african diary

It was past nine o'clock when I returned to the company dormitory after dinner, and I saw Tang Xi as soon as I entered the door.

"Where did you go today?" Tang Xi asked lightly, she was a little upset that Xiao Hang left the dance party early that day, and later she went on a business trip and didn't have time to argue with him, did he really take herself seriously? ?

"You came back from Zinder?"

"Well, I came back in the morning, I didn't see you, where did you go?" Tang Xi still asked persistently.

"Oh, hanging out with friends."

"Friend? Male or female?"

"Male." Tang Xi was just his senior sister, not a guardian, and Xiao Hang was a little impatient with her questioning, and didn't want to answer at first, but forget it, there's no need to make it unpleasant because of such a trivial matter.

"I didn't expect you to make friends not long after arriving in Niger, ha ha." Tang Xi saw Xiao Hang's impatience, and did not continue to ask.

Early the next morning, Tang Xi knocked on Xiao Hang's door.

"can you drive?"

"I haven't learned it before." Xiao Hang was born with red-green color blindness, and he is not allowed to drive according to domestic requirements.

"Let me teach you, in Africa, it's inconvenient not to know how to drive. The company has limited manpower, and you have to drive wherever you go to do business. I drove to Zinder two days ago by myself."

Xiao Hang thought for a while, nodded and said, "Okay." It's a boy's dream to drive a car. Since he came to Africa, a place with loose government management, why not hide the fact that he is colorblind, and the addiction to driving is quite good. OK

So the two drove the company's car to an empty place on the outskirts of Niamey.

"Actually, it's not difficult to drive. The company's car is an automatic transmission, and it can be driven as soon as it comes up. Let me tell you about the various operations on the car."

This woman, Tang Xi, usually looks quiet and quiet, but she is a bit crazy when driving, but she has been in Africa for a year, and her skills are not bad.

After the explanation, Tang Xi let Xiao Hang go on the road directly, which would really scare people to death in China.

But it is indeed as Tang Xi said, driving is not difficult, and men seem to have an innate sense of control over vehicles. After getting acquainted with the instruments in the car, Xiao Hang can already drive smoothly, and the rest is just Find a sense of car.

After continuing to train for a while, the two drove the car to the side of the Niamey Bridge and parked at noon, had a simple meal, and leaned on the bridge to enjoy the scenery of Niger.The Niger River under the blue sky is sparkling, and all kinds of boats are coming and going. Although the weather is a bit hot, it is hard to see such a blue sky and such beautiful water in China.

"Dididi..." Xiao Hang's cell phone rang from time to time.

"Where is it?" Ted's lazy voice came.

"Learning to drive."

"Oh," Ted chuckled, "who taught you?"

"Co-workers."

"I can imagine another road killer in Niger soon."

"Cut, I'm driving well." Xiao Hang felt a little annoyed at Ted's distrust.

"Do you want to meet this afternoon?"

Xiao Hang looked at Tang Xi beside him, pondered for a moment and replied: "Forget it, let's do it another day."

In the afternoon, Xiao Hang continued to strengthen his practice. Tang Xi agreed to ask Manager Xu to get a Niger driver's license for Xiao Hang. In Africa, you can get a driver's license for a few dollars, but there is no need to really spend time studying and taking the exam.

Back at the company dormitory, Manager Xu was humming happily. Seeing the two people entering the door, he said, "Today the consulate sent some fresh vegetables and fruits. It is said that they were sponsored by the Ouattara family. Let's make something to eat, and if you can't finish it, remember to put it in the refrigerator."

Xiao Hang looked at the cabbage, tomato, broccoli and other vegetables, as well as some fruits, which were all expensive in Niger.This guy Ted is very careful, but unfortunately these tricks of chasing little girls can’t conquer Xiao Hang. If he is willing to be ordinary friends with Xiao Hang, in this unfamiliar Africa, it would be nice to have such a person as his backing Not bad, but it's a pity that this person has bad intentions.

The dinner was successfully completed with the cooperation of Xiao Hang and Tang Xi. Both of them are good cooks. It is rare to eat such home-cooked food in Africa. Manager Xu was very happy and took out a few cans of beer that he had hidden to share. up.

