Chapter 419: Arriving at Xiuma Village
Chapter 419: Chapter 419: Arriving at Xiuma Village
Uncle Sangji’s home was in Xiuma Village, part of the Nima Commune in Maqu County. Located at the southern foot of Xiqing Mountain, it was about a two-to-three-hour horseback ride from Maqu County.
"Su, do you know how to ride a horse?" Uncle Sangji’s horse business was doing quite well. The horses he brought to market had sold out quickly, so he had intentionally kept the most docile one, intending for him and Su Qing to each have their own mount.
"I’ve never ridden before," Su Qing answered honestly.
"Ah!" Hearing this, Uncle Sangji looked a little troubled.
Su Qing was light, so logically, he could have had her ride with him. But in this day and age, that wasn’t quite proper. If people saw them and started to gossip, it could be damaging to a young woman’s reputation.
Things weren’t as strict as they had been a few years prior, but a young woman’s reputation was still a delicate matter.
"But I can try," Su Qing said to Uncle Sangji with a smile.
Uncle Sangji didn’t quite agree. "You’re young and have never been around horses. This is no joke. If you accidentally fall off, you could get seriously hurt."
"Let me try. What if the horse likes me?" Su Qing smiled and pointed to the chestnut-colored horse Uncle Sangji had set aside. "Uncle Sangji, is this one for me?"
Uncle Sangji nodded but quickly added, "It may be docile, but if you don’t know how to ride, it can still get temperamental. Let me think of something."
The moment Uncle Sangji finished speaking, he saw Su Qing walk up to the chestnut horse and gently stroke its head.
Uncle Sangji’s heart skipped a beat, and he started to move forward to stop her. No matter how docile a horse was, you couldn’t just casually test its temper!
But to Uncle Sangji’s surprise, the horse seemed to take a real liking to Su Qing. Not only did it not reject her touch, but it also actively leaned its head toward her and even nuzzled her arm.
Uncle Sangji watched in astonishment. "This horse really seems to like you."
"Maybe I just have a way with animals," Su Qing said with a smile as a wisp of green mist flowed silently from her hand into the chestnut horse. After receiving the green mist, the horse grew even more affectionate.
"Well, I’ll be," Uncle Sangji marveled. "Alright, how about this: I’ll teach you how to ride. You can give it a try, and if it doesn’t work out, we’ll figure something else out."
"Okay, thank you, Uncle Sangji," Su Qing said with a grin.
So, Uncle Sangji began teaching Su Qing the basics—how to mount, how to steer, and so on. He explained everything in meticulous detail, worried she might get hurt if she misunderstood any part of it.
To Uncle Sangji’s delight, Su Qing turned out to be a natural. After hearing the theory only twice, she could already ride with ease and even guide the horse into a trot.
"Let’s go. I’ll take you back to the village."
"Okay."
Uncle Sangji led Su Qing on the ride to Xiuma Village. Seeing how adeptly she handled her horse along the way, he finally relaxed. Their conversation grew lighter, and he told her about Xiqing Mountain and even taught her a few common phrases in the local dialect.
With her superpower enhancing her natural abilities, Su Qing was an exceptionally fast learner. By the time they arrived at Xiuma Village, her equestrian skills had become even more refined, and she could already communicate with Uncle Sangji in the local dialect, much to his utter amazement.
"Su, look. That over there is Xiqing Mountain," Uncle Sangji said, pointing toward the distant mountains as they stood at the entrance to Xiuma Village.
It was dusk. Su Qing followed his pointing finger and gazed into the distance. A continuous chain of peaks stretched across the horizon. Fiery sunset clouds wove through the mountains, dusting the summits with a crimson sheen. A hazy, rosy light enveloped the peaks, lending them a dreamlike, magnificent beauty.
"It’s so beautiful," Su Qing couldn’t help but sigh.
"It is," Uncle Sangji agreed, also looking at the distant Xiqing Mountain. He added, "It’s gorgeous, but it’s also incredibly dangerous. Su, I have to warn you, Xiqing Mountain is vast and deep. Even the best hunters in our village don’t dare venture too far in. If you’re determined to go into the mountains, you absolutely must not go too deep. Just stick to the outer areas to look for herbs. Also, if there are specific herbs you need, you can ask the people in our village. If we have them, you won’t need to go into the mountains at all."
Uncle Sangji was still very worried about Su Qing’s safety.
"Don’t worry, Uncle Sangji. I’m just going into the mountains to experience collecting herbs. I won’t go deep," Su Qing said, naturally not telling him the whole truth.
Seeing that Su Qing had made up her mind, Uncle Sangji didn’t press the issue. "Alright, then. You must be careful. Besides, it’s getting late. Why don’t you stay at my place for the night and head into the mountains tomorrow morning? The altitude is high here, and you need to acclimate. Once you’re in the mountains, it’ll be even higher."
"Okay." ’I was going to pay Uncle Sangji anyway,’ Su Qing thought. ’I can just give him a little extra to cover the cost of my stay.’
"Alright, let’s go. My home is that yurt over there," Uncle Sangji said, pointing to a white yurt in the distance.
Xiuma Village was nestled at the foot of Xiqing Mountain’s southern slope, spread across a vast pasture. The village wasn’t large, with only about twenty-some households, all living in white yurts. From a distance, they looked like a scattering of two dozen white mushrooms on the green grassland.
It was now evening, and the villagers were gradually returning home. When they saw Sangji, they greeted him warmly. "Sangji, you’re back!"
"Oh, who’s this young lady? A relative of yours?"
Seeing Su Qing, the villagers who greeted Uncle Sangji were filled with curiosity. They discreetly sized her up, marveling at her beauty while wondering about her identity.
"She’s a guest of my family," Uncle Sangji replied with a hearty laugh. "She came to do some sightseeing around here and happened to run into me, so I’m showing her the way. It’s late today, so she’ll be staying the night at my place."
"Oh my, the young lady is so pretty," an older woman complimented with a cheerful laugh.
Su Qing smiled and thanked her in the local dialect, which made the woman’s eyes go wide. "Young lady, you’re not from around here, are you? It’s amazing that you can speak our language!"
As she spoke, the woman gave Su Qing a thumbs-up.
Walking all the way to Uncle Sangji’s yurt, Su Qing truly felt the warmth and hospitality of the Xiuma Village residents.
Uncle Sangji’s family was small, consisting of just him, his wife Lazhen, and their daughter, Zhuoma. Both Zhuoma and her mother expressed great delight at Su Qing’s arrival. Zhuoma, who was about the same age as Su Qing, was especially enthusiastic. "Su Qing, welcome to our home!"