The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 625 The booming "Traditional Chinese Medicine"!!!
The winding Yongding River is the blood vessel of Yanjing City.

Looking at Liujiazhuang in June, the wind is blowing gently, the water is clear, and there is a faint fragrance of flowers and plants in the air.

Surrounded by the lush greenery of Liujiazhuang Riverside Park, there are endless green paths that seem complicated but never tiring.

The original irritability of summer was eliminated in the lush greenery.

Why? The green scenery is attractive and the water is refreshing.

Listening to the sound of the Yongding River, one can feel its tortuous journey of "uncertainty".

For thousands of years, as the city’s “life waterway”, the Yongding River has nourished the city of Yanjing.

This river, which nurtured civilization, once had a gray history of being full of mud and sand and suffering from frequent floods. It was once jokingly called the "Hunhe River" and the "Little Yellow River".

As early as before the 1960s, excessive logging and agricultural reclamation in the upper reaches of the Yongding River formed a vicious cycle of blind water extraction, causing this mother river to suffer from water shortages and even dry up year after year.

"The clear river water has few fish and shrimps, and the clear waters are deserted with egrets and crows for thousands of miles" is a portrayal of the sufferings that the Yongding River suffered in those years.

The vegetation shrinkage caused by the deterioration of water ecology has made the people on both sides of the river suffer from the ravages of wind and sand.

When you are poor, you seek change, and the world will change.

Today, the Yongding River is dotted with flood diversion hubs, two wind and sand prevention ecological forest belts, six artificial lakes, and ten riverside parks. These numbers have rewritten the life form of this mother river.

Whether you are traveling through the flowing water in Guanting Gorge or strolling along the banks of Lianshi Lake with lush aquatic plants, you will sincerely sigh at the journey of governance and protection of this great river from "uncertainty" to "eternal stability".

The water storage area is more than 2.6 million square meters, the artificial wetland area is 180,000 mu, the greening volume of more than 60 kinds of water plants, and the water utilization rate is more than 70%...

The magnificent picture of "peace and prosperity" on the banks of the Yongding River is engraved with the bold and colorful contributions of the people of Liujiazhuang.

Over the past forty years, they have planted fruit trees on the barren hills with the tenacity of Yugong moving mountains, turning the once barren land into hundreds of thousands of acres of orchards.
They worked hard in the mud of the river channel, turning the winding water system into an ecological corridor with rippling green waves.

Today, Liujiazhuang is covered with green mountains like ink painting, and the green shade is like an emerald barrier.

When the spring breeze blows, bees and butterflies fly and dance among the blooming flowers; when the autumn sun shines obliquely, birds sing happily among the abundant fruits.

The water of the Yongding River is clear and the bottom is visible, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds, painting a touching picture of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

If you were to ask where is the best place to live and work in Yanjing today, Liujiazhuang would be the first choice.

Not only does this place have a unique natural environment - tree-lined streets, crystal clear rivers and lakes, and a pleasant climate with four distinct seasons, but it also has a booming economic ecology.

As the economic engine of Yanjing, the area is home to many world-renowned corporate headquarters and high-tech industrial parks. The per capita disposable income of residents has consistently ranked first in the city, far exceeding the average level of other districts and counties.

Complete municipal facilities, high-quality educational and medical resources, and a strong cultural atmosphere together create this desirable ideal residence.

This is also the birthplace of "Yanshan" wine, one of the top ten famous wines in China.

"Yanshan Liquor" has been firmly at the top of the industry's annual liquor sales list with its impressive annual sales volume, surpassing the traditional famous liquor Wuliangye.

In the sales ranking of the top ten famous liquors, Wuliangye followed closely behind as the second place, followed in order: the mellow and long-lasting Luzhou Laojiao, the long-standing Gujinggong, the soft and sweet Yanghe, the classic Maotai, the long-lasting Quanxing Daqu, the Central Plains fine wine Songhe Liangye, the mellow and rich Tuopai and the unique flavor of Shuanggou.

Speaking of "Yanshan Liquor", almost everyone knows it.

As the leader in the liquor industry today, Yanshan Liquor Group's annual sales volume is over 10 billion yuan, far ahead of other brands.

Over the past decade, the status of "Yanshan Liquor" has been almost unrivaled.

From 1988 to 1995, "Yanshan" liquor won the national liquor sales championship for seven consecutive years.

At its peak, the output of "Yanshan" liquor was four times that of Wuliangye and six times that of Moutai. Its market share in the liquor market was as high as 4%, and all liquor brands in the country had to call it "Big Brother Yan".

With only forty years of history, "Yanshan Liquor" has achieved overtaking others.

After 1949, many regions in the country established local state-owned distilleries based on private distillery workshops.

The development of the domestic liquor industry has since opened a new chapter in history.

