Chapter 22 Uyghur Prince and Princess

With its wheels rolling, the Tank 300 left the Kashgar-Maihe Expressway and entered the city of Kashgar, gradually approaching the renowned ancient city area, bathed in the lingering sunset of Xinjiang.

This place is different from other major cities in Xinjiang, such as Urumqi and Yining, which we passed through earlier.

Kashgar seems to possess an ancient and steady pulse.

The architectural style on both sides of the street is evident: earthen-yellow walls, arched doors and windows, and intricate carvings and paintings.

It is said that the people here have lived together for generations, and every time a new generation is added to the family, they add a floor to the earthen house.

Xu Nianyi pressed her face against the car window, staring at the shops in utter shock.

"My God!! Everyone says no duck can leave Nanjing alive, and in my opinion, no pigeon can leave Kashgar alive either!"

This is no exaggeration, because the roadsides are densely packed with pigeon soup shops! One after another, there seem to be dozens of them.

Their signs come in all shapes and sizes, some ornate and some simple, but the last three characters of their shop names are all the same: "pigeon soup".

Alright, no need to go out of your way to find something for dinner. Let's just grab something on the spot and try the local specialty, pigeon soup.

"I'm having trouble making a decision," Fang Qihang said, clicking his tongue as he looked at the "pigeon soup street."

Ultimately, they went with what caught their eye and chose a restaurant with a clean storefront and a few customers inside.

The shop is small, with 8 tables, 2 of which were occupied.

Brightly colored tapestries hung on the walls, with the menu pasted directly onto them.

There are mainly two things:

Pigeon soup noodles, 36 yuan a bowl

Spicy lamb trotters, 15 yuan each

“Alright, that’s it.” Xu Nian made the decision. “One bowl of pigeon soup noodles for each person.”

Fang Qihang looked at the words "Spicy Lamb Trotters," and curiosity overcame reason, so he added another dish, "I'll have some lamb trotters, let's see how it is!"

Soon, the food was served.

The pigeon and noodles in pigeon soup noodles are served separately.

On a round plate, a whole stewed pigeon, tender and perfectly preserved, lies alone, surrounded by a ring of plump soybeans.

The soup noodles are served in a small earthenware bowl, with chewy noodles at the bottom of the clear broth and a few bright green scallions floating on top.

Xu Nianyi first scooped up a spoonful of soup and put it in her mouth.

Instantly, an intense sweetness exploded on the taste buds!

Although this soup contains no other vegetables besides scallions, it has a rich and mellow flavor, entirely derived from the essence of the pigeon itself.

Xu Nianyi felt a warm current instantly flow through her body, and the fatigue of the journey was largely dispelled by this hot soup.

She couldn't help but exclaim, "I really wish I could live here permanently and come every week to replenish my energy and blood!"

Then, she tore off a piece of pigeon meat with her hand.

The meat is extremely tender, almost to the point of separating from the bone. When you put it in your mouth, you don't need to chew much before the delicious aroma of the meat fills the air.

The only downside to this dish is that the portion size is a bit small. After just a few bites, the noodles and pigeon were gone, leaving me wanting more.

"It's delicious, but not enough to fill a tooth gap. Luckily, I still have a lamb trotter. You two really don't want one?" Fang Qihang smacked his lips and turned his gaze to the spicy lamb trotter he had ordered.

The lamb trotters were almost the same size as pig trotters, just a bit smaller. They were coated with bright red chili powder and spices, looking incredibly tempting.

He took a big bite, full of anticipation...

The next second, his expression froze, his brows furrowed tightly, and his facial muscles contorted.

He forced himself not to vomit and swallowed it down.

Then he quickly grabbed the water glass next to him and gulped down a few mouthfuls, letting out a long sigh of relief, and said in a tearful voice, "This taste is too strong! It's too pungent! People who can't stand it should definitely not try it!"

Xu Nianyi and Tan Chen couldn't help but laugh when they saw his pained expression.

The following day was Sunday, the day when Kashgar's once-a-week, massive cattle and sheep bazaar opened.

