Zi Guili, 41 years old, is a noodle maker. Zi Guili first came into contact with the art of kneading noodles when she was 26 years old. At that time, she was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia and fell into a low point in her life. It was these colorful and vibrant little faces that gave her hope in life.
4 years ago, Zi Guili came to Ningbo, Zhejiang Province from her hometown of Zhoukou, Henan Province to work alone. Ningbo people like to call her the "face-loving girl". From a leukemia girl to a workshop craftsman, Zi Guili gained a lot of love and strength in the strange city of Ningbo. And with a pair of skillful hands, she also "pinched" her beautiful life.
From a girl with leukemia to a workshop craftsman
Zi Guili’s handicraft workshop is located on an old street in Cicheng Town, Jiangbei District, Ningbo, Zhejiang. Every day, she makes noodles here.
Zi Guili: Xiaoli: This is the little tiger I made myself. This year of the Tiger, it is very traditional. This eyebrow and this piece are expressed with cabbage leaves. It symbolizes the traditional meaning of prosperity.
When Zi Guili first started practicing pinching the tiger, she could barely complete one in a day, which was not precise enough. Later, she groped little by little, repeatedly pondering the key points of kneading each component, and practiced hard. Now, not only can you squeeze it quickly, but you can also ensure that every little tiger is cute and lively.
Zi Guili: Usually this one sells for sixty or seventy yuan. It is rather cumbersome, especially cumbersome, because all the steps, although small, are done by hand, which is very troublesome. Be patient, be interested, interest is very important.
Zi Guili’s interest in noodle-making began when she was 26 years old. At that time, she was suffering from leukemia and was undergoing chemotherapy. When she and her sister were wandering in the market next to the hospital, they saw a craftsman setting up a stall making noodles, and Zi Guili was immediately attracted.
Zi Guili: What he pinches is also more cartoony, such as Doraemon, Pleasant Goat, Winnie the Pooh, Rose, especially when he pinches the blue fat man, I get very excited when I see it.
These childlike faces became a beam of light that illuminated Zi Guili’s life. She went to the market every day to learn from her master. Later, when Zi Guili saw that many people were attracted by the noodle shop and spent money to buy it, Zi Guili came up with the idea of mastering this craft and relying on it to support herself.
Zi Guili: At that time, my teacher was selling it for 5 yuan. I was thinking, I can’t go to work anyway. You have to think about how you will survive in the future and what will happen if you can’t go to work. Not being able to rely on my parents, it’s not easy to look at my sister and them, and I feel quite uncomfortable looking at them. Then I thought, it costs 5 yuan each. If I can sell 10 of them a day, I still have 50 yuan left.
After making up her mind, Zi Guili dove in, getting up early and working late at night, learning the art of making dough, which made her family worried.
Zi Guili: I just got into it all of a sudden, and my brain was filled with those things. My sister is always frightened because she always messes around late at night. Because I was very ill at that time, she was worried about me and wouldn't let me play for so long.
In 2008, Zi Guili's condition stabilized and she could just take her medicine on time. Not wanting her family to worry about her all the time, she made another bold decision.
Zi Guili: If your family members can’t see you, they may not think so much; when you are around her, she will just look at you and worry about you, and she will worry involuntarily, and you will put more psychological pressure on her. I said forget it, I’d better go.I feel like it’s not easy for parents to give birth to and support themselves, and I don’t want them to have to endure those things anymore.
From unfamiliarity to closeness, feeling the warmth of a city
Carrying her bags and saying goodbye to her parents, brothers and sisters, Zi Guili boarded the train going south, leaving her hometown of Henan and choosing to settle in Ningbo, Zhejiang. Coming to a strange city, Zi Guili had no one to rely on and could only rely on herself for everything. A bench, a toolbox, and a bag of flour supported Zi Guili's hope and stubbornness.
When she first arrived in Ningbo, Zi Guili walked through the streets and set up stalls wherever there were many people. Soon after, Zi Guili's skills continued to improve through training, and her noodles became better and better. The money she earned was enough to cover her living expenses and medicine. After learning about Zi Guili's condition, many people in Ningbo felt sorry for this Henan girl who was good at making dough. Many people brought their relatives and friends to support her, and love poured in from all directions.
