Huayu: From "Good Fortune Across the Sky" to becoming a top star

Jiang Xun rode slowly ahead for a long time before finally seeing the edge of the racetrack.

It was a vast grassland with a platform set up inside, and the rest of the area was filled with dense crowds and tents painted with Tibetan patterns.

The area outside was also packed with people, with locals and tourists mixed together, and you could also see vendors selling unique trinkets, making it a lively and bustling place.

Although the horse racing festival was held in previous years, it was on a very small scale, just a gathering of locals for their own entertainment, with very few people.

Upon seeing Jiang Xun approaching, the crowd immediately surged towards him.

Jiang Xun was completely unpretentious. He dismounted, handed the reins and the red flag he had been carrying all the way to the person next to him, and then waved his hands rapidly in the air with a shy smile to greet everyone.

He welcomes everyone who wants a photo or an autograph.

He even took the initiative to shake hands and hug, emphasizing an emotional value.

In Jiang Xun's view, let alone internet celebrities, aren't even stars part of the service industry? So many fans brave altitude sickness and strong ultraviolet rays to travel thousands of miles to see him; they are his bread and butter.

After a while of work, the number of fans kept increasing. The horse racing festival was about to begin, and they couldn't keep delaying.

"Friends, I'm sorry, the horse racing festival is about to start. I'll have Jiang Xun come over to see you all after the event, okay?" Manager Zhang rushed over to smooth things over, bowing and smiling apologetically, and finally managed to pull Jiang Xun out.

As Jiang Xun emerged from the crowd, he felt his face was frozen from smiling.

Tian Xiwei suddenly appeared out of nowhere and handed him a piece of chewing gum with a smile.

"I can't eat much. I don't know why I've developed mouth ulcers recently. They hurt a lot. It's probably because of too much stress."

Tian Xiwei then popped the chewing gum into her mouth and teased, "You're under a lot of pressure? I feel like you're heartless and don't take anything seriously."

"Some pressures are not meant to be shared with outsiders; they are kept hidden in one's heart." Jiang Xun gazed into the distance with a deep look in his eyes.

Mr. Zhang paid no attention to the young man and woman's conversation, focusing instead on looking around. This grand festival had truly boosted his spirits considerably.

"It's a pity, I didn't expect so many tourists. I still couldn't cater to everyone's needs." He sighed, then consoled himself, "But it's okay, I'll have more experience next time and it will get better and better."

Once on the stage, Jiang Xun sat upright in the seat to the side, his face once again bearing a professional smile.

The person in the middle is the governor of GZ state.

Leaders of this rank usually don't attend these kinds of events. Normally, it's organized by the village chiefs from several villages, who then elect one person to speak. These days, even village chiefs aren't high enough rank to give a speech on stage.

The governor had a smile on his face, a smile that was even gentler than Jiang Xun's.

He stood up and blew on the microphone: "First of all, welcome to all the friends who have come from all over the country! Welcome! Xinlong is a beautiful little place, and this is the first time it's been so lively. Thank you! Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality. I hope you will have wonderful memories here!"

After a brief expression of gratitude, he cleared his throat and raised his voice several octaves: "I hereby declare the Xinlong Culture Horse Racing Tourism Festival—grandly open!"

No sooner had the words been spoken than a deafening explosion of fireworks erupted from the distant grassland, sending colorful flames soaring into the sky, accompanied by cheers from the crowd and the neighing of horses.

Immediately afterwards, Tibetan folk songs began to play, and people dressed in brightly colored ethnic costumes gathered from both sides to the center of the venue, singing and dancing.

Jiang Xun did not participate in any other activities. The horse race was the grand finale, placed last. If it were placed in the middle or at the beginning, they were afraid that a large portion of the tourists would leave early after watching Jiang Xun's performance.

"Xiao Jiang?" The governor turned to look at him. "Have you decided what to sing for CCTV's May Fourth Gala yet?"

Jiang Xun moved the chair closer: "I'll follow your instructions."

"Why does he sound like an old cadre? Young people should be energetic!"

"Then... I'll go back and write a song full of positive energy?"

The governor patted Jiang Xun on the shoulder affectionately: "Then go back and give it a try. Not to mention Xinlong, even in other parts of Ganzi, your songs are playing everywhere. My ears are getting calluses."

Jiang Xun chuckled and said, "I'll do my best."

Around 1 p.m., the sun was at its strongest.

