Rivers flow on the earth, giving us material gifts and spiritual comfort. The Yulong Kashi River originates from the northern slope of Kunlun Mountains and flows through Hotan Oasis from south to north. It has been famous for its rich Hetian white jade since ancient times. The gurgling water of the Yulong Kashi River moistens the land on both sides of the river, bringing the people of Hotan a bumper harvest and hope.
delicious figs
At seven o'clock in the evening, the sun has not yet set, the sun is jumping on the Yulong Kashi River, and the evening breeze is soft and refreshing. I came to Yulongkashi Town of Hotan City with my friends who do cold chain logistics, and talked with fellow villagers under the grape trellis to see how to turn the ridges of figs in front of us into golden lumps for poverty alleviation and prosperity. Most of the grapes under the shelves are wrapped in net bags, and the grapes that are not caught will become a delicacy for bees and birds. Although bees can eat grapes, they also made this large piece of figs.
Under the blue sky, the green trees were full of figs, and the air was full of fragrance and sweetness. The figs here are in the shape of flat flakes, a bit like flat peaches, and are yellow in color. There is a thin layer of fine sand on the fruit, which can be eaten by hand. Under the guidance of my fellow villagers, I picked three figs to taste. The maturity of the three fruits is different, so the taste is different. One of the bright yellow ones is the most delicious. It is sweet, a little waxy, melts in the mouth, and has a long aftertaste. I said, although figs are delicious, but I can't eat more for a while, can I take a few home and taste them slowly? The fellow told me with a smile that the shelf life of figs is only more than one day. On the second day, they start to bubble and then flow out as water. Therefore, it must be picked in time, and it must be eaten in time. This kind of fruit does not wait for anyone. According to fellow villagers, Hotan people often pick figs and then air-dry them. Dried figs are suitable for taking with you when you travel far away, and you can take a bite when you are hungry. The friendly taste will make you feel as if you have returned to your hometown.
A few figs enter the stomach, and people's emotions are also mobilized. The fellow villagers said that it would be a pity that such good figs would be spoiled if they could not be transported out. He looked a little depressed. The scent of figs attracted countless bees to fly around in front of us. It is said that this small bee is an indispensable medium for the growth of figs. The pistils of figs are inside the fruit, and the figs are able to bear fruit and mature only because of the small bees drilling into the pistils to pollinate. The villagers also told us that Hotan is rich in fruits, such as figs, small white apricots, native peaches, jujubes, pomegranates, especially Piamang pomegranates. As long as they can be shipped out in time, they can be sold at a good price and benefit local fruit farmers. However, if the transportation is not timely, these fresh melons and fruits will deteriorate in a day or two and will be broken.
It is the Yulong Kashi River that brings the snow water from the depths of Kunlun and waters the oases on both sides of the bank, so that the melons and fruits in Hotan are so sweet. When we were leaving, we thought that we must start the cold chain logistics, so that the figs in Hotan can be shipped out in a timely and fresh manner, and good melons and fruits can be turned into golden bumps.
Pomegranate wine
The night in Hetian was quiet and long. I opened a bottle of pomegranate wine made from Piaman pomegranates.
The time when the Piaman pomegranate germinates and blooms is exactly when Hotan is dusty. When pomegranates set seeds, the temperature is high during the day and low at night. I think it may be because of this special climate and the snow water from the depths of Kunlun that the sweetness of Piaman pomegranate is created. The real Piaman pomegranate has plump seeds, thin and juicy skin. When you break off the dense seeds and fill your mouth, the sweet and sour taste will immediately fill your body.
In winter, the earth protects the Piaman pomegranate tree with her temperature. The villagers brought down the tree and covered it with sand. As soon as spring arrives, remove the sand again. After a winter, the pomegranate tree sees the sun and begins to grow hair. Luscious pomegranates can be expected when the first shoots emerge from the wrinkled tree.
There are old wineries and traditional winemaking methods. Wine poured into glass, amber. Freshly brewed, green and astringent, sweet and sour, the most delicious. The good quality of the wine comes from the good raw materials, and the Piaman pomegranate wine is green, astringent, sour and sweet, and is in a style of its own. When drinking pomegranate wine, taste it slowly, as the temperature changes, the fragrance of pomegranate will overflow from the wine bit by bit. Pomegranate wine is a happy wine, sour, sweet, astringent, and fresh, all of which are memorable. I suck a little bit, chewing a little bit of good time.
I used to work and live by the Yulong Kashi River. To this day, I still miss this river. I still remember one evening in early autumn, when I was walking by the river, the sky was suddenly painted in gold, purple, and rose colors like a giant canvas. A flock of pigeons took off from the roof of the Hotan Museum, with pigeon whistles, and flew into silhouettes in the twilight. At that moment, the Yulong Kashi River sparkled, and everything was picturesque...
