Chapter 2

The moment we stepped out of the car, a group of beautiful young women greeted us at the village gate. All dressed in deep green embroidered Miao attire, their heads adorned with silver ornaments that jingled with every step—a sight as pleasing to the eye as it was to the ear.

　　The girl leading the group possessed an exquisite beauty, her features like a painted portrait. Silver tassels dangled from the crown adorning her head, swaying in perfect unison with each step she took.

The Miao girl stepped forward without a trace of timidity, gracefully holding a cup fashioned from a buffalo horn. She declared, “To enter the Miao village, you must first drink the welcome wine. The more you drink, the more delighted our Miao sisters will be!”

As she finished, several girls behind her giggled, covering their mouths.

Anpu hurried forward, saying, ” Ali, these are students from Yancheng University. They’re young and can’t hold their liquor. Everyone in the village knows about your rice wine! Two sips and they’ll be dead drunk right here.”

The girl called “Ali” pouted at this, her expression displeased. “Fine,” she said, “but someone must drink a cup of my welcome wine today! I’ll choose them myself!”

　　Anpu turned to us with a wry smile, waving his hands in a gesture that said he’d done his best.

Xu Zirong, however, was brimming with excitement. He stood tall, his chest puffed out, practically screaming “Pick me!” with his eyes.

Ali’s gaze swept over us, lively and playful, lingering teasingly before finally settling firmly on me. Holding a horn filled with rice wine, she stepped forward, her sparkling eyes smiling as they locked onto mine.

“This young man is handsome, and I’m delighted! I want you to drink my welcome wine!”

　　Just as I reached to take the horn, I suddenly recalled what Anpu had warned: never accept items from Miao girls or touch their skin, lest you risk being unable to “return home.”

I crouched slightly, opening my mouth. Ali lifted the horn and slowly poured the liquid into my mouth.

　　The clear liquor touched my tongue, not fiery like other baijiu, but crisp and refreshing with a lingering sweetness and a faint rice aroma.

It didn’t seem unpleasant at all.

The liquid flowed steadily over my lips, some splashing onto my face with a hint of chill. I had to keep swallowing to avoid choking.

　　Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I thought I caught sight of a figure standing in the dense forest beyond the village gate, seemingly watching me. An inexplicable chill instantly crept up my spine, accompanied by an uncomfortable, heart-pounding sense of being watched.

A Li, noticing the slight change in my expression, assumed I was simply unable to hold my liquor. His smile remained unchanged as he gently raised his hand, no longer pouring the rice wine.

　　Anpu chimed in with a laugh, “Enough, enough! Any more and you’ll be drunk!”

A Li withdrew the horn cup and gave me a thumbs-up as I straightened up. “Brother, you can really hold your liquor!”

　　I curled my lips slightly and turned my gaze toward the dense forest beyond the village gate—

But where was there any sign of people?

Perhaps I had seen wrong.

Xu Zirong stepped forward, draping an arm around my neck. “Good brother, who would’ve guessed! Once we’re back in Yancheng, we absolutely must have a proper contest to see who’s the better drinker…” Mid-sentence, Xu Zirong caught Qiu Lu’s face—black as a pot bottom—out of the corner of his eye. He immediately lowered his voice and gave her a dry, sheepish grin.

An Pu clapped his hands, the sharp sound snapping our attention back. “Alright, the welcome drink’s done. Let’s hurry inside the village! Plenty of things inside will pique your interest!”

　　Led by Anpu, we bid farewell to the beautiful Miao girls and formally entered the village.

Dongjiang Miao Village clung to the mountainside, its tiered stilt houses covering a vast valley. At night, when thousands of lights illuminated the village, the view from above must be breathtakingly dazzling.

　　We entered through the village gate, intending to drop our luggage at the pre-booked inn before exploring the settlement. Fortunately, Anpu knew the village well and guided us; otherwise, finding lodging on our own would have taken considerable effort.

　　“Dongjiang Miao Village is famously known as ‘One Love Song, Eighteen Echoes,’” Anpu explained as we walked. “Our village is built within a gorge, surrounded by mountains on all sides. When you sing loudly here, the sound echoes back from every direction.” He continued, “At the center of the village is our main square. That’s where we hold bonfire gatherings and large events on regular days.”

　　“Wow!” Qiu Lu’s eyes widened. “Any events happening now? You mentioned wandering friends gathering recently—there should be a bonfire, right?”

Qiu Lu had handed her luggage to Xu Zirong, now wearing a sun hat with empty hands, looking as carefree as a true traveler.

　　Anpu nodded with a smile. “Yes. Our Miao people’s distinctive stilt houses are built in tiers around the central square, nestled against the hillside—it’s absolutely stunning!”

As he spoke, we walked along the cobblestone path to a street lined with rows of stilt houses on both sides.

　　I glanced up to see wooden stilt houses clinging to the hillside above, their slender, long beams stubbornly supporting the weight of entire structures.

