In 1943, Niu Zhenmin established Taiji Coal Mine in Beijing. The family stepped into the energy industry since then. With his outstanding business talents, Niu Zhenmin became one of the Four Big Tigers of the booming energy field, who also owned construction materials and railway business in China. Meanwhile, Niu Zhenmin's brother who served as the Party Secretary of Eight Route Army 120 Division, North China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and the Beijing University of Science and Technology, had been honourably awarded by China Premier Zhou Enlai.