"Forbidden sale order" and the city of Xiangtan, the city of betel nut, the citizen of Xiangtan of Xiangtan of the betel nut has been temporarily suspended as a number of social products processing enterprises

Betel nut stalls outside the convenience store

□ Chutian Metropolis Daily Journalists Zhan Yan Photography: Chutian Metropolis Daily Journalist Zhan Yan

On September 15th, Chen Guohan (pseudonym), a driver of the Internet car ride -hailing driver in Xiangtan City, Hunan Province, heard the news of the edible betel nut in Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province in the radio.

Previously, Chen Guohan heard the carcinogenic carcinogenic of betel nut and also knew that the domestic TV betel nut advertisement was prohibited, but this was the first time he heard that betel nuts were banned in the area. He couldn't imagine how the ban on sale was opened across the country, how should Xiangtan people respond.

Although Xiangtan City does not plant betel nuts, for more than a hundred years, Xiangtan people have almost penetrated the bone marrow and form 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. Hunan, a large province of betel nut industry, has no such actions for the time being, but the number of patients with oral cancer due to consumption of betel nuts has continued to increase, and the alarm of the local betel nut industry has been given to the local betel nut industry. It is a warning for life.

Many betel nut companies in Xiangtan are still changing the situation and temporarily stop recruiting. Where does the betel nut industry go? How to regulate the development of the industry? Is there a ban on betel nuts or limits ... These questions have no answers for the time being.

No betel nut can not be a gift

Antel nut shop on the street

"In the past, betel nut was ordinary snacks, and it was advisable to be young and old." On September 23, on the Xiangtan Avenue, Xiangtan City, Chen Guohan drank tea and stuffed a betel nut in his mouth. He told Jimu Journalists that this was the first betel nut he chewed that day. Two years ago, he didn't necessarily have enough three or four bags a day.

Chen Guohan is 36 years old. In his memory, he has often chewed betel nuts since his childhood, just as his son often asked him what he was chewing.

"At that time, parents sold snacks outside the cinema, betel nuts, melon seeds, peanuts and other snacks were sold together." Chen Guohan said. In his 10s, he also ate betel nut. After joining the army in the north, he would eat some betel nut to warm up in winter. Until now, he will also send the betel nut of Xiangtan with his comrades who are addicted to betel nut that year.

In recent years, he has been a driver of online car rental. Chen Guohan chews 3 packs of betel nut every day, and his mouth keeps almost a moment. Sometimes soak the Internet cafe at night, 5 packs a day.

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

"It is difficult to make me quit betel nut, but I can eat less." Chen Guohan said. Xiangtan people have the habit of eating betel nut. On the red and white happy event table, betel nut is also essential. The price of betel nuts used to treat guests is at least 50 yuan. When the happy event returns, it is often a pack of betel nut and a pack of cigarettes, which can be described as "no betel nut can not be given gifts."

Talming Xiangtan people

Packaged sesame betel nut

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

At the door of almost every small sales department, there will be a multi -layer iron frame with betel nut products on it. Entering the store, at the cashier or other conspicuous locations, the betel nut solder is also full.

There are also many betel nut brand stores on the street, which specializes in selling betel nut products of a brand.

On the evening of the 22nd, in a "Flying Pavilion" in Xiangtan County, the 46 -year -old local Lifei said that now, a pack of betel nuts of less than 50 yuan is not as good as before. The Xiangtan people who are used to betel nut have become higher and higher for the taste of betel nut.

In Xiangtan, in addition to buying the packaged betel nut, many people also buy scattered betel nuts directly. In the eyes of Liwei, this betel nut is not only affordable, but also much better than packaging because it is fresher.

"The more refined the betel nut, the more than the 1,000 -dollar gift box is not uncommon." Li Wei said. In the past, a friend often joked with him, saying that he had to spend two or three thousand yuan when eating betel nut every month.

