Seeing these visitors showing such respect for their customs, the Tibetan men began to sing, while some young Tibetan women went to the center of the area to dance. For a time, the place was filled with singing and dancing, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
The subsequent whole roasted lamb, prepared in its original flavor, was a delight for everyone. The banquet lasted for two or three hours before it finally ended. Slightly tipsy, Liu Chuan presented the wolf pelts to the host, Renqing Cuomu, with both hands. This drew envious glances from all the guests, as such a gift was rare on the grasslands and demonstrated the guests' respect for their host.
As the host, Rinchen Tsomu had also drunk quite a bit. When she stood up, she was already a little unsteady, but she looked very happy. After saying something to Pema, she accepted the gift from Liu Chuan with both hands. For Tibetans, a guest's gift is a token of friendship and cannot be refused.
At this moment, the golden Tibetan mastiff suddenly ran in, first rubbing its head against Zhuang Rui before lying down at Renqing Cuomu's feet. This scene amazed everyone in the tent. Everyone knew that Duoqi from Renqing Cuomu's family was the most noble, and he ignored everyone except Renqing Cuomu's family. Moreover, these guests were all brought by Duoqi. Now, it was actually showing goodwill to Zhuang Rui, which made everyone's attitude towards Zhuang Rui even more respectful.
"Brother Liu Chuan, Duoqi are our friends. We hope you will treat them well in the future. The Snow Mountain Goddess will bless you."
Little Dawa followed the golden Tibetan Mastiff into the tent, carrying two small, black puppies in her arms. Liu Chuan's eyes lit up. Sure enough, after Renqing Cuomu took the puppies, she gave them back to Liu Chuan as a gift. This immediately sobered Liu Chuan up, and he couldn't wait to put the two Tibetan Mastiff puppies, who hadn't even opened their eyes yet, back into the incubator he had prepared in the Hummer.
These two Tibetan Mastiff puppies are descendants of that Golden Mastiff King. Even though the mother's breed wasn't pure, these two puppies are still incredibly valuable, which is why Liu Chuan acted that way.
"Brother Renqing Cuomu, could you please let us witness the horsemanship of the grassland warriors?"
After Liu Chuan and Renqing Cuomu finished exchanging gifts, Zhuang Rui spoke to his master.
"no problem!"
Renqing Cuomu readily agreed and immediately had someone make the arrangements.
The Tibetan people's winter homes are also built in a place surrounded by mountains on three sides, which can not only shelter them from the wind, but also effectively prevent wolf attacks. However, after leaving the mountain pass, there is a vast grassland with no trees, but herds of cattle and sheep. Flocks of sheep and horses are like rolling clouds dotting the distant mountains and nearby waters. The white clouds in the blue sky reflect each other, making it almost indistinguishable, as if in a dream.
When Liu Chuan reached the village entrance, he put the two Tibetan mastiffs into the Hummer. Zhuang Rui, on the other hand, held the little dog the whole time. He had an arm injury and couldn't ride a horse. His words earlier were actually for Qin Xuanbing. Over the past few days, he had learned that Qin Xuanbing loved riding horses.
At this moment, Little Dawa, sitting on a horse followed by several tall horses, came to the side of the group.
"Brother Liu Chuan, how about we go for a horse race?"
After Renqing Cuomu mounted a horse, she spoke to Liu Chuan.
Liu Chuan had only ever taken photos riding on those toothless old horses in the park, so he didn't dare to accept the challenge. However, Qin Xuanbing said from the side, "I'll compete."
"Okay, you're the Bam of women, but you can try to compete with Dawa."
In Tibetan, "Bamu" means "heroine," but although Rinchen Tsomu said this, she refused to compete with Qin Xuanbing and instead put her own daughter forward, which is also a source of pride for Tibetan men.
Qin Xuanbing hesitated. Comparing herself to an eight or nine-year-old child would be embarrassing, even if she won. Little did she know that children from Tibetan herder families grew up on horseback from a young age, and their skills were comparable to those of professional horse racers.
Dawa's mother, Baima, came over carrying several saddles. After saddled a pure white horse, she led it to Qin Xuanbing. Looking at the tall and handsome white horse and the boundless grassland, Qin Xuanbing forgot that she was competing with little Dawa and jumped on the horse.
Little Dawa rode a chestnut horse, and once he picked up speed, he was like a red lightning bolt darting across the green grass. Qin Xuanbing's skills were really good; she managed to keep up closely behind Dawa without being left behind. The two figures, one red and one white, chased each other across the grassland.
At this moment, apart from Zhuang Rui, the others were also on horseback. Renqing Cuomu whistled and charged ahead first, followed closely by Zhou Rui, and then Bai Meng'an. His horsemanship was surprisingly good, and his movements were standard and he never fell behind. Only Liu Chuan and Lei Lei were a bit disheveled, their bodies swaying from side to side on their horses, which made Zhuang Rui laugh heartily from below.
