Of what does a man like Tursun dream? He is having built what is called in China "Dujiacun" or family vacation village; one in Urumqi and one in Korla ("Kuerle" in Chinese). They will be ready in two or three years. Meanwhile, trees will have time to grow, "because a Dujiacun without greenery is not worthy of this name," clarified the future hotel owner. "But you are a real businessman!" I said, to which Tursun retorted, "Cooking, this is all that I can do!" He wants his establishments to be of a Muslim type, meaning without alcohol, tobacco, thundering music and people laughing and speaking loudly enough to burst the eardrums. For him, the most important priority in life is calm, peace. Of course, Muslim or not, all customers are welcome if they abide by the rules.
Tursun also owns a wool factory in the United Arab Emirates. He often goes there for business, as well as in Iran, Turkey, Oman, and Pakistan. As he speaks only Uyghur and imperfect Chinese, he takes along an interpreter with him or hires one there.
Tursun's former colleague with the restaurant collected all his investments and emigrated to Canada with his family seven years ago. He tried to open a restaurant there, but the technical regulations and hygiene criteria are much higher than in China, and he had to divert his interests towards trade. However, Tursun's restaurant is of exemplary cleanliness. Every day, two hours before opening, all the employees take part in the general cleaning, and all the customers can see what transpires in the kitchen.
Another highly ranked value in Tursun's life is honesty. His employees are satisfied and faithful to him. "They are paid according to their experience and seniority. If I progress, they progress, too. We get along very well," claimed Tursun sincerely. He calculates the taxes without hiding anything and pays them accurately. "Why cheat the government? It would be cheating ourselves. We are all part of the government." He added, "Honest work, a quiet environment, and the hope of progress; one doesn't need anything more to be happy."
Every day Tursun lunches on zhua fan (poluo in Uyghur) at his restaurant. "For Uyghurs, a meal without zhua fan (rice with vegetables and sheep that one eats with the hands) is not a meal." That day I was his guest and he himself served me. A bowl of yogurt without sugar accompanied the meal. If one likes it sweet, sugar can be added; this is what the majority of Han do, as I noticed. Then, we left the restaurant to go to his place. Tursun's apartment, on the 17th floor, was decorated with "a taste of Silk Road." Xinjiang is at the crossroads of great civilizations, the influence of which we can always feel: Islamic, Buddhist, Judeo-Christian, and Hindu. Travellers and merchants of the Middle East, India, China, and Europe met there.Together with Tursun and his wife Dilaisam, who is from Korla in the Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of Bayangol, a niece, and their 11-year-old granddaughter Parizat (which means "angel") live in the new apartment. Located in the downtown area, it cost – and this was expensive in 2004 – 2,600 yuan per sq m! But today, Tursun explained, the price exceeds 4,000 yuan per m. If in Beijing prices rise with the coming of the Olympic Games, in Urumqi, the rising costs are due to the stream of new inhabitants who flow from the rural areas and other provinces. It should be said that life is extremely pleasant in Urumqi: the sky is blue, trade flourishes, food production is abundant, and development opportunities abound.
Dilaisam, 55, retired recently. She doesn't feel bored at home, but complains that dust is present more often than not. She keeps busy with cooking and excels in pastry-making, as well as making sweets of all kinds. She used to knit often when she was young, but in the last five years, she found that buying ready-made woollen articles, even handmade ones, was cheaper. She sewed all of her clothing, using mostly the Uyghur silk called ad'lais' (aideles, aidires, Atlas, Etles). Moreover, she likes walking in the city by day and to watch TV in the evening very much.
Will the 2008 Olympic Games influence the development of Xinjiang and Tursun's business? He had not yet thought about that, Tursun admitted.
(Source: Foreign Languages Press)
