Abandoned the Immortal Cultivator, returned to his hometown to farm and sing

Chapter 1340, Section 1327: The Feast of Deception

This banquet was not an invitation from the two former Party secretaries, Batu Chaolu and Erdeni, to Luo Yihang.

Instead, it was a collective banquet hosted by the tribal elders of the various banners and leagues of the Mongolian people for their "honored guests."

For example, Batu Chaolu came from the Torgut tribe; Erdeni was an elder of the Ordos tribe.

There are also more than 30 other tribes, including the Tumed, Urad, Maoming'an, Khoshut, and Khalkha Right Wing tribes.

Their reason for inviting Luo Yihang to a banquet was quite simple.

This is the Naadam festival, a grand event for the Mongolian people.

Luo Yihang planted a grassland in the middle of the Gobi Desert, and all departments benefited from it.

The banquet was arranged on the grassland some distance from the Naadam venue, where a huge yurt was set up, the kind of spacious tent that could seat thirty or forty people.

When Luo Yihang and Wang Shaopeng arrived on horseback.

The elders of the various Mongolian tribes, who were the hosts of the banquet, were already waiting in front of the yurt.

They wore solemn and magnificent Mongolian robes, adorned with a variety of dazzling ornaments, many of which were simple and elegant in style, clearly precious items passed down through generations.

Luo Yihang and Wang Shaopeng quickly dismounted.

Two young men immediately took the reins.

A beautiful Mongolian girl holds a hada (ceremonial scarf), while a handsome young man carries a silver bowl filled with fragrant milk wine.

Then the music started, and a group of young people sang "Welcome Song" from the side.

"Saeyin Bainu! Ta Saiyin Bainu!"

The lyrics roughly translate to, "Hello, hello, distinguished guest from afar, you must be tired from your journey..."

The ceremony was too grand.

Luo Yihang and Wang Shaopeng quickly stood up and bowed, letting the girl hang a hada (ceremonial scarf) on them.

Then, he picked up the silver bowl, dipped his ring finger into the wine in the cup, and flicked it three times—upper right, lower right, and forward—to show respect to Heaven, Earth, and ancestors.

He drank it all in one last gulp.

He turned the wine bowl over, leaving not a drop.

After drinking a bowl of welcoming wine, Wang Shaopeng's face began to flush...

Upon entering the yurt, the local host, the former Party Secretary Batu Chaolu, presented another hada (ceremonial scarf), a blue one.

It symbolizes the blue sky and eternity.

Luo Yihang and Wang Shaopeng stood up and bowed again, allowing Batu Chaolu to hang the hada around his neck.

Then I was seated.

They didn't understand Mongolian customs, and didn't know who was the host and who was the guest.

We'll just do as the host suggests.

After taking a seat.

Wang Shaopeng didn't look at anything else; his eyes were immediately drawn to the bowl of yogurt in front of him.

Last time, I didn't know that after we sat down and were toasted, we drank the wine and the dishes were already under the table.

This time he had inquired and decided to drink yogurt first. The thick yogurt would wrap around his stomach, making it less likely for him to get drunk.

Anyway, Wang Shaopeng was determined not to go under the table again today.

Sigh, today we each sat cross-legged at a small table, circling the yurt. We couldn't even squeeze under the table.

After Wang Shaopeng sat down, he reached for the yogurt, but seeing that no one around him was moving, he withdrew his hand.

I was wondering why they were offering toasts before even coming up. It was strange today; they toasted us before we even came up.

Their gazes were all fixed in one direction.

Following everyone's gaze, at the very back of the yurt, in what should be the most honored seat, sat an elder.

He looked to be over seventy years old, his bronze face etched with wrinkles like the furrows of a grassland, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

He slowly stood up, looked around, and saw each guest.

Then, he slowly opened his mouth and began to chant.

The voice wasn't loud, but rather a deep, hoarse yet extremely penetrating throat sound.

It has a feeling somewhat like the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle), like the sigh of the wind sweeping across the ancient Gobi Desert.

