Sequence 2, You Have a Flower's Name (Part 1)

Someone said: "Hey, where is A Tuo? I think he took good care of Rong Rong all the way."

A group of about ten horses, not yet loaded with luggage, galloped joyfully. Among them were several grooms, dressed in old-fashioned blue work clothes or black jackets. As they approached, they pulled on the reins, and the horses neighed loudly, making a circle before coming to a stop in front of the gate

Xiao Hong asked: "So, what are you researching?"

Xia Xiaoju also smiled and asked the local contact, Duojie, for his address. Upon reaching the open space in the village, she saw a group of children gathered together, crowding around something. It was not until someone in the circle shouted, "It's all gone, it's really all gone," that they laughed and dispersed a bit, revealing A Tuo sitting cross-legged in the middle of the ground.

Everyone laughed. Xiao Rong said: "What’s wrong with someone letting their horse run? They are not stealing or robbing. I think he is quite good, like a man, and has a certain elegance."

The uncle replied: "The notice yesterday stated that those who could come would be able to."

Lin Ting said, "Indeed, whenever we go out, it is always her who makes the plans"

Another woman wearing a baseball cap, Xiao Rong, pouted and said, "He is talking about his long legs"

In fact, it is simply because he does not need her

Cheng Langming had seen her in moments of fragility and helplessness, yet still said, "The impression you give me is that you can live well on your own, never needing anyone."

Can one go into the mountains to cut down trees by oneself

When the girls laugh, "Generally, boys seem too weak in Rongrong's eyes"

When alone, it is easy to recall some old memories

She was the only girl in the team, occupying a guest room by herself. As she rushed to the bathroom, her first thought was, could it be that the wild mushrooms were problematic, and everyone else had been taken down? That would certainly become a topic of laughter within the research institute

The young man in jeans sighed: "Why is this horse so small? If I get on it, my legs will drag on the ground."

Xiao Hong's father said: "Yes, it's rare to come out this way, to experience the local people's life, and also to let my son have some practice."

The father in the family of three commented: "The Qianma is like this, unlike the tall Mongolian horses. Don't be fooled by their small size; they have great endurance and can climb hills"

The uncle chuckled and said, "There is a logging permit."

He Guang let out a sound of "tch" and said, "We cannot only focus on climbing the mountain. I see that the guides have good stamina; why don't you all find one?"

Atuola held the reins and said, "You should still get on, the road ahead is narrow, it walks more steadily than you do."

Lin Ting nodded: "Yes, they look very spirited and clever, and seem to be more cultured than others"

In the evening, the horse team arrived near Shangnami Village, setting up camp by the stream at the foot of the mountain, with the white peaks of the snow-capped mountains visible above. The guides became busy; two of them started a campfire and fetched water from the stream to cook noodles; several young men were erecting tents, gathering dry branches to place on the grass to insulate against moisture, and laying down Tibetan robes on top.

The manager of the horse team stood aside and asked the leading guide, "Yes, how many more people are there?"

I don't mind, I'm just worried that Xiao Hong might get an upset stomach. Xiao Hong's mother nudged her husband, saying, "You should talk to them; otherwise, we can go eat in the village we just passed by."

She repeatedly stated that she could manage on her own and did not need her colleagues to stay behind to take care of her. To avoid delaying their schedule, the others drove into the mountains as originally planned. To be on the safe side, Xia Xiaoju received intravenous treatment at the county hospital for two consecutive days. Since yesterday, she felt much more energetic and did not want to rent a car alone. On a whim, she discussed with the local horse team that caters to tourists and decided to enter the mountains with them

"Indeed, let Uncle Bai rest for another two days." He responded and began to pack his belongings along with the others

A guide helped her secure the backpack onto the pack horse's back. Everyone mounted their horses, but there was only one mounting stool. The young women chatted and laughed, calling their companions for assistance. Xia Xiaoju had ridden horses quite a bit when going into the wild, so she grasped the front of the saddle, placed her left foot in the stirrup, and attempted to swing herself up. Unexpectedly, her legs felt a bit weak, and she was momentarily obstructed by the luggage, nearly falling off.

The uncle said: "Sing that one you always sing."

Mother frowned: "What is that? Is there such a way to address others? How impolite."

It has been proven that the only one who was brought down was herself. The doctor analyzed that there was no issue with the food; she simply ate something unsuitable after a long journey, coupled with a slight chill.

The manager instructed: "Ato, take good care of Xiaoxia. She is a prominent scientist from Beijing"

You have a name like a flower, beautiful girl Zhuoma

A family is building a new house and has piled up quite a few logs. Xiaojiao Xiaojiao approached, greeted them, and asked, "Are these from the nearby mountains?"

Xiao Rong grasped her arm, "Please don't make a fuss."

The coachman waved his hand and said, "I can't sing, I can't sing. You should ask A Tuo; he sings well."

