Chapter 20: The Highland Salt Lake, Tashi Delek (Vote Please)

The mountain goods and lynx pelts brought back from the northeast caused a small sensation at the steel rolling mill. The canteen used frozen river fish to make a rich broth, and dried roe deer meat became a snack for the night shift workers. He Yuzhu handed over two thick lynx pelts directly to the logistics department, exchanging them for a substantial extra procurement fund.

As winter deepened, a new task was assigned to the factory—to stockpile raw materials for updating labor protection supplies in early spring next year, with a focus on wool felt materials.

“Wool felt?” Ma Hua scratched his head as he looked at the task order. “We’d have to go to the pastoral areas, right? The wool under the plan is already scarce; with our small amount, I’m afraid we won’t get a spot.”

“We can’t rely on the planned supply,” He Yuzhu spread out a map and pointed northwest. “Go here, around Qinghai Lake. There are many pastoral areas there, with large wool production and good quality. We’ll use cash plus some scarce industrial goods to get through and collect unplanned loose wool.”

“Qinghai?!” Ma Hua took a breath. “That’s even farther than the northeast! The roads are tougher!”

“That’s why we have to hurry,” He Yuzhu folded the map. “This time, take the logistics department’s old Liberation truck with the auxiliary gearbox, and bring two extra tires. Get plenty of introduction letters, bring all the nationwide ration coupons and enough cash. Also…” He paused, “take along two boxes of the factory’s stockpiled flawed glass cups.”

“Glass cups? Trading wool for cups?” Ma Hua looked even more confused.

“You’ll understand when we get there,” He Yuzhu didn’t explain further. From fragmented information, the pastoral areas had an unexpectedly high demand for such transparent and practical industrial goods.

…

The wheels kicked up yellow sand and melting snow as they headed west. The ravines of the Loess Plateau gradually gave way to endless stretches of withered yellow grasslands. The sky seemed unusually high, with low-hanging clouds. The air was dry and cold, and every breath carried the earthy scent of the land.

On the afternoon of the third day, the truck wheezed over a mountain ridge. Ma Hua slammed on the brakes and cried out, “Driver! Look!”

Ahead, an enormous expanse of startlingly blue water stretched at the end of the gray-yellow earth, like a fragment of sky fallen to the world below. Sunlight pierced the thin clouds, scattering shimmering silver light over the lake’s surface.

Around the lake were vast swaths of withered grasslands, dotted in the distance by white sheep and black yaks.

“Qinghai Lake,” He Yuzhu opened the truck door, the cold, dry wind rushing in, carrying a salty tang.

After taking in the beautiful scenery, He Yuzhu did not head straight for the state-run pastoral supply point. Instead, he drove along the lakeside road into a Tibetan pastoral commune called “Gahai.”

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The commune’s adobe houses surrounded a small courtyard. Several dark-faced men, their cheeks flushed from the highland sun and dressed in heavy Tibetan robes, were busy around a pile of freshly sheared wool.

Seeing the unfamiliar truck, they stopped their work, looking over with a mixture of curiosity and caution.

He Yuzhu got out and greeted them in his half-learned, halting Tibetan: “Tashi Delek!”

The leading Tibetan man hesitated briefly, then smiled and replied in accented Mandarin, “Tashi Delek! Comrade, who are you?”

He Yuzhu handed over an introduction letter and a pack of cigarettes. “I’m He Yuzhu, a purchaser from Red Star Steel Rolling Mill. We’d like to ask if the commune has surplus wool to sell to us?”

“Wool?” The man took the cigarettes and glanced at the letter, his eyes brightening. “Yes, we do! After the commune fulfills its quota, families still have some loose wool left. But…” He rubbed his rough fingers, “the cooperative supply and marketing station’s prices…”

“Prices are negotiable. Cash payment,” He Yuzhu said directly. “Also, we brought some city goods to trade if you’re interested.” He motioned for Ma Hua to open the truck bed and unload a box of glass cups.

Sunlight filtered through the cups, casting rainbow-hued halos.