He gently touched his chest with his right hand, gazing into the distant void, as if he were not speaking to the person in front of him, but rather conversing with heaven and earth and his ancestors.

The intonation is varied and rhythmic, carrying the unique cadence of Mongolian poetry.

"O noble Tengri (heaven), please lower your blue curtain and listen to the voices of humankind..."

"Behold the sacred Sulude (Genghis Khan's military emblem) guiding our way; we gather here like stars..."

"Distinguished guest, you come from the direction of the rising sun, bringing the radiance of friendship. May your footsteps bring forth flowing springs and blooming flowers..."

May your wisdom be as vast as the sea, your blessings as abundant as a mountain, and your life as inextinguishable as a sacred flame…

What step is this?
Never seen it.

Batu Chaolu whispered to the person beside him, "This is Elder Borjin Wuyun of our Torghut tribe, who is reciting the 'Blessing Song'."

Apart from this whispered introduction, the entire yurt was completely silent, with everyone listening attentively.

Until the last syllable falls, a shout of "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" is uttered.

All the tribal elders and the young people accompanying them responded with "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!"

Huru is a Mongolian word meaning blessing, praying for health, happiness, wealth, and good fortune.

The shouting has ended.

Everyone stood up with their wine bowls in hand.

Led by Bolkin Uyun, they raised their wine bowls high, saying, "The first toast is to thank Tengri for the fate that brought us together."

He then dipped his middle finger in the wine, flicked it three times, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

Wang Shaopeng was about to cry; this bowl contained a good two ounces of liquid.

Although there were elders present, the drink was the traditional Mongolian Horiji, which is distilled milk wine. It has a slightly milky white color, a mellow taste, and a unique milky aroma and sweet and sour flavor.

It's over 20 degrees Celsius, almost 30 degrees! A bowl of that is really invigorating.

Moreover, he hadn't even had a chance to drink the yogurt yet.

And... it's not just one cup.

After the first cup was drunk, the young man serving immediately stepped forward with the wine pot and refilled everyone's bowls.

That's right, it was carried in your arms. It was the biggest one, shaped like a leather bag resembling an anchor, with a rope on it so you could carry it on your back.

They each carried one on their backs and stood in a circle behind the crowd.

This is quite a sight!

Bolkin Uyun raised his wine bowl again, "The second cup is a wish for Gazari to prosper and for all things to be in harmony."

After drinking that, there was a third cup. "The third cup is a blessing for everyone here to be healthy, happy, and to have lasting friendships."

After three cups of wine.

Finally, he could sit down. By this time, Wang Shaopeng was almost done drinking his fill, and feeling dizzy, he quickly grabbed a yogurt and gulped it down.

They finally came back to life.

Turning his head, he saw that Luo Yihang's expression hadn't changed at all, and he even had the leisure to chat with Batu Chaolu, inquiring about the names and identities of the elders in advance.

"Mr. Luo, are you alright? You've had four bowls of wine..." Wang Shaopeng mumbled.

Luo Yihang turned his head and shrugged, "It's nothing, milk wine has no alcohol content. Mr. Wang, are you out of your mind?"

A man can't admit he can't.

Wang Shaopeng forced himself to stay awake and shook his head. "I'm fine, I just drank a little too fast."

"President Wang and President Luo both have huge drinking capacities. We must drink well and enjoy ourselves tonight, until we're completely drunk!" Batu leaned over to Lu, beaming and flattering him.

Wang Shaopeng was startled.

As Batu Chaolu spoke, the young men serving him brought out more drinks.

"Can't you even have some vegetables?" Wang Shaopeng's face turned green.

When the food was served, it was hot.

With a sigh of relief.

The first thing served was a bowl of hot milk tea, along with side dishes such as milk skin, milk tofu, and fried rice.

It was still Borjin Uyun, the oldest person today, and the local master. He was from the Torgut tribe, and the main tribe of the Alashan League was the Torgut tribe.

