Please use your golden finger to make a fortune, like and take a walk, get rich forever, pay attention to the like, it is difficult to get rich if you don't want to
Yu Chengming stood on the edge of a cliff on the bank of the Yalong River, his gaze penetrating the 100-meter abyss and landing on an inconspicuous black spot on the opposite mountain wall, where priceless bird's nests were hidden.
He took a deep breath and turned to look at his two sons behind him, hoping to catch even a hint of a willingness to carry on this traditional skill in their eyes. However, he was greeted only by a look of trepidation and resistance.
Yu Chengming sighed lightly, realizing that he might be the last bird's nest picker in Haizi Village. This skill, which once changed the fate of an entire village, is now facing the dilemma of having no successor.
He couldn't help but ponder: Is this treasure, which can be sold for 260,000 yuan per catty, a gift from heaven, or an unbearable burden? In the tug-of-war between tradition and modernity, Yu Chengming and his family are facing a difficult choice.
Haizi Village, a small village on the banks of the Yalong River in Sichuan Province, was once notorious for its barrenness. However, it is in this seemingly hopeless land that a treasure called bird's nest completely changes the fate of the villagers.
Yu Chengming recalls the first time he embarked on the road of gathering 44 years ago, as if it were yesterday. At that time, he was young and vigorous, and he was not afraid of the cliffs. Under the guidance of the village master, he learned how to navigate between steep mountain walls and how to identify the best time to collect.
As time passed, Yu Chengming's skills became more and more sophisticated, and the market value of bird's nest continued to rise.
"At the beginning, a pound of good bird's nest was only a few hundred yuan." Yu Chengming's eyes flashed with a glint of remembrance, "What now?" A pound can be sold for 2. 60,000 yuan! This staggering number not only represents the value of the bird's nest itself, but also symbolizes the return of Yu Chengming and his family's hard work over the years.
However, as the price of bird's nest has soared, so has the difficulty and risk of harvesting. More and more villagers are giving up this dangerous job in favor of safer and more stable occupations.
But Yu Chengming persevered and became one of the few bird's nest pickers in Haizi Village.
"Look at the houses in our village," Yu Chengming said, pointing to the buildings in the distance, "and many of those red brick buildings are built by collecting bird's nests." "These buildings are not only a testimony to the improvement of the living conditions of the villagers, but also a testament to the great changes that the bird's nest industry has brought to Haizi Village.
Yu Chengming's bird's nest business is booming. He sells hundreds of varieties of bird's nests. Bird's nests of ordinary quality are sold on a piece-by-case basis, with prices ranging from one hundred to two hundred yuan each.
The price of top-quality bird's nest is calculated by taels, and the price has soared from one tael and two yuan a few decades ago to one tael and 2,600 yuan today.
Although the price is expensive, Yu Chengming never worries about sales. Often, before the collection season begins, customers have already made reservations by phone. This situation of short supply has made Yu Chengming's business flourish.
However, as he grew older, Yu Chengming had to face a harsh reality: the skill could disappear as he aged. His sons, despite witnessing the wealth that bird's nests bring, shy away from this dangerous work.
This dilemma of inheritance made Yu Chengming deeply worried.
The "Bird's Nest Miracle" in Haizi Village not only changed the fate of a village, but also witnessed the rise and fall of a traditional skill. On the balance between economic development and traditional inheritance, Yu Chengming and his family are facing a difficult choice.
On the cliff on the bank of the Yalong River, Yu Chengming carefully adjusted the safety rope on his body. Even after 44 years of collecting career, he remains vigilant with every suspended operation.
"Every time I go down a cliff, it's like saying hello to death." Yu Chengming said with a wry smile.
The process of collecting bird's nest is a thrilling adventure. First of all, Yu Chengming needed to find a solid fulcrum at the top of the cliff and secure the rope.
He would then wrap the rope around his waist and slowly lower it to the spot where the bird's nest was.
"The most dangerous time is the moment you enter the Yan Cave," Yu Chengming explained, "You need to step on the rock wall hard and swing into it with strength." If you're not careful, you can crash into a rock wall or fall into the abyss.
After entering the swallow cave, new challenges followed. The cave was pitch black, and the temperature was as low as freezing temperature. Yu Chengming could only wear a miner's lamp, endure the biting cold, and dig the bird's nest little by little with his fingers.
This process requires a great deal of patience and skill, and the slightest mistake can damage the precious bird's nest.
"When I was young, I was lucky, but now I am old, and every collection is like a test of life and death." Yu Chengming sighed. Especially when climbing back, the lack of physical strength often makes him feel powerless.
Yu Chengming recalled an accident not long ago, because he did not accurately grasp the length of the rope, resulting in two ribs being broken in the process of swinging the rope. That experience made him more aware of the dangers of the job.
However, it is this danger and hardship that makes bird's nest precious. Every bird's nest that is successfully collected embodies the sweat, courage and skill of the collector.
This is why the price of bird's nest can reach such a high level.
Despite this, Yu Chengming still adheres to his "one harvest a year" principle. "Bird's nest is the home of swallows, and we can't destroy their living environment for the sake of temporary profits.
He said this with a glint of awe for nature in his eyes.
Yu Chengming's collection process was full of challenges. He needs to weave through the dense jungle, where the dense greenery almost overwhelms his entire body. Every step can be fatal, as a humble green leaf can obscure the view and cause a stumble on a steep road.
In the process, Yu Chengming not only has to fight against the natural environment, but also has to overcome his inner fears. When standing on the edge of a cliff and looking down, the heart-pounding sense of fear is enough to deter many people.
But for Yu Chengming, who has been working in nest mining for more than 30 years, it's just a part of his daily routine.
