Chapter 4 I have a pony now!
Mu Ren, who had just been thrown to the ground by his older brother, twitched at the corner of his mouth.
Ani, who was watching from the sidelines, was also speechless as she looked at Huahua.
"Well, you're too young to participate in the competition." Mu Ren finally figured out how to coax her and came up with an excuse.
Hua Hua patted her chest and said, "No, I'm all grown up now, I'm a big girl."
Mu Ren scratched his head, looking at the big kid who was only up to his waist.
"Look at you, you're only at my level. When the competition comes, everyone will be big and strong, and they could take you down with a single finger."
Hada nodded and even demonstrated how to knock her down with one finger.
Hua Hua swayed and almost lost her balance.
She looked at Ani and complained, "Ani, my older brother bullied me."
Ani pulled out his whip, and Hada took off running.
Hua Hua hummed, then moved closer to Ani and grinned again.
"Huahua, you are indeed too young to compete. Why don't you wait two more years until you learn to ride a horse and wrestle before participating in the competition?"
As soon as Ani spoke, Hua Hua knew that the matter was settled.
She nodded listlessly, looking at her two older brothers with envy.
However, every morning, she still groggily gets up.
I followed my father and his family around, imitating them by waving my arms and legs, and laughing heartily.
After a while, I didn't learn many new skills, but I did grow taller. I also got a tan and became much more agile.
The Naadam Festival is a grand event for the entire Xilingol League, held on the largest grassland in the league, the Xilingol Grassland.
The event was announced well in advance, and everyone was looking forward to August.
On the day of the event, the whole family got up before dawn to prepare.
The men changed into smart Mongolian robes, and Huahua was dressed up exceptionally beautifully by her mother.
The clothes she was wearing were made from her mother's clothes; the red and blue Mongolian robe made her stand out.
Hua Hua spun around looking for her second brother and found him to be very handsome today. Her eldest brother and father were the same, both exuding an aura of authority.
Today they are dressed smartly, their hands and feet are tied with thin ropes, and red silk is tied around their waists.
Hua Hua was envious, but when she thought about how her second brother and the others could play in the competition, she didn't hesitate.
Mother served breakfast, and everyone quickly ate before preparing to leave.
The whole family went out this time. Bat, Hada, and Muren each rode their own horses to lead the way, while Ani drove the cart carrying Huahua and Wurina.
They set off early, and soon after the sun came out, the group continued their journey as if chasing the sun.
Passersby rode by every now and then, greeting them. As Hua Hua watched them go, she quickly told Ani to hurry up and chase after them.
Ani hummed a tune with a smile, chasing after him at a leisurely pace.
Urina sat beside her, watching her crane her neck to look ahead. "When we get there, Huahua, remember to stay close to your mother and don't get lost."
Upon hearing this, Hua Hua nodded eagerly.
"Yes, I know. If I get lost, I'll say I'm Bart's father's child, and that I live near Little Horse River."
Hearing her crisp assurance, Urina and Ani were both taken aback.
Urina touched her little face and encouraged her, "Yes, you are a child of the Bart family. If you remember that, you won't get lost."
As the cart moved along, they passed through stretches of lush green grassland. Following the hoofprints, they finally arrived at the Xilin Gol Grassland.
As horses' hooves trod the Xilin Gol Grassland, the sound of the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) drifted from afar.
Accompanied by melodious singing and cheers from the crowd, a lively atmosphere filled the air.
Wow, wow, wow!
Before she even got close, Hua Hua was stunned by the lively atmosphere around her.
The closer they got, the more herders appeared around them; this was the second time Hua Hua had seen so many people.
Countless strong and spirited horses, dressed in various bright and beautiful outfits, were deeply imprinted in her mind.
Ani stopped the car, turned around and said, "You take the child and get out, I'll go park the car."
Urina nodded, took the bundle, and pulled Huahua out of the car.
As soon as the two of them stood still, Hua Hua's eyes darted around, when they heard someone calling their names.
"Urina, you've finally arrived." A woman greeted them from afar.
"Lamu, it's been a long time! How have you been?"
Ram nodded, then pulled her son, who was about to run away, back. She paused, then paused when she saw Huahua beside her. "Quickly, say hello to your Urinaania."
"Is this your youngest daughter?"
Urina nodded. "Yes, her name is Luo Yin, and she is five years old."
“Loin, this is my mother’s friend, named Ramanania.” Hua Hua said with a smile, “Hello Ramanania, I’m Hua Hua.”
Seeing the pretty little girl smiling at her, Ram's expression softened. "Hello, Huahua, this is my son, Subuda. He's a year older than you, you can call him brother."
"Hello, Brother Subuda!"
"Hello, Urna Ania. Where are Brother Muren and the others?"
Subuda had been impatient ever since his mother dragged him over. He had been searching for a long time but hadn't seen Muren and the others.
"They should have arrived much earlier; I can't find them this time either."
When the little girl called out to him, he pretended not to hear and slapped her on the head: "You brat, your little sister is greeting you, why don't you listen?"
Subuda said with a bitter face, "I didn't notice just now, you're Muren's sister?" Only then did he notice the little person next to Urina Ania.
