The off-road jeep came abruptly to a halt outside the eaves of the Jinlun Hotel. The neon lights of the nightclubs transformed the peaceful autumn night in the Kunlun Mountains into a wine-colored vertigo. Waving goodbye to Kuang Chengming, I hurriedly took the elevator up the building, taking the interview recording back to my room, number 608, and immediately headed to the luxury suite at room number 601, which was frequently used by senior officials of the central authorities when visiting the Qinghai-Tibet Railway site. As soon as I sat down in the large drawing room, Yin Fatang immediately hurried over, with a peaked black cloth cap on his head, and wearing a brown suit. Yin Fatang had completed the 800-kilometer journey from Xining to Golmud in one day, and after getting off the train he had gone to visit the construction eadquarters and the logistics department, as well as the Tibetan-posted office stationed in Golmud. On his face, some age-spots were visible, but he didn't show any of the exhaustion of old age. After seeing me, he beckoned to his second daughter Jianbai, saying, "Come, take a photo for us. Fourteen years ago, it was here from which we set out for Kunlun."
"Things are so luxurious now!" I pointed to a large oxygen flask and said, "even in Goldmud Hotel they have oxygen flasks. In the old days, when you led us across Kunlun, and over Tanggula, the doctor only prepared two small bottles of oxygen, and that was only as a precaution. In our psychological training, it was strongly emphasized that we must not take oxygen, otherwise we'd develop a dependency: we had to let our body slowly adapt. However, these last two times on the Qinghai-Tibet line, I've taken oxygen while interviewing on the mountain, I've taken oxygen to sleep, and my sense of fear has completely vanished."
"Things aren't what they used to be! These days, China is wealthy, and the dreams we held for Tibet have been realized." Yin Fatang pointed at the oxygen flasks and said, "however, I don't need these."
"Of course, your body was built for Tibet." I sighed, "you're in quite high spirits, not at all like someone in their eighties. Of all leading officials of your age, perhaps you are the first to even dare to embark upon the Qinghai-Tibet road!"
"Haha!" The old general looked up and laughed, "I can only say that my dreams surround the Qinghai-Tibet rail. I've been working for it my whole life, and as those dreams are just about to be accomplished, I'd like to go to see the line—this will be the last time I walk on it."
"You'd better adjust for a few days before going up the montains." I expressed my concern the old man.
"No need!" Yin Fatang maintained his old stubbornness. "I'm too pressed for time! We set out tomorrow at 6am! The leader of the Tibet Autonomous Region wants me to do it in a single day."
"Last time, we set out at 5.30am, when we drove past the Kunlun Mountain Pass it was just daylight!" I couldn't help but reminisce.
"Really?" This experience during Yin's years in Tibet passed by like snowfall across the deserted plateau. It barely left any impression upon him, but for me, it was truly unforgettable.
