Crossing the Western Tianshan Mountains

Ling Fengxi listened carefully and observed Hanati carefully. He looked very strong, but his face was full of vicissitudes. If Gulinar had not introduced Hanati to everyone carefully on the road, in fact, just looking at his appearance, one would think that he was a strong and capable but poor herdsman. The clothes on his body were very good, but it was true that some poverty seemed to be brought from his bones, and some vicissitudes could not be erased.

This is the man created by the Western Tianshan Mountains. Despite the hardships of the Western Tianshan Mountains, Hanati is still passionate about starting a business and wants to be the village chief. Like the people living down the mountain, he wants to "make some area prosperous first." He has this entrepreneurial spirit and should indeed be considered a successful entrepreneur.

Ling Fengxi suddenly said, "You and your sheep are actually waiting for the tunnel in Xitian Mountain to be opened, right? Once it's opened, all your sheep can be transported to the other side of the mountain, and they will be worth a lot of money."

But in fact, Hanati didn't think so much at that time, or he didn't understand in his mind what kind of impact the West Tianshan long tunnel would have on the herdsmen in the West Tianshan and the north-south economy. Anyway, he didn't see any benefits at present. On the contrary, because of the construction of the West Tianshan tunnel, the herdsmen nearby were not safe, and they said every day that there was a mountain god causing trouble.

But that reservoir is actually quite good... Hanati didn't know how to comment for a moment. He only knew that if he wanted to be the village chief, he needed the support of these officials.

So he really had a kind of "fawning" towards Ling Fengxi.

But Ling Fengxi didn't notice. From time to time, he looked outside through the half-open curtain and saw Ayala squatting in front of the stove, blowing on the fire. He saw steam rising from the big pot, which meant the water was about to boil. At this time, Hanati also felt that the time was almost up and said, "I'm going to kill a sheep. Do you want to come with me?"

Only Gulinar didn't want to go. Ye Minglang didn't want to go either. The two of them sat on the tatami, eating delicious food: some fried sanzi (sandwiches) and mahua (fried dough twists), naan (naan), dried apricots, and air-dried meat strips...

Of course, there is milk tea.

The others went out to watch the fun, and Ling Fengxi of course went out as well, but his eyes were not on Hanati's skillful slaughter of the sheep, but fell on Ayala from time to time.

Ayala kept her head down and cooperated with Hanati's actions seriously. It only took Hanati about ten minutes to skin a living sheep, and then threw the whole skinned sheep into the big pot to cook. At this time, Ayala quickly covered the pot and increased the fire under the stove.

Her hands were a little cold, so she stretched them out a little and warmed them by the fire under the stove.

The others were also cold at this time, so Hanati said, "Let time take care of this meat. Let's go inside and have some tea."

In the winter of the Western Tianshan Mountains, the days are relatively short. Ling Fengxi and his companions had set out in the morning and had only been at the halfway point of the slope for a short time. However, it was already getting dark, and the meat was still not cooked. Ye Minglang asked Ling Fengxi, "Do you want to eat here today?"

Ling Fengxi looked outside and asked Gulinar, "Is it dangerous to go back now?"

Gulinar shook her head. "Secretary Ling, the snow is so strong it's dangerous for us to go back now. We can't even go to other people's houses nearby. It's too easy for something to happen."

Hanati came in carrying cooked potatoes and heard them say, "Why don't we stay in this tent tonight? There's food, drinks, liquor, and mutton. Stay here, stay here. We can't leave today. It's so windy and snowy outside. Even my sheep are lying down and not bleating anymore."

Nurlan also nodded to Ling Fengxi, "I really can't leave."

Anyway, the food was served, and it was actually dark when Ayala brought out the meat, which was already stewed till it was very tender.

Everyone was already starving. Hanati cut off the best piece of meat from the sheep's head with a knife and handed it to Ling Fengxi with both hands, "Dear guest, please enjoy."

Ling Fengxi knew that this was their hospitality etiquette, so he said thank you and took it and put it in his mouth. At this time, Ayala was busy heating up the naan and cutting it into pieces for them. The delicious food and the bustle on the table seemed to have nothing to do with her. Hanati and Ayala seemed to be accustomed to this state. Time flowed naturally and no one felt anything was wrong.

Only Ling Feng felt very uncomfortable. But what could he say?

Gulinar chose this mutton because it was delicious, stewed to the perfect temperature, and the potatoes on the table were just right. It was delicious. As for young people like Nurlan and Ye Minglang, they no longer cared about whether the meat was fragrant or not. They just wanted to fill their stomachs first. To them, this meat was so delicious that it was enough to make their tongues fall off.

Ling Fengxi ate very slowly. He was sick and needed an injection. Today, because he came here, he couldn't get the injection, so he actually felt a little short of breath.

After eating a little, he put down his chopsticks, which made Hanati laugh. "City people are no good. Although they make a lot of money, dress well, and are educated, their health is not good at all. Men who don't eat meat have no strength."

As he spoke, he proudly put a large piece of meat into his mouth.

Generally speaking, except for Ling Fengxi, everyone else felt very satisfied with the meal. Even Ye Minglang said, "I've never indulged in such a large amount of meat at once. Is this meat replacing the staple food?"

Actually, there were staple foods, but I was full after eating just meat, so I didn’t eat the staple foods.

Gulinar said, "If I had known you were so greedy for meat, I would have cooked one for you a long time ago."

Ye Minglang blushed, "It's not that I'm craving meat, it's just that I feel like today, with you by my side, being a guest in someone else's house, and eating all the time, is a rare occasion."

The key is to stay away from each other's parents and not have to bear any psychological burden. Only young lovers can understand this subtle emotion.

When they had almost finished eating, Hanati finally took out his liquor. No one knew the brand, maybe it was loose liquor he bought from somewhere, or maybe he brewed it himself. In any case, it was packed in a sheepskin bag. He took out three bottles at once. When the liquor was poured into the bowl, it was clear and the aroma was fragrant. Before everyone even drank it, they were already a little drunk by the smell of the alcohol.

Ayala finally spoke, "This is a strong liquor, city people are not used to it."

"The wine in the city is so soft. Now that you've come here, you have to drink the wine that real men drink. Come on, pour it up!"

He personally poured a bowl for everyone. Ling Fengxi, who was already having a stomachache at the time, frowned at the sight of the wine. Hanati picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp. "Come on, let's drink a bowl first. Anyone who doesn't drink is disrespecting Hanati. Come on, drink!"

The sound was so loud, as if threatening, that it startled everyone. Except for Ling Fengxi, everyone else picked up their wine bowls and started drinking.

The wine went down his throat, like a knife scraping. As it went down, he felt his esophagus and stomach were bloody. After Ye Minglang finished drinking, he couldn't help but hold his stomach...

His face turned pale in an instant, not from the burning of the wine, but from the pain in his stomach.

How can this be alcohol? It's like poison.

On the other hand, Gulinar could tolerate the wine better. After drinking it, she didn't eat meat or drink milk tea. Instead, she smacked her lips and said, "This wine is good. This wine is really good."

Nurlan also gave a thumbs up after drinking it. At present, it seems that only Ye Minglang and two other staff members can't stand this wine. Ye Minglang finished it, but the other two frowned after drinking half a sip, and drank another half sip, it really felt like drinking poison. The person in front of Ling Fengfeng didn't move. Hanati was staring at Ling Fengxi's hand holding the wine bowl.

"Secretary Ling, you won't give me Hanati face, right?"