She's so pretty, like a little lamb.
Hua Hua nodded. Of course she was Brother Mu Ren's sister.
Seeing her nod, Subuda looked at his mother again and said, "Mother, please give me a little sister too, just like this one, I don't want a brother."
Ram's expression turned slightly embarrassed. "You brat, what nonsense are you spouting? Hurry up and go inside."
The group walked inside together, found seats, and waited for the opening ceremony.
They found a patch of grass, spread out the blanket, and sat down together to talk.
Many women nearby sat like this with their children, while the men on the other side chatted and stretched, preparing for what was to come.
The event took place in the morning and consisted of several competitions for adults and children.
By this time, a number of people had already gathered on the grassland, but more and more people were still riding horses and driving cars toward this place.
Hua Hua saw many new and interesting things, which broadened her horizons.
Before long, everyone heard a sound coming from the center stands.
Curious, everyone looked over and saw that many people were walking in that direction.
Ram quickly said, "Oh, it should be starting soon, let's hurry over."
Urina nodded, and the group quickly tidied up and pulled Huahua inside.
The group squeezed and stopped until they reached the front row, where Hua Hua could already hear cheers from many people.
The petite Huahua has a very limited height, so she can't see anything in her field of vision.
Upon seeing this, Urina picked the person up, and Huahua instantly saw inside.
A wide, well-maintained racecourse, with a row of cadres sitting at the very front.
Meanwhile, both sides were also filled with people, all of whom were going to perform next.
Hua Hua was amazed; she couldn't take it all in.
"Hurry, it's about to start!"
As the microphone rang, a tall man stood on the stage and began to speak.
"Hello, fellow herders from afar! Welcome to this place in the season of abundant pastures and gentle breezes. We were born and raised on the grasslands, and we have a deep passion and love for them. To recognize your hard work and efforts, we have organized this event. We have seen your hard work and efforts, so to encourage you to work and live better, the Xilingol League People's Government has specially organized this Naadam Games."
"Of course, there are also wonderful performances and crafts for everyone to watch, and the prizes for the competition are also very generous. Whether you can win them depends on all of you heroes."
His words immediately drew gasps from the audience, followed by bursts of applause.
"Now, let's invite our leaders to speak."
With several leaders appearing and speaking in succession, the Naadam Games officially commenced.
Hua Hua stayed by Urina's side the entire time, starting with the opening performances. The ethnic dances of Xilingol, accompanied by cheerful and exciting music, made the audience dance along.
Hua Hua waved her arms and legs, finding it extremely fun.
Subsequent processions included wrestlers, archers, and breathtaking equestrian performances.
Every time a performance took place, Hua Hua would clap enthusiastically to show her welcome.
It wasn't until halftime that she realized her palms were burning.
"Mom, my hand hurts."
Urina looked down and found that the little guy's hands were red and swollen, twice the size of usual.
She was both amused and exasperated, so she quickly blew on her and then told her to stop taking pictures.
Hua Hua nodded, waiting for her father and brothers to appear.
When will Dad and Brother come out?
Urina looked towards the participating teams but didn't see anything, though she said, "It's still early, probably this afternoon."
Hua Hua was taken aback. "Oh, it's still so long!"
"Okay, if we get tired, we can go rest for a while."
Ram, who was standing nearby, also brought Subuda over.
"Urina, let's go take a rest. I think the venue still needs to be set up. Why don't we go for a walk around the perimeter?"
Seeing that Hua Hua's little face was covered in sweat, Urina readily agreed.
The group walked to the outer area again, and by then the flowers had wilted from the sun.
She was so hot; sweat was pouring down her face, and her whole body was flushed from the heat.
Sumu glanced over discreetly, then lowered his head and suppressed a laugh.
"Cough cough, hahaha!"
But he couldn't help but smile.
Hua Hua, who seemed listless, ignored him and leaned on her mother's shoulder with her eyes half-closed.
The two adults ignored him and quickly found a spot to set up a canopy to block out the sun.
Everyone seemed to catch their breath and sat down on the grass to rest.
Hua Hua lay directly on it, her limbs outstretched and motionless.
Seeing this, Ram nodded with amusement, "This child must be wilted from the sun. She seems to be much quieter than this morning."
Urina was a little worried, having forgotten that this girl wasn't very resistant to the sun.
He thought of taking out his water pouch, picking her up, and feeding her water.
"Have a drink first, then rest!"
Hua Hua was too tired to speak. She opened her little mouth and drank a few sips, then leaned against her to rest.
Subu Da, who watched the whole thing, was stunned.
He didn't expect this little girl to be so weak; she got like this after being in the sun for just a short while.
He thought about the other girls around him; they all rode horses and shot arrows under the sun, and after the horse race, they could wrestle with him.
He didn't know why, he just made a comparison in his mind.
Thinking about how I should be more careful with this younger sister in the future.
Yes, like a father taking care of a lamb.
Hua Hua fell asleep immediately and didn't even eat lunch, remaining in a drowsy sleep the whole time.
During this time, Mu Ren came to visit them and, seeing his sister so busy, asked what was wrong.
Urina told him that her sister was feeling hot and that he shouldn't worry.
Urina wiped her hands and feet with clean water, realizing she might have heatstroke. She fed her the herbal medicine she carried with her and also took her to the temporary infirmary.
The doctors are specifically for the athletes to prevent injuries.
They examined a young girl first. "Her temperature is a bit high; she probably has heatstroke. Have you given her any medicine?"
Urina told the doctor about the medicine she was given, and the doctor nodded, indicating that it was okay.
After that, we just need to wait for the person to wake up.
Then they told her to leave the child there and come back to pick him up after the event, and that the child could rest in the crib.
Urina looked outside; the wrestling event was about to begin.
As herders, every child born learns wrestling, horse racing, and archery—these are the three traditional activities of Naadam.
"No, I'll just stay here and watch over her. Would that be a disturbance?"
She thought about it and decided against it.
The doctor paused for a moment, then said, "It's alright, feel free to do as you please!"
So, Hua Hua missed the chance to see her father, whom she had been eagerly anticipating.
Because of her poor physical condition, she didn't see her father's heroic figure during the event; this was something her second brother told her later. He explained how incredibly skilled her father was, defeating the previous year's wrestling hero to become the champion of this year's competition.
"Dad, is it really that amazing?"
Hua Hua sat on the rickshaw on her way home.
My second brother, riding a pony side by side, had these scratches on his face. "Of course, you don't know how strong Father is. He flipped that person over and threw him to the ground."
He even gestured from his horseback as he spoke, to show how awesome he was.
Hua Hua looked regretful, realizing she hadn't seen it herself. "What a pity, how could I have fallen asleep like that?"
As Ani, who was driving, listened to the little girl's aggrieved expression, he handed her a small box from the front.
Hua Hua took it out of curiosity when she saw it, and opened it to find that it was food.
"Ani, is this for me?"
"Hmm, I heard from Urina that you didn't have lunch, that won't do. This is jujube cake I bought there, it's said to be very sweet."
"Thank you, Ani! You're so kind, Ani!"
Hua Hua thanked her sweetly and took out a piece to hand to her mother.
The mother smiled and waved her hand, then handed it to Ani, who shook her head and refused.
She then looked at her second brother, who happily accepted it.
"Thank you, little sister. I have something for you too."
Hua Hua was eating jujube cake when she looked over curiously.
It turned out to be an award certificate!
"Hehe, this is the name I got: 10th place in the children's wrestling event at the Xilingol Nadam Fair!"
"Wow, second brother, you're amazing!"
The family returned to their camp under cover of night, and only then did Hua Hua see that her father had received a reward.
A large certificate and medal, and ten yuan in cash.
The eldest brother was better than the second brother, and in addition to the certificate, he also had a bronze medal.
The family of three participated in the competition and achieved three different rankings. In particular, the father won first place, which made everyone very happy.
Ani even showed several rare smiles.
During the three days of the Naadam festival, everyone worked from dawn till dusk, feeding the sheep and cows whenever they had a spare moment. The festival finally ended on the morning of the third day.
The family gained the most from the first day of this event.
On the second and third days, the top spot went to other heroes from the grasslands.
The eldest and second eldest brothers both made it into the top ten in the junior group in archery and horseback riding, but the first place was naturally taken by two other talented individuals.
One of them was a little girl. Bart was incredibly envious every time he mentioned it.
At this moment, his gaze toward Huahua became even more ardent.
This summer is hotter than usual, and Hua Hua's family has already moved their yurt once.
This time they chose a grassland not far from the snow-capped mountains.
The grass on this pasture is growing very well; it is not only emerald green but also tender.
Every time Huahua goes out to herd sheep with Ani, she is attracted by the way the lambs eat grass and will lower her head to chew a little.
Then he spat the grass out with a "pui pui" sound.
It doesn't taste good at all!
She looked around, searching for her second brother.
They discovered that he had already ridden away on horseback and disappeared on the opposite hillside.
Hua Hua lay down again and saw the snow-white clouds that seemed within reach.
Suddenly, a sense of peace settled in my heart, and my gaze gradually calmed.
Time flies, and Huahua is already seven years old!
She now prefers to be called by her full name, Luo Yin.
Loin skillfully rode her pony around the neighborhood.
A year and a half ago, Urina's brother came to visit his sister from the East Ujimqin Grassland. In addition to bringing lots of food, he also brought back a six-month-old foal.
When he saw Huahua, he was very happy to have a niece and said that this was a gift specially for her.
Luo Yin was overjoyed and really liked this uncle. Little Ma also became her favorite.
Subsequently, for her safety, her family, including Ani and her father, would teach her how to mount a horse whenever they had free time. It took Luo Yin a full year of falling before she finally managed to ride it.
Now she can ride her pony around.
Big White was now two years old, strong and powerful, with a glossy coat that made the whole horse gleam in the sunlight.
Loin loved it very much and fed it personally every day, brushing and massaging it.
I also need to talk and chat with it from time to time.
Even her second brother mentioned it several times, saying that Luo Yin liked Xiao Ma more than he did.
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