"Three or four hundred years ago, people found copper ore in these mountains. You know malachite? It was everywhere back then. Hunters from the mountains took it out, and when the authorities heard about it, they came to investigate."
"They found a copper deposit. There wasn't much mining technology in those days, so everything was dug by hand, and output was low. They took what they could reach and left the rest. This place was remote, and transport cost a fortune. Even after they discovered iron ore below, they didn't dig much deeper..."
"Later, in modern times, the invaders occupied the mine... They forced tens of thousands of laborers to work day and night. Iron ore was a vital wartime resource, and this was occupied land, so they stripped it bare."
"They dug out more than a million tons, I think. Loaded it all onto trains, took it to the port, and shipped it home..."
"After the invaders surrendered, the Puppet Army came... Instead of resuming production, they sold off the machinery the invaders had left behind. The mine, the railway, the facilities—they sold whatever they could and left the rest to fall into ruin."
"But all that ended when the Puppet Army was driven out."
"The year after Tonggu Iron Mine was returned to the people, the Ministry of Industry mobilized workers to repair and rebuild Tonggu Mine. They put everything usable back to work. With help from outside and the efforts of local people, Tonggu resumed production that same year."
As he spoke, the leader's eyes shone.
Xu Demin was stirred too. He had never imagined that little Tonggu Town had such a sweeping history.
"Sir, I promise I'll help build up Tonggu Mine!" Xu Demin vowed on the spot.
The leader patted Xu Demin on the shoulder.