The mountains stretched in continuous undulations, and the dense forest was stark and cold.
Winter in the south held a touch of green; evergreen trees never withered throughout the year, preventing the season from becoming too dry and monotonous.
I leaned by the window, gazing at the scenery outside.
The bus drove steadily on the highway, like an insect weaving through the forest. There was no other way to enter Dongjiang Miao Village besides by car.
Today was New Year’s Day, the beginning of a new year.
The bus was crowded and noisy, filled with people traveling during the holiday. Sitting in the last row, in a corner, my mood seemed to lighten with the lively atmosphere.
There was a child on the bus, asking their mom in a clear voice how much longer it would take to arrive. There were also elderly people explaining the rules and customs of the Miao Village to those around them.
Some listened, nodding repeatedly with reverence and longing.
I lowered my head and stroked the cuff of my down jacket.
Hong Hong painstakingly crawled out of my sleeve, its black eyes rolling, its front legs rubbing affectionately against the back of my hand.
Hong Hong had been listless since last month. I consulted classmates from the agriculture college, but they couldn’t identify Hong Hong’s species. I fed it tender grass, and Hong Hong ate it. I also fed it small insects, and Hong Hong ate those too. It didn’t seem picky, but its spirits remained low.
I always felt a bit worried.
I didn’t know how Shen Jianqing used to feed Hong Hong; I had only seen his Gu container.
I gently stroked Hong Hong’s back with my finger. It seemed to enjoy it, lying still on the back of my hand.
I needed to find Shen Jianqing, which meant returning to Shidi Miao Village. Although I still felt some fear towards this village, my resolve was firm.
But I couldn’t find a way in.
I considered two methods. One person definitely knew how to get in: An Pu.
When I had just been rescued and woke up, he said he had gone back into the mountains to look for me and had even met Shen Jianqing. That proved he must know the way into the mountains. And from the implications of his words, I thought he must be very familiar with Shidi Miao Village.
I got his contact information through Professor Ye. An Pu listened to my idea of coming back and was silent for a long time. I wondered if he was unwilling to help me.
Finally, An Pu stammered, “You get to Dongjiang Miao Village first. Once you’re there… um, I’ll be there these few days because of something.”
Then, he hastily hung up the phone.
If he wasn’t willing to help me, then I’d just have to let Hong Hong lead the way. It might be a little slow at times, leading me in circles, but it would never turn me away.
With that plan in mind, I felt much more at ease.
The closer I got to Dongjiang Miao Village, the more nervous I became, along with a little flutter of excitement.
My palms were sweating, and I wiped them on my clothes. The scenery outside the window rushed past, but I wished it would fade faster, even faster.
Finally, the bus slowly came to a stop, and the driver shouted to everyone, “We’ve arrived at the Miao Village! The stockade gate is just a short walk. You all can go in yourselves; no parking allowed inside!”
Tourists started getting off in twos and threes. I was in the back, so I had to follow everyone else.
I pulled my suitcase and quickly walked towards the Miao Village.
I had been here once before, and the surroundings felt very familiar, as if I had just seen them yesterday.
I didn’t want to waste a second, so I hurried towards the stockade gate.
I wasn’t thinking about anything else right now; my mind was solely on Shen Jianqing. I wanted to see him quickly, even more quickly…
Turning a bend, the wooden stockade gate appeared before me.
It stood there silently, like a gentle giant, overseeing the comings and goings below. The stockade gate was still the same as when I last came, but my state of mind had completely changed.
Today was New Year’s Day, and many people had come to visit the Miao Village. A long line had already formed under the stockade gate. The Miao teenagers guarding the gate tirelessly offered the first cup of fine wine from the Miao Village to guests from afar.
I was so anxious I wanted to stomp my feet, but there was nothing I could do.
Suddenly, Hong Hong, who had been tucked away in my sleeve, began to stir restlessly. It scrambled out, using all its legs, and climbed onto the back of my hand, waving its front limbs as if trying to express something.
Faintly, I felt a burning gaze fall upon me.
My heart stirred, and I instinctively looked up.
And there, amidst the bustling crowd, I saw Shen Jianqing in a Miao outfit.
In that instant, everyone else around me faded and blurred, and all sounds receded. I could only hear the violent thumping of my own heart. My heart pounded fiercely in my chest, causing a dull ache.
We were separated by a not-too-far, not-too-close distance. He was smiling at me, and my vision gradually blurred.
It turned out I was crying.
I realized this belatedly, guessing my expression must have been awful, hardly suitable for a reunion.
Shen Jianqing held a bowl of wine in his hand. Amid the thick crowd, his lips moved faintly.
He was silently calling my name.
Yuze Ah-ge.
At this moment, my suspended heart finally settled, and the rootless duckweed finally drifted into its own harbor.
You see, he really was waiting for me right where he was.
“Ah-ge, now that you’ve come, don’t leave ah, the Miao Village has good wine—”
Shen Jianqing sang the gate-blocking folk song, his steps firm, approaching me little by little.
Some tourists in line looked at him blankly, then turned back to look at me, standing outside the queue.
I heard whispers, seemingly complaining about why this gate-blocker was so unprofessional or perhaps discussing our relationship.
But what does what others said have to do with me? In my eyes, there was only Shen Jianqing.
His medium-length hair was cut short, and the gloomy aura around him had completely vanished. The clanging adornments were also gone, with only a silver torc around his neck.
Shen Jianqing came up to me, bringing the bowl of wine to my lips.
“Ah-ge, to enter the stockade gate, you must first drink the ‘Lanmen’ wine!”
I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes, tilted my head slightly, and opened my mouth.
Shen Jianqing immediately tilted the wine bowl.
Sweet, clear wine flowed into my mouth, its taste crisp with a faint hint of rice.
As the bowl was about to be emptied, just as Shen Jianqing was about to withdraw his hand, I suddenly grabbed it.
Shen Jianqing chuckled and asked, “Ah-ge, do you know what it means to touch my hand?”
When we first arrived, An Pu had told us some of the rules of the Miao Village.
When drinking the Lanmen wine, one shouldn’t casually touch the wine cup or the person pouring it; otherwise, it signifies affection, and it’s easy to “not be able to go back.”
I lifted my chin, feigning difficulty: “If it means becoming a live-in son-in-law, I suppose I wouldn’t be entirely opposed.”
Shen Jianqing finally laughed, opening his arms wide and embracing me tightly.
“Yuze Ah-ge, I knew it; I knew you wouldn’t abandon me.”
He whispered firmly against my ear, yet his voice trembled.
I silently hugged him back just as tightly, as if I were holding my entire world.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw people chatting, some snapping photos. But I no longer paid them any mind.
I now clearly understood what I truly wanted.
