Sales talks

Day: 408

Sunrise:
06:26

Sunset:
19:42

Total kilometers:
2468

Soil condition:
Grass

Temperature – Day (maximum):
23 °C

Temperature – day (minimum):
20 °C

Temperature – Night:
minus 1 °C

Latitude:
48°55’433”

Longitude:
103°39’440”

Maximum height:
1380 m above sea level

As agreed yesterday, Ilhauchauu comes back on his motorcycle to have a look at the horses’ teeth. This time he has brought his wife with him, who apparently has a say in the matter. Ilhauchauu hands me a bottle of vodka while his wife, Bor Tanja, gives me a box of Choco Pies. According to custom, I open the bottle, pour a cup and give it to Ilhauchauu. He dips his ring finger in the alcohol and makes an offering to the gods before drinking. Then he hands me back the empty container. I repeat the ritual and pour myself a high-proof drink. After living with the Tuwa for so long, this is no longer the slightest challenge for me. Ilhauchauu laughs heartily because Tanja also empties her drinking vessel in one go.

“So, now to business. I’ll buy all your horses,” he then says. I think I have misheard. “Everyone?” I ask, trying to keep my composure. “Yes, all of them. All six of them.” “Okaaay,” I say thoughtfully, aware that I have already sold Naraa and Tuya to Bilgee. “I’ll pay two million” (€1,212) I hear with relief as I can turn down this offer without hesitation. “Too little,” I reply, grinning like him. “Let me take a look at your teeth,” Ilhauchauu says, rising with a heavy groan. Tanja fetches Naraa from the pasture. Ilhauchauu immediately opens the mare’s mouth. He shakes his head. “Bad teeth. I won’t pay more than 400,000 tugrik (€242) for them. Tanja and I look at each other. “Well, that’s certainly too little,” I say with the self-assurance that only a person who has already sold his horse for a far better price can have. Ilhauchauu, a little surprised at our coolness, raises the price from 2 million to 2.5 million Tugrik without hesitation. (€1,515) “We would have sold all the horses in one go at a good price. He’s paying more than we had to put down for them last year. It’s hard to believe,” I say to Tanja in German. “So, is the deal done?” asks the shepherd. “No,” I reply. “Why not?” he is puzzled. “We need to talk to Bilgee first. He is our friend and said a long time ago that he was interested in Naraa and Tuya. Bilgee went hunting in the mountains an hour ago. It would be nice if you could come back tonight,” I ask him, hoping that he hasn’t lost interest in buying.

In the evening, the motorcycle from Ilhauchauu stops in front of our tent. We are relieved to see him. As soon as he has sat down, Bilgee tells his friend Naraa and Tuya that he has bought them from us. When he then tells him that his family has also bought Sar and is interested in Tenger, Ilhauchauu audibly gasps. “That’s moo (bad). Really moo of you,” he says, holding up his closed fist with his little finger outstretched. “Ilhauchauu, Bilgee is our friend. We traveled with him for six months under extreme conditions. Surely you can understand that he has privileges. Besides, you didn’t close the deal yesterday. You wanted to see the horses’ teeth first, even though you knew that all our horses are healthy and excellent riding and carriage horses. So forgive our friend for giving us the right of first refusal,” I say, surprised by Bilgee’s statement that he had also bought Sar and Tenger. “It’s all right,” Ilhauchauu suddenly laughs.

“But we can offer you our strongest of all. Sharga is not only trained as a riding and pack horse but is also a fantastic carriage horse. He is the best of them all. His friend Bor has also enjoyed the same training and is in splendid condition. You will enjoy these two horses for a long time.” “Hmmm, how much should they cost?” Bilgee has taught me never to set prices too low. “That shows poor quality,” he said. For this reason, I write 700,000 Tugrik (424,- €) for Sharga and 550,000 Tugrik (333,- €) for Bor on a piece of paper. With the certainty of having already sold four of our six horses, I hold the note out to him. Ilhauchauu’s face shows no movement. “The price is reasonable,” I think to myself. “I won’t pay more than a million (€606) for both of them. “Much more than we expected,” I say in German to Tanja, who nods her head in confirmation. 1.1 million (€666) because it would be wrong to accept his offer too quickly. “I need to think,” says Ilhauchauu. “Okay, think,” I reply, whereupon the conversation goes in a different direction. “A million!” he says abruptly. “1,050,000”, (636,- €) I hold against it. “I need to think,” he says again. Only minutes pass as Ilhauchauu holds out his hand to me to seal the deal. “You’re not coming to the butcher’s?” I ask before I turn in. “No, I promise you that. I need good chariot horses and yours have a lot of experience,” he replies, to which we shake hands vigorously. I’ll come tomorrow and bring the money,” he promises, saying goodbye. “Then I’ll tell other interested parties that the horses have already been sold to you?” “You can tell them that,” he replies with a laugh and rattles off on the modern steppe horse.

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