized politics, his mother's status undoubtedly became an indelible "scar" for Yan Guangbo. At a young age, he not only endured endless mockery and ridicule, but also suffered spiritual torment. That was not all - misfortunes never come singly. Who would have thought that when Yan Guangbo was 4 years old, disaster fell from the sky: his father, who supported the family, unexpectedly passed away due to asthma, leaving behind him, his 28-year-old mother, and his younger brother and a sister who were still too young to understand. But the tragedy was far from over. Soon after, his younger brother unfortunately died young from a minor illness, which undoubtedly rubbed heavy salt into the wounds of the bleeding family. One heavy blow after another - for the mother and children already suffering one misfortune after another, the depth of their sorrow was more than ordinary people could bear. But what is somewhat comforting is that they were not defeated by life's hardships; instead, they gritted their teeth, wiped away their tears, and chose to keep moving forward.
Fortunately, Yan Guangbo was clever and sensible from childhood, bringing great spiritual support to his widowed mother. Whether at home or at school, Yan Guangbo performed remarkably, not only winning people's sympathy but, more importantly, earning the praise of his fellow villagers. Although he had colorful fantasies about life, especially a longing for the green barracks, his mother's status remained an insurmountable "natural moat," so every opportunity to climb upward seemed to be cut off from him. At the age of 19, after graduating from high school, Yan Guangbo's only path in life was to return to the village and farm. But the simple-hearted villagers did not kick him when he was down; instead, with great tolerance, they accepted this unrecognized "scholar" and appointed him as accountant of the township-run small factory. What trust this was! One must know that in the villagers' eyes, the accountant was an extraordinary key position, a very weighty "official post," a "string of money" and "grain bag" related to thousands of households. Only those with a good family background and fine qualities could take such a "great position." Therefore, Yan Guangbo's appointment to such an "important post" not only broke precedent but also reflected the villagers' absolute trust in him. For this trust and expectation, Yan Guangbo naturally remembered it deeply and was endlessly grateful. He secretly vowed that he must be worthy of this native land that gave him life and raised him, and must repay the kindness of his fellow villagers for recognizing his worth.
Laughing proudly in the business seas: it created for him an abundant accumulation of wealth
If Yan Guangbo's appointment as accountant was the turning point in his life, then his magnificent transformation was the true origin of his career rise. Although Yan Guangbo did not come from a finance or accounting background, he performed at his utmost in the accounting position. In particular, his skill and sophistication in dealing with people reflected his superb social wisdom.
But what surprised him greatly was this: just when he was doing a stellar job in the accounting position, an old leader whom he rather respected came to talk with him, suggesting that he change careers and go into business, saying that business could better reflect his value and better showcase his talents. Yan Guangbo was greatly shocked, because the accounting job not only provided him with a stable income but also earned him enough dignity and self-respect as a person. In Yan Guangbo's view at the time, transferring from accounting to business was clearly a loss of trust in him. Although he was extremely reluctant, he still handed over the accounting position. Later, facts proved that even the exceptionally wise Yan Guangbo had moments of strategic misjudgment; the truth was that the leader truly appreciated his talent and learning.
It was precisely this choice that truly activated Yan Guangbo's business talent. In particular, his accurate judgment of the rapidly rising coal market allowed him to stage a typical case of building a fortune from nothing. In the era of the planned economy, coal was undoubtedly the lifeblood of people's survival. Not long after Yan Guangbo entered the coal trade, he accumulated extensive network resources with coal mines, coal-collecting units, and transportation teams. Especially with his extraordinary sensitivity to coal market trends and precise analysis of market information, on the eve of the 1984 Spring Festival, he believed that coal had enormous potential for appreciation. If he could seize the opportunity to stockpile some at that time, it would certainly bring generous returns. But the biggest problem at the time was funding. So, after careful consideration, he once again made an astonishing move: he had the coal-collecting unit issue documents to provide a guarantee, and then approached the coal mine and the transportation team. Just like that, a commercial drama racing against time quietly began. This classic business operation of "borrowing a boat to go to sea" and "borrowing a hen to lay eggs" allowed him to stockpile 5,000 tons of top-quality coal in one go. Once the Spring Festival passed, the coal market indeed behaved as he had predicted, with prices soaring, and Yan Guangbo steadily made a great profit. In that era, 160,000 yuan was absolutely an astronomical figure that astonished everyone.