How could they possibly miss such an occasion brimming with primal vitality and authentic local customs?

So the three of them got up early and drove to the Grand Bazaar.

The car was parked in a dusty temporary parking lot. As soon as I got out, I could hear a cacophony of voices and the calls of various animals from a great distance.

Xu Nianyi's memories of markets are still from the occasional large markets she attended in the countryside when she was a child, where she would buy some daily necessities, agricultural products, and some clothes.

With the development of the times, this kind of market has long since disappeared, but I didn't expect it to still exist in faraway Kashgar.

Upon entering the market, the first area is the residential section, where you can see stalls selling spices, vegetables, dried fruits, and raw meat.

They glanced at these quickly and squeezed into the crowded food area.

Here, they saw a huge iron pot bubbling with fragrant hand-grabbed rice;

The kebab chef cuts meat directly from a skinned, hanging sheep, skewers it into huge skewers, and grills the kebabs over charcoal.

The old man used a minimalist-style tin juicer that looked more like a homemade juicer to freshly squeeze pure pomegranate juice and pour it into a small, delicately patterned glass.

The ice cream here seems to have very little water added, so it melts slowly. There's no need to put it in the freezer; it's simply piled up like a small mountain at the bottom of an inverted stainless steel bowl.

Xu Nianyi also tried the local specialty yogurt, which is not liquid but a very thick solid that needs to be eaten with a spoon.

One bite, and the sourness was so intense and strong that it was hard for her to swallow. She instantly understood Fang Qihang's reaction to eating lamb trotters yesterday.

However, she swallowed it calmly, and then mischievously used a spoon to pick up a spoonful, wanting Tan Chen to try it, wanting to see how his usually nonchalant face would wrinkle up.

She scooped up a large piece with her spoon and shared, "Tan Chen, you should try this, it's delicious!"

Tan Chen stared blankly at the spoon she had used, without making a move.

Fang Qihang poked his head out from the side and said, "What? Let me try a bite."

But after one bite, he immediately grimaced from the sourness and waved his hands repeatedly, "Brother Tan, don't believe Xu Nianyi, she's deliberately messing with you!" Then he went to wait for his own grilled fish.

Tan Chen looked at the small white plastic spoon with a complicated expression and a lot of unease.

At this moment, Xu Nianyi pulled another one out of her pocket and said, "It's really delicious, don't you want to try some? I just got three spoons from the old man, and there's one left. This is my last chance!"

Tan Chen took a bite of yogurt without changing his expression. It wasn't sour at all; he had just tasted something much more sour.

Leaving the food area, you'll find yourself in the livestock trading area.

Compared to the previous aromas that were so enticing they made your mouth water, the smell here was almost discouraging people from going in.

The smell of livestock, manure, hay, and dust all mixed together, making it feel like my olfactory system was about to crash.

There were hundreds of cattle and sheep crammed into the back of trucks.

The buyers scrutinized the animals' size and teeth with sharp eyes.

The sellers were loudly hawking and boasting about their cattle and sheep.

The three also witnessed a strange and ancient transaction.

In the crowd, two Uyghur men stood with their weathered hands tightly clasped together. They didn't say a word, but communicated the price of the transaction through the silent competition of their clasped hands.

Tan Chen explained, "This is a trade by thugs. Because there are so many cattle and sheep, they don't want too many people involved in the price discussion, so they rely on handshakes and pressing fingers to negotiate the price. In the past, when their clothes were loose, they would also use their sleeves to cover themselves and conduct transactions inside their sleeves."

Xu Nianyi's way of preserving ancient culture is truly amazing!

In the afternoon, the three drove to Kashgar Old City because Xu Nianyi had booked a photoshoot of a Uyghur princess online in advance.

Upon arriving at the photo studio, Xu Nianyi was faced with a wall full of colorful and varied Uyghur costumes, and struggled to make a choice.

Finally, on the recommendation of the shop assistant, she chose a classic and flattering bright red traditional long dress, paired with gorgeous headdress and forehead ornaments, instantly transforming into a Uyghur princess.

