A Soldier's African Adventure

Three post-90s soldiers from the Dabie Mountains, newly demobilized from the military, were inspired by the Belt and Road Initiative. With dreams of starting their own businesses, they set off on a commercial adventure in Tanzania, China’s “iron brother” in Africa. When they first arrived in Africa, the three soldiers knew little about the local language, laws, culture, or customs. Their wonderful dream of entrepreneurship nearly fell apart, as one imagined business venture after another came to nothing. Faced with unprecedented hardship and unexpected dangers, they came close to ending up behind bars. Time and again, they escaped danger and turned crises around thanks to years of military training, the Dabie Mountain people’s distinctive resilience and tenacity, and timely help from their African friends. These proved the key to their success and the source of their growth. They believed the Belt and Road Initiative could benefit everyone, and that the Chinese Dream and the African Dream were one and the same. In the end, they succeeded and found an oasis of their own. They learned that only by immersing themselves completely in Africa could they find a home and build a business on this dark, fertile soil.