The traditional privately-run wine-making workshops gradually evolved into large-scale industrial enterprises, but under the planned economic system, the liquor industry developed slowly. In 49, the output of liquor was 10.80 tons, and by 1983 the annual output had reached 320.17 million tons, of which Yanshan Liquor Industry contributed 60 tons.

From 1949 to 1995, the liquor industry in China went through 45 years.

The period of rapid development and great achievements is concentrated in the last ten years since the reform and opening up.

That is, after 1985.

Over the past ten years, the liquor industry has generally shown a spiral development characteristic of "relaxation and tension".

That is, it develops rapidly for a period of time, then enters an adjustment phase, and after a period of hesitation and accumulation of strength, it enters the next rapid development period, showing a rhythm that is consistent with the country's macroeconomic development.

The development history of Liujiazhuang's "Yanshan Wine Industry" in the past ten years can be described as legendary, like a dark horse standing out in the fierce market competition.

From a small but well-known company to an industry leader, this company has achieved remarkable leaps and bounds in development.

This brilliant achievement is the result of the perfect combination of multiple factors: the unremitting craftsmanship inherited by generations of winemakers in Liujiazhuang, and the unique natural resource advantages of the local area.

High-quality raw materials, sweet water resources and pleasant climate all provide excellent conditions for brewing mellow and delicious wine.

All these achievements are closely related to the Liujiazhuang people's unremitting efforts to transform the soil and water, close the mountains to grow forests, and protect the ecological environment.

So, what was the environment like back then?
Except for the original Liujiazhuang Village, which is backed by the Yanshan and Taihang Mountains and has relatively well-preserved forests on the mountains thanks to its unique geographical location, other areas that were later incorporated are almost all barren mountains with no grass.

Looking around, all you can see is bare loess and barren hills, and the ecological environment is extremely fragile.

Today, Liujiazhuang has been completely transformed, with lush forest coverage reaching 65%, making it like a natural green oxygen bar.

Walking through it, the fresh air is refreshing, and the towering ancient trees, birdsong and flowers are interwoven into a vibrant ecological picture.

This green land and clear water not only breeds rich natural resources, but also gives rise to a booming eco-tourism industry.

During holidays, there is an endless stream of tourists from all over the world. They either stroll along the forest trails or stop at the viewing platforms, enjoying the pleasant time brought by this paradise.

The unique homestays and farm stays here make tourists linger and experience the pastoral joy of returning to nature.

Speaking of farm stays, Liujiazhuang is definitely an attractive place to visit.

This place is not only beautiful in scenery, but also famous for its abundant agricultural products.

Here is the Liujiazhuang cherry, which is known as the "No. 1 cherry in western Beijing".

"The first branch of fruits in early spring, time for everyone to enjoy the sweet agate."

Cherries are the first seasonal fruit to mature in the northern region and are known as the "first fruit of spring."

Among the many production areas, the cherries from Liujiazhuang in Yanjing are particularly outstanding and can be regarded as a local specialty.

The unique geographical location on the southern slope of Liujiazhuang makes it an ideal place for cherry growth.

The sunny hillsides here enjoy plenty of sunshine every day. Coupled with the appropriate temperature difference between day and night, the cherries not only mature about a week earlier than in other areas, but also develop a unique sweet flavor.

The flesh is plump and juicy, melting in your mouth, leaving you with an endless aftertaste. Every May when cherries are ripe, Liujiazhuang welcomes the busiest scene of the year.

Tourists from all over Yanjing flocked to experience the fun of picking cherry in the lush cherry orchard.

The branches are full of juicy red fruits, and the laughter echoes in the mountains, forming a vibrant pastoral picture.

When the family is tired from playing, they can stay overnight in a farmhouse in the mountainous area of ​​Liujiazhuang and have an authentic "farmhouse meal" here.

Although it is called farm cuisine, it is actually not simple at all. The main dish is rice made with the famous "Jingxi Rice".

"Jingxi Rice" is high-quality japonica rice. The rice grains are oval, plump, crystal clear, and the rice is oily, sticky but not glutinous, moderately soft and hard, fragrant and elastic. The rice porridge is green in color, has a unique aroma, and a sticky and smooth taste with rice oil.

As a rare high-quality rice variety, "Jingxi Rice" has extremely strict requirements for the growing environment. Currently, it can only be successfully cultivated under the specific climate and soil conditions in the western Beijing area.

Among them, the Liujiazhuang area has become the most ideal planting area for western Beijing rice due to its unique geographical advantages - abundant water resources, fertile soil and suitable temperature difference, and the quality of the rice produced is particularly outstanding.

Due to the limited planting area and sophisticated farming techniques, the annual output of Jingxi rice has always remained at a low level.

These precious rices are mainly supplied to five-star hotels, Michelin restaurants and high-end boutique supermarkets, and the selling price per kilogram can be several times that of ordinary rice.

