"What's wrong with that little girl?" Xu Zirong pointed at her retreating figure, then shifted his gaze to Shen Jianging. "She seems quite familiar with you."
Shen Jianging said indifferently, "I told her to call the village elders to come out and welcome you guys. She's just someone I know and can call by name; it's not like we're 'very familiar'.
Qiu Lu's eyes lit up at his words. "Welcome — no way! Isn't that too grand?" We'd be satisfied just not being driven away; how could we hope for a welcome ceremony?
We followed the path uphill, looking around as we walked. Everything here was new to us, all worth including in our survey records. This was a settlement, with stilt houses lining both sides of the road. These stilt houses were slightly different from those l'd seen in Dongjiang Miao Village; their exteriors were plainer, but their practicality was greatly enhanced. I even saw rows of cured meats hanging on some of the second-floor verandas.
At that moment, our arrival caused some stilt-house doors to slam shut, while others revealed curious faces peeking out, their eyes filled with either wariness or surprise. For the first time, I understood how the monkeys in a zoo must feel. The moment their eyes met mine, they quickly retreated behind their doors, as if I were some man-eating monster.
After a short while, an elder with white hair, dressed in dark gray Miao clothing, appeared on the slope. His face was solemn, his expression dignified. Just seeing him from a distance gave off an aura of authority without needing to express anger. Due to his age, the skin on his face sagged, forming deep furrows.
Beside the elder was a young woman in a blue Miao dress. She was supporting the elder, but her gaze was fixed on us from afar. More precisely, it was fixed on Shen Jianqing.
The people who had been hiding in the stilt houses immediately stopped hiding upon seeing the elder. Some pushed open their doors, while others gathered around the elder as if seeing their pillar of strength. Soon, a large crowd had gathered.
"Why are they coming at us so aggressively?" Wen Lingyu grabbed Qiu Lu's arm and asked timidly.
Qiu Lu was also unsure and squeezed behind Xu Zirong.
I said, "Are you sure they will welcome us?"
Shen Jianging smiled, the red mole above his eye looking vibrant:
"Don't worry. Since you guys are my friends, they won't make things difficult for you guys."
I looked at him, half-believing, and he confidently winked at me.
I decided to trust him for now.
Soon, these "Unassimilated Miao" walked aggressively toward us.
The elder leading them squinted, looking us up and down. His eyes were slightly cloudy with age, but they held an undeniable shrewdness.
Seeing the elder's revered demeanor and innate authority, I guessed he was likely the chieftain or village head, at least a highly respected figure here.
The elder spoke, his voice deep and hoarse: "Puman?"
We completely didn't understand.
The four of us simultaneously looked at Shen Jianging. Shen Jianging's expression remained unchanged as he began to converse with the elder.
The elder stepped forward, smiling, and said, "You ta sha!"
We looked to Shen Jianging for help.
Shen Jianging explained, "That's 'welcome' in Miao language. I already said that they'd be very welcoming!"
We suddenly understood and clasped our hands together, showing our gratitude.
"Pfft-"
It was a crisp, bell-like laugh.
I instinctively looked towards the source of the sound: the young woman assisting the elder. Getting closer, I realized she was stunningly beautiful, with upturned eyes and crimson lips, her beauty possessing a hint of aggressiveness.
Meeting my gaze, her smile deepened. She turned and said something to the younger girl behind her, and then both burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Oh, the younger girl behind her was the one who had seen us earlier and whom Shen Jianging had asked to fetch people.
"What are they laughing at?" Qiu Lu whispered through gritted teeth, leaning against Wen Lingyu. "Is my hair messy? Do I have food stuck in my teeth?"
Wen Lingyu shrugged.
We didn't know what they were laughing at.
Finally, Shen Jianging, our diligent guide, handled the negotiations for us. Soon, the elder turned and gave instructions to the villagers, and they all dispersed.
The elder then gave us a slight nod and, supported by the beautiful young woman, walked up the slope.
Halfway up, she suddenly turned her head, her gaze fixed on Shen Jianqing. But Shen Jianging didn't look at her, and with a disappointed pout, she turned back and continued walking with the elder.
"That girl was looking at you, she seemed to have something to say." I told Shen Jianging.
Shen Jianging let out a low "hmph" from his nose, responding with an impatient and cold tone: "Don't mind her."
