Chapter Twenty-Nine: Braving Danger to Pass the Test

On the third morning, Kang Ning appeared before everyone, dressed in white trousers and Yao attire, with a three-foot wooden-sheathed machete hanging at his waist. His tall, upright figure and handsome smile caused the village maidens to pause, then become utterly captivated, gathering in small groups to discuss him endlessly.

Chunlan and her mother, who had hosted Kang Ning in their home, stood on the high embankment ten meters away, watching him. Their hearts were filled with both joy and sorrow—joy that the clothes adorning Kang Ning were crafted by their own skilled hands, sorrow that he was, after all, a Han. Chunlan leaned on her mother’s shoulder, quietly shedding tears. When Kang Ning’s grateful gaze met hers, she could not help but turn away, hiding her sadness at their impending separation.

Under the gaze of dozens of villagers, Kang Ning withdrew his eyes, his heart aching as he bid farewell to the two elders who had grown dear to him. Before departing, he slipped a thousand yuan beneath the old woman’s pillow, his only way to express his gratitude.

The old woman took Kang Ning’s hand and gave him a silver bracelet. “Child, take this. When the day comes that you marry, let your wife wear it and bring her back to your great-aunt’s home. Let your great-aunt and great-uncle see her. As long as she wears this bracelet, wherever she goes in a Yao village, it will feel like her own home.”

Moved, Kang Ning replied, “Great-aunt, great-uncle, please take care of yourselves. If, one day, I finish all my affairs, I will surely come visit again. These past days, I have felt as comfortable and at home here as anywhere. No matter where I go, I will always remember everything about this place.”

The elders wiped their tears, each word full of emotion. Kang Ning clutched the bracelet tightly, his eyes moist, nodding repeatedly. At last, he bowed deeply to the two and accepted the reins handed to him by the old clan chief. He led a black horse and, together with fifteen strong men of the village, set out. He dared not look back, afraid that a single glance would let his tears fall. Old He, standing nearby, was warmed by Kang Ning’s sincerity and kindness, sighing softly.

The white-trousered Yao attire Kang Ning wore was obtained through careful planning. Knowing his route ahead, he used the excuse of wanting a memento to acquire it, aware that blending into a group of true Yao people would better ensure his safety. Weighing survival against honesty, Kang Ning reluctantly chose the former, though he still felt guilty.

Yesterday, in order to get the outfit, Kang Ning had spent much effort considering his approach. After much thought, he awkwardly asked Old He for help. To his surprise, the generous Old He laughed heartily, went home, and returned with a set of clothes he wore to meetings, gifting it to Kang Ning with a joke: “Tomorrow, just wear this and join us. I’d like to see if the self-important old brothers of Lihu Township can tell you’re Han.”

Returning to the girls’ house, Kang Ning tried on the clothes. Aside from the shirt being a bit short, the trousers fit well, benefiting from the Yao men’s wide, knee-length lantern pants.

To his surprise, Chunlan and her mother frowned at the sight and immediately ordered Kang Ning to take them off. Taking the confused Kang Ning’s clothes, they quickly altered the trousers—lengthening, widening, and decorating the hems with embroidered black trim. The black, buttonless shirt was set aside by the fashion-loving girl; instead, they rushed to make a new black shirt tailored to Kang Ning’s build, with blue edging embroidered with exquisite gold and silver flower patterns at the collar and cuffs. The two headbands, over a meter long and palm-wide, one white and one black, were each embroidered with a golden pheasant at the ends. When Kang Ning received this richly ethnic outfit, he was so moved he could not speak.

The group traveled over rugged mountain paths before reaching a wide asphalt road, heading north. Since Xiaodong Village lay in a mountain hollow eight kilometers southeast of the county seat, reaching Lihu Township—thirty kilometers to the north—required passing through the county. For Kang Ning, this felt like a test. He knew there would surely be strict checkpoints ahead, so despite his relaxed appearance, his heart was tense and wary.

As the distance steadily shortened, Village Chief Old He, machete at his waist, led the group of fifteen mounted men shouldering long bird guns, riding at a steady pace toward Nandan County. Kang Ning rode alongside a young man with whom he was friendly, listening quietly as he recounted amusing tales of secret meetings with girls two nights before.

Approaching the county, the scene ahead matched Kang Ning’s worries precisely: police had set up a checkpoint five hundred meters from the county entrance. Seven or eight fully armed officers and four armed police were rigorously inspecting every northbound vehicle and closely watching pedestrians entering the county.

The village chief paid the police and checkpoint no mind, boldly leading his group onto the pedestrian path to the right, the horses’ hooves clattering crisply on the cement. The sixteen-man cavalcade entered the county seat without obstruction, as the police watched helplessly.

A young officer, shaking his head at the steaming pile of horse manure, cursed, “Damn these Yao folks, always riding into town and we can do nothing about it. Can’t provoke these uncultured savages—last time I cursed one, he chased me with a machete for two blocks. If I hadn’t run fast, he’d have chopped me.”

“Ha, forget it! I’ve gotten used to it after all these years. The Yao stick together, and there are favorable policies for them. Best not to mess with them,” said a policeman in his thirties, watching the group leave. “It’s infuriating, too—these days, national policy is lenient. After reforestation, the Yao don’t pay taxes, and forest produce is plentiful. Just now, I saw one with a trendy little mustache wearing Li Ning running shoes, and his horse was carrying a new Li Ning sports bag. Just those two items must be worth at least five or six hundred yuan!”

Another young officer laughed, “That’s nothing. I’ve heard that now, even when the Yao go down the mountain to catch chickens, they use condoms. Damn! With so much money, they still don’t switch to motorcycles, always riding those stinky mongrel horses. Uncivilized as ever!”

The older officer sneered loudly, “You don’t get it. Yao people riding horses don’t need licenses, no fuel, no maintenance, and we police can’t do a thing about it—so practical! And here’s another benefit you probably don’t know: there’s a saying ‘an old horse knows the way.’ I’ve heard that when Yao men go down to the market and get drunk, they just climb onto the horse and ride home—even if they’re vomiting and out cold, as long as they don’t fall off, they’ll always make it home safe.”

The nearby officers and armed police all burst out laughing at his words.