Like many people in Xiangtan, because of eating betel nut, Li Wei has already practiced the ability to identify betel nuts. "The kind of pinching is hard, and it looks very dry, just put it for a long time, and the quality is not good." Li Wei said.

History and reality bias

Hunan betel nut Culture Museum outside scene

On the morning of the 23rd, the reporter came to the History and Cultural District of Kundaya District, Yuhu District, Xiangtan City. Here is a lake and Xiang betel nut museum. Although it is not large, the content of betel nut culture and history is very detailed.

The exhibition board on the wall introduces the edibleness and medicinal value of betel nut. In the showcase, the Yuexiu betel nut bag in the Qing Dynasty, the betel nut cover of the Republic of China, the iron betelhrine used by the predecessors, various betel nut specimens, etc. Play a short film for betel nut to make traditional techniques.

Historical data show that around 1854, the Hunan Army chased the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to Xiangtan and seized a large number of betel nuts. This kind of medicinal fruit that was originally used by wealthy people to remove dampness was enjoyed by the Hunan Army. Since then, the habit of chewing betel nut has gradually become popular in Xiangtan.

Since the 1980s and 1990s, Xiangtan betel nut industry has developed rapidly. During the period, although the society has also been discussed in the society, it has been discussing whether eating betel nuts, but Xiangtan betel nut still has made high progress towards the national market.

However, more and more Xiangtan people have a better understanding of betel nut.

"I haven't eaten it for 2 years. No way, I'm afraid of death!" Li Wei said to reporters half a joke. Chen Guohan changed from three packs of betel nut to three days a day. Because of chewing betel nut for many years, his oral mucosa is damaged and can no longer eat spicy food. When he was young, he could stuff his fist into his mouth, and now his mouth cannot be fully opened.

A research paper published by Xiangya Hospital of Zhongnan University in 2017 shows that in 2016, the number of oral cancer patients diagnosed in 5 hospitals in Changsha increased by nearly 20 times over 2006. %Soared to 85.53%.

In January of this year, according to data released by Hunan Cancer Hospital, the incidence and mortality of oral cancer in men have increased significantly in recent years, ranking 5th in men and 8th in male death.

Scream of patients with oral cancer

Bulk betel nut on sale

Since the second half of last year, Shaoyang City, more than 100 kilometers away from Xiangtan City, the "Rain Pants Brother" has continuously complained 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 was cut off through surgery, and the condition was controlled. After the treatment, he talked about his experience of eating betel nut and anti -cancer. He also shot other videos of patients with oral cancer with betel nut to wake up those who are still eating betel nut.

In an interview with reporters, "Brother Rain" recalled the feeling of eating betel nut at the age of 19: "Special tie throat, dizziness, sweating, and even snacks accelerated." However, after the initial discomfort, he felt Excitement and pleasure.

It was 2000. In the past 20 years, he ate all kinds of betel nuts, and he ate whatever he was. A few years ago, he didn't pay much attention to the relationship between the relationship between betel nut and oral cancer; later, he could no longer eat spicy, sour, and hot irritating food, and he didn't take it seriously.

Until March 2021, there was a lump in the cheek of "Brother Rain", 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." "Brother Rain" said. It wasn't until the day before the operation that his wife told him that he had oral cancer, and he didn't know the treatment plan. After waking up after surgery, he knew that his left mandibular, including gums, and tooth were removed. The titanium plate was implanted to support the face, and the left oral cavity completely lost the chewing function.

Fortunately, "Brother Rain Pants" is an optimistic person, and his mentality is quickly adjusted. He bravely walked out of the house and was not afraid of others to see his face; he posted a video on the short video platform to warn everyone not to follow his back.

Betel nut company recruitment stagnation

Betel nut processing enterprise in industrial parks

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

On the 23rd, the reporter saw in the town that outside a betel nut production enterprise, there was a large recruitment chief and advertising for franchisee agents; another betel nut company door was hung with a large number of recruitment equipment operators, logistics companies, seed cutting seeds The banner of work promises to hire high salary and work more. The monthly salary is up to 6,500 yuan, and it is included. The reporter called the recruitment phone in the advertisement, prompting that it was shut down.