Pushing open the window, the street is empty, shrouded in a white mist

Seven years ago in the summer, a group of young people lit a bonfire on the beach. She was struck down by a severe bout of diarrhea and had to catch an early train home. At that time, the boy she cared for the most was by her side, taking great care of her. Yet, it was the first farewell between her and him

Lin Ting called out to the coachman in front, "Uncle, what songs do you usually sing?"

The twilight is cool, the sky is clear, and the sound of flowing water can be heard along the way. Before long, a row of Tibetan-style houses and a wooden fence outside the courtyard come into view, with smoke curling up from the chimneys. Children are playing by the water, and suddenly someone calls out, causing everyone to rush towards the village.

The air was cool and damp; as soon as she turned over, some of the warmth escaped from the bedding. It truly required a great deal of courage to leave the comfort of the warm bed. She wore quick-drying clothes while sleeping, took a deep breath, sat up, and grabbed the jacket from the bedside to drape it over herself

And now, those who once cared for me, or those whom I once cared for, have all gone their separate ways.

Ah Zhuoma, the Gesang flower on the grassland

You dedicate your song to the snow-capped mountains that nurtured you

Their son, Xiao Hong, stood by and counted repeatedly: "Dad, Dad, with so many of us, there aren't enough horses."

"Do not underestimate me, I often climb mountains!" Xiao Rong insisted on not riding the horse. A Tuo did not press her, allowing her to walk along the side of the mountain path while he leaned against the slope, shielding her from the outside. When they encountered muddy and slippery areas, he would stride over them and turn back to give her a hand.

The horses are all raised by the nearby farmers, each one led out, carrying two gray canvas bags on their backs. All the belongings accumulated over the past few days of travel are contained within them

Xiao Rong chuckled and said, "Auntie, what do you think the water over there is? We are upstream, and they are downstream; perhaps our stream water is even cleaner."

The last to take the lead was a young man, whose horse was the tallest and most robust, with long, slender legs. The young man dismounted; his skin was slightly dark, and it seemed he had not had time to groom his hair properly after waking up, as a few strands were sticking up.

Indeed, as the girls said, the gaze is spirited, with a smile in the depths of the eyes, and against the backdrop of a slightly dark complexion, the teeth appear even whiter and more orderly

Xiao Rong disdainfully said: "Your physique is still comparable to mine? You should exercise more."

He Guang showed his teeth and said, "Can you please leave some face?"

He Guang said: "I feel sore in my legs even while riding on horseback, how can you not be tired after walking all afternoon?"

Xia Xiaoju woke up from her dream, no longer able to hear the sound of last night's rain

"Why aren't you riding a horse?" Xiao Rong asked

He did not decline either

The horse team left the road, slowly climbing up the hillside, winding around a ridge, with the trees around them gradually becoming denser. As the morning mist dissipated, warm sunlight filtered through the branches, casting down beams of bright golden light. Indeed, as the fellow travelers had said, the horses carried heavy packs and a person, breathing heavily along the way, snorting loudly, yet their steps were steady, never pausing for a moment. The horse team traversed through the forest, branches brushing against their faces, and everyone either reached out to push them aside or bent down to avoid them, with the tourists in the group feeling curious and excited, laughing and chatting incessantly. Indeed, as the fellow travelers had said, the horses carried heavy packs and a person, breathing heavily along the way, snorting loudly, yet their steps were steady, never pausing for a moment. The horse team traversed through the forest, branches brushing against their faces, and everyone either reached out to push them aside or bent down to avoid them, with the tourists in the group feeling curious and excited, laughing and chatting incessantly. He Guang could not contain himself and began to sing: "The blue sky has white clouds drifting, beneath the white clouds, the horses are running ~"

Passing by a stream approximately four to five meters wide, two fallen tree trunks formed a makeshift wooden bridge. Everyone dismounted and crossed the river separately with their horses. Upon reaching the opposite bank, Xiao Rong also did not mount his horse, saying, "I will walk for a while too"

How did they observe so many details in the blink of an eye

It is now only late August, and when we departed, Beijing was still stiflingly hot like a steamer. Upon arriving in Songpan, at an altitude of nearly 3,000 meters, after several days of continuous rain, the minimum temperature dropped below 10 degrees.

The tourists rode horses for a whole day and are now able to stretch their bodies. The girls became excited upon seeing the lush wildflowers and kept taking pictures with their digital cameras

"Unfortunately, it is also in the mountains that horses are kept." He Guangdao, "Is Rongrong staying here to help raise the horses?"

Lin Ting said, "Alright, let's call him over and ask if he has a girlfriend"

He shook the branch, his voice bright and clear, singing with a carefree and unrestrained spirit, showing no signs of fatigue from the arduous climb. Xiaojun heard this and turned to glance back. Just then, A Tuo was looking ahead, and their eyes met. He smiled, his laughter intertwining with the song, his expression genuine and sincere.

