Xiangtan, the city of betel nut affected by the "banning order": citizens will be used as social necessities, and processing companies have suspended recruitment

Jimu Journalist Zhan Yan

On September 15th, Chen Guohan (pseudonym), a driver of Hunan Xiangtan Net, he heard the news of the betel nut from Yiwu from Zhejiang Yiwu in the radio.

After there have been information such as carcinogenic theory of betel nut, prohibiting TV advertisements such as online, this is the first time that Chen Guohan has heard that there are regions to ban the sale of betel nuts. He couldn't imagine how to deal with the production and sale of betel nut in the country, how should Xiangtan people respond.

Although there is no betel nut in the local area, for more than a hundred years, the love of the Xiangtan people has almost penetrated the bone marrow, and has formed an industrial chain with an annual output value of 50 billion yuan, becoming the city of betel nut, which has the greatest influence in China.

At present, Yiwu, Sichuan Nanchong and other places in Zhejiang have clearly announced that they will be removed from the shelves, and Hunan, a large province of betel nut, has not been like this for the time being. However, the proportion of patients with oral cancer due to the growing local area of ​​Hunan still sounded the alarm to the local betel nut industry. On September 10, Hunan singer Fu Song, who died of unfortunate oral cancer, issued a warning with his life.

At present, there are changes in the situation of Xiangtan betel nuts and temporarily stop recruitment. Where does the betel nut industry go? How to regulate the development of the industry? Is it forbidden or limited to betel nut? No one can give the answer.

No betel nut can not be a gift

"Before ten years, betel nut is ordinary snacks, and it is advisable to be aged and old."

On the 23rd, on the Xiangtan Avenue of Xiangtan City, Chen Guohan drank tea while waiting for the red lights such as the vehicle, and then stuffed a betel nut in his mouth. This was the first one he ate on the day, or he took it out of the half of the day before. Two years ago, he didn't necessarily have enough three or four bags a day.

Convenient stores in the stream of betel nut

Chen Guohan was 36 years old. In his memory, his parents chewed betel nut from him; just as his own son often asked him what he was chewing.

"At that time, our family sold snacks outside the cinema, and betel nuts were sold with melon seeds and peanut snacks." When he was ten years old, Chen Guohan ate betel nut in his ears. After joining the army in the north, you will eat some betel nuts in winter. Until now, he was still sending the betel nut of Xiangtan to his comrades who were addicted to him.

In recent years, he has been a driver of online car rental. Chen Guohan cannot stop three packs of mouth a day. Sometimes he will make an Internet cafe at least 5 packs a day to satisfy.

Until recent years, more and more patients with oral cancer were caused by Chen Guohan because of eating betel nut. He began to control and eat a pack for two or three days. The price of betel nut has also increased from 3 yuan a pack many years ago. It has now been sold to 30 yuan and 50 yuan a pack, and the high -end is more than 100 yuan.

Betel nut shop on the street

"Our people in Xiangtan are impossible for us to quit betel nut, but they can eat less." Chen Guohan said that many generations of Xiangtan have the custom of eating betel nut. In addition to cigarettes on the red and white happy event table, betel nut is essential. The price of betel nuts used to treat guests is at least 50 yuan. When the happy event returns, it must be a pack of betel nut and a bag of cigarettes. There is no betel nut, not a gift.

Talming Xiangtan people

Walking on the streets of Xiangtan, there are two types of garbage scattered on the ground: cigarette butts and betel nut chewing.

In addition, there will be a multi -layer iron rack at the door of each local seller, which is covered with betel nut for sale. Enter the store, below the cashier, or in other conspicuous positions, there are many types of betel nuts sold and dazzling.

Antel nut shop on the street

Different from other places, there are many betel nut brand specialty stores on the streets, antique gate buildings, and a single facade to sell a brand of betel nut products.

On the evening of the 22nd, in a small flies museum in Xiangtan County, the 46 -year -old local Li Wei said that now, the taste of betel nut under 50 yuan is not as good as more than ten years ago. Multi -generation people eat betel nut, so that Xiangtan people's requirements for betel nut taste are getting higher and higher.

Many foreigners do not know that in Xiangtan, in addition to buying betel nuts with small bags, many people will directly buy betel nuts. In the eyes of Liwei, this betel nut is not only affordable, but the taste is much better than the packaging, "because it will be fresher."

"The more refined the betel nut, the more than the 1,000 -dollar gift boxes sold outside." For people who have eaten betel nut like Li Wei for more than ten years, betel nuts with too low prices are unwilling to eat, and at least 50 yuan should be eaten. The standards go up, otherwise it is difficult to guarantee.

Spicy oil sesame sketch betel nut on the street

A friend often joked with Li Wei. Eating betel nuts every month has to spend two or three thousand yuan. There is no strength and really can't afford it. In Liwei's view, for Xiangtan people, betel nut is far more important than cigarettes. Smoke can smoke twenty or thirty yuan, but betel nut cannot be confused. Some people have three packs of betel nut and one pack of Furong King, and 200 yuan is gone.

