Zhi wu xue jia

Long ago, in the days when horses still had short tails

there lived a strange man.

He often lied on the hill facing downwards.

A huge tree pierced his chest right through to his back.

The top of the tree pointed up to the sky.

Because a century before he had drunk from the spring of long life

he lived for a full hundred years.

But his wife and his family all left this world long before him.

So the strange man lived an unhappy life.

He tried to kill himself by impaling his body onto a tree.

But the tree was nurtured by the water from the spring of long life.

He ended up living for a hundred years with the tree stuck in his body.

He sprinkled the water from the spring of long life onto the forest

and let the plants grow forever.

My uncle once said that if you put your hand into a hole in a tree

you can feel the tree's heart beating just like that of a lamb,

bringing you comfort.

Lying like this relaxes me.

I can feel the plants bouncing about around me.

Khader.

Tokpas.

Arsin Khazer.

Sultan Khazer.

Zair Khazer.

Orman Khazer.

Abdul Khazer.

I looked for ages but couldn't find my name.

I could only find my grandfather's grandfather's name.

Perhaps from my grandfather's generation onwards

our names became too small to be shown on the tree.

I would have to use a microscope to see my generation.

- Bring the milk in. - Okay.

This is my uncle, Yerken Bek.

He taught me all I know about plant collecting.

He'd often jokingly call me "the botanist".

He once told me

that a Frenchman called Rousseau stood amongst his sheep and told him

that even someone who doesn't know the name of a single plant

can become an accomplished botanist.

Be gone, be gone!

All bad things be gone.

My name is Arsin Abdul Khazer.

I'm Kazakh.

I'm 13 years old.

I'm 1.55 metres tall.

I weigh 41 kilos.

I'm blood type A.

I live on the northern grasslands of Xinjiang.

My grandfather was from the Kerait tribe.

If you look at a map you'll see

this place is only five kilometres away from Kazakhstan

in the most northwesterly corner of China.

Ringing in your ears is the laughter two leaves make

as they rub against each other in the wind.

Each leaf represents different people’s lives.

When a child is born

a new leaf grows.

If a leaf turn yellow and wilts

it means someone must be in trouble.

Three winters ago

my uncle disappeared in the mountains around my village.

We had a lot of snow that year.

The snow was higher than I am now.

Our family still haven't found my uncle.

Some people say he must have frozen to death.

But I don't believe that.

Maybe he found the spring of long life and didn't want to come back.

Or he got lost on purpose.

Inspired by my grandfather

Uncle Yerken temporarily became the village doctor in his youth.

He later fell in love with a girl from the village.

My grandfather was against it but he wouldn't listen.

My uncle and the girl went to live in the forest for a long time.

Until one day my uncle returned alone from the forest.

From then on he lived here alone.

Can you help me out?

Your hand.

Hey, Nurbul.

How are you, dude?

Did you see the photo of the sheep I sent you?

You never call me. Up to no good as usual?

You'd be better off back here.

We'd watch over hundreds of sheep like wolves.

For sure.

Of course it's good money.

Hello?

Hello?

Our sheep are getting mixed up with the others.

Brother!

The sheep!

Watch your sheep!

Don't chase them over there.

Get your sheep out of here!

That's my brother.

He's also my grandmother's son.

It's Kazakh tradition to give your firstborn to his grandparents.

But I don't like calling him Uncle.

Because that just reminds me of my Uncle Yerken Bek.

What did you just call me?

Brother.

What am I to you?

My brother.

My uncle.

Uncle.

My uncle told me that lambs eat different types of grasses

as they make their way up the mountain.

You can't let them retrace their steps.

So that in the following year

the lambs can eat the grass that grows in those places in the next year.

The natural gas produced by the company will be transported to inland provinces and regions.

by-products such as tar, middle distillates, and naphtha can also be produced.

It will be able to become the world's largest single-unit coal-based natural gas enterprise.

Relying on high-quality coal resources, Xinjiang is focusing on coal bases such as Yili and Zhundong

to create a modern coal chemical industry cluster.

accelerating the process of converting resource advantages into economic advantages.

Give it back.

Stealing again!

Come on.

My mum says no tabs.

Call your dad.

He does what my mum says.

You're a feisty one.

How much?

One yuan.

Arsin.

Thanks for last time.

This is on the house.

Let me take you somewhere.

Here.

It tastes really nice.

Look.

Well done!

It's true.

She may be Han Chinese.

But so what?

Grandma?

Grandma?

Grandma?

Tell your uncle to come and eat.

You mean my brother?

No, I mean your uncle.

Grandma says it's time to eat, Brother.

You go on ahead.

Let's go home then.

I'll go without you then.

Come and play, Arsin.

It's too small. And there's a crack in it.

It's not worth anything.

Bigger stones are better.

Where's it from?

The canal.

Hey, boss!

Yep?

Let's go! Bazaar's closing.

Let's go. I'm coming.

I've got to go now.

Lock the door, Meiyu.

Okay.

Hey, did you know?

there was once a scholar

who heard that praying mantises used a leaf to make themselves invisible.

One day he managed to find such a leaf.

He went around with the leaf over his eyes

stealing from people.

But he was found out.

Do you know why?

The leaf was over his eyes and he couldn't see anyone.

But he thought people couldn't see him.

Maybe there really is such a leaf

and your uncle found it.

And he's hiding behind it.

It would have to be a really big leaf to hide him completely.

If we're lucky

maybe we can find one.

Brother?

What did you say?

Brother.

- Be thorough. Pick all the wool up. - Okay.

Have some grapes.

Okay.

Is that your friend?

Call him over.

Mum, are you home?

I'm here.

How are you?

I'm fine.

In good health?

Yes.

I brought you some tea, vegetables and fruit.

Just a few things.

Lovely.

Who else's home?

Arsin.

Long time no see, Arsin. How are you?

You're so tall now.

You best take these things inside.

I’ll help Grandma.

What are you cooking?

Naan bread.

You need to add a log to the stove.