At lunch at the dry goods store, Lao Gan’s youngest daughter with glasses is named Gan Xuan. She works at a local Yinchuan magazine. She has just graduated and has not yet become a full-time employee. Gan Xuan was obsessed with proving her abilities, so she was able to overcome difficulties and interview the leader of the Hute people.
, with this performance, she will be able to transfer into the system and become a staff member later this year.
"Why did Young Geographers come to Yinchuan without saying hello? Where is your interview vehicle?" Gan Xuan stopped her chopsticks and asked me.
I was prepared for this question, so I lied and said: "Our journal has been short of manpower recently, and the agency wants to publish a series of journals centered on ancient Xixia."
She frowned, "This involves the history major. You can go to the Xixia history researchers at the Ningxia Museum. Those people are all from majors. What do you do with me, a college student who graduated from the journalism department?"
I nodded and said, "Reporter Gan, you are right, of course we need to find it, but the main audience we are targeting for this series are teenagers, and the interesting and legendary nature of the story is what we value most. I heard that Reporter Gan once went deep into the desert to conduct interviews.
The leader of the Guohute people, as a colleague in the industry, I wonder if I can give you some advice. Of course, you will be signed in the journal."
As soon as she heard "signature", it could be seen from her expression that reporter Gan was moved. The size and popularity of National Geographic were still attractive to her, not to mention the right to sign the journal.
She didn't ask to see my ID, so she stood up and nodded with a smile: "I did collect some information. How about we make an appointment in the afternoon at Xiaozhu Cafe?"
I nodded and said yes, I asked for it.
The Xiaozhu Cafe was very famous at the time, but the locals were not used to drinking coffee. The only people who came here to consume coffee were the capable petty bourgeoisie. Starbucks only opened its seventh branch this year, and it was far from covering small places like Yinchuan.
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"Add sugar, milk or creamer??" Reporter Gan asked Dou Sprout and I when we arrived at the coffee shop.
I had never drank coffee before, so I wanted to show off, so I said, "No, I usually drink the original flavor."
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Douyazai also followed my example, "I'm the same, let's have a cup of original coffee."
Reporter Gan nodded and asked the waiter to take his order.
The original coffee I drank at that time was really bitter, like some imported espresso. It was as bitter as his grandma's. It was even more bitter than drinking herbal medicine. What was even worse was that I didn't add any sugar.
The bean sprout boy picked it up and took a sip and then put it down. Seeing that the bean sprout boy looked ugly, reporter Gan asked confusedly what's wrong?
Douya held back and said, the coffee is good and tastes authentic.
When they started talking about business, Gan took out an envelope from her bag. She opened it and found that it was filled with photos.
The person in the photo is dressed strangely, with a mix of turf and animal skin clothing, with white paint on his face, and is avoiding the camera.
I flipped through two pages and asked, "This is the Hute tribe living in the desert? Where was this film taken?"
She said: "Yes, the people in the photos are the Hute people. I took this set of photos last year in the desert. The Hute people have no fixed residence. Every time a sandstorm strikes, the Hute people will go deep into the desert."
They moved from place to place, and we were about to give up when we ran out of water. It was just luck to find them."
Douyazai pretended to stir the coffee and said, "If we want to invite you this time, please lead us to find the Hute tribe."
"Ask me?"
Reporter Gan smiled and said: "It's usually possible, but not now. I just took over the interview task of the Helan Mountain Breeding Base, and I don't have time to accompany you on a desert adventure. To be honest, even if you invite me, it won't have much effect. I'll give you a few
There is a recommended person, you go and see him."
After saying that, she asked the waiter for pen and paper and wrote an address, "Yixi Camel Team, Shangguan Min."
"You go find this man named Shang. There are experienced old guides in his camel team," reporter Gan said with a smile. "If I finish my newspaper work before you set off, maybe we can set off together."
After coming out of the cafe, Dou Sprout Zai and I returned to the farmer's market, where Tou, Lao Qin and the others were already waiting.
