The Guardians of Village Basketball

\"Our 'race car' blazed down the court and effortlessly penetrated the paint area.\"

\"What a graceful shot.\"

\"The ball drops！ Two points.\"

\"And there it is， folks！ Team Qiandongnan clinches the victory！\"

……

On the night of March 22， 2024， under the bright moon and twinkling stars， Wang Zaigui energetically delivered his commentary with a distinctive local accent at an exhilarating Village Basketball Association （VBA） game. His announcement of the victory echoed through the stadium， eliciting cheers from fans.

Caught up in the jubilant atmosphere， Wang pumped his fist in the air in celebration. Finally lowering his hand to his chest， he naturally glanced to his left， noticing his uniformed fellow police officers steadfastly maintaining order amidst the lively spectators.

As the game ended and the effervescent crowd began to disperse from the venue， Wang soon suppressed his emotions. He picked up the microphone and delivered departure instructions in a low-pitched voice.

The inaugural nationwide VBA games began in the spring of 2024 in Taipan Village of Taijiang County in the Qiandongnan Prefecture of Guizhou Province. It marked the beginning of an exciting basketball journey for all involved.

Without the extensive media coverage， few would have known of Wang Zaigui's multiple identities. In addition to his roles as the initiator and commentator of the VBA games， he also serves as an auxiliary police officer at the Taipan Police Station of the Taijiang County Public Security Bureau.

Throughout the three-month-long VBA season， a total of 247 games were staged， each attracting more than ten thousand "fans. Juggling his roles as both commentator and officer， Wang Zaigui tirelessly dedicated himself to ensuring public safety alongside 166 auxiliary officers， 140 police cadets， and 100 security guards. Thanks to their collective efforts， the season concluded without a single incident of crime or public security concern. This allowed fans and tourists alike to immerse themselves in the pure enjoyment of basketball in Taipan.

Wang and his fellow officers' dedication earned recognition from both basketball enthusiasts and online communities， who viewed the officers in their navy-blue uniforms as the guardians of safety during the VBA games. Their presence ensured the smooth and orderly operation of the events， providing a sense of enjoyment and security for the public.

A visiting VBA fan， who had received assistance from the officers when encountering difficulties， romantically described the VBA games as embellished with the color navy blue.

Part One

Taipan residents' passion for basketball dates back a long way.

As early as the 1940s， the locals in the strategically located Taipan Village encountered basketball.

Unyielding in the face of challenges， they transformed a flat patch of land into a court， erected four poles to support a backboard， crafted a basket from woven bamboo splints， marked the dividing lines with limestone， and fashioned a basketball from bundled cotton and linen.

No deprivation of resources could dampen the locals' love for basketball.

When passion becomes ingrained in the soul， it evolves into a cultural heritage.

Immersed in the cultural heritage for more than eight decades， the locals can't imagine life without basketball. Sportsmanship has enhanced the locals' collaboration， courage， and perseverance. They are embracing a more prosperous life and embarking on a new journey to revitalize rural areas while elevating the VBA into a premier cultural asset in China.

\"I've been playing basketball since I was a little kid， alongside my father and his peers，\" reminisced Wang， a 26-year-old with 18 years of basketball experience. \"I can still vividly recall how， after just one game， the limestone court lines would fade away， and the cotton-made basketball would start to fray.\" In 2016， he suffered a dislocated elbow during a game， which became a recurring problem after he returned prematurely to the court. However， he acted as a commentator on the sidelines， thereby staying connected with the basketball world. Recalling old memories filled his sun-tanned face with untold joy and happiness.

In Taipan， the essence of sportsmanship and cultural heritage extends beyond the basketball court to the daily lives and work of the locals.

In 2017， Wang Zaigui was drafted into the army， where his exceptional performance earned him the prestigious title of \"Model Soldier\". After retiring from the army in 2019， he began serving as an auxiliary officer at the Taijiang County Public Security Bureau， while also delving into the world of the VBA. One day， a report came into the Taipan Police Station about a dispute near the entrance of the Creative Park in Taipan Township. Wang swiftly rushed to the scene equipped. After consoling the tourist concerned in Putonghua （standard Mandarin Chinese）， he then consoled the local party in the dispute by saying， \"Tourists are like guests in our home， deserving of our hospitality.\" Leveraging his eloquence as a basketball commentator， he mediated the dispute with finesse， ultimately guiding both sides to reconciliation. Later that afternoon， to Wang's surprise， both parties visited the station bearing a banner and remarked， \"Police officers are the cornerstone of our sense of security.\"

While the dimensions of a basketball court remain constant， the warmth and tranquility fostered by the game can stretch infinitely. Standing shoulder to shoulder in uniform， Wang and his comrades create a navy-colored view， safeguarding both the VBA and the community.