The old Xiangtan people like Liwei have already trained the ability to identify the good and bad betel nut. If the fruit is not fresh, you will know it. " It ’s been placed for a long time. At a glance, we knew that the quality was not good."

History and reality bias

"Hello, you can come in and visit at will."

On the morning of the 23rd, Jimu Journalists came to the History and Cultural District of Yaowan District, Yuhu District, Xiangtan City. There was a lake and Xiang betel nut museum. Although not large, the culture and history of betel nut have been put into the museum for exhibition.

The edible and medicinal value of betel nut was hung on the wall. The Cantonese embroidered betel nut purse in the Qing Dynasty, the iron betelhrine used by the predecessors, the betel nut boxes of the Republic of China, and the betel nut specimen were displayed in the museum. In front of a large screen, there are also video video for making traditional betel nut techniques. Museum

Ask the locals, why have Xiangtan people have eaten betel nut for so many years? Many people are not clear, just know that they eat when they are small.

According to authoritative historical data, Around 1854, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was besieged by the Xiang Army and defeated Xiangtan. The victorious Xiang Army found a lot of betel nut. Betel nut.

After the rapid development of the 1980s and the past ten years, although there are also toxic discussions in betel nut, the news reports of the "face -cut person" in 2013, and the number of advertising restrictions in many parties, the betel nut industry has gradually gradually followed Xiangtan from Xiangtan. Go to the national market.

Betel nut residue on the street sidewalk

However, in the media's many years of debate, Xiangtan people have a better understanding of betel nut.

"There is no way, I'm afraid of death, I haven't eaten it for two years." Seeing that betel nut argued so much, Liwei's idea is that no matter whether betel nut will cause cancer, it will not affect the body if you don’t eat it. Stop doing.

Chen Guohan changed from three packs of betel nut to three days a day. Because he has chewed betel nut for many years, he could have stuffed his fist into his mouth. Now because his mouth can't be opened too, he can't do it anymore. Because the oral mucosa is damaged, he can't eat spicy food.

For those who often chew betel nut, they ca n’t eat spicy, and oral ulcers are normal. No one has taken it up before, but as more and more people know the harm caused by betel nut, everyone is everyone. Started to worry.

As Chen Guohan said, young people in Xiangtan have become less and less betel nut, and middle -aged and elderly people have gradually reduced the amount of betel nut.

Betel nut stalls outside the convenience store

A research paper published by Xiangya Hospital of Zhongnan University in 2017 shows that according to statistics on oral cancer patients in five local hospitals in Changsha, from 2006 to 2016, the proportion of patients with oral cancer caused by betel nuts in ten years Soaring to 85.53%, the number of people was nearly 20 times.

In January of this year, at the Municipal and State Cancer Prevention Center Chairman of the Municipal Cancer Prevention and Control Division of the Hunan Provincial Health and Health Commission, the latest data released by Hunan Cancer Hospital showed that in recent years It has risen to the fifth place in men and the 8th of the male death.

"Digging" shouting

In Shaoyang City, more than a hundred kilometers away from Xiangtan, since the second half of last year, "Brother Rain" complained to the harm of betel nut through a video platform.

Because of eating betel nut for many years, in July last year, the "rain pants brother" suffering from oral cancer cut off the left jaw through surgery to control the condition. At present, there is no recurrence. After the treatment, he talked about his experience of eating betel nut and anti -cancer, and took some videos of oral cancer patients who had experienced betel nut to wake up the harm of betel nut by others.

When communicating with Jimu Journalists, "Brother Rain" still remembers the feeling of eating betel nut at the age of 19, "especially tie his throat, dizziness, sweating, and even a snack." I feel very excited after eating, and can bring you pleasure.

Betel nut with brown brown brown

That year was 2000. In the past 20 years, he has eaten all kinds of betel nuts. What brands are popular, and even the best and most expensive. "Brother Rain" remembers that in the past few years, he had no concept of oral cancer and oral mucosa. TV advertisements are also promoting that betel nut is a healthy food and a traditional Chinese medicine, with medicinal value.

Even in recent years, he can't eat spicy, sour, and hot irritating foods, he has not regarded this as a disease.

Until March 2021, the lumps and lymphadenopathy appeared inside the "rain pants", and the lymph nodes were enlarged, and the oral cancer was finally diagnosed.

"After the operation, I saw myself in the mirror, and I had the heart to die." The day before the operation, the wife told "Brother Rain" to be oral cancer, and he didn't know the treatment plan. After he woke up, he knew that his left face's jaws, including gums, and teeth were cut off during surgery. It supported the face by implanting titanium plates. The left mouth had lost the chewing function.

Packaged sesame betel nut

Fortunately, "Brother Rain" is an optimistic person, and his mentality is quickly adjusted. He walked out of the house, exposed his face, and was not afraid of letting others see it. He posted a video on the short video platform, showing his face to the audience across the network, and warned everyone not to step his back.

Today, although the operation is successful, there are still some sequelae. For example, there is a wound on the face, and the face has an impact; you can only chew on one side during meals. The speed is very slow.

Betel nut company recruitment stagnation

In the Tan County, Xiangtan County, Xiangtan City, a number of betel nut production and processing enterprises are concentrated.

