Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Border Between Civilization and Wilderness (Part Two)

Kang Ning straightened his back and, in a cold tone, addressed the female interpreter in the local dialect: “Tell him this—when our ancestors rode in carriages and fought across the land with bows and arrows, theirs were still scrambling with monkeys for wild fruit in the trees!”

The female interpreter wanted to rebuke Kang Ning, but seeing his stern and imposing expression, she faltered, fear silencing her. Jeanne was just about to scold her indiscreet friend when she heard Kang Ning’s cold voice and immediately turned to look at him, then fixed her gaze on the interpreter, waiting for her to convey his words.

The kindly and hospitable Yao people already harbored reservations about the two arrogant, ill-mannered foreign youths. Now, seeing the usually polite and gentle Kang Ning speak with such anger, they instantly sensed something was amiss. Remembering the long history of discrimination suffered by their people, everyone’s face darkened as they stared at the interpreter and the two Englishmen. The previously lively hall fell utterly silent, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Jeanne hadn’t expected the situation to escalate like this. She barely had time to reproach her friend before urgently urging the interpreter to explain Kang Ning’s words. Yet, the interpreter remained silent, driving Jeanne to anxious gestures, her worry mounting. Old He, sensing that Kang Ning understood the foreigners’ speech, hurriedly asked him, “Brother, what did that fellow say? Was he looking down on us Yao people?”

Kang Ning turned to the village elders, Lao Mo, Old He, and Jin Duan. “I told you, uncles, to keep calm and not to let things get out of hand. That British brat just called us savages, said sitting with us was a waste of time. I lost my temper and asked the interpreter to relay my words, but she’s so spineless and infatuated with foreigners that she didn’t dare translate what I said.”

“What? I’ll cut him down!” Da Niu leapt up, reaching for his belt knife.

Kang Ning swiftly grasped Da Niu’s hand and lightly pulled him back down into his seat. “Da Niu, don’t act rashly! We have elders here—what’s your hurry?”

Da Niu’s eyes, round as copper bells, stared at the tall white man who had just spoken. Realizing his offense, the man stood up, but, regaining his composure, looked at Da Niu with disdain before turning to Jeanne. “Let’s go. We civilized people have no reason to associate with savages.”

Kang Ning could no longer restrain himself. He stood up and, across the table, spoke in fluent American English, his voice ringing out: “I asked the interpreter to convey the message from our Yao people, but as she lacks the courage, I’ll say it myself: You bastard have no right to insult us. When our ancestors rode in carriages and conquered the world with bows and arrows, yours were still fighting monkeys for wild fruit in the trees! Do you understand, or shall I repeat myself?”

Jeanne was astonished—she had never expected such a strong reaction from the Yao people, nor that the handsome young man in traditional white trousers could speak English so well. She immediately apologized sincerely to Kang Ning, hoping he would forgive her friends. Kang Ning translated her apology word for word to the elders and the Yao men present, finally easing their anger somewhat. Meanwhile, the female interpreter stared at Kang Ning in disbelief, overwhelmed with shame.

Kang Ning conversed with Jeanne in English, telling her that within five hundred miles, all Yao villagers would gladly welcome courteous friends like her, but that people with filthy habits of prejudice were absolutely unwelcome.

After Jeanne apologized repeatedly, she noticed her two friends glaring at Kang Ning with hatred. Knowing well the Yao men’s sense of justice, Jeanne, fearful of trouble, hastily took her leave with the two men. At Jin Duan’s request, Kang Ning, standing in for the host, politely saw Jeanne off the stilted house, ignoring the hostile stares of the two white men beside her.

The tall white man, still seething from before, deliberately slammed his shoulder into Kang Ning as they left the courtyard. But Kang Ning, already alert, sidestepped him with a quick half-step. Jeanne, noticing this, loudly tried to stop her friend, but the man, frustrated by his failed attempt, flew into a rage, rushed forward, and swung a fierce punch at Kang Ning’s back. Jeanne covered her mouth, just about to scream, but Kang Ning, as if he had eyes at the back of his head, shifted his body and avoided the fist. In one swift motion, he locked the man’s hairy wrist with one hand and grabbed his belt with the other. Borrowing the foreigner’s own momentum, he hurled the nearly two-hundred-pound man three meters into the pond, then dusted off his hands and politely bade the stunned Jeanne farewell. He then turned and strolled back upstairs, as though nothing had happened.

Jeanne, still trembling, turned to the pond, where she saw her other friend frantically dragging the waterweed-covered man ashore. Spitting out a mouthful of dirty water, the drenched and humiliated victim stared wide-eyed in terror, muttering over and over, “My God! He’s not human, he’s a demon! He’s a demon…”

Inside the stilted house, the group was quietly drinking when they were startled by the loud splash outside. They rushed out onto the veranda and, seeing Kang Ning calmly ascending the stairs, breathed a collective sigh of relief. When they beheld the foul-mouthed foreigner being hauled from the pond like a pig, the surprise quickly gave way to laughter, and they generously sent the two bedraggled white men off with a chorus of jeers.

Amid laughter, everyone returned to their seats. Old He clapped Jin Duan’s thigh and said, “Well, Brother Duan, didn’t I tell you letting my little brother see them out was a wise move?”

Jin Duan grinned widely without replying, raised his cup to Kang Ning’s lips, and, after making him drink, exclaimed, “Brother, I’m grateful. You’ve saved the honor of our Lao Village Yao! If you hadn’t stood up for us, I’d have lost face forever! Here, let me toast you three more times!”

Lao Mo, Old He, and the young men who had come along all felt immense pride, for, in their hearts, Kang Ning was one of their own. Especially Da Niu, whose face radiated admiration as he squeezed in beside his sworn brother, grinning foolishly.

Kang Ning courteously toasted Jin Duan, then offered a drink to Old He, Lao Mo, and everyone present, downing over a dozen cups in succession. Forcing down the churning in his belly, he finally spoke: “Uncle He, Uncle Mo, Uncle Duan, brothers all—I’ve only been here ten days, yet it feels as if I’ve lived among you for ten years. In the Yao country, I’ve felt the warmth of kinship, the meaning of sincerity and kindness. I’ve learned to hunt, to recognize many herbs and animal tracks, and every day I’ve drunk the most fragrant Yao rice wine. I thank all of you for accepting and caring for a Han wanderer like me!”

Old He and Lao Mo, sensing Kang Ning was about to leave, hung their heads in silence, spirits sinking. Jin Duan, surprised, burst out, “What? Brother, you’re not one of our White-Trousered Yao?”

“No! He’s our best brother of all—our true brother, whom we’ll never forget!” Lao Mo suddenly raised his head, protesting loudly, and threw his arm around Kang Ning’s neck, slowly bringing his cup to Kang Ning’s lips.

Old He’s cup followed, and soon, more than a dozen cups clustered before Kang Ning. Looking at the familiar faces, all heavy with the sorrow of parting, Kang Ning felt a sharp sting in his nose, and tears streamed silently down his cheeks…