＂gardener in the air＂： the story of ＂planting flowers＂ by Liuyang veteran Zhong Ziqi

In mid-September, the Central Propaganda Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission jointly released the advanced deeds of "the most beautiful veterans" in 2022. Zhong Ziqi, a Liuyang veteran and chairman of Eastcom Fireworks Group Co., Ltd., won the title of "the most beautiful retired soldier" in China. Recently, Zhong Ziqi told reporters the story of "planting flowers" in the air.

△ Zhong Ziqi

Six years of military life made him dare to do it.

Probably had six years of military life, and the 66-year-old Zhong Ziqi was upright. When I saw him, he was talking on the phone. When I saw a reporter coming, I quickly put down my cell phone and said hello. There is a 1.4-meter-high shell model in the office, which is a symbol of his being a soldier.

In 1956, Zhong Ziqi was born in a small town in Liuyang, Hunan. "At that time, I didn’t even come to Liuyang City. It can be said that it was’ sitting on the well and watching the sky’." Zhong Ziqi said.

In 1975, Zhong Ziqi was drafted into the army and assigned to an automobile company of a certain unit in the Beijing Military Region. After driving, Zhong Ziqi explored a set of methods to reduce the fuel consumption of vehicles while ensuring driving safety, and he was awarded the third class merit.

In 1981, Zhong Ziqi retired from the army and returned to his hometown to work in a fireworks factory. In the mid-1990s, it coincided with the reform of Liuyang fireworks. After nearly 10 years of experience in the fireworks industry, he decided to devote himself to the fireworks manufacturing industry. In 1996, he founded his own fireworks company in Liuyang. "China is the east of the world, Liuyang is the east of Hunan, and Zhong and Dong in Liuyang dialect are homophones. Honesty is the first in business. So I named the company Eastcom Fireworks. " Zhong Ziqi said.

Before starting his own company, Zhong Ziqi did many things, such as driving tractors, running transportation, being a fireworks salesman and trading fireworks … He even started business with foreign friends. He recalled the experience of wandering around in those years, while lifting his left leg and curling up on the sofa, and then he laughed. "I was a soldier, I was not afraid of anything, and I dared to do it."

At the beginning of the establishment of Eastcom, it was difficult and difficult. It was the hardest time for Zhong Ziqi to run his business. He had to do everything himself, manage, grasp production and run his business, and was often busy until one or two o’clock in the middle of the night.

In 1998, with the rapid economic growth in China, many cities in China began to lift the ban on fireworks and firecrackers, and the number of fireworks and firecrackers abroad also increased significantly. The demand for fireworks bombs in domestic and foreign markets was increasing. He seized the opportunity decisively and was determined to develop the high-end fireworks business. Soon, because Dongxin Fireworks Factory has high construction standards and good equipment conditions, the quality of the fireworks produced is excellent, and the products quickly opened up a market. Since then, fireworks bombs have also become one of Eastcom’s main businesses.

"Made in Hunan" on the Stage

In 1999, the annual meeting of Fortune Global 500 Enterprises Forum was held in Shanghai. In order to welcome the heads of governments, Fortune Global 500 enterprises and distinguished guests from all over the world, Shanghai will hold a grand fireworks display. Eastcom successfully won the right to host the fireworks show after going through five hurdles, but there was a little "accident" on the day of lighting the fireworks.

"The fireworks display just started for 2 minutes, and the igniter suddenly lost power. In the end, we let it by artificial meansAll the fireworks were successfully set off. "From that moment on, Zhong Ziji swore in his heart that he would putElectronic ignition technology is in our own hands..

At that time, the control system of fireworks ignition was all foreign-made equipment, and Zhong Ziqi was determined to achieve zero breakthrough in this respect in the domestic market. So, herunEverywhere,existMajor universitiesFind talents and form teams in colleges and research institutes. In 2005, Eastcom successfully independently developed a computer-controlled ignition system, and won the first prize for scientific and technological progress in Changsha. Since then, domestic useflameThe fire control system has been made in Hunan.

High-altitude special effects digital fireworks "100", "1921-2021", creative modeling fireworks "Five Stars Shining", welcoming pine in Beijing Winter Olympics …In recent years, Eastcom Group Company has undertaken more than 500 domestic and international fireworks display tasks represented by four top events, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the 60th National Day celebration in Beijing in 2009, the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and the Guangzhou Asian Games. The performances have been a complete success, and China fireworks have also entered the international stage.

As a representative inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage (Liuyang fireworks production skills), Zhong Ziqi only feels a great responsibility today. "Fireworks are the art of fire. The way our ancestors used to make fireworks was very simple. After generations, it has become more and more abundant.What we should do is to make it more and more beautiful, strengthen the cultural heritage and pass it on. "

Xiaoxiang morning herald reporter Wang Chacha picture/provided by the interviewee

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