Chapter 17 Section 1 Mysterious Invitation from Tibet

On December 19, 2007, I received a letter signed by "Qixi". The text on the letter is a bit illusory, to the effect that if you want to find yourself, come to Tibet. This appeals to me because I often can't find myself. Especially when looking at the list after the exam. What's more, Tibet is almost the holiest and purest place in the world, which many people dream of. But considering that I have to teach, I haven't prepared for the vacation yet, The letter had to be regarded as a tempting advertisement. When I wanted to find out who the "7-up" was from the letter, a plane ticket fell out.

Taipei flew to Hong Kong, and then flew from Hong Kong to Shanghai, and my name was on the ticket! In this day and age of scams, I cannot be naive enough to believe this is true. But this ticket seems to be genuine, so I called the airline to ask, I found out that someone had booked a flight to Shanghai in three days for me. The ticket is real, the seat is booked, and the whole thing starts to get weird. After thinking about it several times, I couldn't hold back my impulse and dialed the phone number left on the letter. When the phone was just connected and was about to ask why I bought a plane ticket for me,

Instead, the other end spoke first. "Has the sand drained yet?" she asked. "Huh?" I wondered, "What did you say?" "Are you deaf?" she said. "I ask again, is the sand draining?" "Why do you ask?" "If you can't answer, the ticket in your hand will automatically explode within thirty seconds." How is it now?Are you making the movie "Mission Impossible"? "After missing it three times, it's finally over." I said casually. "You answered correctly." She said, "Give me the Taiwan Compatriot ID number."

"why?" "Taiwan compatriots have to apply for approval to enter Tibet. I can help you apply." "Aren't you a scam syndicate?" I asked. "If I am a scam syndicate, will I admit it?" "Of course not." "Then you still ask." After hesitating for a moment, I stood up and took out my Taiwan Resident Identity Card, and read the number to her. "On the night of December 22, I have booked a room for you at Shanghai Wanbao Hotel." She said. "Even the room is booked!" I couldn't help exclaiming in a low voice.

"Yes," she said, "and paid." "Huh?" I started to stutter, "This..." "Any question?" "Does the hotel provide breakfast?" "Ask meaningful questions!" Her voice suddenly became louder. "Okay," I said, "what if I don't go?" "If you don't come, the ticket in your hand will automatically explode within thirty seconds." "You still come here!" "Anyway," she concluded, "we will meet in Shanghai in three days." Then the phone disconnected. Although the whole thing is weird, I am also worried that it is a new trick of the scam group,

But really can't think of what I could be cheated of? Could it be that fraud syndicates are no longer popular to defraud money and instead take the route of deceiving feelings? After thinking about it for a day, I decided to accept the invitation to visit Tibet, the kingdom of the Buddhas. I asked the school for a four-day leave, and the reason for the leave was written as follows: "Going to Shanghai to contribute a little bit to cross-strait academic and cultural exchanges." "Teacher Cai." The principal said, "This activity is too meaningful, and four days is not enough."

"Oh?" "I'll give you two more days." The principal smiled, "You must promote our school well!" "Hmm." I lowered my head slightly, feeling guilty. I asked for six days off, and together with the two Saturdays and Sundays before and after, I have a total of ten days off. Winter in Tibet is not a fun thing, I have to prepare warm clothes. I went to the bookstore and looked through books introducing Tibet, and bought a travel book about Tibet. The beauty of Tibet goes without saying, all the images or photos make Tibet look like a fairyland. But those who have been there all choose the three seasons of spring, summer and autumn, and no one goes in winter.

I was a little uneasy. The day before my departure, I informed my students that I was going to Tibet. "Teacher, don't worry." The student said, "Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will definitely bless you." "Why?" I asked. "Because you have never been a human being, you must have accumulated a lot of bad virtue." "It's better that way." "Remember to come back, our credits for this semester are waiting for you to give." "Do your best," I said. "Be careful all the way!" "Come back safely!"

"Come back healthy and complete!" The voices of the students were scattered in the cold wind at the end of December, getting thinner and farther away. Alas, so bleak. Pulling the luggage, boarded the plane to Hong Kong, and then transferred to Shanghai Pudong Airport. Inquire about the bus route at the airport counter, take the bus and enter the downtown area of ​​Shanghai. I got off the bus and hailed a taxi to Wanbao Hotel. After entering the room, unloading the luggage, and just entering the bathroom to wash his face, the doorbell rang. I opened the door, and a 30-year-old woman with short hair was standing at the door.

"You are Hedy?" I said. "My surname is not Qi." She said, "My surname is Rao, and my name is Rao Xueman. I'm a tour guide." "Hi, Miss Rao." I was careful not to pronounce "rao" as "old". I invited her into the room, and she took two steps through the door before asking: "The name Qixi, what does it remind you of?" "Hmm..." I thought for a while, "It's a beverage brand. It's called 7-UP in English." "So what does 7-UP stand for?" she asked again. "Snow White strips."

