As spring arrives, farmers are busy preparing their fields for planting. In the millet fields of Shilipo Village, Fengzhou Town, Wuxiang County, the fresh scent of newly turned soil fills the air. Farm vehicles shuttle across the land carrying sheep manure fertilizer, arranging it neatly in rows. Spreading machines move steadily, distributing the fertilizer evenly, while rotary tillers roar, deeply plowing and leveling the fertile soil. The sounds of machinery blend into a symphony of spring farming at the foot of the Taihang Mountains.
At the field's edge, a farmer nicknamed "Gouxiao" wipes sweat from his brow, his smile simple yet determined. "Nourishing the land during spring planting is fundamental," he says. "Only when the soil is fertile can the millet grow well." This land, soaked with sweat, holds his most sincere wish: to make Taihang millet famous far and wide and help fellow villagers lead more prosperous lives. This is what he calls his "golden millet dream."
Gouxiao, whose real name is Han Dengke, is a major grower in Shilipo Village and the leader of the Wuxiang County Longhui Planting Professional Cooperative. Speaking of his millet, he expresses great pride. "We use only sheep manure organic fertilizer throughout the entire process," he explains. "We genuinely practice ecological farming, preserving both the authenticity of the land and the quality of the grain."
Where does the organic fertilizer come from? Following Han into the cooperative's ecological planting and breeding park, the answer becomes clear as over 600 sheep roam contentedly. "The sheep manure used in the fields is entirely produced by our own sheep," Han says. "The sheep graze on the mountains, their manure fertilizes the fields, the millet grown is processed into小米 (millet), and the husks are then fed back to the sheep." This is the ecological cycle Han has developed over more than twenty years of working the land.
Breeding supports planting, and planting, in turn, nourishes breeding. This interlocking ecological loop not only protects the green mountains and clear waters of the Taihang region but also revitalizes unused land resources, paving a green and sustainable path for organic dryland farming.
In 2015, as rural revitalization efforts reached the Taihang Mountains, Han Dengke took the lead in establishing the Wuxiang County Longhui Planting Professional Cooperative with government support. Adopting a "company + cooperative + farmers" model and registering the "Shilipo Gouxiao" trademark, he has led fellow villagers in dedicating themselves to organic dryland agriculture, striving to build a distinctive ecological brand around "sheep manure millet."
To help this high-quality mountain product reach consumers across the country, Han has embraced the digital age, transforming into a "farmer livestreamer." Through live broadcasts, he promotes his "sheep manure millet" to a national audience, allowing the small grains to carry his "golden millet dream" beyond the towering Taihang Mountains and into countless households.
Today, villagers who once sought work far from home are returning to farm their land, achieving employment and increased income right at their doorstep. The "Shilipo Gouxiao" brand of sheep manure millet has become a well-known local specialty industry. "Working with Gouxiao gives us hope for a better future," says Guo Suhong, a machinery operator for the cooperative. "Being able to earn money right here at home brings peace of mind and stability." Her words are filled with happiness and satisfaction.
Han Dengke's personal dream has long since evolved into a shared vision of prosperity pursued by the people of Shilipo Village and the surrounding area. Looking to the future, Han's eyes are full of hope. "The county aims to strengthen and optimize distinctive industries that enrich the people, implement agricultural brand cultivation projects, promote the cluster development of特色 industries like millet, and build Wuxiang's 'trump card' industry," he states. "I am confident our sheep manure millet will grow stronger and reach further."
Gazing at the freshly plowed fields before him, his deep affection for this land and his aspirations for the future are evident in his steadfast gaze. In the grand journey of Chinese modernization, ordinary strivers can also shine brightly. Han Dengke, from the depths of the Taihang Mountains, guards the fertile soil with初心 (original intention) and works diligently to achieve common prosperity for his neighbors. This local, grassroots light, though simple, burns intensely, illuminating the hopeful prospects of rural revitalization.
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