Colorful years

As mentioned earlier, Zhang Cong's family has a large number of members, but very limited labor force, and several children are still in school! The work points his parents earn through hard work in the production team are simply not enough to support the family!

Faced with such a difficult situation, Congcong's father, Zhang Zhongshi, had no choice but to apply to the relevant departments for permission to do some side work. In this way, besides handing over a portion of his income as required by regulations, he could at least earn some extra money to cover the family's daily expenses.

Around 1974, a major event occurred in Baiheping Commune—a road was built through the Tuanjie Coal Mine, which bordered Sangzhi County! As a result, the area where the commune was located suddenly became an important distribution center for goods.

At this critical juncture, the Zhangjiajie State-owned Forest Farm also began to take action. They were not only busy harvesting pine resin, but also thinning out overly dense timber in the forest area. Both the pine resin and the timber had to be transported from the harvesting and thinning sites to Baiheping, and then sold throughout the country.

Zhang Zhong seized this opportunity and acted decisively, applying to become a porter, specifically responsible for transporting pine resin and thinned timber for the Zhangjiajie State-owned Forest Farm.

The journey he carried was quite long, starting from the pine resin collection site and the timber thinning area, and finally ending at the Baiheping Supply and Marketing Cooperative and the Forestry Station.

The Zhangjiajie State-owned Forest Farm was officially established in 1958, a decision with multiple profound implications.

Its primary mission is naturally to protect the primeval forest hidden deep in the canyon. This ancient and mysterious forest is like the green heart of the earth, pulsating with the rhythm of life and hope.

However, simply protecting them is far from enough; planting trees and greening the surrounding barren mountains has become another crucial task.

For the next ten years or so, the forestry workers shouldered this arduous yet mission-filled task.

Undeterred by hardship or wind and rain, they toiled diligently day after day. Each sapling was a testament to their hard work, and every shovelful of soil carried their hopes for the future.

Thanks to their persistent efforts, more than 20,000 mu of wasteland have gradually been covered with a new green coat. Tall pine trees, slender fir trees, and various timber forests such as precious nanmu and camphor trees have sprung up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

These lush forests not only beautify the environment but also inject new vitality into the local ecosystem. Like loyal guardians, they silently protect this land, regulating the climate, conserving water and soil, and providing fresh oxygen.

The forestry workers who dedicated their sweat and youth to this cause became the creators of this green miracle.

Among them, the forestry director, Liu Kailin, stood out for his outstanding leadership and selfless dedication. He took the lead, guiding the forestry workers to overcome one difficulty after another. They also protected and revived many relict tree species.

Whether on steep and precipitous mountain slopes or barren and desolate wastelands, their steadfast footprints are left behind.

Hunan Daily and People's Daily successively published in-depth reports on the advanced deeds of Liu Kailin and all forestry workers.

The two articles, "Greening the Barren Mountains and Turning Their Hair White" and "A Head of White Hair in Exchange for a Mountain Full of Greenery," vividly depict their struggles and tremendous contributions, allowing more people to understand how these unsung heroes created such a magnificent green landscape with their own hands.

These reports not only highly recognize their work, but also inspire countless others to dedicate themselves to environmental protection and work together to make our planet greener and more beautiful.

It's important to know that the reason Zhangjiajie boasts such breathtaking and unforgettable scenery is inseparable from the unsung heroes of forestry workers.

With their boundless enthusiasm and tireless hard work, they carved out a vibrant, verdant world from the barren mountains, as if dyeing thousands of peaks with that enchanting emerald hue.

All of this not only laid a solid foundation for Zhangjiajie to transform into a rising star in tourism, but also planted a dazzling seed for it to become a tourist destination in the hearts of countless visitors.

It can be said that without the dedication and hard work of these forestry workers, Zhangjiajie's tourism industry would not be as prosperous as it is today.

However, the glorious achievements of Zhangjiajie's future development are a story for another time! Let's turn our attention back to the main story at hand.

Next, let's take a look at how Zhang Cong and his son transported pine resin.