71: Jiaju Tibetan Village

A cup of butter tea went down, and warmth rose within him.

Looking at the quiet atmosphere in the room, Jiang Yuan felt that just sitting there would be a bit boring.

He remembered that the trunk of the brabus was still stuffed with a huge pile of snacks he had swept up in Chengdu.

"Tsering, come with me."

Jiang Yuan stood up and beckoned to the little boy who was quietly reading nearby.

"Let's go to the car and get something good to eat."

"Okay, Brother."

Tsering put down his book. He was very sweet-spoken, and although there was still some restraint in his eyes, he obediently followed behind.

They walked out of the stone courtyard gate.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees and spilled onto the white behemoth.

He had been too excited when they first entered, and with Tibetan Uncle Dorje constantly pulling him aside to talk, Tsering hadn't had a chance to look at the car carefully yet.

Standing in front of this brabus g900 now, he realized just how big the car was.

"Wow..."

Tsering's eyes, like black grapes, widened in round circles.

His little mouth was slightly open, looking left and right, wanting to touch it but not daring to.

"Brother, is this your car? It's so cool!"

For boys, a love for machinery and cars is etched into their genes, regardless of age or location.

"Yeah, want to sit inside?"

Jiang Yuan smiled and took out the key to unlock it.

The electric running boards extended automatically.

He pulled open the heavy driver-side door and gestured for Tsering to get in.

"Can I?"

Tsering found it hard to believe.

"Go ahead."

After receiving an affirmative answer, the little guy used his hands and feet to climb into the driver's cabin, stepping on the running board.

The black and gold interior, filled with carbon fiber and leather wrapping, along with that complex sports steering wheel.

To a child who had lived in the mountains all his life, all of this was like entering a spaceship cockpit.

"This is amazing, Brother! This steering wheel is so soft!"

Tsering held the steering wheel carefully, unable to put it down.

Jiang Yuan found it amusing; the two of them were giving each other plenty of emotional value.

He turned and opened the back door.

He rummaged through a pile of outdoor gear.

He found a large shopping bag and filled it with various snacks like drinks, chocolate, and potato chips.

"These were all bought in Chengdu; they're for you."

Jiang Yuan placed the bag on the passenger seat.

"Thank you, Brother! tashi delek!"

Tsering's little face turned red with excitement.

With the luxury car and snacks paving the way, the initial awkwardness of their first meeting vanished instantly.

"Come here, look this way."

Jiang Yuan took out the sony a1 from his camera bag.

He didn't use the exaggerated telephoto lens but swapped it for a 24-70mm lens.

"I'll take a picture of you."

Tsering sat in the driver's seat, straightening his back nervously, his hands stiffly placed on the steering wheel.

Obviously, he rarely had his picture taken.

"Relax, don't tense up."

Jiang Yuan held the camera, half-crouching beside the car door to find an angle.

"Think about that big chicken leg from earlier."

"Smile, say cheese!"

"Che...ese!"

Tsering subconsciously grinned.

The afternoon sunlight hit the side of his face, making the characteristic rosy cheeks of the plateau look particularly vivid, and his eyes sparkled with a pure light.

"Click."

The top-tier sony autofocus system instantly locked onto those clear eyes.

The image was frozen in time.

That scene with such extreme contrast—

A simple Tibetan boy, sitting in a top-luxury off-road vehicle worth millions, his smile brighter than the sunshine.

"Brother, let me see!"

Tsering jumped down from the car and crowded in front of the camera screen.

Looking at himself in the photo, he covered his mouth in surprise.

"It looks so good..."

Then, as if remembering something, he raised his head and looked at Jiang Yuan with hopeful eyes:

"Brother, later... can we take one together with Grandma and Tibetan Uncle Dorje?"

"I want to keep a souvenir."

Jiang Yuan reached out and rubbed his head; it felt a bit prickly, but very real.

"Of course you can."