In high-altitude areas, it gets very cold in the mornings and evenings, but the midday sun is scorching. If someone with sensitive skin stays in the sun for too long, they might get a sunburn on their neck.

The area around the racecourse was packed with people, and the crowds made the heat even more intense.

Fortunately, Jiang Xun was riding a tall horse, which gave him a wide field of vision and good air circulation.

This horse racing event was different from usual, especially Jiang Xun's race, which was less of a competition and more of a performance.

In the words of the leader, it is to better showcase the new image of Long.

Five people form a group, with Jiang Xun in the middle of the track.

While everyone else held the reins with both hands, Jiang Xun used only one hand, holding the national flag in the other. The horse he rode was also a different color from the others.

With a gust of wind, the flag fluttered in the wind, and the man exuded heroic spirit.

"Jiang Xun! You look so impressive!"

Tian Xiwei's voice came from a certain direction.

Jiang Xun looked around but couldn't see her anywhere.

The crowds around him were all covered by parasols, and the noise made it impossible for him to pinpoint their location by sound.

Suddenly, Xiao Tian jumped out from under a parasol to Jiang Xun's left.

"Go Jiang Xun! Get first place!" she shouted, jumping up and down.

Jiang Xun raised his chin at her, indicating that everything was under control.

Another young woman nearby saw this scene and couldn't help but take a closer look when Tian Xiwei retreated back under the umbrella.

"You're the female lead in that short film!"

"It's me!" Tian Xiwei said, head held high, looking even more like a rooster than Jiang Xun did today. "Hello!"

"What's going on with you two...?"

"Good friend!" Tian Xiwei answered crisply.

The young woman breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good...can I get your autograph?"

The starting gun fired.

The moment the starting gun fired, Jiang Xun felt Xiao Hong beneath him suddenly tense up.

Xiao Hong had been with him for several years. She was ridden by Jiang Xun when she was a child, and only by Jiang Xun and Tian Xiwei when she grew up.

He was already familiar with every movement and every command. No whip was needed, no spurring was required; Jiang Xun simply leaned forward slightly, and Xiao Hong shot off like an arrow.

The wind whistled into my ears.

Five horses galloped out of the starting line side by side, their hooves beating like a rapid drumbeat.

The cheers from the stands erupted instantly, and all the riders proudly enjoyed the shouts.

Jiang Xun's body swayed slightly as Xiao Hong ran, his maroon Tibetan robe clinging to his body in the wind, outlining the boy's tall and straight figure.

The white horse on the left is running faster and is half a horse length ahead of him.

The rider was a dark-skinned Tibetan man with a strong build. He gripped the reins tightly with both hands and lay prone on the horse's back like a cheetah ready to pounce. But when he saw that he had overtaken Jiang Xun, he calmly slowed down.

Jiang Xun glanced at him sideways, a slight smile curving his lips.

Hey kid, I'm not bragging, but even if I didn't let him ride it, he could still do it, right?

He gave the reins a gentle tug, and Little Red seemed to receive some kind of secret signal that only the two of them understood. It neighed and suddenly accelerated.

The moment his four hooves left the ground, Jiang Xun felt as if he were flying.

"Jiang Xun! Jiang Xun! Jiang Xun!"

The audience's voices gradually merged into a rhythm, becoming uniform and synchronized.

Countless people held up their phones, cameras, and binoculars, all their eyes following that red figure.

Standing by the podium, Mr. Zhang's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

This kid really brought Xinlong out of the woods.

"Okay!" he said in a low voice.

The finish line was getting closer and closer, and the white lime line stood out prominently in the sunlight.

The moment Xiao Hong crossed the finish line, Jiang Xun felt the whole world go silent.

the first!

He was second last time.

Fireworks exploded again, and colorful ribbons filled the sky.

As Xiao Hong stopped, he saw prayer flags fluttering in the wind atop the snow-capped mountain in the distance, and a cloud in the sky was blown away by the wind, revealing an unbelievably blue sky.

Jiang Xun dismounted and, holding Xiao Hong's hand, slowly walked back.

The crowd automatically parted to make way.

"Can I touch Jiang Xun?" someone asked.

"Okay." Jiang Xun said, pulling Xiao Hong even closer.

Then a bunch of people reached out, touching his face or his hands, but no one touched Little Red, who was already prepared to be ravaged.

Xiao Hong snorted loudly in anger.

"Hey friend, let's touch the horse."