In the ordinary market, Jingxi rice is hard to come by. Even if you are willing to pay a high price, you rarely have the chance to buy it, making it a rare treasure sought after by food lovers.

You would think that you can enjoy such high-end food in this farm house in Liujiazhuang. Wouldn’t the tourists be enjoying it with relish?
Of course, in addition to "Jingxi Rice", Liujiazhuang also has many famous agricultural products, such as "Shengfang Crab", "Liujiazhuang Big Watermelon", "Big White Pear", "Guoguang Apple", "Mopan Persimmon"... all of which are well-known.

However, the highest profit comes from the cultivation of Chinese medicinal materials. After more than 40 years of development, Liujiazhuang area has been known as the "Hometown of Chinese Herbal Medicine".

Today, Liujiazhuang is one of the main production areas of medicinal materials in northern Xia State, with decades of history of medicinal material cultivation.

The geographical environment of Liujiazhuang area is complex and diverse, with high mountains, rich natural forests and fertile farmland, which are suitable for the growth of many precious Chinese medicinal materials.

The main varieties of Chinese medicinal materials grown include Platycodon, Glehnia littoralis, Astragalus, Achyranthes bidentata, Saposhnikovia divaricata, Atractylodes macrocephala, Licorice, Chrysanthemum, Dioscorea batatas, Aster tataricus, Glehnia littoralis, Coix seed, Brassica juncea, Angelica dahurica, pollen... and hundreds of other Chinese medicinal herbs.

In addition, the Chinese medicinal materials market in Liujiazhuang is one of the largest distribution centers for Chinese medicinal materials in the country, with a development history of more than 20 years and a complete industrial chain.

Scutellaria baicalensis, Belamcanda chinensis, Atractylodes lancea, yellow flowers, blue flowers, pink flowers... South of the Great Wall, at the intersection of the Yanshan Mountain and Taihang Mountain Ranges, among the lush green peaks, Chinese herbal medicines cover the hillsides and flowers of various colors sway among them.

Thanks to the natural conditions of Liujiazhuang Xilan, such as the large altitude difference and large temperature difference between day and night, the mountains have nurtured rich and high-quality wild Chinese medicinal materials resources.

So far, more than 600 kinds of wild Chinese medicinal resources have been discovered in Liujiazhuang area, among which "Liujiazhuang Scutellaria baicalensis" has been successfully registered as a geographical indication certification trademark.

The value of Chinese herbal medicines that flow into the market through Liujiazhuang Chinese herbal medicine market is tens of billions every year.

In recent years, Liujiazhuang area has done a good job in developing local specialties.

Relying on its unique resources, the people of Liujiazhuang seek benefits by developing multiple agricultural functions and tapping into multiple values;
We will demand benefits from the integrated development of the primary, secondary and tertiary industries, strengthen the leading enterprises, fill in the gaps in the industrial chain, develop business models, and build brands, so as to promote upgrading of the entire industrial chain and enhance market competitiveness and sustainable development capabilities.

Relying on its unique resources and based on its location advantages, Liujiazhuang has vigorously developed the Chinese medicinal materials industry in recent years, promoted large-scale and standardized planting, developed refined and diversified processing, created sightseeing tourism, health and wellness projects, and continuously promoted the integrated development of the first, second and third industries, embarking on a distinctive development path of the Chinese medicinal materials industry.

By 1995, the traditional Chinese medicine industry in Liujiazhuang had created jobs for about 1.2 people in the region and increased per capita income by more than 5000 yuan.

Wang Shuang, a reporter from the Yanjing Daily, once again visited Xiayingfang Village in Liujiazhuang. In the distant mountains, apricot and peach trees were stacked up; on the terraced fields, young seedlings of Scutellaria baicalensis were green;

Dozens of villagers were waving shovels, digging wormwood and removing weeds, working busily.

This is the Chinese medicinal herb planting base of "Liujiazhuang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Development Co., Ltd."

"This mountain is called 'Jiangjunding'. Many years ago, it was rich in wild medicinal herbs such as Scutellaria baicalensis, which attracted villagers to go up the mountain to collect them."

Standing on the edge of the ridge, Liu Shuhe, chairman of Liujiazhuang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Development Co., Ltd., pointed forward and said, "Ten years ago, I came here to transfer land and plant medicinal herbs.

In recent years, ecological and three-dimensional development and utilization have formed terraces. "

"Why did villagers only collect and dig but not plant in the past?" asked Wang Shuang, a reporter from Yanjing Daily, puzzled.

“There have been sporadic trials, but they were not large-scale and the returns were unstable.

The planting cycle of many medicinal herbs takes several years, and some become more valuable as they age. "Liu Shuhe explained, "If you encounter severe weather such as drought during the growth cycle, it is very likely that you will have wasted several years of hard work."

Making leading enterprises bigger and stronger and promoting moderate-scale cultivation of Chinese medicinal materials can effectively enhance the ability to resist risks.