Opening the mailbox at night, Yang Yue sent an email saying that he recently went to visit with his tutor and visited Xiao Hang's mother in City C by the way. Everything is fine, so he doesn't have to worry.Xiao Hang thought for a while, and suddenly realized that he was ignoring Yang Yue. He was busy with work during the day and didn't call her. He should be asleep now. Alas, such a boyfriend is really lucky to be able to follow Yang Yue wholeheartedly.Xiao Hang opened the outbox and wrote an email to Yang Yue——

"Yueyue, I've been quite busy with work recently. Manager Xu of the branch office usually looks annoying, but he's actually pretty nice. He's going back to China for vacation next month. He said he's going to leave early and come back for the Spring Festival. Let me and Tang Xi can go home during the Spring Festival.

I met a businessman who sold ivory jewelry that day, and I bought you a bracelet, and I will give it to you when I go back for the Spring Festival.Because too many people are poaching, ivory products are now banned in Africa. "

The days that followed were uneventful. Manager Xu went back to China for vacation. The project progressed smoothly. A few days ago, the only remaining Bororo tribe along the way of the pipeline laying readily agreed to relocate.From time to time, the consulate sent some vegetables and fruits sponsored by the Ouattara family, and Xiao Hang would chat with Ted on MSN every night.On this day, Xiao Hang told Ted that the company was invited to participate in the annual beauty contest of the Bororo tribe the next day.Ted was very interested and insisted on going with them.

So the next day, it became a situation where the three of them went to the beauty pageant together.Tang Xi wasn't particularly happy about the addition of another guy to join in the fun, but he didn't say anything when he heard that it was from the Ouattara family. After all, the Ouattara family and the consulate seemed to be quite close recently.

The Bororo people are a mild-tempered nation. The chief of the tribe is very hospitable. He not only entertained the three people who came, but also warmly invited them to participate in the beauty pageant.

"Thank you, we don't understand customs, so we won't participate." Tang Xi politely refused.

"Choose one of you to participate." The chief didn't seem to hear Tang Xi's rejection.

"We really..." Dare not to say that he didn't want to participate, Xiao Hang changed his method, "I don't know how to do it."

"Hurry up and change inside."

Unmoved by such an obvious refusal, Xiao Hang almost doubted whether the chief could understand French.

"What should I do?" Tang Xi frowned, "Just make a sacrifice. I just negotiated with them about relocation, so I can't offend you."

Xiao Hang looked at the handsome Boluoluo boy who was ready, his face was smeared with yellow paint, a few rags were hung on his body, and his lips were painted black and purple. This kind of beauty was not something they could appreciate at all. of.

"Don't go." It would be better to kill him than let him participate in this humiliating beauty pageant. If Tang Xi took a photo and spread it in China, his reputation would be ruined.

Xiao Hang raised his eyes and looked at Ted, only to see that Ted immediately showed a look of don't even think about it.Hmph, didn't you claim to be chasing yourself?He will take his father's money as a favor, and he can hide really quickly when he encounters trouble.The problem is that only men can participate in this damn beauty pageant, even if Tang Xi wants to save Xiao Hang, there is nothing he can do.

"Brother Xiao Hang, please, just go for a while, just dress up a bit strangely, and you won't lose a few pieces of meat. The tribal chiefs can't afford to offend them. Sometimes they just have some inexplicable demands. You have to let the company's Has all the hard work been wasted?" Tang Xi rarely showed a begging look.

Do you really have to sacrifice yourself?What a bloody job.

"No photography, no video recording." This is Xiao Hang's bottom line.

When he came to the house to change his clothes, Tang Xi put on Xiao Hang's makeup himself, and felt the paint brush across his face and lips. It's not about my face.

"Actually, not everyone can participate in the Bororo beauty pageant. All the participants in the tribe are famous men. The chief invites you to participate, and he should regard you as the most honored guests." Ted explained.

"It wasn't you, it was us, but you fled shamelessly." Xiao Hang felt a little annoyed at Ted's dishonesty.

