Chapter Thirty: Misunderstanding

After riding through the modest county town, Kong Ning finally allowed his taut nerves to relax. He had been deeply worried, before passing the checkpoint, that the village chief—who had been elected as a people's representative for more than a decade—might encounter familiar police officers, stop to chat, and perhaps even proudly introduce himself to them. Now, although they had safely crossed and left danger behind, Kong Ning still felt lingering dread at the thought.

Having covered more than twenty kilometers, Kong Ning, now accustomed to horseback riding, spurred his horse forward to catch up with the village chief. “Brother, just before we entered town, I saw many police officers. Are there always so many police on duty along the road every day?”

“You mean those public security officers?” the village chief replied, also puzzled. “I remember since late June, checkpoints were set up outside town and stayed for a month without withdrawal. They only checked vehicles and people entering from the south. At first, I thought it was for stability during Hong Kong’s handover, but that didn’t add up. When I asked the county people's congress chairman, he said he wasn’t sure either; he’d only heard it was an internal order from the regional public security system. Surprisingly, just days after the checkpoints were removed, they set up again. From past experience, I’d guess something big has happened. Why, did you find it odd too?” Old He, the village chief, spoke lightly, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Kong Ning hurried to answer, “Not particularly. I just thought, since this place is at the border between Guangxi and Guizhou, it’s normal to have checkpoints between two provinces.”

The village chief laughed heartily. “That you don’t know. The permanent checkpoint isn’t in town, but at Liuzhai, close to Mawei in Guizhou. If you follow the road we’re on north for a few dozen kilometers, you’ll reach it. But we don’t need to go that far. In another mile or two, we’ll turn right onto a small path. We should reach Lihu by noon.”

Relieved, Kong Ning smiled and gazed ahead. The village chief looked at Kong Ning, who was riding alongside him, nodding and smiling with admiration.

Kong Ning noticed and asked, “Brother, what are you smiling about? Is it because of these clothes I’m wearing?”

“Yes! You look very handsome in that outfit—tall and spirited. Chunlan and her mother are the best seamstresses in our village.” The chief sighed. “You’ve been staying at her house these days—did you notice there’s no man in the family?”

Kong Ning realized this was true. “Yes, but I’m not used to asking about other people’s private matters.”

“You’re a fine-looking, kind-hearted young man. It’s a pity you’re not one of our Yao people, or Chunlan would have joined you in bed that very night. Sigh—someone as striking as you hasn’t appeared in our clan for decades. Sometimes, I wish you were one of our own!”

The chief spoke with genuine regret. “At the beginning of last year, Chunlan’s father had just buried his parents. On his way back from buying things in town, before he reached the crossroads, he was struck and killed by a drunk mine boss driving a car. The boss fled, leaving a scapegoat to take the blame, and only paid twenty thousand yuan in compensation. It was a bitter blow for Chunlan’s family—without a man, life for the mother and daughter has been very hard.”

Kong Ning was shocked. “How could that happen? That’s a major traffic accident! Brother, you’re a people’s representative—why didn’t you report this to the higher authorities?”

“How could I not? But I’m just a small village chief with nothing to back me up. Reporting does no good. Those people have money and connections. If I hadn’t taken fifty men from the village, armed with knives and guns, to confront them, Chunlan’s family wouldn’t have seen even twenty thousand. But after that, none of the mine bosses will hire Yao people anymore.” The chief spat forcefully at the roadside, then, seeing Kong Ning’s heavy expression, shook his head, offered a few words of comfort, and called out to quicken their pace.

By midday, Kong Ning and his companions reached Muhe, a small Yao village north of Lihu township, named for the ancient trees growing at the river’s source. As soon as they dismounted at the village entrance, a large crowd greeted them. More than a dozen children hurriedly led the guests’ horses to the river to drink, while the elders and young men exchanged hearty handshakes and laughter echoed all around.

Kong Ning was stretching his sore legs when a man of about forty or fifty, medium-built and dark-skinned, with sharp features, pointed at Kong Ning and asked the village chief, “Old He, I’ve never seen this tall young man from your village before.”

The chief replied calmly, “You haven’t visited my home in years—how could you have seen him? Come, we’re all hungry; let’s go to your place for wine. Is the table ready?”

“All the women in the village have been busy since morning—the food and wine are on the table! I’ve been brewing three jars of hundred-flower wine for you since the day before yesterday. But let me say this: whoever gets drunk first today carries the burden tomorrow.” The village head draped his arm over Old He’s shoulder, the two bantering as they walked toward the village.

When they reached the sun-drenched square in front of the headman’s house, Kong Ning was taken aback: spread across fifty meters were dozens of large square low tables. At the center, eight tables were joined together to form a long banquet table, already laden with Yao dishes. Over three hundred men, women, and children stood there, smiling in welcome.

After another lengthy round of greetings, everyone finally took their seats. The long table was reserved for guests; Kong Ning, as the guest of honor, was seated in the second place of honor to the left, with Old He, the chief of Xiaodong village, naturally taking the main seat.

After several rounds of drinks, Kong Ning was still savoring the unique taste of the hundred-flower wine, distinguishing the herbal ingredients by taste, when a remark from Old Mo, the Muhe village chief, drew all eyes to Kong Ning. “Old He, is this young man beside you married?”

Old He knew exactly what Old Mo meant and, feigning ignorance, teased him. “My brother here isn’t married yet. But Old Mo, haven’t your two daughters already given you enough grandchildren? Don’t go dreaming—none of your fat sheep will stray far. We’ve got a dozen lovely girls in our village lining up for him!”

“Bother with you, you old rascal!” Old Mo shouted to his right, “Xiaoming, come here.”

From among the women a slender, pretty girl of seventeen or eighteen stood up and hurried over. Old Mo pointed boldly at Kong Ning and called out, “Do you like the look of this lad? If you do, I’ll decide it for you today!”

The girl cast a wide-eyed glance at Kong Ning, blushed deeply, and then fled back to her seat. The crowd found this so amusing that laughter erupted all around. Many women even stood to see which young man had so impressed the usually proud chief, who was now seeking a suitor for the village’s most beautiful niece. Soon, laughter and playful comments about Kong Ning filled the square, making him thoroughly embarrassed and uncomfortable.

At that moment, the sturdy young man sitting across from Kong Ning, with thick brows and a square face, could take no more. He had been pursuing the beautiful Xiaoming for over a year, and now his eyes burned with hostility. Suddenly, he stood, raised his left hand with a wine bowl to Kong Ning, and with his right hand formed a peculiar gesture on the rim. He spoke each word forcefully: “Brother, do you dare drink this bowl of wine?”

Instantly, the once-boisterous square fell silent. Kong Ning sensed the tension but, maintaining courtesy, stood and raised his own bowl with both hands. Old He, realizing things might turn ugly, moved to intervene, but the young man had already pressed his bowl against Kong Ning’s with a loud clink, then drained it in a single gulp. Slamming the empty bowl onto the table, he stared intensely at Kong Ning.

By now, Kong Ning understood: the banter between the two chiefs and Xiaoming’s earlier reaction had led this young man to a serious misunderstanding.