Chapter 82 Qin Tian didn’t take the two robes, but took her son instead
A Kazakh girl stood there, graceful and elegant, like the red flowers of the Tianshan Mountains waving in the wind on the grassland. Seeing him standing there in a daze, she thought he didn't see her and stretched out her arms to wave.
"Tong Zhongyuan! I'm here."
She lifted her skirt and ran toward him, stopping in front of him. She smiled and said, "Bota asked us to go to the celebration on the grassland. He said his son was participating in the sheep-stealing competition."
Her bone structure has a mixed-race temperament. She is wearing a red embroidered Kazakh skirt, and the owl feathers on her hat are trembling in the wind. She looks like a Kazakh girl.
Seeing that he didn't say anything, she thought he didn't want to go. She reached out and pulled him, saying, "Go and take a look. Now that you're here, let's encourage her son. Maybe she'll change her mind and sell me those two robes."
"Did you buy this dress?"
"No. Berta gave me this hat. And then they thought it would go with this dress. It was Berta's dress from her youth, and she lent it to me. She also combed my hair. Is that strange?" she asked, turning to him.
"Not strange, very appropriate."
Qin Tian was a little unsure about his new image at first, but after getting his affirmation, he was in a good mood and talked and laughed all the way.
"She originally wanted you to change into men's robes and go to the celebration together. I said I wouldn't change even if I killed you. She said, 'Really?' I said if you don't believe me, try it."
"That's hard to say," he replied.
Qin Tian looked at him in shock: "Are you willing to change?"
"She promised to sell you the robe, and I'll change it."
"It's the same as if I didn't say anything."
The horseback riding activity on the grassland had just concluded. The sheep-catching competition was making final preparations. Pota and Apa were greeting them from the fence.
"That one, number 8 in the red team, is my eldest son, Alihan. He was the runner-up in the individual competition last year, the eagle on the grassland." Pota pointed to her proudly.
Qin Tian relayed this to Tong Zhongyuan. Both teams were incredibly strong, their horses already paddling impatiently as the contestants mounted, ready to race.
A whistle blew, and the sheep was snatched up by a leading horse. The other horses quickly surrounded him, turning over to grab the sheep. The sound of horses' hooves was like the beating of drums, and the men fought with their bodies without mercy. The horses galloped, the men roared, and their blood boiled.
Bota and Apa shouted to cheer for Ali Khan. Qin Tian originally just wanted to go through the motions, but he didn't expect the sheep-eating competition to be so exciting. He couldn't help but cheer for the red team in Kazakh.
After tearing a sheep apart, a new one was brought in for the competition. Qin Tian then saw that the sheep used in the competition was already dead. She breathed a sigh of relief.
After a fierce competition, the red team returned to the designated location with the sheep and won the final victory. Ali Khan held the sheep and roared. Bota was very proud and hugged Qin Tian tightly. He said a lot to her, his excitement overflowing. It took him a long time to let her go.
Qin Tian gasped as he explained to Tong Zhongyuan, "The Kazakhs believe that unexpected guests are a blessing. To keep the blessing, they will ask for a small gift from the guest. Bota believed that our arrival and the bottle of perfume brought good luck to her family and helped her win the competition."
Ali Khan had already arrived at the edge of the field on horseback, and Pota had already joined him. After a brief exchange, Pota chuckled, patted him, and led him to Qin Tian. He saluted them both and offered a few words of congratulations. Qin Tian returned the salute, congratulating him on his victory. He smiled shyly. His teammates on horseback called him to the awards ceremony, and he responded with a graceful somersault, landing on his horse. He turned back, smiled at Qin Tian, and galloped off.
Bota smiled and whispered in Qin Tian's ear, "My son likes you and asked me where you live and whether you are married. He said he saw you at the game. I said you are Han Chinese and have a lover."
Qin Tian said in surprise: "Your son is at most 20 years old, right?"
"That's right! He's 19 years old this year. He already has girls chasing him." Bota smiled and took Qin Tian's arm. "We have an activity later where girls chase him. Do you want to join in the fun with your lover?"
Qin Tian and Bota were whispering to each other. Tong Zhongyuan, though he didn't understand, had a pretty good guess. He figured if she stayed a few more days, she might actually be able to take the two robes back to the Shanghai Museum.
At the competition, the awards ceremony for the tricky sheep had concluded. The young men and women were ready to go, their horses in tow. A young woman rode up to Ali Khan and said something to him. Ali Khan, walking alongside her, smiled and replied. The woman gave his horse a gentle whip on the rump, and the horse broke into a gallop.