Upon hearing Renqing Cuomu's whistle, the golden Tibetan mastiff also rushed out, and for a moment, the neighing of horses, the barking of dogs, and the hearty laughter of the crowd echoed across the grassland.
After leaving the winter camp that filled everyone with wonderful memories, it was already late afternoon. However, it was only a little over four hours away from Nagqu, so they could easily make it there for the night. Moreover, Liu Chuan had achieved his goal of going to Tibet. The Hummer was filled with laughter and joy.
The ladies were delighted that before they left, Pema gave each of them a beautiful piece of silver jewelry. Although it might not be very expensive, it was something that could never be bought elsewhere, which made them feel that their trip was worthwhile.
Bai Meng'an also got into the Hummer, but he wasn't in a very good mood. Compared to Liu Chuan, who was being a foster father to two puppies, and Zhuang Rui, who was playing with the little guy, Bai Meng'an's trip to Tibet didn't seem to be so pleasant.
Chapter 79 Conflict (Part 1)
After observing Qin Xuanbing's behavior in the Hummer, Bai Meng'an realized that Qin Xuanbing had indeed developed feelings for Zhuang Rui. Perhaps it wasn't quite to the point of being determined to marry him, but for Qin Xuanbing, who had always kept men at arm's length, it was already quite remarkable.
Although Bai Meng'an was somewhat jealous of Zhuang Rui, he hadn't reached the point of hatred. He himself was a person who often had scandals with various celebrities in Hong Kong, and he had always harbored a desire to conquer the aloof Qin Xuanbing. However, it seemed that he had no hope now.
Zhuang Rui, however, was rather oblivious to matters of the heart. Everyone in the car could see Qin Xuanbing's undisguised affection for him, but the guy kept his attention focused on his puppy. He even took Qin Xuanbing's occasional glances at him as expressions of love for the puppy.
Seeing that Zhuang Rui was ignoring her, Qin Xuanbing reached out and teased the little guy, saying, "Zhuang Rui, give your puppy a name."
"Name it? That makes sense. We can't just call it 'little thing' or 'little guy.'"
Zhuang Rui frowned upon hearing this. The little guy is so adorable; we need to give him a nice name.
"Little White? Snow White?"
"No, that sounds awful."
Zhuang Rui came up with two names, but both were rejected by everyone. In addition, Liu Chuan took away his right to name the little guy, which made him so angry that he almost named the little guy Liu Chuan.
Qin Xuanbing said, "Zhuang Rui, its fur is white, and it looks like a little lion, so let's just call it White Lion."
"A white lion is good. The lion in The Lion King is also white."
Upon hearing the name, Liu Chuan cheered loudly.
"White Lion, hmm, not bad, it sounds good, let's call it White Lion then."
Zhuang Rui thought for a moment, nodded, picked up the white lion, put it in Qin Xuanbing's arms, and said, "Go and thank your sister Xuanxuan."
"Pah, if I'm its older sister, then you're its older brother."
Qin Xuanbing spat at Zhuang Rui, but immediately realized that her words were grammatically incorrect. She blushed with embarrassment and turned her head to the side.
Zhuang Rui didn't think too much about it; he just felt that he had enjoyed spending time with Qin Xuanbing. He wasn't angry after hearing Qin Xuanbing's words; he just grinned foolishly. Bai Meng'an, standing to the side, was burning with envy, wishing she could transform into Zhuang Rui and seize the opportunity to fawn over her and win her heart.
After traversing the vast grasslands, the group finally arrived in Nagqu. However, they didn't stay long, spending the night to rest. The next morning, they drove to Lhasa, the last stop on their Tibet trip. After spending two days in Lhasa, they prepared to return home, which was about in line with Liu Chuan's expectations.
Lhasa is a sacred place in the hearts of all Tibetans. Along the highway from Nagqu to Lhasa, there are many Tibetans walking to Lhasa for pilgrimage, and even more ascetics who prostrate themselves with every step they take to express their devotion. Zhuang Rui and the others saw that the clothes on their knees were worn and tattered, but on their faces, they saw only peace, without a trace of worldly restlessness.
Lhasa was formerly known as "Rasa". Legend has it that when Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty married into Tibet in the 7th century, this place was still a barren beach. Later, in order to build the Jokhang Temple and Ramoche Temple, the pond was filled with soil carried by goats. After the temple was built, the number of missionary monks and pilgrims increased. Around the Jokhang Temple, many hotels and residential houses were built one after another, forming the prototype of the old city centered on the Jokhang Temple.