Part Two

Why are the locals so passionate for for basketball？ And how has the VBA rose to popularity？

As Wang Zaigui explains， the locals' passion for basketball runs deep in their veins. For them， the paramount importance lies not in the popularity of the VBA， but rather in the joy that basketball brings to their lives. Nevertheless， the league's popularity serves as a catalyst， endearing the sport to more and more people.

In the spring of 2024， the nationwide VBA games commenced， heralding a fresh chapter in the annals of basketball history.

Nestled between the majestic Leigong Mountain and the tranquil Bala River， Taipan Village has borne witness to the generosity and kindness of the Miao ethnic group. Self-sustained and carefree， they have been blessed with a fabulous environment and impressive innocence since time immemorial.

On June 6， the Miao ethnic people celebrate the Chixin Festival， a traditional holiday in honor of the harvest. In addition to basketball games， the villagers partake in various events， including \"bull fighting\" and \"rooster fighting\" .Despite the array of festivities， the VBA games remain the most renowned and esteemed.

The locals' passion for basketball enriches their daily lives with joy， which in turn fuels the popularity of the VBA games. This growing acclaim attracts tourists from far and wide， adding to the village's popiularity.

Love for basketball can be felt across Taipan， where everything related to basketball brings joy. Even maintaining order around the courts is joy itself. A case in point is Chen Hao， political instructor of the Paiyang Police Station.

When on duty， Chen always positions himself on the right of Wang Zaigui， facing the spectator stand at the far end of the court. Clad in a navy-blue uniform adorned with a red armband， amidst the crowds of colorfully-dressed fans， Chen exudes a reassuring presence among the surrounding spectators.

Chen and other officers on duty each oversee designated zones， but they also keep a watchful eye on the peripheral areas. Like basketball players on the court， they coordinate and collaborate to uphold public order and ensure community safety.

Chen is assigned to Zone No. 1 within the venue. On game days， he and 65 other officers patrol 22 zones across 8 sections for at least 14 hours， with only a brief half-hour lunch break. Under the scorching sun， their uniforms will be drenched in sweat every now and again.

In addition to the blazing sunlight， Taipan's summer is frequently besieged by torrential rains. On September 3， 2023， a sudden downpour interrupted a game. While directing the crowd of fans to seek shelter， Wang Zaigui noticed Chen Hao assisting Yinyang Jiayu in opening the gate to the village committee， providing more space for spectators. Despite being drenched， with her clothes clinging to her body， Yinyang wore a broad smile as she tirelessly evacuated the crowd.

The officers are constantly aiding the public in various ways： helping a spectator rent a portable charger， locating a lost child， providing water to those in need， and reminding people to refrain from smoking and littering. As the rain finally subsided and the game resumed， players on the court enthusiastically waded through the water. Wang Zaigui's commentary persisted， as did the joy， the hustle， and the officers' unwavering efforts to ensure safety and order.

\"Basketball fans attention is focused on the game; while ours is focused on public safety，\" remarked Chen Hao. Chen and his comrades playfully dubbed the sweat stains adorning their uniforms "as badges， commemorating their success in safeguarding every VBA game.

\"Thanks to his exceptional commentary as the chief commentator of the VBA games， Wang Zaigui has garnered a significant following on social media，\" affirmed Chen Hao and his fellow officers. During the games， while their attention is primarily on the spectators rather than the action on the court， they stay informed about the performance of both teams through Wang's commentary and the cheers of the fans. They could sense Wang's emotions as he turned towards them and recognize the warmth in his greetings.

Wang's silent greetings are always refreshing. Amidst the sea of basketball fans， against the backdrop of the azure sky， Chen spots his 65 comrades clad in navy-blue uniforms， steadfastly committed to maintaining public order.

Part Three

Happiness may not stop the passage of time， but it undoubtedly contributes to the creation of more united， harmonious， exciting， and orderly VBA games.

With the final whistle signaling the conclusion of the day's last game， more than 20，000 fans in the venue， while relishing the remarkable performances of either the players or cheerleaders， proceeded to exit in an orderly fashion under the instructions of Jiang Yunfei， an officer at the Forest Public Security Bureau， and his fellow officers.