"Honey, don't you think it's more unacceptable for me to dress like that than you to dress like that?" Ted spread his hands helplessly.

Although it is said that this is the company's official business, Ted has no obligation to help out, but... anyway, he is a little unhappy.

"Bororo people judge whether a person is beautiful or not mainly based on several factors such as figure, teeth, hair, eyes, and face shape. A slender and strong figure is the first condition for a handsome man, followed by white teeth and mighty eyes. In order to maintain The whiteness of the teeth, the Bororo people often use a small stick as a toothbrush to clean their teeth constantly. The thick and shiny braids are another element of the beauty of a Bororo man." Ted told what he knew Eloquently.

Except for the thick and shiny braids, it seems... Xiao Hang squinted his eyes and observed Ted for a while, then slowly said: "Why do I think this request, you are more reliable."

"Hehe," Ted chuckled, "That's because I'm the most beautiful man in your heart."

Ted's frivolous words caused Xiao Hang and Tang Xi to roll their eyes together.

"You must not take off your pants!" Xiao Hang yelled at Tang Xi who tried to make him take off his pants.

"As you saw just now, the other contestants used leaves to cover their key parts. It is kind of you to keep your underpants on."

Xiao Hang simply admired Tang Xi for not being shy, how could she be so daring to say that she was going to strip her pants as an unmarried girl.

"Don't even think about it, this is my bottom line, and I won't do it anymore." Bare upper body is already Xiao Hang's limit. When people saw his body, the eyes of Tang Xi and Ted made him feel even more embarrassed.

"It's fine if you don't take it off." Tang Xi muttered in a low voice.

"You'd better dress up to match their aesthetics," Ted kindly reminded.

"Why? I'm already very upset, should I take care of their preferences?"

"Haha," Ted laughed happily, "You don't know, the judges of this beauty pageant are all the women in the tribe, and the contestants who have no votes will be punished by every tribe member for spitting."

"You know the details." Isn't this the same as the appointment of the leader of the beggar gang in martial arts novels?Didn't expect such a thing to actually exist.

"I watched such a competition last year. The beauty pageant of the Bororo people is actually to please women, and it can be regarded as a means of attracting the opposite sex."

"Whatever, anyway, today I will go all out." The head can be broken, the blood can flow, and the pants must not be taken off. Looking at the appearance of those primitive people, I will definitely not be able to win the favor of Bororo women. No matter how I dress up, it is useless , Isn't it just being spit on?Just treat yourself as experiencing the experience of the leader of the gang of beggars.

Climbing up to the high platform of the tribe together with the Boluoluo men, Xiao Hang felt like a modern man who broke into the monkey group.Seeing those men scratching their heads and showing off their white teeth, he really wanted to dig a hole in the ground.

When it came time to vote, the Bororo women came on stage one by one. Sure enough, everyone was not interested in his image that did not conform to the aesthetics of the Bororo people.Forget it, what should come will come, Xiao Hang's only wish is to end today's nightmare as soon as possible.

However, the expected embarrassment did not come, and the last person to vote was Ted.Ted patted Xiao Hang's shoulder lightly, and then handed Xiao Hang the flowers woven from sisal leaves.Although there was no more intimate physical contact, Xiao Hang was shocked when the slightly rough palm touched Mao's shoulder.

Back in the dressing room, Xiao Hang was still wondering why a foreign man could vote for the Bororo people.

"I promised to give the chief 100 tons of toothpaste." Ted smiled happily. "Indefinitely, you can collect them in batches at the supermarket opened by Ouattara's family. I can't bear to see you being bullied by them."

No wonder, seeing how the Bororo people valued their teeth so much, the chief must have liked this gift very much. This time, he owed Ted another favor.

"Others can embrace the beautiful boy who was chosen, but you are the handsome boy I chose, shouldn't you let me take home too?"

He gave Ted a hard look.Sure enough... Xiao Hang, who was still grateful to him just now, reminded himself that he should not be soft-hearted towards him, Ted would never give up any chance to tease him.

Looking at the strange undercurrent between Xiao Hang and Ted, Tang Xi narrowed his eyes slightly.