Xia Xiaoju felt embarrassed: "No, I just came to conduct a small survey"

... ...

Xia Xiaoju looked up, intending to count the horses in front of her, when she suddenly heard the crisp and chaotic sound of hooves on the road. She gazed towards the direction of the ancient city, where, amidst the swirling fog, a figure was faintly moving at high speed. In the next moment, it became clear, tearing through the thick white veil, and rushed towards her.

Immediately interrupted by a colleague, "That's old news!" "Also, isn't that Inner Mongolia?"

Chengbei Road is also a national highway, flanked by two-story imitation ancient Chinese buildings, most of which are Sichuan restaurants and specialty shops selling yak meat and qingke wine. At the end of the road lies Songzhou Ancient City, featuring statues of Songzan Ganbu and Princess Wencheng. Heavy trucks rumble down the street, while weary cyclists pass by in groups.

Rest assured, Xia Xiaoju reassured him, I spend several months in the mountains each year, and I won't wander off.

The villager uncle nodded and said, "Exactly."

Xia Xiaoju chuckled self-deprecatingly and drank the porridge in large gulps. This year is no different from any other year in the past. I am still the strong and happy Xia Xiaoju, and I do not need anyone.

You dedicate beauty to the grassland, the grassland that nurtures you

Xiao Hong stuck out her tongue: "I don't know whether to call her aunt or sister"

The person in question is A Tuo. He patted the horse's neck and smiled brightly, saying, "You must hold on tight when we take the mountain path later."

She stood at the entrance of the horse team, waiting to depart. The tourists were divided into several groups according to different routes, chatting animatedly. Accompanying Xiaojuzhu to Xuebaoding were a pair of blonde, blue-eyed American couples, several university students, and a family of three from Chengdu, all introducing themselves. She greeted them but still lacked the energy to engage in conversation with others, standing by the roadside with a large backpack on her back

The girls behind her seemed to have discovered a new world, pushing and shoving as they chatted, emitting a series of giggles. Upon hearing their comments, Xia Xiaoju turned her gaze in their direction and happened to catch a glimpse of A Tuo's back. The girls were right; compared to those around him, he was quite tall. As for whether he was handsome or had a set of neat, white teeth, he had already turned around, and Xia Xiaoju did not see.

"I can't remember all the lyrics," he said, yet he began to hum them.

You have a floral smile, beautiful girl Zhuoma

He shrugged and said, "What should we sing? On the rolling hills of the mountains?"

Xia Xiaoju sat up straight and said, "Thank you!"

Ato walked at the end of the horse team, and he was not riding a horse. He was tall with long legs, and he walked up the slope with ease, not slower than the rest of the group. He held a branch of a bush in his hand, shook it, and said with a smile: "I am just singing randomly"

Someone supported her from behind, their arm strong and powerful, lifting her onto the horse's back

Amidst the laughter of the crowd, He Guang cast a glance and said, "Hey, hey, you all seem to be having such a good time, but where is the male lead?"

His girlfriend Lin Ting linked her arm with his and chuckled, "This is great, I haven't ridden before and was worried about falling off"

Father glanced around and said, "It seems there is none."

The manager tilted his chin and said, "Oh, A-Tuo is here to help today? Is Lao Bai still not well?"

It has been in the mountains for seven days and just returned yesterday. A-Tuo patted the horse's back and said, "I will not add any burden to it."

Several colleagues who came to take samples have already entered the mountains, having driven to Shangnami Village three days ago. Only Xia Xiaoju remained alone in the county town—everyone had planned to have a nice meal the night before departure, but by nightfall, she began to experience diarrhea

It was still early to pack the luggage, and the snack shop downstairs had already started preparing breakfast. Xia Xiaoju finally felt less hungry, but still felt a bit weak in the legs. She silently glanced at the beef offal soup and spicy sour noodles on the signboard, but still ordered a bowl of congee, steamed buns with pickles, and a boiled egg

Xiao Hong's mother said: "They just cook rice directly with stream water, don't they need to filter it first?"

Xiao Hong's mother asked Xiao Rong: "Young lady, do you often go out? I saw you walking for such a long time just now, and you don't seem tired at all"

Xia Xiaoju and the guide unloaded their backpacks from the horse, noticing the sky darkening, and put on an extra fleece. While organizing their belongings, she could hear the laughter and chatter of others nearby, catching snippets of conversation. After greeting the guide, she began walking back towards Nami Village. The guide repeatedly confirmed and advised her not to stray from the path and to avoid going into the woods alone. He felt a bit uneasy and wanted to accompany Xia Xiaoju, but he glanced back at the large pot of water boiling over the campfire.

Xia Xiaoju smiled: "It's alright, everything is fine."

When the girls laugh, "Speak up!"

"If I had known, I would have had A-Tuo take you there," the uncle said. "He just went to the village; you can come back with him."