Chapter 244: Chapter 236: Brother Luo
Luo Zhigang, seeing the two earnestly frightened kids opposite him, immediately smiled. His wife was right; he had not considered his approach carefully. He had simply gotten hot-headed and hadn’t expected the other party to be two youngsters. Looking at the kids’ expressions, they must have been quite startled. Luo Zhigang’s heart softened, and his gaze towards Tian Xinhua and Tian Sisi became gentler.
Although he wasn’t in Beijing, he kept in regular touch with the Capital City, so he was very familiar with Yun Mansion’s affairs. The two before him, one was the master’s successor, and the other was the master’s precious pearl – both people he couldn’t afford to slight.
Moreover, he was genuinely grateful to these two kids. If not for them, the master’s health would have been... And even his own parents’ health had improved a lot; this was all thanks to the kids’ efforts, and no amount of gratitude would be excessive.
After chatting with them for a while, Luo Zhigang also introduced his younger son, Luo Jun. Luo Jun was around the same age as Tian Xinhua, a few months younger but looked much sturdier than Tian Xinhua – another spitting image of Luo Datou. It had to be said, Luo Datou’s genes were indeed very strong.
Luo Jun was quite a talkative young man and within a short while, he got along famously with Tian Xinhua. When he found out they were there for a vacation, Luo Jun offered himself as a guide, claiming he had grown up in this area and knew the terrain like the back of his hand; there was no one better suited for the job.
"Great, we’ll trouble Junzi then." Tian Xinhua said without hesitation. Having the Commander’s son as a guide meant they didn’t have to worry about any trouble arising.
Luo Zhigang stayed for just a while before leaving, as there were many matters to attend to at the unit. Even this brief half-day break was squeezed out of a busy schedule. Before leaving, Commander Luo told Tian Xinhua and the others to enjoy themselves and to come to him if they needed anything, and he instructed Luo Jun to be a good guide and not let their guests be mistreated.
The peers quickly became as close as good friends, mainly because their personalities greatly aligned. Plus, with Yun Mansion as a common connection, no one held back, speaking openly and sincerely.
Luo Jun’s eyes sparkled when he learned that Tian Xinhua had driven a jeep over, becoming restless and unable to sit still. Tian Xinhua could easily guess what Luo Jun was thinking and whispered into his ear, "Come with us for fun, and you can drive the car when we’re there."
"Good brother, that’s loyalty!" Luo Jun patted Tian Xinhua’s shoulder heavily.
Tian Sisi pursed her lips; just like that, they were good brothers now. How quickly men’s friendships formed. Tian Sisi sat quietly on the sofa. In the kitchen, Feng Xinya was preparing lunch. Tian Sisi wanted to help, but Feng Xinya had sent her out, so she had to be content being a quiet and gentle lady.
Listening to the two blokes calling each other "brother," Tian Sisi felt quite bored. There were some snacks laid out on the coffee table, some of which she did not recognize. One looked like tofu, a milky-white block cut into long strips, emanating a rich milky scent. It seemed to be the milk tofu commonly seen in Inner Mongolia.
Tian Sisi popped a piece of milk tofu into her mouth; the tofu was soft and melted instantly, tasting especially sweet and fragrant. It was much tastier than the sour so-called cheese brought back by a friend of hers from Inner Mongolia in her previous life. Tian Sisi couldn’t help but eat several pieces in succession, her mouth full of the milky aroma.
Feeling a bit greasy in her mouth, Tian Sisi took a sip of tea. The tea was the tender and fragrant Mingqian Tea, which was hard to come by even with money in Inner Mongolia. This also showed the great importance Luo Zhigang’s family placed on them. It is known that the locals mostly drink the square, rock-hard brick tea, which is made from the fermentation of the poorest old tea and leaf stems, creating a very astringent taste.
Locals seldom use water to brew brick tea. Instead, they knock off a small piece, wrap it in cloth, and throw it into a large pot to boil milk tea. The milk mixed with the brick tea becomes the milk tea, the most important food for Mongolians, much like how Southern people eat rice every day.
Mongolian herders love drinking milk tea, and there’s a saying, "Better a day without food than a day without tea." Whether entering or leaving a home or greeting guests, milk tea is always first served. Milk tea can be considered their source of life, but indeed, it’s also an indispensable food for them.
Because of the scarcity of green plants in Inner Mongolia, while they are not lacking in meat, which they can eat every day, vegetables and fruits are considered a luxury for them, sometimes unavailable throughout the year. Brick tea, rich in vitamins and other trace elements, also aids digestion and cuts through greasiness. Hence, they mix brick tea with cow and sheep’s milk to create their staple food - milk tea. It’s made not only for its taste, but also for health considerations. Without it, their bodies wouldn’t be able to take it.
"Sisi loves eating milk tofu, huh? Then take some more back with you later. What my mom made isn’t even the most authentic. Next time, I’ll take you to a Mongolian Tent to eat, where they have the most authentic milk skins, milk tofu, fried rice, and succulent beef and mutton. I guarantee you’ll be fully satisfied," Luo Jun said to Tian Sisi with a beaming smile.
"Alright, I’ll have to trouble Brother Junzi then."
The young girl’s delicate voice was very pleasing to hear, and Luo Jun felt a ticklish sensation all over, a feeling completely different from talking with his brothers. It was strangely comforting; no wonder his buddies all looked so proud when they talked about their sisters, always showing off in front of him. Humph, now he has a sister too, and she’s even prettier than those guy’s sisters. When it’s time to take Sisi out, it will make them green with envy!
Thinking this, Luo Jun’s smile grew even broader, and he attentively said to Tian Sisi, "It’s no hassle at all. Aren’t you my sister? As a brother, it’s only right for me to look after my sister."
Tian Xinhua glared at Luo Jun a few times. Damn it, she had just gotten rid of Brother He from Beijing, and now there’s another Brother Luo!
Luo Jun was clueless about Tian Xinhua’s jealousy, as he was enthusiastically explaining Mongolian customs and beautiful sights to Tian Sisi. The kid was pretty eloquent, not only catching Tian Sisi’s attention but eventually, even Tian Xinhua became intrigued, thinking it would be good to visit those places.
"Anyway, as long as you stick with me, I guarantee you’ll have a great time here. I dare not speak of far places, but around Yun Mansion and Jining, I can find my way with my eyes closed," Luo Jun boasted.
After lunch, Tian Xinhua had planned to return to Jining, but Luo Jun said there was no rush and first took them to meet a few friends, all from the same compound, brothers he had grown up with. Tian Xinhua thought it was good to make more friends, especially since these were children of high-ranking military officers, so he was not in a hurry to leave.