I was stunned. I had always thought Shen Jianging was a kind-hearted and warm person, and I never expected him to be so cold at times.
After a pause, Shen Jianging lifted his eyelids to look at me and added, "She and I are not familiar. Don't pay too much attention to it."
At this point, Qiu Lu asked curiously, "What did you say? How did that old man... cough... old grandpa, who was initially scowling, become all smiles in no time?"
Shen Jianging explained, "I told them you guys were guests. I assured them you guys meant no harm and only wished to stay for a short period."
As he spoke, several Miao villagers emerged from the stilt houses, carrying daily necessities like quilts, pillows, and clothes. Seeing us, the villagers remained expressionless, keeping their distance, merely nodding slightly at Shen Jianging before walking in the direction from which we had come.
"What are they doing?" Xu Zirong scratched his head.
Shen Jianqing replied, "They're bringing you things. I don't have bedding there, so I had to borrow from everyone first."
Xu Zirong raised an eyebrow, looking both grateful and impressed. "! can't believe how well-connected you are! You're something else, brother!" He said, lightly punching Shen Jianging's chest.
Shen Jianging lowered his eyes to the spot Xu Zirong had touched, his emotions unreadable.
Xu Zirong continued, "When you first told me those things, I thought you were living alone because you'd been bullied. It seems the local customs here are quite simple and honest, and they even enjoy helping each other out!"
Qiu Lu also chimed in, "Shen Jianqing, you've helped us so much! After we leave, if we publish our research paper, we'll definitely give you a co-authorship!"
Her face was beaming, as if she had already published a major work in a core journal.
Indeed, if we compiled and organized the content of this research trip, we wouldn't have trouble getting it into a core journal.
"Co-authorship?" Shen Jianqing looked at me, puzzled.
I explained, "It's our most sincere way of repaying you."
"Not money? Bartering and fair trade? Now it's co-authorship?"
I chuckled, speechless.
"I don't want any co-authorship, nor do I want any money," Shen Jianging said. "These things have no meaning to me."
Wen Lingyu asked, "Then what do you want?"
Xu Zirong joked, "As long as it's not our Xiao Lu, anything else is fine!"
The moment he spoke, Qiu Lu was the first to turn and punch him: "Xu Zirong! Why don't you think before you speak?! That's disrespectful!"
Xu Zirong grimaced from the solid punch, and under Qiu Lu's watchful eye, he ended up bowing and apologizing repeatedly.
After some playful banter, the conversation naturally moved on.
"Let's head back, there's nothing else to see here," Shen jianging said, leading us back. "It's been a long day. Get some good rest. If you guys need anything else later, I can help you."
An Pu had said similar words, but unlike An Pu, who was a guide arranged by Professor Ye and whom we paid, we had met Shen Jianging by chance. We had been bothering him constantly without giving him any compensation other than that packet of dried beef, yet Shen Jianging was still so thoughtful and dedicated in helping us.
Perhaps only such a pure and unspoiled place could nurture such pure and unadulterated people.
Thinking this, I looked at Shen Jianging. He was casually brushing the fabric over his chest with his palm, as if shaking off something dirty.
Seeing me look at him, he curved his eyes in response.
When we returned to Shen Jianging's stilt house, we just happened to encounter those Miao villagers coming out. They quickly glanced at us, merely nodded at Shen Jianging, and then turned and left.
But their gaze towards Shen Jianging was very strange, carrying a mix of awe and apprehension.
Awe? Apprehension?
How strange.
Perhaps I had seen it wrong.
Speaking of which, we had experienced a lot today. There was finding our way through the mountains and climbing the cliff with iron ropes; each was both novel and strenuous. But the excitement of arriving at the "Unassimilated Miao" settlement temporarily masked the physical exertion. Now, back in Shen Jianging's stilt house, weariness and fatigue belatedly caught up.
Having so many major events happen in one day gave me a sense of unreality, even the illusion of being orchestrated.
I returned to my small room, ready to make my bed and take a short nap. Yawns kept escaping my mouth one after another, and my sleepiness grew intense.
Pushing the door open, I saw that the previously bare bed board was gone, replaced by a soft bed!
The grey quilt, without much fancy decoration, was thick and warm enough to get through the night in this dense forest.
It turned out that those Miao villagers had not only brought quilts but had also made the beds. I presumed the other rooms received the same treatment.
I touched the bedding, but in my mind, I thought, This is almost too hospitable.