"When Tibetan Uncle Dorje comes back with the meat, I'll take the best family portrait for you all."

"Okay!"

Tsering nodded heavily, almost jumping with joy.

"Beep—!"

Just as the two finished talking, the iconic horn of the old land cruiser sounded outside the courtyard.

Immediately after, Tibetan Uncle Dorje's loud voice came in.

"Tsering! Come and help! There's too much stuff!"

Jiang Yuan and Tsering looked at each other and walked out to greet him with a smile.

They saw Tibetan Uncle Dorje struggling to move things out of the trunk.

Goodness.

Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow.

This was hardly "buying some meat"; it was more like going to restock supplies.

A large rack of fresh yak ribs, looking like it weighed thirty or forty catties, with the blood still wet.

Next to it were two cases of unknown local beer, a bag of freshly dug potatoes, and various seasonings.

"Uncle, are you planning to invite the whole village?"

Jiang Yuan stepped forward to help, easily lifting the heavy beef ribs with one hand.

"Haha! It's rare to meet a friend I get along with so well; we have to eat until we're satisfied!"

Tibetan Uncle Dorje wiped away some sweat. Seeing Jiang Yuan's effortless movements, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but it was mostly admiration.

"We'll do it right here in the courtyard tonight!"

"I bought the best beef ribs, with fat on them; when they're grilled, they'll sizzle and drip with oil—it'll be so delicious!"

The sun gradually slanted to the west.

The golden afterglow spilled onto the watchtowers of Jiaju Tibetan Village, gilding the entire village in a sacred golden rim.

In the courtyard.

Tibetan Uncle Dorje found a few stones and set up a simple grill.

No need for fancy camping gear.

This kind of primitive bonfire barbecue was what suited the scenery by the Dadu River.

Jiang Yuan wasn't idle either.

He took out his set of titanium outdoor tableware, which he had originally intended to use for camping, from the brabus, along with those few unopened bottles of baijiu liquor.

Jiang Yuan shook the Feitian baijiu liquor in his hand.

Tibetan Uncle Dorje's eyes lit up, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

"Good liquor!"

"Tonight, we don't stop until we're drunk!"

Smoke from the cooking fire rose.

The charcoal fire was lit.

As the charcoal fire rose, the aroma of meat began to permeate the walnut grove.

This primitive, savory aroma of fat was the best advertisement.

Nearby villagers came over upon smelling it.

Most were neighbors who were close to Tsering's family, and also old acquaintances of Dorje.

Originally, they just wanted to come over and say hello.

But upon seeing the impressive brabus parked in the courtyard and Jiang Yuan, this extraordinary stranger,

the hospitality genes in the bones of the Tibetan people were instantly activated.

One family brought a bag of air-dried beef, another brought a jar of home-brewed highland barley wine.

More and more people gathered.

What started as a small barbecue gathering turned into a bonfire party for the whole village.

Even tourists staying in other homestays in the distance curiously poked their heads out, attracted by the liveliness here.

If not controlled, the courtyard would have been packed to bursting.

Seeing this, Jiang Yuan simply moved the brabus g900 under the walnut tree in the corner to clear up space.

The few bottles of Feitian baijiu liquor were just opened, and the aroma of the liquor overflowed.

But in front of this group of hearty Tibetan men, these few bottles of liquor were like pouring a cup of water into the Dadu River.

In the blink of an eye, it was empty.

Jiang Yuan waved his hand, signaling that he was out of stock.

"Drink ours!"

A ruddy-faced Tibetan Uncle brought over a plastic bucket directly.

Inside was home-brewed, high-proof grain liquor, at least fifty percent alcohol or higher.

"Brother Jiang! I heard from Dorje that it was you who pulled him out of the ditch!"

"You are a good person! And even more so, our friend!"

"This bowl of liquor, I must offer to you! tashi delek!"

There was no need for any toasts.

Around here, offering a drink is the highest form of etiquette.