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3 years ago, in Xizang... Due to taking the wrong coach, I coincidently arrived in a rarely known town at the foot of a snow mountain. After checking the phone, I realized that the shuttle to the departure place would only appear again 6 hours later, which means that I can't have a rest until late at night. I also received the weather report that there will be a heavy snowfall in the evening. But fortunately, I have planned carefully and landed here several days earlier than the activity, so I could stay in this small town for a night and find a way out tomorrow morning. "Hi, big snow leopard brother, are you looking for a place to stay?" As if she could listen to my mind, when I'm walking on the snow-covered street with few people, a young snow fox girl suddenly appeared in front of me. She held my hand quickly, then pointed to a signboard nearby that read "Snow Lotus Inn". "We have 24-hour hot shower and free Wifi, and a single room costs only 80¥ now, you can't find a inn more affordable than there in this town!" She introduced excitedly. I was shocked and stood still for seconds. I couldn't believe that there's a local young girl who could talk bravely to a outsider. On the other hand, looking at her innocent eyes made me don't want to waste time anymore, so I nodded and followed her into the inn. "Hey, what's your name little fox?" During the check-in procedures, I asked. "My name is Byin-Rtse." She answered, "It means 'crystal' in our language.". "Bin...Tse...Such a unusual name." She giggled when hearing my wrong pronunciation. After a short talk, I also knew that this 13-year-old girl's parents went to the near county to work, leaving her alone to keep the inn, and I'm the first and probably the only guest who checked in this inn today, not only because this town wasn't close to tourist attractions, but also it wasn't the season of tourism now. "Alright, here's your key, your room is on the left of the stair entrance, please go there yourself." the fox handled a slightly rusted iron key to my hand, saying, "I'm gonna hurry to the market and buy some foods. Dinner will be ready at about 19:00, you can come to the restaurant downstairs if you want." "Dinner?" I thought and became shocked again. Because I'm tired because of the long travel, I didn't asked more about the "dinner" and went upstairs. To my surprise, this 80¥ room was tidier and more comfortable than my expectations, with furnitures there were as clean as they were just newly bought. After putting my packages, I immediately jumped onto the bed and rapidly fell asleep. My phone clock woke me at about 18:40. Maybe because I'm so hungry, the first thing I thought of after opening eyes was the dinner that the little fox mentioned this noon. So I lay on bed for a while playing mobile-phone, then left to the restaurant downstairs at 18:55. The smell of meat flooded into my nose as I'm walking on the stairs. When I arrived at the door of the restaurant, the little fox girl — covered with the scent of fried oil — came from the behind of the kitchen door. "Oh, you've waken up big brother, I've just wanted to call you." She gave me a smile, "Come in, food is prepared, just help yourself!" The dishes Byin had made were obviously the daily recipes of Xizang people, there were congee, potato and meat stew, as well as fried mushrooms. Although I could tell that this fox girl's cooking skills had a space to improve, what can I say if she made these for me without asking additional fees? "By the way, what's your name, snow leopard brother?" In the meal, she asked. "You can call me Xia — Xia from the word Xia Tian (夏天)" I said, "So...why do you prepare these food for me? I mean, I can go out for a meal, you don't need to take time do this." "Well, the only restaurant here is on the other side of this town." The fox answered, "On the other hand, this inn is also my home, my parents and I had lived here for years, and you're the only guest today, aren't you? So I also made an additional portion for you while I was preparing the dinner." I sent a spoon of congee into my mouth. "Oh my, these foods are so delicious, I don't know how to say." I appreciated, "Bin...Byin-Rtse, you are not only a pretty fox girl, but also...a capable girl." "Thank...Thank you big brother..." After hearing my words, Byin rapidly moved her eyes from me. I can clearly saw her face turned red quickly. (To Be Continued...) |
