Ayinuerguli's story 

I am a Uygur from Grape Valley in Tulufan (Turpan). My hometown is in a lush canyon, nestled at the foot of the Flaming Mountain, where the Buyiluke River flows year-round and the ancient Karez wells—the ancient subterranean water irrigation system—nourishes the land. Our grapes are famous across the world, and the constant stream of tourists gave me my first glimpse into a wider world. From my childhood, I dreamed of becoming a presenter and an ambassador for Tulufan. I would imitate famous hosts, trying to learn from them.

But my childhood was shadowed by family misfortune. When I was eight, my parents divorced. My younger brother and I went to live with our grandparents. Though they showered us with love, the void left by my father's absence was a wound that was slow to heal. My grandmother's family ran a restaurant in the Grape Valley Scenic Spot, and my mother worked in the kitchen. I was fluent in standard Chinese; so every day after school, I would put on my beautiful Atlas silk dress and enthusiastically greet the tourists.

In the summer of 2013, a man from Beijing named Chen Ruijun came to the valley with his elderly parents. He was charmed by my greeting and decided to eat at our restaurant. He took a series of photos of me, and I boldly asked if he could send me copies. He readily agreed. Later I learned that Chen accidentally lost the note with my address. However, to keep his promise, he searched for me by contacting friends in Xinjiang from thousands of miles away, and even arranged for someone to travel to Grape Valley to find me. His integrity and persistence brought warmth and kindness to me. I later learned that he was a construction firm official who had come to support Xinjiang's development and formed a special bond with the region.

After we reconnected, he sent a long letter encouraging me to study hard and strive to be a useful person. We stayed in touch over the years online and by phone. He always cared about my studies and my family, promising to help me deal with any difficulties I faced. This care, spanning thousands of miles, brought me a long-missed paternal warmth.

When I got to high school, my grades became unstable, leaving me feeling unsettled and uncertain about my future path. As the national college entrance exam approached, my family encountered some particularly difficult circumstances. Chen reached out to friends, asking them to support me, and urged me not to be defeated by immediate troubles. He told me to persist in chasing my dreams, set ambitious goals, be confident, self-reliant and strong, and contribute to my country and people. He assured me he would help solve my problems. He was a man of his word.

With his encouragement, my mindset gradually stabilized, and my grades steadily climbed to the top of my class. In 2017, due to adjustment to the planning of the nearby scenic area, our family's restaurant saw a sharp drop in customers, with business only a third of what it used to be. To ease the burden, I helped out at the restaurant after school and even learned to sell our dried fruit online. Chen quietly helped promote our products and expand our customer base. Through my efforts, I could pay for my school supplies, which made my mother incredibly proud.

After returning to Beijing, Chen visited me during business trips to Xinjiang, bringing his friends. In this way, I met my longtime idol Gulixian—the Xinjiang TV host, and renowned trainer Deng Yun, who gave me free lessons in the performing arts. Many of Chen's friends offered me guidance and encouragement. This gave me confidence, strengthening my determination to pursue my goals.

Later, I was admitted to university and completed my studies. After I graduated, I hosted major cultural events, getting one step closer to my dream of being an ambassador for my hometown. Then, I got a stable job at a company in Chengdu, Sichuan Province in the southwest.

I study diligently, work hard and maintain my enthusiasm and fighting spirit. Chen often tells me, "So many people helped you along the way. Now that you're working, you must do your best to give back to society, help those in need and pass on that warmth." So, in my spare time, I participate in volunteer activities for people with disabilities, striving to be a useful person to society and my country.

Words from Chen Ruijun 

My encounter with Ayinuerguli is a story about keeping a promise. Even a casual pledge made to a stranger should not be broken, and my warm-hearted friends from all walks of life helped me to keep that promise.

That story began with my parents' visit to Xinjiang. Both my parents had long yearned to visit Xinjiang. The year they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, I accompanied them on a trip to Xinjiang and the very first Uygur friend we made there was Ayinuerguli.

One of my parents' favorite songs was The Grapes in Tulufan (Turpan) Are Ripe. On the first day of our trip, we headed straight for the Tulufan Grape Valley. The scenic area was lined with small eateries, and we chose the restaurant of Ayinuerguli's family. It was a simple, inexpensive meal, but their hospitality was immense. They offered free refills on noodles and watermelon, and free grapes from their courtyard.

Ayinuerguli, wearing a long dress of Atlas silk, greeted passersby with her bell-like laughter and an invitation: "Come, eat at our place! Our food is delicious!" And it truly was good value. During the meal, I asked if I could take a few photos of little Ayinuerguli. She happily posed, and when she saw how beautiful she looked in the pictures, she asked me to send her copies. I readily promised, and she scribbled her address on a slip of paper.

Back in Beijing, I had Ayinuerguli's photos developed but then I realized the slip of paper with her address had met with a mishap. I'd absentmindedly washed it when washing my clothes, and the address became illegible.

How could I keep my promise? I couldn't bear to disappoint the child. I had to find a way. So, I posted a message on my social media account, asking my friends to help find her.

Within two days, I received numerous responses. Many friends provided helpful leads but the most touching was from a close friend in Urumqi, Gai Li. She drove hundreds of kilometers specifically to Grape Valley to search for my young friend. And by a stroke of luck, the very first person she met there turned out to be one of Ayinuerguli's relatives, and she was quickly found.

Hearing that so many people were helping her "Uncle Chen" keep his promise made little Ayinuerguli very happy. It was deeply moving that so many friends had gone out of their way to help because they believed a promise to a child should never be broken. Thanks to them, I was finally able to keep my word.

I sent a set of photos, along with the book I had written about my time in Xinjiang, Nanjiang Feihong, from Beijing to Tulufan. I included a letter, encouraging Ayinuerguli to study hard and pursue her dreams.

Her dream was to attend the Communication University of China and one day become a famous host, and an ambassador for a new era of Tulufan. But she had a long way to go academically, and the goal seemed distant. My friends encouraged and guided her, helping her to pay for her tuition and living expenses.

I visited Ayinuerguli and her family several times. I bought her family an air conditioner during the hottest season, paid for the fee so that she could have her own dried fruit stall set up outside the main gate of Grape Valley, and gave her ideas about brand marketing.

With the help of so many friends, she finally navigated her family's darkest moments, was admitted to university, and successfully completed her studies. She has hosted major cultural events in her hometown time and again, and eventually joined a central state-owned enterprise and put down roots in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

Our bond continues. I wish her all the best as she moves, step by step, toward her dreams.

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