On May 12th, 2008, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake shook southwest China's Sichuan province, causing tremendous loss of life and substantial economic losses to local businesses. Nearly four years later, resettlement and reconstruction has been completed in the quake zone and the government is initiating a new rejuvenation program for the area. My colleague Nie Jia met with a local business owner in Beichuan county for a look at how businesses there are coping with the challenges.
2008年5月12日，一场7.9级的地震震动着中国西南部的四川省，给当地带来巨大的生命、经济损失。近四年过去了，震区的重新安置和重建已经完成了，政府正开展一项振兴该地区的新计划。我的同事Nie Jia和北川县的一位本地商业业主会面，看看那里的工商企业是如何应对挑战的。
2008 should have been a good year for Wang Yongsheng, the owner of a Chinese herb company in Beichuan. Market prices for his herbal products were skyrocketing, and he was planning to expand his production. On the afternoon of May 12th, he was at the local government office, waiting to receive a local entrepreneurship award. But suddenly, the massive earthquake struck. He was badly injured, and in less than 10 seconds, his entire business was gone.
对北川一间中草药公司的老板王永胜而言，2008年本来应该是美好的一年。草药产品的市场价格猛涨，他打算扩大生产。5月12日下午，他在当地政府办公室，等待领取当地企业家奖。但是，突然间，大地震爆发。他伤得很严重，在不到10秒钟的时间里，他的全部生意都毁了。
Wang Yongsheng said, "It was a devastating blow. All my 11 employees were killed, including my sister. And my warehouses, offices, and facilities all collapsed and were buried in the debris."
王永胜称：“那是毁灭性的一击。我全部11名员工都丧生了，包括我的姐姐。仓库、办公室和设备都倒塌了，被埋在碎片里。”
Life was hard after the quake. He lost his employees, his livelihood and was in no position to start again. In desperation, he even thought of taking his life. An insurance company paid him 600,000 yuan, and he borrowed another 400,000 yuan to compensate the relatives of his deceased employees.
地震过后，生活很艰苦。他失去了员工、生计，无法重新开始。绝望中的他甚至想过自杀。保险公司赔给他60万元，他又借了40万元，赔给死去员工的亲属。
Wang Yongsheng said, "After the quake, relatives of my employees and my own family needed to be taken care of. I have to ensure they have enough food, shelter and money for medical bills. To me, economic losses can be recovered, but the friendship of my employees can never be regained."
王永胜表示：“地震过后，我的员工的亲属和我的家人都需要被照顾。我必须确保他们有足够的食物、避难所以及医药费。对我而言，经济损失可以恢复，但是我的员工的友情永远也不能重获了。”
In December 2008, Wang Yongsheng obtained an 80,000 yuan interest free loan from Youth Business China, an entrepreneurship program, and finally started a new company. With the seed money and rich experience, Wang restarted his old business and developed products that are derived from traditional Chinese herbs such as honeysuckle, fungi, and mushrooms. Not only that, Wang took time to study in Tsinghua University to sharpen his business management skills. Now, the company has 17 employees and works in collaboration with some 500 rural households. He says the company is now planning to export its products and hopes the government can do more to help businesses in the quake zone.
2008年12月，王永胜从一个创业项目，中国青年创业国际计划那里获得8万元的无息贷款，终于开办了新公司。有了本钱和丰富的经验，王重拾旧业，开发采自金银花、真菌和蘑菇等传统中草药的产品。不仅这样，王还花时间到清华大学学习，提高商业管理技能。现在，他的公司有17名雇工，并与500户农村家庭合作。他表示，公司现在计划出口产品，希望政府可以多多支持震区的的商业。
Wang Yongsheng said, "Now we have our own technology patent, and our products are getting increasingly popular both in China and abroad, but what is severely needed now is funding, because we need a large sum to upgrade our facilities and pass certification."
王永胜称：“现在，我们有自己的技术专利，我们的产品在国内外越来越受欢迎，但是现在急需的是资金，因为我们需要一大笔钱来升级设备、通过认证。”
Wang's life mirrors hundreds of businesses in the quake zone. Behind their entrepreneurship is a spirit, a spirit that never gives up.
王的生活反映了震区几百间工商企业的状况。在他们企业家身份背后的是一种精神，一种永不放弃的精神。
CCTV's Nie Jia said, "Nearly four years have passed since the earthquake. For the local people, the painful memories are hard to forget. But with optimism and perseverance, they've decided to move on and start afresh because this is the only way to turn their life around."
央视记者Nie Jia表示：“地震已经过去近四年了。对当地人而言，痛苦的记忆很难忘记。但是有了乐观和坚持不懈，他们决心继续向前、重新开始，因为这是改善他们的生活的唯一方法。”