Meanwhile, Songtsen Gampo expanded the palace at Red Hill (the present-day Potala Palace). As a result, palaces were successively built on the Lhasa River valley plain, and the renowned plateau city, famous both domestically and internationally, was formed. "Rasa" gradually became a "holy land" in people's hearts, becoming the religious, political, economic, and cultural center of Tibet at that time. In the general public's impression, Lhasa consists of the Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, and the Lhasa River. However, Tibetans believe that only by reaching Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street can one truly experience Lhasa.
"Zhuang Rui, come and look, this thing is so beautiful!"
In the bustling Barkhor Street, Zhuang Rui carried more than a dozen bags of various sizes, with a colorful hada knot around his neck. Inside his jacket, a furry little head peeked out—it was the little white lion.
Zhuang Rui squeezed his way towards Qin Xuanbing and the other girls with difficulty. However, not many people paid attention to him here; they were all tourists from all over the country, and they were already used to this kind of scene. It was just that the beauty of Qin Xuanbing and the other girls attracted the attention of many tourists.
"Hey ladies, we've bought quite a lot of things today. You don't want to bring this whole street home, do you?"
Zhuang Rui squeezed to the stall where a few girls were standing and said with a wry smile, "The three girls decided to go shopping this morning. Liu Chuan had to take care of his two beloved Tibetan mastiffs, Zhou Rui had no interest in shopping at all, and Bai Meng'an actually suffered from altitude sickness after arriving in Lhasa and was lying in her hotel room breathing oxygen. Without asking, Zhuang Rui was naturally conscripted."
Zhuang Rui originally intended to leave the white lion at the hotel, but the little guy, seeing Zhuang Rui about to leave, clung tightly to his trouser leg and wouldn't let go. Left with no other choice, Zhuang Rui put on Liu Chuan's jacket and took the white lion with him, along with his own jacket, which had been torn to shreds during the fight with the wolves.
Barkhor Street is a well-preserved old city in Lhasa, the most famous pilgrimage route in Tibet, and the tourist and commercial center of Lhasa. The street, paved with hand-polished stones, is not very wide, but it is the place with the highest daily traffic in Lhasa. There are more than a thousand shops and mobile stalls. Almost all the houses along the street are shops, selling prayer wheels of various sizes, Tibetan robes, Tibetan knives, vivid and simple religious objects, and other daily necessities.
Since Zhuang Rui's hotel was right next to this place, Qin Xuanbing and the others dragged him out early in the morning. They've been shopping for four whole hours, and the girls are still as excited as ever, enthusiastically browsing every stall they pass. Zhuang Rui has become a walking shopping cart, being pulled around like a puppet all morning.
However, Zhuang Rui also made some gains. He bought a lot of Tibetan medicinal materials, such as Ganoderma lucidum, saffron, cordyceps, Tibetan antelope horn, snow lotus, etc. There were also some kinds of magical compound Tibetan medicines that were said to be prepared and processed by lamas and Tibetan medicine secret recipes. Although he didn't know how effective they were, it was always good to take them back to show filial piety to his elders. This was something that Liu Chuan had repeatedly told him before he left the hotel.
Qin Xuanbing draped the few Tibetan-style women's clothes she had just bought over Zhuang Rui's shoulders, and then, along with Bai Mengyao and Lei Lei, slipped into the crowd to continue their treasure hunting business. Zhuang Rui couldn't believe that Qin Xuanbing, who was as cold as ice just half a month ago, had become like this. Seeing her haggling with the vendors in Mandarin with a Cantonese accent, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but wonder if she was a completely different person.
However, Zhuang Rui felt a sense of familiarity with Qin Xuanbing, as if she were a friend. After spending these days together, Zhuang Rui discovered that Qin Xuanbing was kind-hearted. In the past few days, Zhuang Rui often joked with her. If it were before, Zhuang Rui would definitely have kept his distance from her.
Although he complained, Zhuang Rui was willing to do the hard work for these ladies. After all, the people coming and going here were a mixed bag, and he wouldn't feel at ease without a man by his side. Besides, the items here were obviously modern handicrafts, with no old things at all. Zhuang Rui was too lazy to use his spiritual energy to distinguish them, and instead enjoyed the pleasure of shopping.
"Are you being reasonable? We were the ones who wanted this first. Why should we sell it to them? Don't we have the money to pay?"
Zhuang Rui heard it clearly; the indignant voice came from Lei Lei. She had probably gotten into an argument with someone while selling things, and now she didn't care about the Tibetan knife she was playing with. She threw it on the stall and squeezed towards the direction from which the voice came from.
"What happened? Lei Lei, don't be angry, tell me slowly."
Zhuang Rui finally managed to squeeze to the front of the stall that had been surrounded by several people, and saw Lei Lei pointing her finger at the stall owner and loudly questioning him.
"Zhuang Rui, you've come at the right time. Tell me, aren't they being unreasonable?"