The exits from the venue were flanked by 18 police officers on each side， forming protective barriers for the mass exodus. In the depths of the night， the four-pointed stars on the officers' shoulders reflect the glittering stars， silently observing the dispersing joy of basketball fans and Taipan locals scatter "in various directions. The crowds are just like ripples on a lake， up and down in a peaceful manner.

On July 19， 2023， Zhang Lin was assigned to the Taipan Police Station and assumed the role of chief. Before he acquainted himself with the local situation， the VBA had already gained widespread online attention， thanks in part to endorsement by Zhao Lijian， the deputy director of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With basketball enthusiasts flocking to the village from across China， Zhang Lin， in coordination with the village committee， handpicked young locals to form a temporary security team comprising over 100 individuals. Their primary focus was to maintain public order throughout the VBA season. Each officer is to oversee one or two of the dozen groups， leaving no emergency unattended. .

Following the mass exodus， the pressure shifted to the transportation system. Despite the sweltering temperatures， Wu Kaiwu， captain of the Traffic Police Brigade at the Taijiang County Public Security Bureau， alongside other police and auxiliary officers， toiled an average of 17 hours each day. Their collective effort culminated in successfully \"preventing any major traffic accidents or significant traffic congestion from occurring\" .

The 11 newly opened public parking lots， each supervised by officer cadets and volunteers， collectively provide over 7，000 parking spaces， significantly contributing to the smooth flow of traffic. Additionally， the village has established three real-time surveillance transportation sections to gather and analyze traffic data， along with six remotely controllable checkpoints positioned along the roads leading to Taipan. Once traffic reaches capacity， vehicles on these roads are rerouted. Following the conclusion of a basketball game， the old national road 320 transitions into one-way mode， with 40 instruction signs erected along its route to guide drivers accordingly.

While the excitement of basketball emanates from the court， the essence of VBA games permeates daily life.

What does the round shape of a basketball signify？ What message is conveyed by the slogan \"All ethnic groups are united like the seeds of a pomegranate\" at the entrance of the Taipan village committee？

Now that her father is stationed at the VBA venue every day， Wu Kaiwu's daughter asked Wu these two questions. Initially overwhelmed， Wu finally discovered the answers through his interactions with the games. As a symbol of unity， a basketball represents more than just sport; it fosters cohesion by bringing joy and increased income to the locals， while also contributing to the development and prosperity of the village. Embodying unity and solidarity， the viral VBA serves as nothing but a \"ripe pomegranate\"， with all ethnic groups tightly intertwined like the seeds within.

Part IV

Time flies.

The VBA season， spanning over 80 years， may seem short in the grand scope of human history， but its significance and the dedication of its navy-blue-clad guardians merit a place in the annals of time.

The VBA system， originally conceived without commercial motives， has blossomed into a wellspring of infinite opportunities and substantial revenues， positioning Taipan as a shining example of China's rural revitalization efforts.

To achieve this goal， all the police and auxiliary officers in Taijiang County have dedicated immeasurable time and effort.

During the time-honored Chixin Festival， celebrated on June 6 in the lunar calendar， the Taipan villagers are used to free access to the games. However， the influx of tourists and spectators， fueled by the games' surging popularity， elevated security concerns to the top of the agenda. Despite potential local resentment， security checks were deemed imperative. To mitigate inconvenience for the villagers and ease their resistance， officers set up a \"villagers only\" entrance， manned by both locals and security guards. This approach proved highly effective， minimizing the inconvenience of security checks for the villagers.

On October 15， 2023， it was revealed that the original plans for the VBA courts would have required disturbing the ancient well within the village， a site central to local sacrificial activities and symbolic of the Miao people's heritage. Faced with widespread protests from villagers， the VBA command center and village committee promptly convened a meeting. Village representatives aired their grievances and offered suggestions. Balancing the concerns of both locals and contractors， it was ultimately agreed that all cultural treasures of the village， including the ancient well and old trees， should be preserved to honor the spiritual needs of the community.

A pivotal figure in addressing the security concerns of the VBA is Cai Dengwei， executive director-general of the Taijiang County Public Security Bureau.

