On the banks of the Hutuo River, a glorious chapter was written, and now I’ll share the story of dedication. In the previous installment, we saw how Zhang Yonghai accepted the challenging task of helping the ironworks gradually get back on track. By May 1996, a moment destined to be etched into the annals of Jingye Group had arrived: for the first time, the name “Jingye” was inscribed upon the very fabric of the company’s growth.

At that time, the tide of reform and opening-up was surging ever more vigorously, and market competition had reached a fever pitch. Having spent many years navigating the business world, Li Ganpo keenly recognized that the era of going it alone was over; only by transforming toward group‑based, large‑scale, and intensive operations could enterprises fortify their defenses against risks and secure a firm foothold in the competitive landscape. Acting decisively, he consolidated Pingshan County’s Chemical General Factory, Ironworks, and certain tertiary‑industry assets to establish Hebei Jingye Group Co., Ltd., with the aim of establishing a structure characterized by “horizontal expansion across multiple industries and vertical deepening of diversified operations,” thereby achieving a qualitative leap in risk resilience.

After the group was established, everyone wondered: why “dedication” as its name? In a public address, Li Ganpo revealed his true feelings: “No matter what I do, I always put my heart into it, work with all my might, and remain dedicated. When running a business, I hope my employees will do the same, which is why I chose the name ‘Jingye Group.’ The name may lack the poetic flair of classical Chinese or the modern appeal of English; it does seem rather down-to-earth. Later, when the core socialist values embraced the term ‘dedication,’ it filled me with great enthusiasm.”

In Li Ganpo’s view, “dedication” is not an empty slogan but the very spirit that drives him forward. This core ethos has taken root in the company’s DNA alongside the group’s growth; years later, with more than 40,000 employees embedding a culture of dedication into every aspect of their work, they have offered the most fitting response to his original vision.

At the time of the group’s formation, the ironworks had already emerged from its difficulties, with output surging, costs declining, and a successful turnaround to profitability. This favorable momentum further strengthened Li Ganpo’s resolve to increase investment and expand operations. He was keenly aware that running a business is like rowing upstream: if you don’t move forward, you’ll be swept backward. Every enterprise and every product has a life cycle; only through sustained development and continuous innovation can one avoid standing still and facing inevitable decline.

To reduce pig iron costs and gain control over raw material supply, at the end of 1996 Li Ganpo invested 7 million yuan to build a mechanized coking plant with an annual capacity of 50,000 tons, successfully establishing an integrated production chain encompassing ore dressing, coking, sintering, and smelting. At a time when many ironmaking plants in the industry were shutting down or going bankrupt, Jingye bucked the trend by leveraging its complete industrial chain, achieving robust and rapid growth.

Looking back on his entrepreneurial journey—from a chemical plant to an iron‑making facility and ultimately to the founding of Jingye Group—Li Ganpo’s development strategy has been clear and unwavering: after navigating roughly two years of a challenging start-up phase, he shifted focus to the raw‑material end, scaling up to spread costs and boost gross margins, while placing even greater emphasis on elevating product quality and eschewing low‑quality, short‑sighted, price‑driven practices. At the same time, he has consistently regarded marketing as a core competitive advantage, evolving it from pre‑sales before the chemical plant even began operations, to door‑to‑door sales and the establishment of regional offices, and finally to deep cultivation of key markets, direct reach to end consumers, and even international expansion. This continuous upgrading of the company’s marketing approach has become the key to its success.

Founded in 1996, Jingye Group has ushered in a new chapter of large-scale corporate development. Which new industry will Jingye Group now enter, and what achievements will it attain? We’ll continue the story in our next installment.