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In Ningjin, Shandong Sanling Group is a household name, known far and wide. When it comes to the three-generation family of entrepreneurs and their ties to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, one must begin with Ni Guoling, the 74-year-old chairman of Sanling Group.

　　Forty years ago, Ni Guoling fired the first shot in the restructuring of township‑run enterprises in Ningjin County, guiding the long‑abandoned Ningjin County Textile Equipment Welfare Factory onto a path of modernization. Under his leadership, the small enterprise—initially saddled with less than RMB 50,000 in assets—grew into a corporate group that now encompasses an automotive interior‑parts company, a seat‑manufacturing firm, an auto‑parts supplier, and a furniture exhibition and sales company. By creating more than a thousand jobs and contributing over RMB 10 million in annual tax revenue, it has been recognized as a key private enterprise at the city level and a member of the Shandong Province Automotive Industry Council.
　　As a member of the Standing Committee of the Dezhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference for four consecutive terms, Ni Guoling has long regarded himself as a “CPPCC cadre.” “Being a CPPCC member is not merely a badge of honor; it is also a weighty responsibility,” he says. To fulfill this role effectively, one must keep the eight guiding principles—“seriousness, integrity, humility, and communication”—firmly in mind and steadfastly shoulder social responsibility. In 2015, with investors pulling out, Ningjin County’s Furniture Grand World was on the brink of collapse. “We cannot let the reputation of ‘Ningjin, China’s Hometown of Solid Wood Furniture’ be tarnished!” Ni Guoling volunteered to take over the project. He contributed real estate assets—including land and factory buildings—worth a total of 53 million yuan, attracted merchants from across the country, expanded his product reach to a radius of 500 kilometers, adopted a chamber-of-commerce management model, and even offered a generous incentive: new tenants enjoyed a full year of rent-free occupancy, thereby establishing Ningjin’s reputation for high‑quality, unfinished solid wood furniture. “I have devoted my entire life to working under the leadership of the Party,” Ni Guoling stated. “I cannot simply seek personal gain; while I am still alive, I want to do my part and contribute something meaningful, ensuring that the ‘Hometown of Solid Wood Furniture’ remains firmly in the hands of the people of Ningjin.”
　　“Grandpa’s favorite saying was always, ‘RMB is for the people to spend’—profits earned by a company don’t belong to the family; they belong to society.” Ni Leilei, the eldest grandson of Ni Guoling, serves as a member of the Dezhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and works at Sanling Automotive Seating Co., Ltd. Ni Guilong, the elder’s second son, is the secretary of the group’s Party branch and formerly served as a standing committee member of the Ningjin County CPPCC. All three generations take pride in being CPPCC members and are deeply committed to public‑welfare and charitable causes. Even Ni Kang, the second grandson who currently oversees the Sanling Furniture Grand World business, proudly declares: “As the family member of a CPPCC member, I’ll work even harder to strive for election to the CPPCC at the earliest opportunity.”
　　As early as 20 years ago, Ni Guoling spearheaded the construction of rural roads, installed streetlights, drilled deep wells, and laid water‑supply pipelines, enabling more than 3,000 households to enjoy both street lighting and piped tap water. He was also deeply committed to education, establishing a primary school in Gaoyifan Village, Daliu Town, Ningjin County, his hometown, serving school‑age children from surrounding villages—without ever charging a single student—and later transferring the school free of charge to the local education authorities. In addition, he teamed up with five entrepreneur friends to provide targeted support to 120 high‑school graduates from financially disadvantaged families in Dezhou City. He further created the “Bond Through Kindness” WeChat group, partnering with Xincheng Experimental School in Ningjin County to offer long‑term financial assistance to students in need. Through his words and deeds, Ni Guoling has inspired every member of his family to be generous and helpful. Following the outbreak of the pandemic this year, three generations of his family promptly organized a donation drive totaling RMB 1.03 million, making Sanling Group the corporate donor with the highest contribution in Ningjin County and demonstrating its sense of responsibility to serve the nation and the people.

Reprinted from the United Daily, jointly sponsored and published by the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Issue No. 7,349, September 30, 2020, Page 4