Qin Tian told Bota that he and Tong Zhongyuan were both Han Chinese and not very good at Kazakh games, so they'd better just watch. Bota enthusiastically said, "Girl chasing is a traditional Kazakh game, and many couples are formed that way. It's perfect for you and your lover. Your lover is a little shy, and they need to play some passionate games to foster their relationship."
Qin Tian secretly felt lucky that Tong Zhongyuan didn't understand anything. She couldn't avoid the topic, so she had to say that he couldn't ride a horse. Ah Pa looked at Tong Zhongyuan with regret. Although she liked him very much, a man who couldn't ride a horse was not a real man.
Tong Zhongyuan stood a few feet away, their unbridled chatter drifting in waves, punctuated by occasional sly banter. Qin Tian's voice grew quieter, sounding guilty. He stared intently at the groups of young men and women in the middle of the grassland, ready to fight. But out of the corner of his eye, he could sense their gazes.
Qin Tian saw Tong Zhongyuan standing alone at the edge of the enclosure, as quiet and lonely as ever, completely unaware of the criticism he had just received from the others. She awkwardly walked over to him.
"Just now, Bota invited us to join the girl chase, but I said we don't know how to ride horses."
Tong Zhongyuan looked at her. Her fair face was faintly flushed, as radiant as the morning glow. She climbed over the fence and leaned out to see what was happening next. Her braids swayed beside her cheeks, and her folds of skirt fluttered like a banner.
"What is girl chasing?" he asked.
"It's a Kazakh mate-choosing game," she said, pointing to the finish line. "The girl starts first and rides to the finish line. The guy can catch up along the way and flirt with her. When they reach the finish line, the guy turns back and the girl chases behind, and can whip him. That's why it's called 'girl chasing'."
A healthy young man with dark skin came over leading a horse, stopped beside Qin Tian, looked at her intently, and said something.
The horse was beautiful, with long eyelashes and a seemingly gentle appearance. Qin Tian couldn't help but touch its nose, which was smooth and slightly prickly, and felt wonderful. The young man looked at her expectantly, but she just touched it and said something to him. He nodded disappointedly and walked away dejected.
Just as one person left, another young man arrived. This young man was taller and more cheerful. He smiled and spoke to Qin Tian. Qin Tian repeated what he had just said. The young man seemed a little disappointed, but then he cheered up and said a few more words. Qin Tian smiled and shook his head at him, and the young man left with regret.
Tong Zhongyuan recalled the first time he saw Qin Tian. She was wearing a black coat and her face was bare as she ran down the stairs. At the time, he hadn't gotten a good look at her, thinking she was just an ordinary girl. Later, in the car, he noticed her profile was very three-dimensional and delicate. He thought at the time that she was indeed beautiful, but she didn't have the aura of a beauty that was immediately noticeable. Later, he realized that he was superficial; it wasn't the fancy clothes that determined aura.
Her vitality, like the grassland, grows freely in this pristine and vast place, unfolding a breathtaking beauty. Her brilliance is so dazzling that it is impossible to ignore.
Ali Khan also came over with two horses.
"Ana said you and your lover don't know how to ride horses. I can teach you. These are two docile mares, perfect for beginners. Since you're here, come and have some fun together."
Bota and Apa also came over and encouraged her to play with her lover.
Bota said, "Ali Khan is an expert on horseback. With him around, you won't fall."
Ah Pa also said: "You will love riding horses. And your lover is very suitable for riding horses and will learn it quickly."
Tong Zhongyuan saw the family and the two horses surrounding Qin Tian and talking non-stop, while she looked embarrassed and glanced at him from time to time. Alihan also saw that Qin Tian was more concerned about Tong Zhongyuan than himself.
He looked up at Tong Zhongyuan and shouted in Chinese, "Friend, how about I teach you how to ride a horse?"
Qin Tian was surprised. He could speak Chinese. Yes, he was only 19 years old. The younger generation had been assimilated. How could he not speak Chinese?
Tong Zhongyuan smiled and replied, "Okay."
Not only Qin Tian was surprised, but Bota and Apa were also stunned. They still understood the word "OK". Alihan smiled cheerfully, walked over and patted Tong Zhongyuan on the shoulder to express his appreciation.
Qin Tian pulled Tong Zhongyuan aside and asked anxiously, "Why did you agree? He wanted to teach you so that we can play the game of chasing girls together."
Tong Zhongyuan stared at her. "You said it was a game, didn't you? Just play it, and treat it as a colorful dress to entertain your parents. Maybe Ah Pa will be so happy that he will sell the robe to you."
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