Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

After the warmth of the milk tea and the solemn ritual of refilling the tea three times, the atmosphere inside the yurt became noticeably more lively.

The crackling fire in the stove dispelled the chill of the northern frontier. Liu Jianguo tried to chat with the old man and soon discovered that, apart from Qin Sande and a younger brother who spoke relatively fluent Mandarin, his parents and younger children could only understand a few words, and communication mainly relied on Qin Sande loudly translating in the middle.

This language barrier did not create distance; instead, it added a touch of rustic authenticity.

Qin Sande not only translated languages, but also frequently explained the Han customs and intentions implied in Liu Jianguo's words to his family, thus becoming an indispensable cultural bridge.

Liu Jianguo observed this and gained a clearer understanding of Qin Sande's cleverness and his position in the family.

Having completed the initial pleasantries and observations, Liu Jianguo felt it was time to get down to business and show his sincerity.

He raised his hand to signal a pause in the conversation, and with a solemn smile on his face, he spoke to Qin Sande, though he was actually speaking to his whole family:

"Brother Sande, according to our Han Chinese traditions, it is extremely impolite to visit a friend empty-handed on your first visit."

He turned to Li Cheng, who was standing to the side, and nodded slightly.

Li Cheng understood and immediately placed the canvas bag he had been clutching tightly on the low table, carefully opened it, revealing a jar of crystal-clear honey wrapped in thick cloth.

Liu Jianguo personally took out the honey and gently pushed it onto the table in front of Qin's father, saying sincerely, "Old man, this is just a small token of our appreciation. It's honey we brought from the city to sweeten the children's mouths. Please accept it."

In this sugar-scarce grassland, honey is far more valuable than any ordinary gift.

The Qin family's attention was instantly drawn to the amber-colored treasure, and the children's eyes widened with longing.

After some initial hesitation, Qin's father, seeing the child's longing gaze, finally accepted the gift.

After the gift was given, the relationship between the two seemed to have grown even closer.

The wrinkles on Qin's father's face smoothed out. He thanked Qin Sande repeatedly and instructed the mistress to put the item away safely.

While Liu Jianguo responded politely, his gaze inadvertently swept over a little boy, about ten years old, with dark skin and eyes full of curiosity, hiding behind his mother.

A thought flashed through Liu Jianguo's mind like lightning:

"The ecosystem of a small world can be expanded by humans, but what about the channels for gathering information and resources? Adult herders are familiar with grazing routes and common medicinal herbs, but these children who run wild across the mountains and fields, full of curiosity about the world, might be able to see hidden bird nests, rare plants, or even traces of some unknown small animals in corners that adults overlook. If guided properly, they might make unexpected discoveries..." This idea stirred something within him.

Thinking of this, Liu Jianguo's smile widened. He picked up the canvas bag again, pretending to rummage through it, but actually took out a smaller jar (about half a pound) of honey from his mysterious little world.

He opened the jar, and a rich, sweet aroma immediately filled the air.

He picked up a clean little silver spoon from the table, scooped out a shallow spoonful, and smiled as he waved to the little boy:

"Here you go, little man, try this. I guarantee it'll be sweeter than anything you've ever eaten."

The little boy looked at his parents, and when his father nodded slightly, he mustered up his courage, stepped forward, carefully took the spoon, and licked it with his tongue.

Instantly, an exquisite sweetness he had never experienced before exploded in his mouth. The little boy's eyes widened, his face lighting up with unbelievable joy. He blurted out a cheer in Mongolian, then realized his mistake and shyly stammered in broken Chinese, "Sweet...it's so sweet!"

Liu Jianguo was amused by the child's innocent reaction and asked kindly, "Little man, what's your name?"

The little boy straightened his chest and answered in broken but clear Chinese, "My name is Batel."

"Bayer?" Liu Jianguo nodded.

"A good name, it means hero, right?" He showed his understanding of Mongolian culture, which shortened the distance between them.

Batel nodded vigorously, a proud expression on his face.

Liu Jianguo turned to Qin's father, his face showing a mixture of joking and seriousness, and, through Qin Sande's translation, said:

"Grandpa, your grandson Batel is clearly a clever and brave little hero. I have a favor to ask; I wonder if I could make a small, manly deal with our little Batel?"

By targeting the child, he reduced the seriousness of the matter, showed great respect for the child, and subtly tested the waters.

After listening to the translation, a meaningful smile appeared on Qin's father's wrinkled face.

He looked at his grandson, who was filled with anticipation and nervousness, then at Liu Jianguo, and said a few words to Qin Sande in Mongolian.

Qin Sande translated: "I, Abu, say that Batel is already ten years old. On the grassland, a ten-year-old boy can guard the sheep on his own, and naturally he can also make decisions for himself."

These words reflect the tradition of the nomadic peoples of the grasslands in fostering early independence in children, and also imply tacit approval or even encouragement of Liu Jianguo's proposal. Perhaps in their view, this is a good way to exchange for scarce resources.

Liu Jianguo's smile widened. He imitated the hearty tone of a grassland man and said to Batel, "Alright! Little hero Batel, act like a real man. Let's make a deal, shall we?"

Batel, being just a child, was greatly intrigued and filled with a sense of honor by this novel way of speaking and the titles of hero and man. Forgetting his shyness, he eagerly asked in a mix of Chinese and Mongolian, "Exchange...? What, what kind of exchange?"

Liu Jianguo tried to explain in simple and straightforward language:

"Anything you can find on this grassland that you think is the most special, the most beautiful, or the strangest flowers, plants, or stones, or any birds or rabbits you catch that are rare elsewhere, you can bring them to trade with me."

He pointed to the small jar of honey, then patted his pocket. "You can exchange it for sweet honey, or for money to buy candy or a knife. What do you say?"

Upon hearing this, Batel's eyes lit up like stars; it was like a windfall for him.

He cheered and, forgetting all etiquette, grabbed the hand of his sister who was also eagerly eyeing the honey. He excitedly shouted in Mongolian as he dashed out of the yurt like a little colt, seemingly impatient to put his treasure hunt into action.