Picking up the milk tea, the host first welcomed distinguished guests Luo Yihang and Wang Shaopeng, then introduced the tribal elders present. Those introduced then introduced themselves, offering polite greetings such as "good friends," "welcome to our tribe," and "welcome to our tribe."

Luo Yihang and Wang Shaopeng expressed their gratitude, saying they would definitely visit if they had the chance, as they had long heard that their place was exceptionally good.

The other party then expresses their welcome and promises to provide the best possible hospitality.

Since it's our first meeting, there's a bit of formality and awkwardness, but politeness is essential.

This part is like having tea and chatting, getting to know each other.

After everyone has been introduced.

Start serving food.

The first thing served was a wooden box shaped like a sheep, divided into several compartments.

The dishes were served separately as cold-dressed shallots, aspic, braised beef, blood sausage, beef jerky, and cold-dressed lamb offal.

Wang Shaopeng was deeply moved; he was finally seeing cold dishes.

However, all he saw were cold dishes.

Because the song and dance performance has started.

A traditional Mongolian banquet is characterized by singing and dancing throughout.

Today, to entertain Luo Yihang and Wang Shaopeng, everything is being done according to the traditional Mongolian Zama Banquet rules.

The young people who sang "Welcome Song" earlier are here again.

They sang "Toast Song," the lyrics of which were in Mongolian, which they couldn't understand, but it was very pleasant to listen to, light and lively.

As for the lyrics...

"If you can drink, then drink. If you can't, then sit at the same table as the sheep. If all else fails, then you can stew a pot of soup with the sheep..."

That's roughly the meaning after translation.

While singing a toasting song, the old Party Secretary Batu Chaolu personally joined in and performed the "Eagle Spreads Its Wings" dance.

A majestic eagle soars across the grasslands, three cups hanging from each wing—three cups to the left, three cups to the right, then flapping its wings and drinking three more cups…

Before he could even finish struggling, Wang Shaopeng collapsed; even the yogurt couldn't help.

I didn't even hear the second half of the toasting song.

Luckily, I didn't hear it. The second half of the song was, "You bunch of idiots at the table, drinking too slowly! There's so little wine on the table, I'll down it in a second! There'll be a whole roasted lamb later, it'll be delicious, but it's a pity you idiots won't get to see the hot dishes."

As expected, Wang Shaopeng did not see any hot dishes.

The first one to collapse today.

Even Elder Bolkin Uyun, who was over seventy years old, drank nine cups—no, nine bowls, more than a pound—in a row.

The young men serving in the yurt are experienced; they've probably hosted many friends from the mainland.

The two of them, light and steady, helped Wang Shaopeng to the side to lean against a pillar to sober up, and even left one person to watch over him.

Batu Chaolu was puzzled when he returned from dancing, wondering why one person was missing.

He whispered to Luo Yihang, "Is President Wang's alcohol tolerance really that bad?"

How novel! Didn't I get drunk just a few days ago? How could someone's alcohol tolerance suddenly increase in just a few days?

He doesn't know internal energy cultivation, so he can't force the wine up to his little finger and make it drip out, which is very unscientific.

Reiki is much more scientific; it directly improves liver function, speeds up metabolism, and makes you immune to alcohol.

Luo Yihang nodded and replied softly, "He might not be in good health; he's physically weak."

"Sigh, Mr. Wang is so young, how come he's already so weak?" Batu Chaolu sighed and shook his head. "He probably doesn't eat enough mutton. Eating mutton is the best way to strengthen your body."

So, you can't be the first to leave the table; whoever isn't cricketing is someone else.

Speaking of lamb, the main dish of the Zhama Banquet is roasted whole lamb.

After singing the toasting song, we jumped over the eagle spreading its wings, and drank the pre-dinner drinks.

The main course was served immediately.

To welcome Luo Yihang and cater to the tastes of people from inland areas, two lambs weighing over 40 kilograms and over five months old were specially selected.

It was baked for five hours.

Just in time, it was served.

