The Story of Ruoqiang Gray Date

Text/Wu Hao

A Xinjiang Ruoqiang gray date, a sweet but not greasy date, has Date of story.

Nowadays, whether traveling to a new place or revisiting an old place, people carry backpacks full of local specialties on their way back. Firstly, they can let their family members who have not gone out have something fresh, and secondly, they can refresh themselves. Relive old love stories while eating specialties. Specialties have now become a cultural tradition. Different from the past, express delivery has lightened the heavy backpack, but it seems that a unique love is missing.

When my wife was working in Xinjiang, she would always bring local specialties to her family when she returned home. Ruoqiang gray dates were one of the must-have items.

When I first arrived in Xinjiang, I was unfamiliar with the place. When I wanted to go shopping, I had to find a tour guide. This person was a colleague who had been to Xinjiang many years ago. I followed his steps and walked into Sayibagh in Korla. The market is like a new trend. The shops on both sides of the road are closely connected. There is an endless flow of shop owners and workers and pedestrians on the road. It is as lively as the Spring Festival.

The shop is not big, and the layout inside is roughly the same. Various local specialties are placed on both sides of the shop in an orderly manner. There is a trail in the middle. A shop can accommodate up to seven or eight people, but the specialties inside are There is a dazzling array, and each specialty product is divided into multiple styles. For example, raisins include Xiangfei red, green Xiangfei, blackcurrant, and seedless white, figs and almonds are available in large and small sizes, and almonds are available in original and spiced varieties. , and red dates are the most complicated, including first-level, second-level, third-level, large, small, wet, dry, pitted... so choosing red dates is the most laborious.

It seems a bit embarrassing for a man to do such a strenuous task. However, in order for his family to eat authentic Ruoqiang gray dates, he started to explore with great effort, looked at the appearance, tasted and inquired about it. After listening to the boss’s recommendation for the price, and after shopping around, I fell in love with a store called “Luwang Dried Fruit”. In this way, it was a surprise once and twice, and I have been doing business with the boss for six years without going to Xinjiang. I have been eating Xinjiang Ruoqiang gray dates for six years.

Later, my lover moved from Xinjiang to Chongqing. Occasionally, if I wanted to eat it, I would buy it on the street, but the taste was indeed different, not chewy, and with a bit of bitterness and sweetness. Suddenly one day I remembered that I had left my boss’s business card. In the information age, it is not surprising to buy things online. I immediately added the boss’s WeChat account. No matter how far the distance is, if you need it, you can just call and send a message, and we will receive the order and ship it immediately. .

Online shopping involves risks, but my lover told me that this boss speaks Xinjiang Mandarin, is bold, has a sincere heart, and has a kind face, and is completely trustworthy. . After much hesitation, I really couldn’t resist the temptation of delicious food, and we are also old friends, so maybe we can trust each other. So, I sent her a message to order some Ruoqiang gray dates and walnuts. It was my first online transaction and I was a little worried, so I discussed with the boss to pay part of the money first and then pay the other half when I had enough money. She didn’t even bother. I hesitantly agreed, and my boldness made me feel ashamed.

Ruoqiang Gray is beautiful and suitable for all ages. My family also has a special liking for it. The dates I eat now were flown from Korla, Xinjiang, thousands of miles away. The boss who sells dates is a former Old acquaintance.

Everyone says that Xinjiang is a good place. When I talk about this good place, I often start by recalling a Ruoqiang gray date.