"Huh?" She widened her eyes. "Aren't there seven dwarfs next to Snow White?" I said, "They're all men, So when Snow White does a striptease, they have a physical reaction and they're UP. " "You..." She blushed and could hardly speak.After taking a deep breath, he said: "That's your answer?" "Hmm." I nodded, "So I got the answer right?" "There's no right or wrong question here, it's just a test of your fate with Qixi." "Then my fate with Qixi must be very deep, that's why the answer is so beautiful." "This answer is very vulgar!" Her voice suddenly became louder. After trying to calm herself down, she gave me a plane ticket from Shanghai to Chengdu, and then from Chengdu to Lhasa. The date is tomorrow morning. There is also a "Letter of Approval for Taiwan Compatriots Entering Tibet". "It really is sending the Buddha to the west." I am very happy. "Have you brought your medicine?" she asked. "Medicine?" I wondered, "What kind of medicine?" "Haven't you heard of altitude sickness?" She was surprised. "Yes." I said, "but it should be okay." "It may be fine in summer, but in winter the Tibetan plateau is cold and the oxygen content of the air is only that of flat land. 60%, and in some places even less than 50%.The symptoms of altitude sickness will be more severe. " "I didn't bring any medicine, what should I do?" "Nothing to do." She said, "Anyway, it's your cause and effect." "Hey." "You just need to remember that when you first entered Tibet, you should move lightly, slow down your steps, and what movements you should do. Take it slow, slowly.Once you get used to it, you'll be fine. " "Oh." "The most important thing is that you must not take a bath three days before entering Tibet." "why?" "It's bad if you catch a cold. Before you get used to the climate in Tibet, you can easily catch a cold after taking a bath." "You really can't take a shower?" "Am I joking?" She scowled, "I promise you will go to the hospital after you take a shower." "Hahaha..." I laughed out loud. "What are you laughing at?" When I was a child, there was no water heater at home. When I had to take a bath in winter, my mother always boiled a pot of boiling water and sent it to the bathroom. But which pot of hot water is enough?So I often have to shiver in the bathroom waiting for hot water. So the thing I hated the most when I was a child was taking a bath in winter. I didn't expect that there is a place in the world where you absolutely can't take a bath in winter. It's a paradise. "I will definitely find myself in Tibet." I smiled happily. "Maybe Qixi chose the wrong person." She looked at me carefully for a while, and then said: "You have to pass one more test." "What test?" She took out a book from her bag and gave it to me, saying, "Read every page and every word carefully." I turned to the first page and found that the words inside were not Chinese characters at all. "No need to test, I don't know how to do it at all." "You don't have to understand it, you just need to read it." "Just read?" I frowned, "I can't read the text, what's the use of reading?" "Just look!" She raised her voice. I didn't dare to talk back anymore, I lowered my head, quickly scanned every word, and then turned the page after scanning. This book is very thin, only more than 20 pages, but the paper is quite tough and the color is yellowish. Moreover, there are irregular lines on the paper, and there are even grass-like things stuck to it. "It's over." I returned the book to her. After she took it, she took out two more cake-like things from the bag.He held out his hand and said: "This is the staple food of Tibetans - tsampa. You can eat it." "Thank you." I didn't take it, "I'll wash my hands first." "Why wash your hands first?" "Huh?" I was puzzled, "Isn't it normal to wash your hands before eating?" "There's no need to wash it." She put the tsampa back in her bag, "You passed the test." "what?" "The paper of this book is Tibetan paper, and the main raw material of Tibetan paper is a poisonous weed called chamaejasma. Therefore, Tibetan paper is not afraid of being bitten by moths and rats, and it will not rot.scriptures made of Tibetan paper, even It is still intact after thousands of years. "She paused, then continued: "Even wolf poison grass is afraid of wolves, let alone people. You just flipped through the book with your fingers, if you don't wash your hands If you just eat directly, I'm afraid..." "I'm afraid what?" "I can't die, but maybe I will have diarrhea." She finally smiled, "Anyway, congratulations. You passed the test." "What kind of test is this?" I protested loudly, "It's just teasing people!" She ignored me, packed up her things, and said: "I still have a tour group to take, which will start one day later than you. But I have already arranged people to go to Lhasa Pick you up at the airport. She said, "You try to find yourself in Tibet, if you still can't find yourself, You can go to the village at the foot of Mount Everest, and maybe you can get the answer. " After she finished speaking, she left her cell phone number and left. Full of doubts, I sat on the edge of the bed and thought. Before I knew it, I put my fingers into my mouth and nibbled. This is my habit. Then suddenly a light flashed in my heart. Wow! Wolfbane!