1983 was promoted to deputy director of Ningxia Library, and he was the youngest director in Ningxia at that time. From 1985, he was promoted to curator and became the longest-serving librarian in China.
When studying at Wuhan University, Ding Li wrote a letter to Mr. Bai Shouyi, a master of Chinese studies and a professor at Beijing Normal University, on how to study history. "I didn't expect Mr. Bai Shouyi to write back, and also pointed out which history I should study specifically, and then recommended many books to me." Li Ding said.
During the summer vacation, I went to visit Mr. Bai directly. After he came back, he wrote another letter to Mr. Bai, which was about the history of the Hui nationality. "I remember very clearly that Mr. Bai put forward a point in his reply: Han scholars must participate in the study of Hui history. Different perspectives and angles will help us to understand the history of the Hui people more objectively and deeply. " Li Ding said.
After graduating from university and returning to Ningxia Library, Li Ding ushered in a new period after the Cultural Revolution. 1980 One day, he learned that Mr. Bai Shouyi needed to find an assistant in Ningxia Academy of Social Sciences to edit Hui Tales. "I went directly to the leaders of Ningxia Academy of Social Sciences, and found Mr. Wang, a leading figure in the study of Hui nationality in Ningxia, and strongly urged me to be an assistant to Mr. Bai and write" Hui Tales ". With the first two letters as the foundation and Mr. Bai Shouyi's approval, I was able to go to Beijing to listen to Mr. Bai's teachings. At this point, three good teachers in my life: Gao Shuyu, Yang Huaizhong and Bai Shouyi have all appeared. "
After arriving in Beijing, Li Ding and other staff members lived in a unit building of Beijing Normal University, and Li Ding shared a room with Mr. Yang Huaizhong, a famous Hui scholar in Ningxia. In the days that followed, they studied together, discussed problems together and looked up information together. Li Ding said, "Teacher Yang and I go to the library every day, because I study library science, so I mainly undertake the work of finding information. Getting along with Mr. Yang is another good learning opportunity. We have formed complementary advantages and improved work efficiency. We will give the information we have consulted or the chapters we need to write to Mr. Bai's secretary, who will read it to Mr. Bai. Mr. Bai is old, and his eyesight is seriously declining, so he can only listen to his secretary. After listening to the search of these materials or the progress of writing chapters, he will arrange seminars in due course. At that time, Mr. Bai was very strict with us. Attending the meeting were professors and experts from the History Department of Beijing Normal University and many universities in Beijing. With so many people present, Mr. Bai often criticizes our shortcomings mercilessly. For example, when quoting other people's opinions, we must indicate the source. "
At that time, Mr. Bai Shouyi often called the relevant personnel of Hui People's Story for meetings from time to time. Therefore, Li Ding and other personnel dare not leave Beijing at will, and everyone is working in a tense atmosphere. Later, Mr. Bai asked them to go to Beijing twice a year to finalize, publish and submit the manuscript until they finished writing.
Ding really realized the academic charm and personality charm of Mr. Bai Shouyi as a great historian when he wrote The Story of Hui People. Once, they were discussing a stone tablet about the origin of Hui people, and many people discussed the authenticity of the inscription. Ding Li wants to test Mr Bai Shouyi's academic ability. At that time, Mr. Bai decided that the stone tablet was false because the language and tone of the inscription revealed the differences in language expression between the Ming Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty.