Chapter 19 Three's Company
Liuxing Street is one of the most distinctive streets in Yining City. It is named for its unique hexagonal radial layout, which resembles a giant snowflake fallen on the land of Yili.
The buildings here are mostly painted in a dreamy and tranquil "Yili blue" color scheme, and the walls are covered with murals full of local ethnic characteristics.
There were Uyghur girls dancing gracefully, an old man playing the rawap, grapevines laden with fruit, and the simple and clear words "I love Yili".
When their Tank 300 entered the trunk market area, all sorts of private cars were already neatly parked, their open trunks carefully arranged by the owners into mini, unique shops.
Xu Nianyi curiously inquired about the "enemy's situation" from house to house.
There were shops selling clothing, and the brightly colored Atlas silk skirts embroidered with intricate patterns shone with a captivating luster under the warm glow of string lights.
There is a magical sand-boiled milk tea. You can watch a Uyghur old man with a white turban on his head not far away, rubbing a small copper pot back and forth in the sand. Soon, the milk tea in the pot starts to bubble.
There are steaming hot, fragrant baked buns and naan breads bigger than cartwheels. These two foods, like Changsha stinky tofu, can be found everywhere in Xinjiang.
Various kinds of dried fruits and colorful jams were arranged in a rainbow-like array by the stall owner, which was extremely pleasing to the eye for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
There is a quiet craftsman sitting on a small stool, leaning against a lamp, concentrating on carving the poplar wood in his hands. Occasionally, he blows on it, and wood shavings fly like snowflakes. A unique work of art slowly takes shape in his hands.
All of this exotic scenery is completely different from the monotonous squid, barbecue, stinky tofu, and small commodities from Yiwu in the southern night markets, exuding a unique charm of Xinjiang.
"Wow! What a sight!" Fang Qihang's eyes lit up as he surveyed the bustling market. He had only stayed in Urumqi for one night and hadn't had a chance to experience the vibrant local customs and culture of Xinjiang. What he saw before him was incredibly novel and exciting.
They found an empty spot at the end of the convoy and parked their car safely.
"Let's get started!" Xu Nianyi slowly raised the trunk, unfolded the retractable control panel, and placed the wooden sign made by Tan Chen on it.
Tan Chen methodically took out the various wine bottles that were carefully protected in the foam boxes and placed them in categories on the tiered wooden shelves he had made himself.
The amber-colored whiskey, the clear gin, and the colorful pink liqueurs shone alluringly under the warm light of the overhead lamps.
The unique combination of rugged and cool off-road vehicles and exquisitely decorated bar counters instantly became the focus of attention, attracting passersby to stop and take photos, but they seemed to be hesitant about whether to make a purchase.
"Brother Tan, how about you get us a drink first? To set an example," Fang Qihang suggested, his eyes sparkling. "If you don't show off your skills, how will others know your technique and come to our shop!"
Tan Chen looked up at him, her hands still wiping the blanket, "What do you want to try?"
"Let's get this exciting! I'll show you how much I can drink!" Fang Qihang patted his chest, looking like he could drink a lot.
Tan Chen didn't say much. His slender fingers wandered over the liquor shelf, taking out vodka, white rum, gin, tequila, and Cointreau. He poured the five spirits, along with lemon juice and syrup, into a shaker as his fingers moved.
He added ice, put the lid on, and began to shake the kettle rhythmically with a flick of his wrist.
The bustling noise of the market and the clinking of ice cubes against the shaker seemed to become background noise to him.
The way he mixes drinks—focused, composed, and exuding an unquestionable professional aura and charm in his beloved field—was extremely attractive to Xu Nianyi.
She silently recorded the scene with her phone from the side.
Beneath Tan Chen's rolled-up sleeves, the muscles in his forearms taut slightly with the swaying motion, their lines smooth yet powerful.
He occasionally glanced up at the camera, or rather, at her; his usually indifferent eyes reflected a warm light.
Unfortunately, this stunning beauty wasn't something she enjoyed alone. The whispers of young girls around her surged like a tide.
"That bartender! He's so handsome!"
"His fingers are so beautiful!"
Do you think I can add him on WeChat?
Tan Chen took out a glass, added ice cubes, poured the shaken liquor into the glass, filled it with cola, and finally added a lemon slice for decoration. He then inserted a straw and handed the drink to Fang Qihang.
Long Island Iced Tea, sip slowly.
Fang Qihang's method was clearly effective. After this smooth and highly entertaining operation, the girls who were eager to try their luck in front of the simple bar all started ordering.
"Boss, I'll have a mojito!"
"I want the same Long Island Iced Tea as him!"
"Boss, do you have any recommendations for something with a lower alcohol content and a sweeter taste?"
Xu Nianyi immediately took over the task of recording everyone's order order and needs, and instructed them to scan the designated QR code to pay.
Fang Qihang held the wine Tan Chen handed him and, while enjoying it, began to actively solicit business on the sidewalk, showcasing his outgoing, goofy, talkative, and chatty nature.
"Come on, come on! Take a look! Don't miss it! This is the only mobile bar in Yining!" He spoke in a thick Northeastern accent, his voice booming, instantly attracting the attention of many people.
"This is our prized guest, Lao Tan! Handsome but not talkative, his bartending skills are top-notch! Whatever you'd like to drink, just order! Mojito, Long Island Iced Tea, Gin and Tonic—there's nothing Lao Tan can't make!"
"Hey beautiful, what would you like to drink? We not only have drinks, but also handsome guys! Buy a drink and get a free photo with us!"
"Brother, want to try some? A man needs something strong! Let Lao Tan make you a special one!"
He was enthusiastic, humorous, and not at all shy. He could strike up a conversation with anyone instantly, making him a top salesman. With his energetic promotion, the stall became even more popular.
Fang Qihang had been trying to recruit people for a while when he turned around and found that Xu Nianyi, who had been helping Tan Chen with odd jobs and managing order, had been pushed to the periphery of the crowd by the flow of people.
She stood there quietly, watching Tan Chen handle the orders and inquiries from the girls around him with ease. Her expression seemed a little sullen, and her lips were unconsciously pouting slightly.
Fang Qihang rolled his eyes and then nimbly moved closer to her.
“Nianyi, with Brother Tan handling things here, it’ll be fine! I think he can manage, he can handle those girls.” He gestured towards Tan Chen with his chin, then suggested, “Come on, why don’t you come with me to browse some other stalls? It’s my first time in Xinjiang, everything looks so interesting, and I want to eat everything, let’s go and do some shopping!”
Xu Nianyi was feeling a bit uncomfortable staying here, so she nodded and said, "Okay."
Having escaped the crowds in front of their own stall, Xu Nianyi and Fang Qihang strolled through the dimly lit market.
Fang Qihang seemed to be curious about everything, and would stop every now and then to chat with the stall owner. His outgoing personality and amusing words often made the stall owner laugh out loud.
For example, right now, he touched the fabric at the Adras stand and exclaimed exaggeratedly, "This pattern is amazing! Wearing it would be like a peacock spreading its tail feathers!" This made the stall owner laugh heartily.
He squatted down in front of the milk tea stall, carefully studying the old man's technique, and even tried to try it himself, but the old man laughed and stopped him from learning the trick.
He exclaimed in amazement at the naan bread that was bigger than a wheel, and insisted that Xu Nianyi take a picture for him to prove how small his face was;
He tried every kind of dried fruit at the stall and finally bought a large bag of mixed dried fruit, which he ate as he walked.
The funniest thing was that he stopped in front of a stall selling ethnic-style hats, picked up an exquisite little flower hat, and put it on Xu Nianyi's head without saying a word. Then he picked out a men's embroidered hat for himself and put it on.
Then, he began to imitate the classic neck-moving movement in Uyghur dance, placing his hands in front of his neck and trying to twist his neck back and forth and side to side. Unfortunately, his movements were stiff and comical, making him look like a silly goose that couldn't find its way.
"Oh dear, it looks so easy for others, but it's so hard for me!" he complained as he tried, his funny antics making everyone around him laugh.
Xu Nianyi was amused by him the whole time and laughed non-stop. Her little bit of depression from before had long since disappeared.
She found that being with Fang Qihang was very relaxing and enjoyable. He was like a little sun, full of energy and joy, and could always easily dispel the gloom in people's hearts.
The two strolled around, eating and shopping, and Xu Nian ended up with several trinkets and snacks in her hands.
When they returned to their stall with several sizzling, oily skewers of lamb, they found that the crowd had thinned out considerably.
Tan Chen was still busy, his movements showing no sign of panic, only a few fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
He saw Xu Nianyi and Fang Qihang return together, chatting and laughing, with unfinished snacks and newly bought trinkets in their hands. His gaze lingered on them briefly before quickly shifting away, focusing on the cocktails he was making.
Fang Qihang immediately switched back to "working mode," loudly proclaiming, "Hey! Brother Tan, you've worked hard! Let me wipe your sweat! Nianyi, feed him another lamb skewer to replenish his energy!" His words were natural and intimate, as if the three of them were old friends who had known each other for many years.
Ultimately, due to a shortage of ice, the popular mobile bar had to close early. Even so, that night, their mobile bar was undoubtedly a bright spot in the entire trunk market.
It's hard to say whether it's thanks to the two guys' good looks, Tan Chen's professional bartending skills, or Fang Qihang's enthusiastic promotion.
Tan Chen and Fang Qihang were packing up their stall, wiping glasses, and sorting out the few remaining drinks, while Xu Nianyi opened her WeChat payment statement to check her earnings for the night and showed it to the two of them in shock.
"3558!" Fang Qihang exclaimed suddenly, looking at the number on his phone. Then, he mysteriously produced three roses from behind his back. "I bought these from that little flower girl when I was shopping. One for each of us, to celebrate our trio's resounding success and abundant wealth!"
Xu Nianyi accepted the rose, her gaze sweeping over Tan Chen's sleeve, which was stained with wine, and then over Fang Qihang's lips, which were dusted with cumin powder. Smelling the fragrance of the rose in her hand and listening to the clamor of the market, she suddenly wished the night could last longer.
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