Yu Chengming's persistence and courage are admirable. However, as he grew older, he also had to face the reality of declining physical strength. Each time the collection became more and more challenging, he kept going.
This arduous process of gathering not only reflects Yu Chengming's personal courage and skills, but also reflects the challenges faced by traditional handicrafts in modern society. With the development of society, high-risk occupations such as bird's nest collection are gradually declining.
But for Yu Chengming, this is not only a job, but also a kind of inheritance of a kind of reverence for nature and a spirit of perseverance.
In the work of collecting bird's nests, Yu Chengming not only faces the danger of his life, but also needs to find a balance between economic interests and ecological protection. The principle of "one harvest a year" that he adheres to reflects his deep understanding of the job and respect for nature.
"I only go to each swallow cave once a year, which is an iron rule I set for myself." Yu Chengming explained. He is well aware that over-collection will not only affect the reproduction of swallows, but also harm the sustainable development of the bird's nest industry in the long run.
Bird's nest is a nest carefully constructed by swallows before laying eggs, which is essential for the growth of young birds. If all the bird's nests are collected, the number of newborn birds will inevitably decline sharply, eventually leading to a vicious circle - no bird's nest without swallows, and no bird's nest without swallows.
This principle has sometimes put Mr. Yu under financial pressure. Especially when the price of bird's nest soared, his family often advised him to pick more. However, Yu Chengming has always adhered to his own principles, and would rather give up temporary interests to ensure long-term development.
"Where did you get your bird's nest without swallows?" He often asks rhetorically. Behind this simple logic is Yu Chengming's deep understanding of ecological balance.
Despite this, Yu Chengming's persistence has brought him considerable benefits. Not only did he buy two red brick houses in his hometown, but he also used bird's nest stew soup from time to time to share with his family.
This moderate collection method not only ensures the scarcity and high value of bird's nest, but also maintains the living environment of swallows.
Yu Chengming's collection principles not only reflect his personal wisdom, but also set an example for the entire industry. Between profit and nature, he chose a path of sustainable development.
However, as he grew older, Yu Chengming began to worry about the inheritance of this skill. He wanted to pass on the craft to his children, but reality hit him in the face.
"Dad, I really can't." Yu Chengming's eldest son stood on the edge of the cliff, his face pale and his legs trembling. This is the third time that Yu Chengming has tried to teach his son the skills of collecting bird's nest, but the results are still not satisfactory.
Faced with the priceless bird's nest, Yu Chengming's children chose to retreat. The eldest son went limp on the spot after seeing the 100-meter abyss, and the younger son simply said that he would rather go out to work than learn this dangerous craft.
Such a scene made Yu Chengming feel both disappointed and conflicted.
As a nest picker, Yu Chengming naturally hopes to pass on this skill. This is not only a source of wealth for the family, but also an intangible cultural heritage that needs to be passed on.
However, as a father, he couldn't bear to see his children risk their lives.
"Are you crazy?" When Yu Chengming's wife learned that he wanted to teach her son to collect bird's nests, she was trembling with anger. She could not accept that her husband had put her son in such a dangerous situation.
In the face of his wife's anger and his sons' resistance, Yu Chengming felt deeply powerless.
Yu Chengming recalled the adventurous spirit of his youth. When he witnessed the bird's nest pickers in the village swimming between the cliffs, the idea of trying it was born.
He was full of enthusiasm and courage and was willing to take risks to learn the craft. However, his sons apparently did not inherit this adventurous spirit.
"Maybe that's how times have changed." Yu Chengming muttered to himself. He thought of the young people he had fought alongside him, and who had now chosen other career paths.
In this era where safety and stability are increasingly valued, high-risk professions like bird's nest harvesting are losing their appeal.
However, whenever he sees those priceless bird's nests, Yu Chengming will fall into a deep entanglement. He is well aware that this skill is not only a means of livelihood, but also a cultural inheritance.
If this skill is lost, it will not only be a personal loss for him, but also a loss for the entire regional culture.
Faced with the dilemma of this inheritance, Yu Chengming felt extremely entangled. He wanted his children to inherit the craft and continue the family tradition, but he couldn't bear to see them risk their lives.
This contradiction not only reflects the plight of a family, but also reflects the challenges faced by traditional skills in modern society.
Standing on the edge of the cliff, Yu Chengming's gaze crossed the Yalong River, as if he wanted to penetrate time and space and see the future of this traditional skill. With the development of society, high-risk occupations such as bird's nest collection are gradually declining.
People are no longer willing to trade their lives for wealth, but are pursuing safer and more stable jobs.
"Maybe there will be safer ways to collect bird's nests in the future." Yu Chengming said thoughtfully. He has heard about some attempts at artificially cultivated bird's nests, and although it is not yet possible to completely replace wild bird's nests, this may be a direction.
Advances in technology may breathe new life into this age-old industry.
Despite this, Yu Chengming still insisted on his work. Every time he stands on the edge of a cliff, ready to descend again, he is reminded of his mission – he is not only collecting bird's nests, but also guarding a traditional craft.
"Maybe I'll be the last one to pick bird's nests," Yu Chengming said softly, "but as long as I can move, I'll continue." In this sentence, there is not only the adherence to tradition, but also the expectation for the future.
As Yu Chengming's figure disappears between the cliffs, we can't help but ask: in the collision of tradition and modernity, where will the ancient skill of collecting bird's nest go? This is not only Yu Chengming's trouble, but also a problem that the whole society needs to think about in the face of tradition and modernization.
The purpose of this article is to advocate positive social energy, without vulgarity and other bad guidance. If you are involved in copyright or character infringement, please contact us in time