In addition, on some social platforms, in early September, many human resources companies recruited workers for betel nut companies, playing 5,000-6000 yuan for selection, 4500-6500 yuan, and de-nuclear (all three types of types of betel nut production processes) 3800- 6,500 yuan and other salary benefits, and claimed that "good jobs do not wait for people."

The reporter contacted Ms. Ji, the person in charge of a personnel company in Xiangtan. She said that although the autumn is the peak season of betel nut, due to the incident of betel nut and other places in Yiwu and other places in Zhejiang, the production and processing enterprises of betel nut in Xiangtan are observing their changes and dare not blindly expand production. There is no recruitment plan for the time being.

"The shelf life of betel nut is relatively short, only 60 days. If the manufacturer is blindly produced, the cost will be high once the product has a backlog." Ms. Ji said.

For employees' treatment, Mr. Liu, who is selling in a small and medium -sized betel nut plant in Xiangtan County, introduced that large manufacturers have a large order and work hours. For example, go to nuclear workers, work for about 10 hours a day, settle salary at the workload, 6 yuan/kg. If the speed is fast, it can earn about 180 yuan a day. The salary of the selected films and halogen may be higher, but it is also paid according to components, and the labor intensity is greater.

Mr. Liu said that the company is very concerned about the news and related developments of betel nut for some regions. The company is not large, with annual sales of only 10 million yuan. The national sales network is still spreading normally, and it has not been affected by adverse news.

The city of betel nut is waiting to break the game

In a brand betel nut store in Yuhu District, Xiangtan City, it looks like usual.

Bulk betel nut ranging from 198 yuan/jin to 88 yuan/jin, from time to time, customers come to buy. The shop owner said that even if you are banned from the sale of betel nut in other areas, it is difficult for Xiangtan to ban immediately, because people in Xiangtan have this demand, and every household will eat betel nut.

The storm of betel nuts from other places seems to have little impact on Xiangtan's betel nut manufacturers in Xiangtan, but the potential impact remains to be observed.

According to statistics, as early as 2017, the annual output value of betel nut in Xiangtan City exceeded 20 billion yuan, and the output value of betel nut -related industries was 50 billion yuan, which became an important force to support regional economic development. There are more than 30 enterprises engaged in betel nut processing, and nearly 300,000 people have employed employment.

According to the "Xiangtan Statistical Yearbook 2021" issued by the Xiangtan City Statistics Bureau, 15 large enterprises and betel nut production and processing enterprises in the city's scale industrial enterprise accounted for 5, and 4 ranked among the top 10, all in Xiangtan County. Regarding the betel nut in Yiwu, Zhejiang, a report material reported by the Hunan Provincial Checa Food Industry Association reported that in 2016, the "betel nut custom" was selected as the fourth batch of intangible cultural heritage list in Hunan Province; It has been required to upgrade the product packaging, add slogans such as "discouraging minors chewing", and revised the group standards. At the same time, it is actively formulating the "Betel nut Association Industry Self -discipline Measures"; Behavioral behavior and so on.

In order to verify the authenticity of this material, on the 22nd, the reporter came to the Hunan Food Industry Association in Hunan Province in Xiangtan City. The relevant person in charge declined the interview.

Walking on the street, Chen Guohan could see which passers -by had eaten betel nut. He said that people who eat betel nuts for a long time, the blood vessels of the temples are more prominent, the cheekbone muscles are more developed, and the face shape is relatively square.

Chen Guohan said that he hopes that everyone will eat less betel nut for health, but they are not willing to see that betel nut production is completely banned. After all, many people still live in the betel nut industry!

The Hubei Daily client, paying attention to the major events of Hubei and the world, not only pushing the authoritative policies for users, fresh hot information, and practical convenience information, but also launched a series of features such as reading newspapers, newspapers, learning, online interactives.

- END -