As the commander-in-chief for VBA security matters since May， 2023 Cai has acquired a profound understanding of the system. Over the past year， significant developments have unfolded： the venue's seating capacity has expanded from 21 to 35 rows; the connection between the central court and surrounding spectator stands has been divided into 24 sections to facilitate security maintenance; and essential facilities such as electricity， lighting， and fire-fighting equipment have been installed. Observing the village thrive under the influence of the VBA games， Cai is brimming with pride.

As the epitome of sportsmanship and VBA culture， equality reigns within the venue. All are free to watch the game and no one is privileged on the court. This is the true meaning of sportsmanship and VBA culture.

While overseeing security preparations at the venue on the morning of August 20， Cai received a phone call from one of his college classmates， who requested two prime seats inside the VBA venue to attend Hailai Amu's concert. Regrettably， Cai explained to his friend， \"Our VBA doesn't sell tickets. Anyone wishing for better seating needs to secure and hold it the day before.\" Later that evening， at 7 o'clock， his classmate called again， seeking Cai's assistance to gain entry as they were stopped at the entrance. Apologetically， Cai told him， \"I'm sorry， but no admission is possible as there are no seats available inside the venue. However， you can watch the concert from the big screen outside.\" In response to Cai's explanation， the friend voiced his discontent， stating， \"You are the commander-in-chief in charge of security matters， so it should be very easy for you to make such arrangements. Furthermore， I'm here with my girlfriend. How can you make me lose face in front of her？\" Despite the pressure， Cai remained steadfast in upholding his principles.

When the crowd scattered， Cai， who had been constantly on the move， finally remembered his classmate who had traveled from afar for the event. Feeling a pang of guilt， he took out his phone intending to apologize. However， to his surprise， he found a WeChat message from his friend： \"It's officers like you who safeguard the safety of the people. Without your perseverance， there would be no public order. I salute you！\"

The non-profit VBA games have unexpectedly yielded economic returns that would be unattainable under a commercial model. During the Chixin Festival period alone， the games drew in over 400，000 tourists. The village opened a total of 500 stands， generating approximately 21 million Yuan in revenue.

The VBA games， born from the countryside， proves magnificent and impressive. Among the tens of thousands of spectators are local seniors in their nineties， tourists from all over the nation， basketball enthusiasts observing the games through binoculars from mountain slopes， and fervent supporters kneeling within the venue to closely follow the game's progress. \"To cheer on the players， some bang on cooking utensils while others shout at the top of their lungs， holding up banners，\" remarked Cai Dengwei， emphasizing， \"no matter how festive the atmosphere， we never lose sight of our duty. The safety of the public is paramount; without it， everything is meaningless.\" As the commander-in-chief， he， alongside his fellow police and auxiliary officers， spares no effort in upholding public order.

In addition to the dedication of police officers and village committees， the autonomy of all villagers also plays a crucial role in the smooth operation of the VBA games. Prior to each game， the police station deploys forces across all jurisdictions and collaborates with the local Communist Party of China committee and residents' committee. Through negotiation， basketball-related terms are incorporated into the village covenant of Taipan to accommodate the new situation. To ensure flawless execution of the event， villagers have reached consensus on various technicalities， including \"drawing lots to determine the location of stands，\" \"collaborating to maintain stable prices，\" \"free access to the VBA games，\" and \"free parking.\" They are committed to creating a harmonious and secure atmosphere for the event， thereby enhancing economic development and public administration.

Within the venue， some elderly ladies are wrapping the banisters around the court with coils of hemp ropes. When tourists looked perplexed， ， they explained with warm smiles， \"On sunny days， spectators might be dazzled by the glare of the sun reflecting off these iron banisters. We simply want to contribute to the event.\"

From the weathered faces of the elderly ladies to the police forces adorned in navy-blue uniforms， a well-governed new Taipan is emerging， characterized by thriving industries， a livable environment， cherished folk customs， and prosperous residents.

People may pursue various paths in life， but each person embraces a dream to achieve something meaningful. It is this aspiration that has drawn people from all over China to converge here in Taipan Village， thereby bringing to fruition the VBA dream.

As the crowd dispersed from the venue in the late hours of the night， the fluorescent vests of the traffic police officers caught the gleam of the brightly lit Taipan Hotel. A troupe of Miao girls， adorned in traditional costumes and silver hairpieces， passed by， singing joyfully about their village. The officers in navy-blue uniforms， hearing the echo of the girls' melodious voices lingering in the air， were infused with even greater confidence and determination to safeguard their beloved homeland.

（Translated by Chen Xiaoying， School of Foreign Languages， Beijing Forestry University）