I couldn't help but laugh, looking at the old people and children in front of me who were just trying to make a living. It was really not easy.
"Niubi, we paid for their meal today." I said.
Zhou Xiaoshe took out a wad of banknotes and divided two into each person. Immediately, several old people thanked him.
But when Zhou Xiaoshe handed the money to the only child, he didn't even look at the money and said directly to me: "Boss, I don't want your money."
"Why?"
"My grandma said that no reward will be given without merit. Since you didn't hire me, I can't charge you any money."
My mind froze and I couldn't help laughing.
I took a closer look at the child and found that besides being darker, his facial features were quite three-dimensional. Unfortunately, he was a little too thin.
"May I have your name?"
"My name is Batur, which means warrior."
When the little boy said this, several old men nearby burst into laughter.
Batu suddenly became anxious and said, "Why are you laughing? This is the name my grandma gave me. She said that I must be Batur from Lop Nur in the future."
Zhou Xiaoshe and I looked at each other and smiled, and then I took a thousand yuan from Zhou Xiaoshe's hand and stuffed it into Batur's hand, "Take this money and buy some delicious food for your grandma."
After giving the money, Zhou Xiaoshe and I turned around and went to the stall area on the right to see if we could pick a few camels with stronger drought tolerance. We were going into the depths of Lop Nur. If there were no camels for transportation and carrying things, then
It's simply unimaginable.
In the end, we selected five or six well-trained camels, but the other party was unwilling to sell them directly. They said they would let us rent them first, and then they would decide whether or not we should pay money based on the condition of the camels.
Lop Nur people have an unusual affection for camels. They can rent them out for their livelihood, but they will never sell them.
After we pulled the camel back to the hotel, Bai Yu and Nie Xiaobai were as excited as three-year-old children when they saw it. They wanted to sit on it and experience it, but when the camel walked, it shook its hump, which frightened them and turned pale.
.
Fortunately, Nie Zifeng and Zhou Xiaoshe learned a few simple commands from the camel owner, such as making the camel kneel down and walking without any problems.
We tied up the camels and fed them. Now we only lack a local guide, but unfortunately we have never found a good candidate.
We asked the hotel owner about it, and she told us that a few days ago, all the young men in the town were hired away at a high price, and some of them were Japanese.
I found five or six local young guides at twice the price.
So now in the entire Lop Nur town, except for women, there are children and the elderly, and even those with money have no choice.
Zhou Xiaoshe and I discussed it and decided to go to the market to try our luck before leaving tomorrow. If it doesn't work, we can just find someone a little younger. We can't just walk into Lop Nur like blind men...
We got up early the next morning. After enjoying the fish feast warmly served by the hotel owner, I just stepped out of the hotel door and saw that the Batur I met yesterday had been waiting for a long time.
I squinted my eyes. Today, Batur had changed into clean clothes. He had a big gourd filled with water tied around his waist, and he was carrying several dried fish cakes as big as his face. It looked like they were all
Solid food prepared by his grandmother.
"Boss, you're finally out. I've been waiting for you for a long time." Batur hurriedly came over and said with half a dried fish cake in his mouth, his eyes shining brightly.
"What are you waiting for me to do?" I asked.
"I took the money you gave me home. My grandma said that if you take money, you have to do something, so I'm here to do something with you now," Batur said.
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and said: "Forget it, you should just stay here and take care of your mother."
"Boss, don't look down on people. I, Batur, am also a local celebrity. If you don't believe me, you can ask who in Lop Nur town doesn't know that I, Batur, am going to become a great hero."
I couldn't bear to hit Batur, but looking at his firm eyes, I was somewhat touched.
"Okay, it's up to you, but I have something to say first. This life is very dangerous, so you'd better be mentally prepared."
"Don't worry, boss, we are here to work, and what matters is credibility. I am not afraid of swords, mountains, fire, seas," Batur said, patting his withered chest and vowing.
"OK."
In this case, I had nothing to say. When I was about to ask Batur to go to the market to pick out a camel, he waved his hand and said, "No, my grandma has prepared it for me."
Batur whistled, and a little camel ran out from a corner not far away. Batur struggled for a long time before he finally sat on it.
"Boss, let's go to the market and introduce you to one of my companions."
"Oh? You still have companions?"
"Of course, those who come out to hang out will definitely have one or two life-and-death friends."
"Okay, then take me to see your life-and-death acquaintance."
"Okay, bosses, follow me." Batur patted the little camel and led the way with some momentum.
After arriving at the market, I was stunned when I saw Batur’s so-called acquaintance of life and death with my own eyes. His so-called acquaintance of life and death was the old man who called himself Lop Nur Chow Yun-fat yesterday. He was in his early eighties and had gray hair.
With his white hair and beard, he is several generations older than Batur.
Just like this, they are actually friends of life and death?
I felt that I had been deceived. When the old man saw that I was leaving, he quickly came forward and said: "Boss, if you want to go to the depths of Lop Nur, you are right to take me with you. I grew up drinking the water of Lop Nur when I was a child."
."
"Oh? Are you from Lop Nur?"
"Hey, don't believe it? I was born in Lop Nur. At that time, there was still water in Lop Nur. It's not like it is now. Boss, come and enjoy the food. It hasn't been opened for half a month..."
I glanced at the old man. Although he was not young, he looked quite energetic.
I raised my eyebrows and suddenly took action against the old man.
"Hey, boss, just try, I, Lop Nur Chow Yun-fat, am not wasting my fame."
The old man also took action quickly. Although his reaction was not very fast, he still managed to withstand my attack.
I tried it for two or three rounds and found that the old man still had some skills and a strong body.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"People used to call me Little Muti, but now they call me Lao Muti."
Lao Muti is indeed old enough, but I can only choose a general among the dwarfs, and I have to make do with him.
"Where is your meal guy?" I asked. After all, Batur had brought his own dried fish cakes and baby camels, but looking at Lao Muti, except for a head of white hair, his hands were empty.
Lao Muti said: "The camels have been sold for food a long time ago. If the boss cares, he can find other people. They all have camels, but I don't have any."
"You can sell anyone who eats." I shook my head and said calmly: "Niubi, take Lao Muti to pick a camel. We will set off early tomorrow morning."