The sheep was brought in as a grand gift, displayed on a plate. It had big red flowers tied to its horns, red ribbons hanging from its body, and its head held high, facing Luo Yihang, with a handful of grass in its mouth.

This is a matter of hospitality; the sheep's head faces the guest of honor.

Yeah, it feels weird to stare into someone's dead sheep eyes.

Forget it, let's ignore the eyes and look at the sheep's body.

This lamb is roasted perfectly! It's golden-red all over, with a glossy, amber-like skin. It's still sizzling with oil right after it's cooked.

Elder Bolkin Uyun picked up a small knife and personally divided the sheep.

Make a cut on the sheep's back first, as an offering to heaven and earth.

Then cut off a lamb rib, placed it on a silver platter, and offered it first to Luo Yihang.

Then, another sheep with the same rib was placed on Wang Shaopeng's table, also on a silver plate.

Although he was drunk, he still received the best parts of the meat; it was a matter of courtesy.

That's right... a long table with bowls and chopsticks on it, wine in the bowls, and dishes on it.

I have a feeling that I should offer incense later.

Once the distinction between host and guest is clear, things will be easier for everyone else.

Elder Bolkin Uyun handed the knife to the young man beside him, wiped his hands, and returned to his seat.

Several young men switched to long knives, and with a few swift cuts, they dismembered the sheep and distributed the pieces to everyone present.

Eat it while it's hot.

I have to say it again, this lamb is roasted really well.

The outer skin is thin and brittle; it can be easily crushed with a fingernail.

The meat inside is so tender it's almost juicy.

With one bite, the aroma of caramelized wood fills the air, and the smoky flavor of fruitwood permeates the skin; then the juices fill the mouth, leaving no dryness whatsoever.

Seasoned with only salt and a touch of spices, it retains the original freshness of the lamb, with a subtle milky aftertaste.

It has no gamey smell at all, and it's incredibly tender.

They truly are lambs of the grasslands.

She's a cutie during the day and a sweet treat at night.
-
After we finished eating the whole roasted lamb, the other dishes were served.

The dishes served at the Zama Banquet are the traditional Mongolian Eight Delicacies.

The first enlightenment is not the kind that's given to someone who hits you on the head.

It's cheese.

The Tang Materia Medica records that "Tihu" is the essence of ghee. A stone of good ghee contains three or four liters of Tihu. After being thoroughly pounded and refined, it is stored in a container and allowed to solidify. Then, a hole is made in the middle to the bottom, and the liquid is extracted.

This is the foremost of the eight delicacies of Mongolia.

Other names include *yinhang* (a young roe deer); *tuoti* (camel tendon); *luchun* (the lips of an elk); and *tuoruchy* (camel milk porridge)...

Anyway, they're all good stuff.

One of the dishes was made by Erdeni, the former Party Secretary of Piyinggetai.

It was served by myself.

"Come on, come on, let's serve the food. Mr. Luo, come and try our traditional Mongolian dish, lotus root and mutton soup."

They even introduce the dishes when they're served.

"Lotus root is cold in nature and sweet in taste, and has the effects of clearing heat and promoting body fluid, cooling blood and stopping bleeding; mutton is warm in nature and sweet in taste, and can replenish deficiency and benefit qi and blood. When the two are eaten together, the warming and nourishing effects of mutton can be brought into play, while the cooling nature of lotus root can be balanced. This is called yin and yang balance."

"In addition, the cooling properties of lotus root can alleviate the heatiness of mutton, while the heatiness of mutton can reduce the cooling properties of lotus root. Eating the two together is mutually beneficial."

He spoke quite eloquently and made a lot of sense.

However, the other tribal elders present found this extremely "awkward".

When did lotus root become a traditional Mongolian specialty?

Do you grow lotus roots in Inner Mongolia? Apart from a few scattered areas with more water resources, the area with the most lotus roots is probably the Piyinggetai area.

It's at most a unique feature of your Piyinggetai, a tradition that's only been around for a year and a half...

(End of this chapter)