Shang Guanmin is considered a local celebrity. He was the first to industrialize camel breeding in Yinchuan. At that time, all camel farmers became rich. Pure camel milk was dozens of times more expensive than cow's milk, and camel skin was more expensive than donkey skin.
, the camel humps were sold to high-end hotels. In the following years, Yinchuan developed tourism, and tourists riding camels could also be considered as an income.
Reporter Gan had already greeted the businessman we met as a youth geographer in advance, and he was very enthusiastic about us.
After meeting, I directly stated my purpose of coming and said to Mr. Shang, we are going to the desert to find the Hute tribe and we would like to find an experienced guide from you to lead the way.
"No problem," Shang Guanmin said to an employee nearby: "Xiao Zhou, call Lao Zhang."
Within a few minutes, two people came in. One of them was wearing a leather vest. Although he was older, he was burly.
"Lao Zhang, let me introduce you," Shang Guanmin pointed at me and the boss and said with a smile: "You know the newspaper office, Youth Geography, they want you to help as a guide, I approved it, Lao Zhang, don't worry, these days
Your salary will be doubled, and when you come back from work, I will give you three days off so that you can go home and spend time with your wife and children."
The man nodded and said yes.
"That's it. I still have something to do. You guys should talk first. If you need help, please speak up as soon as possible. I have always respected your comrades who are doing news work. In the future, when we develop the tourism industry in Helan Mountain, we will still need to rely on you to promote it.
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"It's easy to talk about. Don't worry, Mr. Business. In the future, our newspaper will open a column to introduce the local special camel industry," I said with a smile.
After Shang Weimin left, his guide Lao Zhang turned around and asked: "As I have told you in advance, although I have some experience in dealing with the desert and Gobi for half my life, Alxa is like a menopausal woman. The weather will change if she says it will, just like the people of Hute.
Following the Oasis activities, I cannot guarantee 100% that I will find them."
"One more thing. Mr. Shang asked me to be your guide because he entrusted your safety to me, Lao Zhang. You should listen to me on the way. Alxa is not as safe as you think. There are undercurrents and sand traps in the desert.
Huang Chiren, you may also encounter sandstorms during this season, you must pay attention to your safety and follow my instructions."
Dou Sprout asked curiously, "I've heard of others. What is Huang eating people?"
"Yellow man-eaters? That thing is really powerful. I hope we are lucky enough not to encounter it."
The guide Lao Zhang looked at Zhao Xuanxuan and gestured and said: "This girl, and you guys, don't dare to enter Alxa dressed like this, especially your shoes. You must change them. Change them to this style." He turned around and took out the cupboard.
Take out a pair of high-heeled shoes, which are a bit like rain boots, but are longer than the rain boots. It is estimated that they can cover people's knees when they are put on.
He pointed to the shoes and said: "You can buy these at the labor insurance store. You all have to change into them. Just tell the owner of the labor insurance store that you are going to Alxa and he will understand."
"Also, what kind of car do you drive? How about the water supply?"
I showed him our trunk, but of course I didn't let him see those tornado-like tomb-robbing things.
After checking the water source and the condition of the car, the guide said: "Bottled water should be enough, but this kind of car cannot."
Dou Sprouts became anxious when he heard this, "This is an off-road vehicle! Does Cherokee know about it? Why is it not working? Don't we have to drive and we just walk on our feet? That would be exhausting."
The guide shook his head and said: "It won't work to cut any foundation. The Hute people are isolated from the outside world and hidden deep in the desert. When I took reporter Xiao Gan to find them, they also drove this kind of car. However, it stopped working just one day after leaving. The tires
I couldn't get out of the sand pit, and neither car could be dragged out. It got stuck deeper and deeper."
He raised his head and raised his hands to stop Dou Sprout from talking.
"Then what do you think we should do? Tie chains to the tires?"
"No need to bother," the guide pointed to the door and said, "That's the camel farm over there. Go over and pick a camel."