Several Tibetan men immediately gathered, holding up the cups to the light, clicking their tongues in admiration.

One of them spoke rapidly in Tibetan, and the leader smiled as he translated, “He says these cups are clearer than those from the supply station! They’ll look great holding butter tea!”

He Yuzhu picked up a cup. “You can trade wool for these. One cup per pound of medium-quality wool. Or, we can pay cash at ten percent above the supply station’s price.”

The courtyard quickly buzzed with excitement.

The herders called to one another, and soon bundles of wool were carried in.

He Yuzhu and Ma Hua carefully inspected the color, length, and cleanliness, grading and sorting them. Payments were prompt, and the glass cups were snapped up quickly.

In less than half a day, the truck bed was piled high with tightly compressed, faintly sheepy-smelling high-quality wool.

“Comrade He!” The leader, named Dorje, warmly grabbed He Yuzhu’s arm. “Friends from afar! Stay with us tonight! Try our hand-grabbed mutton!”

Unable to refuse such hospitality, that evening in Dorje’s tent, the cow dung stove burned warmly.

Large chunks of mutton boiled in a copper pot, filling the air with an enticing aroma. Dorje’s wife served rich barley wine and fragrant tsampa.

“Comrade He, besides wool, do you want anything else?” Dorje tore off a piece of meat. “Our lake produces salt, and dried Huang fish—both are good!”

He Yuzhu’s interest was piqued. “Salt and fish? Is there a lot?”

“A lot! We fish and dry it ourselves by the salt lake! Even in winter, we break ice to catch them!” Dorje patted his chest. “The supply station buys little and offers low prices!”

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He Yuzhu exchanged a glance with Ma Hua. “Brother Dorje, we’ll take salt and dried fish too! We’ll pay 30% more than the supply station! Whatever you have, we want it!”

Dorje was overjoyed and immediately called the other herders. Early the next morning, piles of salt bags and bundles of dried fish stacked up beside the truck.

The cash and remaining glass cups He Yuzhu brought were nearly all gone, and even Ma Hua’s “Shanghai” wristwatch was traded to a covetous young man.

When the truck, loaded with wool, Qing salt, and dried Huang fish, left Gahai Commune, the herders accompanied them to the roadside. Dorje hung a pristine white khata scarf on the truck’s rearview mirror.

“Driver, now we’ve got all the raw materials for labor protection and the canteen’s dry goods!” Ma Hua drove on excitedly, honking the horn. The khata fluttered in the wind.

He Yuzhu watched the deep blue lake and the waving crowd fade in the rearview mirror. “Every land nurtures its people. Our procurement work is about turning the surplus of one place into the urgent needs of another. That’s real business.”

The truck drove along the shores of Qinghai Lake. Leaden clouds hung low, and the wind grew stronger, swirling snowflakes into the air.

A blizzard seemed to be brewing.

“Drive faster, find shelter!” He Yuzhu frowned.

Before he finished speaking, the gale slammed snowflakes against the windshield, turning the world into a white blur.

“Trouble! The white wind!” Ma Hua gripped the steering wheel tightly. The truck struggled forward in near-zero visibility.

[Beep! Suitable location detected: Qinghai Lake Blizzard Zone. Sign in?]

“Sign in.”

[Sign-in successful! Acquired: Basic Adverse Weather Driving Skills. Skills have been uploaded.]

A flood of knowledge about snow driving, navigation, and vehicle emergency handling rushed into He Yuzhu’s mind.

His eyes sharpened. “Hold the wheel steady! Slow down! Follow the shadows of the telephone poles ahead! See that gentle slope on the right? Drive up there! It’s sheltered from the wind!”

Relying on this sudden expertise and calm judgment, the truck climbed the slope, stopping behind several large rocks, temporarily avoiding the brunt of the storm.

Ma Hua exhaled shakily and turned off the engine. “Driver, your knack for reading the road is amazing!”

He Yuzhu said nothing, staring out at the raging blizzard. Every step on this long journey had been hard-fought.