Suddenly, my vision blurred, my head spun, and the world began to sway. I closed my eyes and shook my head forcefully, trying to stay alert.

　　Oh no, that large cup of welcome wine was finally kicking in.

Anpu had warned me its effects lingered. When I drank it, it tasted sweet and fragrant, but the alcohol’s strength hit later.

Fortunately, I could hold my liquor well. My head was just a bit fuzzy, nothing serious. I didn’t want to spoil everyone else’s mood because of me.

　　Anpu led the way, dutifully and enthusiastically guiding us: “This street is the commercial district, built later. You know, without development and businesses, our Dongjiang Miao Village would remain obscure. We Miao people suffered hardships before, but these past few years, better days have slowly arrived.”

　　Xu Zirong, tirelessly lugging both their luggage, replied, “We understand. This is common nowadays! Well, developing tourism is how everyone makes money, right?”

　　Upon hearing this, An Pu gave Xu Zirong a thumbs-up and praised, “Truly a student of Teacher Ye—your words carry weight!”

Xu Zirong smiled modestly, dragging the luggage with renewed vigor.

　　Both sides of the street featured shops decorated in ethnic styles. Some played loudspeakers blasting the high-pitched, clear love duets of the Miao people. Others sold local specialties or trinkets, though the most popular spots were undoubtedly the photo studios.

The road bustled with tourists, and young Miao women dressed in red, green, or blue traditional costumes passed by, each looking radiantly happy. 

　Perhaps the mystique of this culture truly draws many visitors here.

“Below is all commercial street,” Anpu said. “You can explore it thoroughly these few days. The higher you go, the less commercialization there is, and the more authentic Miao culture you’ll experience.”

　　I silently took note of Anpu’s words, giving my slightly dazed head a sharp tap to snap myself back to normal.

Soon, we arrived at the pre-booked inn. It was peak tourist season, and the Miao village was bustling with visitors. Had we not made reservations in advance, we might have ended up sleeping on the streets.

　　Our expenses were covered by Professor Ye Wensheng’s research funds, so we naturally had to be frugal. We’d originally booked two standard rooms—one for me and Xu Zirong, and one for Qiu Lu and Wen Lingyu.

　　But at the front desk, Qiu Lu suddenly looked bashful and kept nudging Xu Zirong’s side. Xu Zirong dodged her, then turned to me sheepishly: “Um… Aze, I snore at night. I’m worried it might disturb your sleep…”

　　I froze for a second, but quickly caught on.

They were a young couple who’d genuinely treated this trip as a paid vacation—they didn’t even want to be separated in their lodging.

“I booked an extra room myself. I’m paying for it out of my own pocket, not using Professor Ye’s funds!” Xu Zirong declared, promptly pulling out his ID to check in.

　　I understood his meaning perfectly—sometimes saying things outright just adds awkwardness. I was actually quite happy to have a room to myself.

Anpu had fulfilled part of his duty by bringing us here. He said, “Explore the village and rest today. When you’re ready for field research, give me a call. I’ll take you around—they’ll be thrilled to have you!”

　　“Okay, thanks, Brother Anpu!” Qiu Lu said sweetly.

Anpu waved dismissively and turned to leave. We followed the innkeeper to our room.

The inn had three floors: the ground floor was a lobby that also served meals. The second and third floors housed guest rooms, now fully occupied by travelers. The entire stilted structure was wooden, its floors creaking with every step—a quaint charm in its own way.

Our three rooms were adjacent. Wen Lingyu took the middle one, while Qiu Lu indeed entered one room with her luggage and Xu Zirong.

　　I didn’t concern myself with their arrangements, as long as it didn’t interfere with our mission.

Upon entering the room, a distinct scent of wood mingled with damp air wafted into my nostrils. It wasn’t unpleasant; I simply regarded it as part of the local character. The bedding was neatly folded and dry, suggesting the innkeeper was both diligent and adept at managing the business.

　　My room faced the cliff, part of the structure jutting out over the ground, supported by wooden beams. Though it felt slightly precarious upon reflection, opening the window offered a breathtaking view of the entire valley and Miao village below. That slight risk became negligible.

I was quite satisfied with my room.

No sooner had I set down my luggage than a knock sounded at the door.

　　I opened the door to find Wen Lingyu, her face flushed. She wore a straight fringe over her eyes, which were large and bright, giving her an exquisitely delicate appearance, like a porcelain doll. Perhaps because she wasn’t very tall—barely reaching my chin—she always looked up at me when speaking, like an innocent, pitiful little rabbit.

“They sent me to ask if you’d like to go out exploring together. It’s our first time here, so we can get familiar with the area, relax, and take some photos with our cameras.”

My head still felt a bit dizzy, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt. Besides, I didn’t want to crash into bed on my first night in the Miao village. So I gladly accepted their invitation.

The four of us soon joined the throng of tourists.