"Wow! Nianyi, you're so beautiful!" Fang Qihang praised without reservation.

He originally thought that only girls could take photoshoots, but after seeing Xu Nianyi's appearance, he couldn't resist the urge to do the same.

Looking at the gorgeous men's clothing, he joined in the fun and chose a prince's outfit: a light blue Adras robe adorned with gold thread, a matching ethnic cap, and a silver ornament on his forehead. He looked quite handsome and presentable.

After choosing his clothes, his mischievous nature resurfaced, and he glanced at Tan Chen, who had been sitting quietly to the side carrying his bag and waiting.

"Brother Tan! Since you're already here, let's take a set of photos together! Look at your aura, it would be a waste not to have a prince-like photoshoot with you!"

Without saying a word, he pulled and dragged Tan Chen into the clothing section.

Tan Chen looked helpless, but when Xu Nianyi looked over with expectant eyes, he finally compromised and chose a relatively simple and neat black embroidered robe, which unexpectedly suited his own temperament.

The photographer was a dark-skinned, wiry local young man who spoke fluent Mandarin.

Instead of taking them to the main street crowded with tourists, he skillfully led them into the depths of the ancient city, into those quieter alleys with a stronger sense of local life.

This is a genuine area for the daily lives of locals, where you can see elderly people sunbathing in front of their homes and children chasing, playing, and kicking balls.

During the shoot, the photographer guided the poses and expressions.

Xu Nianyi either leans against the colorful wooden door with a charming smile, or sits on an old wooden bed basking in the sunlight;

Fang Qihang made full use of his lively talent, borrowing a child's ball and using his knee to nudge the ball so that the photographer could take a picture;

The most outstanding performer was Tan Chen, who seemed the least willing to film.

He doesn't need much guidance; he can simply lean against the earthen-yellow wall or stand at the intersection of light and shadow in the alley, gazing into the distance. His calm and detached demeanor blends perfectly with the charm of the ancient city that has been accumulated over thousands of years.

While selecting photos in the store, they discovered that the photographer had also captured many moments of interaction between Tan Chen and Xu Nianyi.

There was the image of him slightly bowing his head to listen to her speak, the moment he instinctively reached out to support her when she almost tripped over her long dress, and the silhouettes of the two walking side by side in the long alley.

Of course, there are also many photos of Fang Qihang with Xu Nianyi or Tan Chen.

After four hours of running around, all three felt it was worth the trip.

Upon learning that the clothes could be worn until the evening and then returned, the Uyghur prince and princess leisurely strolled around the old city of Kashgar with their hyperactive younger brother.

Shops line both sides of the street, offering a dazzling array of goods.

There are exquisite handcrafted bronzes, shimmering glassware, and intricately patterned carpets and tapestries...

Xu Nianyi once again marveled at how completely different Yiwu small commodities were from those sold in ancient southern towns, and she wanted to buy them all to collect.

In front of a yogurt smoothie shop, they were attracted by a young man's "acrobatic" performance.

He shoveled ice shards off a large block of ice, added yogurt and honey, then gave it a powerful shake, throwing the liquid high into the air. The mixture flew three or four meters into the air, tracing a beautiful arc before he caught it steadily in his empty green bowl without spilling a drop!

The crowd erupted in cheers. Fang Qihang was dumbfounded and exclaimed, "Brother Tan, you should learn this trick too. If you used it in bartending, it would definitely be incredibly attractive!"

Tan Chen actually knows how to throw bottles in fancy ways, but he has never shown it off throughout the journey.

Passing by a police station in the ancient city, the three went in and used their ID cards to obtain the border permits needed to travel to Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County and the westernmost point of the country.

The process is very simple: scan your ID card, ask for your destination and purpose, and it's done immediately.

Holding that thin, easily torn yet incredibly meaningful document felt like grasping the key to the mysterious West.

Xu Nianyi felt an even greater sense of anticipation for the journey ahead.