Lei Lei grabbed Zhuang Rui and asked him to judge the matter.
"Young Miss, please tell me what happened first. I don't know anything about it."
Zhuang Rui looked at Lei Lei and said helplessly, "She and Liu Chuan are really a couple; they both do and say things that are a bit muddled."
"Here's the thing, we took a liking to that Thangka. The stall owner initially said he wanted to sell it for 500 yuan, and we agreed. But then he changed his mind and wanted to sell it for 800 yuan, and we agreed to that too. What's infuriating is that we had already agreed on a price, and then this person came over and offered 1,000 yuan. The stall owner was going to sell it to that person. Isn't this a very dishonest way to do business?"
Qin Xuanbing recounted the events to Zhuang Rui, her usually calm demeanor now replaced by a look of anger.
“Miss, that’s not how it works. When I sell something, if someone offers a higher price, of course I’ll sell it to them. If you want it, and you offer a higher price, I’ll sell it to you too. Why would I not make money? Don’t you all agree?”
Before Zhuang Rui could speak, the stall owner began to defend himself, and some people in the crowd loudly agreed. Lei Lei turned pale with anger upon hearing this, and just as she was about to speak, a middle-aged man standing opposite her said with disdain, "If you can't afford it, don't buy it. It's embarrassing enough."
This remark infuriated Lei Lei. Although she wasn't as wealthy as Qin Xuanbing, she still had a few hundred thousand yuan at her disposal during her trip to the mainland to investigate the market. She immediately said, "I'll offer 1,200 yuan. Let's see who can't afford it."
Chapter 80 Conflict (Part 2)
“I’ll pay 1,500 yuan; I’m definitely taking this Thangka.”
Seeing Lei Lei raise the price, the middle-aged man immediately called out another price.
"2000 yuan!"
Lei Lei, not to be outdone, shouted loudly. At this point, she no longer cared about the real price of the Thangka. As the saying goes, "Man fights for a breath, Buddha fights for a stick of incense." Lei Lei already had a fiery temper, and being publicly humiliated like this was something she couldn't swallow.
"Yes, we'll contribute 2000. If you don't have the money, don't pretend to be rich."
Bai Mengyao, having somehow heard the word "rich guy," joined in the jeering. A few thousand yuan was really nothing to these girls.
“I’ll offer 2,500. Don’t try to show off just because you have a little money. When it comes to showing off your wealth, you’re far behind.”
The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, then called out another price, looking at Lei Lei and the others with a defiant expression.
Zhuang Rui was initially quite angry, but he always felt that something was wrong, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. While Lei Lei and the middle-aged man were bidding up the price, Zhuang Rui took a step back, almost shrinking back into the crowd, and began to observe.
Upon seeing this, Zhuang Rui understood that this was also a charade. Although the middle-aged man was dressed as a Han Chinese and spoke fluent Mandarin, like a tourist, the faint blush on his face indicated that he must have lived in Tibet for a long time.
Before each price increase, he would steal glances at the stall owner, and only after seeing the stall owner nod slightly would he make his offer. He also used words to provoke Lei Lei and the others, which can be described as very successful. At the very least, Lei Lei was now furious.
Although the method was crude, it was very effective. They probably came up with this idea after seeing Lei Lei and the others shopping so much without even negotiating the prices. These women had never been to a market like this before and didn't know how to bargain, so they fell into the trap.
Qin Xuanbing, Lei Lei, and Bai Mengyao, who have worked in the business world, may still have some sense of vigilance, but in this kind of environment, being verbally attacked and laughed at by onlookers, they lose their composure. If Liu Chuan were here, he would probably see through this charade at a glance.
"I'll pay 4,000 yuan, boss. Don't bother talking to these girls anymore, the money's right here. Hurry up and wrap up the stuff for me."
The price had now been raised to 4,000 RMB, and the middle-aged man pulled out a wad of RMB from his pocket, patted it in his hand, and urged the stall owner to put the Thangka away for him.
"I……"
"Lei Lei, a gentleman does not take what others cherish. We don't want this."
Before Lei Lei could even utter the word "I," Zhuang Rui interrupted her. Seeing Zhuang Rui wink at her, Lei Lei paused for a moment and didn't continue. She was just too angry, but she wasn't brainless. After hearing what Zhuang Rui said, she came to her senses a little.
These women were incredibly clever. After Zhuang Rui's explanation and considering what had just happened, they immediately understood the whole story. Bai Mengyao wasn't angry anymore and said with a smile, "This uncle is so rich! We won't argue with you anymore. You can buy that thing."
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man and the stall owner were dumbfounded. It was obvious that the cooked duck had flown away, and the culprit was naturally Zhuang Rui, who had interfered.
"Boy, what you just said means you're calling me a villain?"