In recent years, Yanjing City and Liujiazhuang High-tech Economic Development Zone have made every effort to build the Yantai Traditional Chinese Medicine Economic Core Demonstration Zone.

Liujiazhuang High-tech Economic Development Zone has issued supporting policies and other documents to promote the integrated development of the traditional Chinese medicine industry, and has provided rewards and subsidies to business entities such as farmers' cooperatives, family farms, leading enterprises and large-scale growers that develop the traditional Chinese medicine industry.

Policies are implemented with precision and enterprises are developing in a positive direction.

Forty years ago, artificial Chinese herbal medicine was tried for the first time in Liujiazhuang, and large-scale cultivation of Chinese medicinal materials such as Scutellaria baicalensis, Atractylodes lancea, and Bupleurum chinense began.

By leveling barren slopes and hardening roads, the terraces are gradually concentrated and connected, and several flat areas are divided in the fields to facilitate ridge making and sowing by tractors.

At the beginning, this large-scale planting was not smooth sailing.

"Initially, we didn't select the right seeds and didn't water the plants in time. As a result, the herbs we planted encountered high temperatures just as they sprouted, and many of them didn't survive.

Later, we improved the watering method, but because weeding was not done in time, the weeds became stronger than the seedlings. "Liu Shuhe recalled.

In order to solve the problem of planting technology, the older generation of Liujiazhuang joined hands with universities and institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Agricultural University, and the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica of Peking Union Medical College, and cooperated with many pharmaceutical companies to establish a planting experimental base, organized experts and scholars to go deep into the fields, promoted simulated wild planting technology, and promoted the standardization of Chinese medicinal material planting.

At the Liujiazhuang Chinese herbal medicine planting base, the Institute of Chinese Medicine of the Medical College established a teaching and research base for Chinese medicine.

"Apply 2 to 3 tons of fully decomposed organic fertilizer per mu of land, and plow the land 20 to 30 centimeters deep..."

Recently, Liu Shuchun, director of the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Liujiazhuang Medical College, and several experts came to the teaching and research base of traditional Chinese medicine to teach the students of the college the essentials of Chinese medicinal material cultivation techniques.

In recent years, every sowing season, Liu Shuchun would lead students to conduct teaching experiments and training.

Liu Shuchun told reporter Wang Shuang that the key to simulated wild cultivation is not to apply chemical fertilizers or pesticides, but to use organic fertilizers, insecticidal lamps, sticky insect boards, etc., and to simulate the environment of the original habitat of medicinal materials through measures such as improving the soil.

After repeated planting experiments, the Liujiazhuang Development Zone Agriculture Bureau, in conjunction with experts from major medical colleges, Chinese medicine research institutes and other institutions, summarized and issued relevant standards for the simulated wild cultivation of 21 Chinese medicinal materials such as Scutellaria baicalensis and Atractylodes lancea, clarified the environmental conditions, cultivation techniques, and pest and disease control in the planting process, and promoted their implementation throughout the region.

"By carrying out standardized and wild-simulated cultivation, our output of fresh Scutellaria baicalensis baicalensis and fresh Atractylodes lancea per acre has reached 400 kilograms, and that of fresh Atractylodes lancea has reached more than 1500 kilograms, both of which have increased by about 1990% compared to the period before 2000." Liu Shuhe introduced that through demonstration and training, the base has led to an increase in income and wealth for more than growers.

As the interest linkage mechanism of "leading enterprise + base + farmers" continues to improve, more and more villagers transfer their land, work in the base, and earn double income.

At the planting base of Jiucai Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Development Co., Ltd., Liu Tian, ​​a villager in his 50s, weeded for the whole morning and was about to go home for dinner. "The base is built in the village. My husband and I can earn more than 5000 yuan a month working here.

The two mu of land in my family was also transferred to the base, bringing me an extra 1600 yuan in income each year.”

By the end of 1995, the area of ​​traditional Chinese medicine in Liujiazhuang Development Zone reached 30 mu, six times that of 1980.
18 large-scale Chinese medicinal herb planting demonstration gardens have been built, and 80 professional Chinese medicinal herb planting cooperatives and 32 family farms have been developed.

Because the long planting cycle and large price fluctuations of Chinese medicinal materials have troubled many growers.

"Take Scutellaria baicalensis as an example. It sold for 5 yuan per kilo last year, but it may drop to 2.5 yuan next year.

The villagers have no storage space or processing equipment. When the market is bad, fresh herbs cannot be stored and easily rot. "Liu Shuhe said, "Reporter Wang Shuang said, "Without perfect storage and processing equipment, relying solely on planting, the profit margin is not high at all."

"If we want to develop the Chinese medicinal materials industry, we must focus on filling the gaps in storage, circulation and processing at the production site."

(End of this chapter)