Moments when I grew together with Leshou

Days seem to fly by—before you know it, over a decade has slipped away. Yet at the same time, they move so slowly; each moment feels as vivid as if it happened just yesterday.

In 2008, when I joined the company, it was still in its early stages of establishment—and we were even working out of Tongda Feed’s office at the time. The first time I visited Leshou Duck Industry’s Slaughter Plant No. 1, I arrived aboard a large tractor that had been delivering reinforcing steel bars. At the scene, General Manager Li asked me, “Have you ever been to the southern plant?” “No,” I replied. He then said, “Just follow the truck carrying our steel bars—its driver knows the way and is also responsible for escorting the cargo. Why don’t you tag along and take a look?” And so, that’s how I made my very first trip to Leshou Duck Industry’s Slaughter Plant No. 1.

Before production began, we started cultivating farmers—Mr. Li’s words still resonate vividly today. His first piece of advice: "When developing farmers in the market, you can certainly highlight your own strengths, but never speak negatively about others." His second point: "Farmers should grow their own operations independently; don’t try to poach from others. If you take someone else’s farm, they’ll likely do the same to you, creating chaos in the market—something that ultimately benefits no one." And his third message: "Making mistakes isn’t scary—we even encourage you to learn from them—but don’t keep repeating the same errors over and over again." These three statements have firmly established the guiding philosophy and core principles for Leshou Duck Farm’s free-range farming division as it expands its network of partner farmers.

After Leshou Duck Industry’s No. 1 Slaughterhouse went into operation, the finance team began moving to the new facility. Back then, payments to farmers were still made in cash. I distinctly recall one day, after finishing up at Tongda Feed Company, being stopped by General Manager Li: "Are you heading to the South Factory? Great—take the money over there for the finance department." Without hesitation, he handed me a bundle of cash wrapped tightly in newspaper, instructing me simply to deliver it to finance. When I arrived at the South Factory and handed the money over, the finance staff immediately took it from me and slipped it straight into their drawer. Even now, I’m deeply touched by this gesture. It was only a few months after I joined the company, yet they already placed such immense trust in me—a feeling that continues to fill me with gratitude to this day.

In 2011, the company seized the favorable opportunity presented by Beijing's policy adjustments aimed at industrial restructuring—specifically, the city’s shift of its meat duck farming activities to surrounding regions. As a result, the company transitioned from producing white ducks to focusing primarily on roasted duck carcasses, leading to soaring demand that even outpaced supply and caused occasional product shortages. This transformation injected tremendous vitality into meat duck farming in Xian County, significantly boosting incomes for local residents and employees. Meanwhile, Leshou Duck Industry itself gained renewed strength, setting the stage for its remarkable rise and expansion. During a morning meeting, General Manager Qin asked if anyone knew Chairman Mao’s “Two Musts,” then delivered a profound explanation: “We must continue to maintain a humble and prudent attitude, avoiding arrogance and impatience; we must also persist in upholding the spirit of hard work and perseverance.” He emphasized that these principles are not only essential for Leshou Duck Industry as it continues to grow but also represent the key to sustaining long-term development.

While the leadership team remains united and pragmatic, they place great emphasis on brainstorming and gathering diverse perspectives. When addressing critical issues, they actively seek input from every department. What stands out most vividly from that time was the lively debate—everyone freely shared their thoughts and expressed their opinions fully. Through spirited discussions and deliberations, they ultimately reached a consensus, working together with unwavering determination. Many specific moments have faded from memory, but certain debates—particularly those that ultimately led to the rejection of the leadership’s initial proposals—left a lasting impression. Driven by the company’s best interests, team members engaged in candid exchanges, tackling challenges collaboratively and fostering a positive, cooperative atmosphere that also strengthened personal relationships along the way.

When the company first started production, conditions were quite basic, with all departments sharing the same workspace. Despite the simplicity, this arrangement fostered a positive and collaborative work environment—something that has endured ever since. Whenever there was extra work to be done, both inside and outside their regular responsibilities, everyone stepped up together. For instance, General Managers Li and Zhang led the team in planting trees, which have since grown into a lush, tree-lined avenue. Even today, the vivid memory of those tree-planting days remains fresh in everyone’s minds. During peak production periods, logistics staff actively supported workshop operations: helping in the wax removal process at the wax-pulling workshop, assisting with fine-fiber extraction in the small-fiber workshop, and even coordinating warehouse tasks like loading and shipping from the cold storage facility. These efforts not only deepened employees’ understanding of the production workflow but also strengthened team camaraderie—and, crucially, helped address critical staffing shortages during busy times.

I remember winter, when Manager Gao led the duckling transport truck to release the chicks. The van had no heater, and gradually, a thick layer of frost began to form on the windshield—first thin, then steadily building up until it became nearly opaque. As Manager Gao drove, I used a cassette tape case to scrape off the ice, but as soon as we cleared one spot, more frost would reappear, shrinking the clear area from large to tiny—until finally, only a patch the size of a watermelon remained visible. During the Spring Festival, we delivered preventive medicine amid heavy snowfall that completely blanketed the roads. With visibility severely limited, we could only navigate slowly by following the natural contours of the roadside. At the village entrance, a steep uphill slope turned treacherous due to icy conditions, making it impossible for our vehicle to climb. In the end, we had no choice but to ask the local farmers to come pick up the medicine themselves. And in summer, when frequent rains forced farmers to build shelters in secluded, hard-to-reach spots, getting stuck in muddy, waterlogged paths became an everyday occurrence. Yet no matter how challenging the situation, everyone rallied together, finding creative solutions to push through and ensure the job was completed successfully.

In the blink of an eye, it’s been 14 years since I joined the company. Meanwhile, our factory has grown significantly—from just one workshop to now including Workshop Two and Workshop Three. We’ve also built a new office building and a state-of-the-art cold storage facility. What once was farmland has transformed into a bustling factory complex filled with modern production lines. Today, the Leshou Duck Industry Slaughterhouse No. 1 employs over 600 people, and the company has risen to become a well-known leader in the industry, earning the prestigious title of "National Key Leading Enterprise for Agricultural Industrialization." As the group continues to expand rapidly and thrive, we’ve further strengthened our business by extending the industrial chain through hatcheries and breeding duck farms, while our cutting plants have diversified our product offerings even more.

As a resident of Leshou, I'm proud!

Wishing it will keep pushing forward with determination and forever maintain its vitality!