In 2009, Zi Guili, who needed to recuperate, did not leave the stall for several days in a row. After recovering, an old customer came to ask about the reason, and she told her illness and experience in a casual chat, which deeply moved the customer. What Zi Guili didn't expect was that the customer revealed her story to the media. After the report, her stall was surrounded by local citizens. Many people directly put money into Zi Guili's hands.
Yuan Weidong, former squadron leader of Jiangxia Squadron of Ningbo Haishu District Urban Management Bureau: She said that I have this skill, I can make money by myself, and I can treat myself. She said don't give me money, she has this kind of character, a very strong character.
Zi Guili: After receiving the money, you must be responsible and give the order to them. This is what they think. I feel that the person they decided to meet me is already helping me, so if I want to pinch something, it is equivalent to leaving a souvenir for them.
At that time, after the urban management and law enforcement officers of Haishu District, Ningbo learned about Zi Guili’s situation, they specially arranged a fixed free stall for her in Ningbo City God’s Temple Pedestrian Street. It was not until 2013 that Zi Guili left this cherished place due to the overall renovation of the Chenghuang Temple.
With her constantly improving craftsmanship, Zi Guili saved a fortune. This year, she rented the current store and put up the sign of "Xiaoli Noodler". From setting up a stall to opening a store, she upgraded not only the storefront, but also Zi Guili's pursuit of noodle-making skills.
Zi Guili: I am also studying. This side of the skull is a skeleton, and this side is muscles. I also searched the Internet for information about skulls. I saw their sketch teacher drawing them. He would give you a comprehensive introduction to the front and sides of the human body. For example, where to concave, where to protrude, and how many sides the mouth has, they will all be introduced very clearly.
After living in Ningbo for more than ten years, Zi Guili not only made money, but also made many friends. Everyone was willing to give her advice and help.
Zi Guili’s friend Zhang Xuehong: She is always advancing with the times, always learning, and very diligent. She is optimistic and kind, so I treat her like my little sister, so I am very happy to open a store and have a stable place.
Ningbo citizen Shen Guofeng: suggested to Xiaoli that many people don’t know about your unique skills. Is it possible to apply for a intangible cultural heritage (inheritor) project? Xiaoli said that her household registration is in Henan. I suggested to her whether she could transfer her household registration to Ningbo and become a new Ningbo person. Xiaoli is still considering it.
Zi Guili: Actually, I feel that I have always felt a sense of belonging in Ningbo. Why have I not left Ningbo for so many years? Sometimes when we are in the car, I say that you just need to throw me to Ningbo and don’t worry about me. I say that if you throw me to any place in Ningbo, I will feel at ease, have a sense of belonging, won’t be afraid, and won’t worry about it in my heart. Panic.
This year, due to the epidemic, not many customers came to the store, but Zi Guili opened up a new way to promote her face through online live broadcast, and her fans have reached nearly 100,000. She is full of expectations for the future.
Zi Guili: You will always have an inferiority complex, but the Face-Making Man has made me have no inferiority complex. It has made me truly have no inferiority complex. I feel like it's a good job to work so hard and it gives me confidence.
Living hard to "pinch" my life
Because she wanted to be strong and did not want to cause trouble to others, Zi Guili chose to leave her parents and come to Ningbo; because she wanted to be strong, when everyone knew her story and paid to help her, she still insisted on using I use my skills to repay everyone.
Now, Zi Guili's body has basically recovered. From the pastime when she was sick, to the means of supporting her family, to the pursuit of excellence, for more than ten years, she has become a lovely little person, both materially and spiritually. , all supported Zi Guili, and she also used her love and persistence to make the brilliance of this traditional craft attract more people.
June is Cultural and Natural Heritage Day. Zi Guili’s experience best explains the time, energy, perseverance and perseverance required to inherit traditional skills. Now through live video broadcast, Zi Guili has made her noodle maker known to more people, and has also connected the traditional craft of "noodle making" with more people's lives. During these years in Ningbo, there was so much warm help that allowed Zi Guili’s little dream to take root and grow towards the sun. In fact, our life is sometimes like a piece of dough. What it turns into depends on your attitude in kneading it and carving it. If you are not afraid of difficulties, remain patient, and devote yourself to passion, you can create your own beautiful life.
