Chapter 59: Tibetan Children
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Unanticipatedly, the road from Zheduo Mountain to Xinduqiao turned out to be quite smooth. In under an hour, Zhou Chao and Lin Wu found themselves in Xinduqiao.
Xinduqiao Town was established along the 318 National Road, featuring a central main street flanked by numerous shops. The town exuded a bustling commercial vibe. Yet, it wasn’t unusual to witness groups of cattle strolling along the streets, seemingly oblivious to the various shops selling yak meat along the roadside.
Zhou Chao bought a few bags of yak jerky by the roadside and negotiated with a local herdsman about camping in the grassland nearby for the night. The herdsman, quite familiar with such requests, readily agreed. He even warmly invited them to have dinner together. After a brief consideration, Zhou Chao politely declined the invitation, bid farewell to the herdsman, and led Lin Wu to set up camp on a relatively flat piece of land.
They quickly set up their tents. Lin Wu unloaded some food and sleeping bags from the car, while Zhou Chao began preparing dinner.
As night fell, the autumn evening grew cold, but the starry sky was exceptionally beautiful. After finishing their meal, Zhou Chao lay on the grass and gazed at the bright stars. As the temperature dropped, he had to nestle in his sleeping bag to spend the enchanting night.
The next day, Zhou Chao and Lin Wu enjoyed a traditional Tibetan breakfast at the herdsman’s home. After packing up their tents, they waved goodbye and set off.
“Boss, we might need to refuel first. We have less than half a tank now, and we might not make it to the next gas station.” Lin Wu started the car and glanced at the fuel gauge, addressing Zhou Chao, who was lying down.
After circling around Xinduqiao, Lin Wu finally found a gas station. Since there were quite a few self-driving tourists on the 318 route, they had to wait nearly 10 minutes for their turn to refuel. After the tank was full, Lin Wu was about to take the wheel, but Zhou Chao stopped him.
“I’ll drive today. You can rest beside me.” Lin Wu looked at Zhou Chao, who already took the driver’s seat, and hurried to the passenger side.
After approximately two and a half hours from Xinduqiao, they arrived in Yajiang, a small town nestled in the mountains and valleys of western Sichuan, renowned as the starting point of the Ancient Tea Horse Road and a paradise for matsutake mushrooms.
Yajiang, built against the mountains, had attracted many self-driving tourists. As a food lover, Zhou Chao couldn’t miss out on the local matsutake mushrooms. Driving into Yajiang’s largest matsutake market, Zhou Chao roamed around and bought a big bag of them. Reluctantly, he left the market.
Leaving Yajiang, they encountered their second major mountain on the southern route of the 318 Highway—Kazila Mountain. Although it was considered a mountain, it didn’t feel like one. It was more like a beautiful pasture that brought a sense of tranquility. Unlike the challenges faced on Zheduo Mountain, the view here was breathtaking. Gazing at the distant yaks grazing peacefully, Zhou Chao felt a sense of ease.
After driving for about two and a half hours, they reached Litang, a place known for being expansive and flat. Compared to Yajiang, Litang was tranquil and almost entirely flat.
“Let’s have a meal first, then we’ll explore the ‘Sky City’ that everyone has been talking about,”
Zhou Chao suggested as they parked their car and walked along a road. Spotting a restaurant with a decent number of customers, they walked in and were promptly greeted by a waitress. Zhou Chao ordered a few dishes, and he and Lin Wu engaged in conversation.
“Have you called home recently? We’ve been out for nearly 10 days now. How are things back home?”
“Everything’s fine. They’re just restless. They said that once we return, my parents will head back to western Hunan. They’ve grown accustomed to rural life and feel uneasy living in a big city. It’s like they don’t belong there.”
“Indeed, that makes sense. After our trip, let’s visit Fog City. If there’s no urgent business, we’ll head straight back to Modu City. We’ll arrange for the car to be transported back and provide you with a few days off to accompany your parents back to western Hunan.”
During their leisurely conversation, the waitress brought their dishes to the table, and they chatted while eating.
“Speaking of Lin Wu, why haven’t you found a wife yet?”
“Well, I’ve dedicated the first half of my life to our country. If it weren’t for this accident, I might not have retired.”
“Hahaha, try to find a wife sooner. When the time comes, I’ll arrange everything for you.”
Lin Wu scratched his head and said sheepishly, “I don’t know when that’ll be.”
They quickly finished their meal and then approached a local elderly person to inquire. They were preparing to explore Qianhu Tibetan Village. As they arrived at the entrance, the massive relief sculptures caught their attention. Many tourists were taking photos, and Zhou Chao and Lin Wu headed toward Renkang Ancient Street.
Qianhu Tibetan Village was situated along this street, consisting of 13 Tibetan villages and more than 4,000 households, making it the most concentrated and grandest Tibetan village cluster. Walking along the ancient street, listening to the sound of prayer wheels being turned by the roadside breeze, one felt particularly relaxed.
They played around until 4 pm before setting off for their next destination, Batang. This county town was where Sichuan culture met Tibetan culture, and it was about 170 kilometers away. They were expecting to reach Batang by around 8 pm.
Passing by Sister Lakes, Zhou Chao stopped the car for a moment, captivated by the scenery, before continuing towards Batang.
As the sky gradually darkened, they drew closer to Batang.
“Boss, there are two kids by the roadside, each carrying a school bag. Should we offer them a ride?”
“Let’s see if they want to. If not, you can offer them something.”
The car came to a stop in front of the two young Tibetan children.
“Zhaxi Dele,” before Zhou Chao could even speak, the two children greeted him with smiles.
“Zhaxi Dele,” the pure Tibetan words rolled off Zhou Chao’s tongue, impressing the kids.
“Where are you two going? Do you want me to give you a ride? It’s getting dark.”
After a brief discussion between the kids, the older one spoke up, “We just finished school and are going home. You might not be going the same way.” “It’s alright. It’s getting dark, and it’s not safe for you to walk in the dark. Get in the car, and 1’11 take you home.”
“Do you both walk home from school every day?”
“Yes.”
“How long does it usually take you?”
“About two hours.”
“How far is it?”
“Less than 10 kilometers.” Zhou Chao learned that some smaller villages had merged, so the kids needed to walk a bit farther to reach school.
“Oh, kids, there’s some good food in the back. You can help yourselves to whatever you want.”
“Thank you, big brother.” The hungry kids eagerly began eating. After about 20 minutes, Zhou Chao dropped them off at their home. The journey that usually took hours by foot only took 20 minutes by car. Zhou Chao found himself lost in thought.
“Boss, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Tomorrow, let’s spend a day in Batang doing something meaningful.” Zhou Chao looked out the window, lost in thought.
By the time they reached Batang, it was already 8:30 pm. They found a large inn, took refreshing hot showers, and then went out to a restaurant to satisfy their rumbling stomachs..