On September 23, Jimu Journalists came to the town and saw a large recruitment chief and advertisement for franchisees outside the door of a betel nut production enterprise. Another betel nut company door had a banner "a large number of recruitment equipment operation operations The information of workers, logistics companies, and seed cutting workers leave the phone number to promise high salary and sincere hiring. The amount of pieces of work is more than 6,500 yuan, and it is included. The reporter called one of the recruitment calls, showing that the phone was shut down.

In addition to the betel nut processing enterprise in the Industrial Park, Jimu Journalists saw on some social platforms that in early September, many human resources companies were recruiting workers to the betel nut plant, playing 5,000-6000 yuan, dot-haaloged 4500-6500 yuan, Remove the nuclear (three types of work are made of betel nut) 3800 yuan -6500 yuan, etc., and bloggers also guided to register quickly and do not wait for people.

On the same day, the reporter contacted Ms. Ji, the head of the human company recruited by Xiangtan. She said that although the peak season of betel nut acquired in autumn, because of the incident of betel nut and other places in Zhejiang and other places, various manufacturers of Xiangtan were watching their changes and dare not blindly expand production. There was no plan to recruit workers for the time being.

"The shelf life of betel nuts is very short, only 60 days. If the manufacturer is blindly produced, the product backlog cost will be very high, so they are watching." Ms. Ji said that if you want to work opportunities, you need to wait for notification.

Betel nut processing enterprise in industrial parks

For the treatment of employees, Mr. Liu, who is engaged in sales in a small and medium -sized betel nut plant in Xiangtan County, said that large plants have a large order and work hours. For example, the process of getting betel nuts for betel nuts, working for about 10 hours a day, settlement according to the workload, 6 yuan per kilogram. If the speed is fast, it can earn about 180 a day. This position is suitable for the age of 40 and 50.

"You can take a break for a while at noon." Mr. Liu introduced that the salary of posts and dotted positions may be higher, but it is also obtained through piece counting, but the labor intensity will be greater. Pour, 12 hours in a class, relatively lighter to get older.

Small town dilemma

In a brand betel nut store in Yuhu District, Xiangtan City, everything is normal.

Bulk betel nuts from 198 yuan/jin, 128 yuan/jin, to 88 yuan/jin, there are still mature customers to slowly choose and buy. The owner said that even if betel nuts are banned elsewhere, Xiangtan is difficult to ban, because Xiangtan people have this habit, and every family must eat more or less.

Bulk betel nut on sale

Mr. Liu, the sales of the aforementioned betel nut factory, said that it has not seen much impact on sales. Because the annual sales of the factory are only 10 million levels and the scale is not large, the national sales network is still normal. Dynamic and information.

The "removed" storm seems to have not had a fundamental impact on Xiangtan betel nut manufacturers, but the potential impact may not be visible.

According to statistics, Xiangtan City, as the birthplace and distribution center for the production and processing of betel nut, its annual output value of betel nut processing exceeds 20 billion yuan as early as 2017. The output value of the industrial chain around the betel nut has reached 50 billion yuan, which has become an important force to support the economic development of the region. As of 2017, there were more than 30 enterprises engaged in betel nut processing in Xiangtan City, and nearly 300,000 employees were employed.

According to the "Xiangtan Statistical Yearbook 2021" released by the Xiangtan City Statistics Bureau, 15 large enterprises, betel nut production and processing enterprises in the city's scale industrial enterprise accounted for 5, and 4 ranked in the top ten, all in Xiangtan County. These five companies include Hunan Fat Brother Food, Xiaolong King Food, Hunan Huangye Food, Hunan Wuzi Drunk Food, and Hunan Binzhi Lang Food.

List of large -scale industrial enterprises

On the 22nd, Jimu Journalists came to the Hunan Food Industry Association in Hunan Province, Xiangtan City, and the relevant person in charge declined the interview.

Regarding the "get off" incident in Zhejiang's betel nut, a report from the red head of the Hunan Provincial Betel nut Food Industry Association wrote in 2016 that in 2016, the "betel nut custom" was selected into the fourth batch of intangible cultural heritage of Hunan Province. In order to regulate the industry, industry associations have required enterprises to upgrade their product packaging, add slogans such as "discouraging minors chewing", and revised group standards. At the same time, they are actively formulating the "Betel nut Association Industry Self -discipline Measures". The report requested the Zhejiang Provincial Market Supervision Bureau to stop the cutting off of one -size -fits -all. However, this report document has not yet been confirmed by the relevant parties.

Hunan Province betel nut Food Industry Association

In addition, some Xiangtan enterprise staff also spoke on social platforms recently. I hope netizens will stand on a rational perspective and look at the problem of betel nut.

Walking on the street, Chen Guohan could see which passerby has eaten betel nut, because the blood vessels of the temples who have eaten betel nuts for a long time are drums, the muscles of the cheekbones are protruding, and the face is relatively square, commonly known as "square face".

In his opinion, he hopes that everyone will eat less betel nut for health, but they are not willing to completely prohibit the production of betel nuts, leaving the enterprise to close, and the workers have no job.

- END -