Everyone nodded in agreement. Some found a rock to sit on, while others curiously looked towards the center of the venue.
Xu Xinghe followed Zhao Xiaoyan and Wang Lili to a relatively quiet place and looked at the scene in the venue from a distance.
A circular area was cordoned off in the center of the venue with ropes; that was the wrestling arena.
Several grassland men dressed in traditional wrestling attire were warming up at the edge of the arena. Their wrestling outfits were made of cowhide and studded with copper nails, which gleamed in the sunlight.
A large group of herders had gathered around, some handing mare's milk wine to the wrestlers, while others were shouting something as if cheering them on, creating a very lively atmosphere.
Not far away, another field is the starting point for the horse race.
Dozens of horses were tethered to the railing, their backs covered with brightly colored saddles. The horses' owners were leading them around, occasionally patting their necks as if talking to them.
Several boys dressed in Mongolian robes stood around, their eyes fixed on the horses, their faces full of envy.
Riding a fine horse on the grasslands is every boy's dream.
"Look, there's a stall selling milk tofu over there!" Zhao Xiaoyan suddenly pointed to a small stall at the edge of the venue and pulled Xu Xinghe and Wang Lili away.
Several wooden plates were set up in front of the stall, containing small pieces of milk curd, and next to them was a ceramic jar containing mare's milk wine.
The herdsman selling the goods was a middle-aged woman. When she saw them coming, she smiled and said in broken Chinese, "Milk tofu, delicious."
Zhao Xiaoyan took out her money, bought a small piece of milk tofu, and shared it with Xu Xinghe and Wang Lili.
Xu Xinghe took a bite. The milk tofu had a faint milky aroma and a firm texture. It was completely different from what she had eaten before, but it wasn't bad.
Just then, a voice came from the tin loudspeaker, "Comrades, fellow herders, the opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival is now beginning! First, please welcome Secretary Wang of the commune to speak!"
The crowd fell silent instantly, and all eyes turned to the earthen platform.
A middle-aged man wearing a Zhongshan suit and glasses walked onto the stage, holding a piece of paper in his hand, and began to speak: "Fellow revolutionary comrades! Fellow grassland herders! Good morning! Today, the sun shines exceptionally brightly on our grassland, and the hearts of our herders are especially warm. The annual Naadam Festival has officially begun on this grassland of our commune!"
Sparse applause immediately followed.
The middle-aged man wasn't annoyed and continued, "We often say, 'Grasp revolution, promote production,' but revolutionary enthusiasm needs to be united to be gathered, and the drive for production needs to be inspired by spirit! This Naadam Festival is a symbol of the unity of us grassland people, and a stage for striving forward!"
"Over the past year, following the guidance of the Party and the Chairman, we have engaged in production and sandstorm prevention on the grasslands, making them more and more prosperous. Today, we gather here... Now, I declare the 1968 Naadam Festival officially open! First, let's invite our wrestlers to the stage to heat up our grasslands!"
Not long after he finished speaking, the wrestling match began.
Two wrestlers dressed in zodag walked into the center of the arena, bowed to each other, and then assumed wrestling stances.
The surrounding audience immediately cheered, some shouting the wrestler's name, others clapping their hands, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.
Xu Xinghe was also inspired and became enthusiastic, keeping a close eye on the wrestlers in the arena.
Their movements were agile, and every burst of energy they exerted drew cheers from the audience.
Jiang Linchuan appeared beside her at some point. “Wrestling on the grasslands is all about skill. You need not only strength, but also the ability to use your strength cleverly. The winner will receive a hada (a ceremonial scarf) and a certificate from the commune, which is a great honor in the eyes of the herdsmen.”
Xu Xinghe nodded, his eyes still fixed on the field.
This was the first time she had ever seen a wrestling match on the grassland, and the first time she had ever experienced such a vibrant atmosphere.
Zhao Xiaoyan and Wang Lili were also captivated by the show, clapping along with the audience from time to time, their faces full of smiles.
As the wrestlers decided their first match in the center of the arena, the voice from the tin loudspeaker blared again, even more impassioned than before: "Revolutionary comrades! Herdsman friends! Was the wrestling match exciting enough?"
A series of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the audience!
"Alright! According to our old Naadam tradition, wrestling has warmed up the crowd, and now it's time for our fine horses to take the stage for the horse race! Let's begin!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a crisp crack of a whip came from the starting point of the horse race on the east side of the venue.
The dozens of riders waiting there included grassland men wearing tuxedos, commune youths with belts, and two male educated youths who had come with the forest farm.
They borrowed horses from the herdsmen yesterday, determined to experience horse racing on the grasslands.
The riders were all holding the reins. Some horses had no extra saddles, only a thin felt on their backs. Some horses were snorting and pawing the grass with their hooves.
The commune cadre in charge of the horse race stood beside the starting line, holding a small red flag in his hand. "Listen up, everyone! The track will run three laps around the grassland outside the venue. Whoever crosses the finish line first wins! Remember, we're not only competing on speed, but also on safety. Don't fall while trying to be number one! We're competing on revolutionary spirit, not brute force!"
The riders responded in unison, adjusting their postures and gripping the reins tightly with both hands.
As the small red flag was waved, the cadre shouted "Let's go!" and dozens of horses charged off like arrows released from a bow!
The clatter of hooves filled the air, sending bits of grass flying and drawing crowds to the side of the track.
The elderly supported the children, the women tugged at their husbands' sleeves, and even the educated youth who were originally resting on the rocks stood up and stood on tiptoe to watch, shouting encouragement.
Xu Xinghe was also squeezed into the crowd, watching the galloping horses, and couldn't help but feel nervous.
This was the first time she had ever seen so many horses, and it was also the first time she had ever witnessed horse racing.
I must say, it really gets people excited.
The problem is that there was a lot of dust kicked up in the air after the horses ran by.
Jiang Linchuan stood beside her, reaching out to protect her from being jostled. "Look at that rider on the far right, isn't that Zhang Qiang?"
Xu Xinghe looked in the direction he pointed and saw a rider in a dark blue Zhongshan suit at the edge of the track, adjusting his posture by pulling on the reins.
That's Zhang Qiang!
He usually wears a Zhongshan suit, and even when riding a horse, he doesn't change into grassland clothing, making him stand out among a group of riders wearing Mongolian robes or short jackets.
“It really is him.” Xu Xinghe responded softly, her eyes following Zhang Qiang’s figure closely. “He was dressed so neatly, he didn’t even take off his coat, so there was no chance to see if there was anything special on him.”
Jiang Linchuan's gaze swept across the venue. "Don't rush. The horse race is short. After he finishes, he'll definitely need to find a place to rest. Next up is the wrestling competition."
He leaned close to Xu Xinghe's ear, his warm breath tickling her earlobe. "I'm going to participate in a wrestling competition. I just heard from the herdsmen that wrestlers change their clothes in temporary tents next to the arena before the competition. Zhang Qiang might go to one of those tents to rest."
As if remembering something, he added, "Don't worry, I won't change my clothes here, and I promise I won't do anything to betray you."
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