In Ningxia in 1997, an ordinary young man, Zhao Liyun, bought a seemingly ordinary stone for 150 yuan, but never thought that it would be the most extraordinary decision in his life.
The stone, later named "Years", was valued at 96 million in a chance appraisal four years later, becoming a legend of the times.
The story of Zhao Liyun and "Years" shows how an ordinary person finally writes an extraordinary chapter in his life through his deep love for natural beauty and his persistence in personal passion.
Zhao Liyun is a native of Ningxia, and almost everyone knows it in the streets and alleys of Yinchuan. Born in an ordinary family in 1960, he has been curious about the grass and trees around him since he was a child.
Growing up, his love for nature grew, but it wasn't until he became an adult that this love found a concrete home – the strange stone.
An ordinary employee of Yinchuan TV, Zhao Liyun's life seems ordinary. However, his heart is filled with a longing for the unknown. A business trip in the '80s took him to Qingdao, where seaside vendors were selling all sorts of pebble art. The sun shone brightly on those smooth stones, attracting his gaze. Zhao Liyun bought a few stones, and these stones became the starting point of his future love.
Day after day, he played with the pebbles in his hand, and the love for strange stones in his heart became stronger and stronger. Until one day, his work gave him the opportunity to travel to the Sino-Mongolian border to shoot a documentary about volcanic eruptions and rock formations. That trip completely ignited Zhao Liyun's enthusiasm for strange stones. On the Gobi Desert, he was dazzled by all kinds of strange-shaped stones, and he was deeply attracted by the hidden beauty of this desolate place.
Since then, Zhao Liyun's life has had a special task - finding stones. Whenever he has free time, he will invite a few friends who also love strange rocks to go to the Gobi Desert, deep mountains and old forests together, in search of those treasures of nature. These adventures are full of unknowns and surprises, and each departure seems to be a new adventure.
Over the years, Zhao Liyun's home has gradually become a small stone museum. Every corner of the living room, every shelf in the study, and even the bedside of the bedroom are placed with strange stones that he brought back from all over the world. Each stone carries his memories and emotions, and every time you look at it, it is as if you are reliving the experience of that adventure.
Although his family and friends complained about his hobby, believing it to be a waste of time and money, Zhao Liyun never wavered. In his view, these stones are not only the products of nature, but also the works of art that nature has given to human beings. He firmly believes that each stone has its own unique value and story that deserves to be cherished and explored.
It wasn't until 1997 that an unexpected discovery tied Zhao Liyun's name to the strange stone.
In the spring of that year, Zhao Liyun and his friends' adventure once again took them to the edge of Su Hongtu. This time, their destination is a little-known Gobi Desert, which is said to hide some unique natural wonders. Prepared with plenty of water and food, they drove through the vast desert and finally reached their destination. The sun rises slowly from the east, and the golden sunlight shines on the Gobi, and the stones seem to be lit up, exuding a charming brilliance.
In this vast expanse of land, Zhao Liyun and his friends began their treasure hunt. They spread out, each with an expectation of beauty. Zhao Liyun walked among a group of low stones, his gaze carefully swept over each stone, looking for the existence that could make his heart flutter.
At this moment, under Zhao Liyun's feet, an inconspicuous stone attracted his attention. It is not as smooth or distinct as the surrounding stones, but rather a little rough, and the surface is covered with signs of age. Zhao Liyun bent down and carefully picked it up. The stone is only about the size of a fist, but the weight is unexpectedly heavy. He turned the stone in his hand, and in the sunlight, an angle of the stone revealed an unusual sheen.
Zhao Liyun carefully put the stone in his backpack and continued to explore the Gobi Desert with his friends. It wasn't until the sun went down that the group reluctantly left and returned to Yinchuan with the joy of returning home.
Back at home, Zhao Liyun took out the stones harvested during the trip one by one, carefully cleaned and studied. When he picked up the stone again, which shone in the sun, he decided to give it a name - "years". The name not only represents the traces of the stone itself, but also implies Zhao Liyun's love for the exploration of strange stones.
As the days passed, the "years" lay quietly in Zhao Liyun's study, becoming one of his many collections. Until one day, by chance, Zhao Liyun held a small stone exhibition at his home and invited some like-minded people to come to his home to communicate. When "Years" was placed in the corner of the exhibition, its inconspicuous appearance did not attract too much attention.
However, fate is always full of surprises. On the last day of the exhibition, an elderly stone collector stumbled upon the "years". He was attracted by the stone's unique shape and natural texture, and asked Zhao Liyun if he would like to**. Zhao Liyun didn't answer immediately, he had a special affection for this stone, but he also understood that every strange stone had its most suitable destination.
After some thought, Zhao Liyun decided to lend the "years" to this collector for more in-depth research. A few months later, the shocking news came - after the identification of experts, "Time" is not only a rare natural stone, but also contains extremely high artistic and economic value. This stone, which was once unknown on the Gobi Desert, is valued at 96 million.
As soon as the news came out, it immediately caused an uproar in the strange stone collecting community. Zhao Liyun has also become the focus of attention. But for him, the value of "years" is much more than that. This stone bears witness to his deep affection with nature, and also expresses his infinite love and respect for the path of exploring strange stones.
After the value of the "years" stone was identified, Zhao Liyun's life changed dramatically. For a time, his home became a must-visit place for many collectors, ** and even the ordinary curious. Everyone wanted to be able to see that priceless stone with their own eyes, and "Time" became a veritable star.
However, in the face of the attention of the outside world, Zhao Liyun's attitude has always been firm. He refused all requests to buy "years", and was unmoved even by various offers of business cooperation. In his view, "time" is not only a stone, but also an important symbol in his life journey. It bears witness to his love for strange stones, his awe for nature, and his desire to explore the unknown.
Although his family and friends expressed confusion about his decision, believing that Zhao Liyun had missed an opportunity to change his fate, Zhao Liyun did not care. He also enjoys the company of these strange stones, every journey to explore nature, and every moment of discovering beauty. For him, these experiences that cannot be measured in monetary terms are the most valuable treasures in life.
Time passed quietly like flowing water, and Zhao Liyun's name and the story of the "Years" Stone gradually faded out of the public's sight. But in the small circle of strange stone collections, Zhao Liyun is still a legend. His persistence and passion inspire more and more people to devote themselves to the special field of collecting strange stones, exploring those works of art that have been carefully carved by nature.
As he grew older, Zhao Liyun gradually reduced the number of expeditions, but his passion for strange stones did not diminish in the slightest. He began to devote more time to researching and organizing his stone collection, recording his experiences and stories over the years, hoping to share them with more people. For him, every stone is a gift from nature, and every exploration is a process of dialogue with nature.
In the end, Zhao Liyun decided to donate the "years" to a public museum, so that more people can appreciate the beauty of this strange stone up close. For him, this is not only the best destination for the "years", but also a perfect summary of his own exploration journey.
**10,000 fans incentive plan The amazing leap from 150 yuan to 96 million yuan is behind Zhao Liyun's deep emotion and unremitting pursuit of strange stones.
He did not change his original intention because of the ** of the "years" stone, but regarded this hard-won treasure as a bridge connecting nature and people's hearts, and finally donated it to public museums, so that more people can share this beauty.
The story of Zhao Liyun and the "Years" Stone is a warning to everyone: the real value does not lie in material wealth, but in the continuous love and exploration of the world.