Finest Servant

Chapter 641 Disguised

Indeed, as expected, the yamen officials who were originally stationed on the road to the hamlet suddenly retreated without a sound. Even the torches were quietly extinguished, leaving one to wonder what they were up to. Lin Wanrong chuckled coldly, a glint of chill flashing in his eyes, but he did not respond.

"Yilian, Yilian!" A young Miao boy carrying a hatchet called out as he walked from below the hamlet.

It was that Miao youth named Kunshan. Yilian stood up to greet him, "Brother Kunshan, we're here!"

Kunshan hurried over, looking at Lin Wanrong who stood smiling beside Yilian, and couldn't help but huff in annoyance, "Yilian, the officials have retreated. Uncle Buyi sent me to call for you!"

"They've retreated?!" Yilian frowned in confusion. "Ah Lin Ge beat the man surnamed Wu to death, how could the officials just leave like that?!"

Kunshan shook his head, "The man surnamed Wu didn't die. His face was just smashed and he fainted. Uncle rescued and revived him, then sent him back to the officials!"

"Not dead?!" Yilian's face flushed. Both she and her father were Miao healers, and they should have been able to tell whether a person was alive or dead. Unfortunately, in the chaos of the moment, she was only concerned about escaping with Ah Lin Ge, and had forgotten this detail. Seeing Lin Wanrong's grinning face, she glared at him fiercely, "Did you also know that man was not dead?"

"Absolutely not!" Lin Wanrong waved his hands hastily. Having spent some time with this Miao girl, he had come to understand her strong-willed nature quite well. "When I attacked, I was only focused on the fight, not whether he lived or died!"

As she was about to leave with Lin Wanrong, Kunshan quickly stood in their way, "Yilian, Uncle only asked me to call for you, he didn’t mention this Hua man!"

The young man clearly held a grudge against Lin Wanrong, his gaze filled with hostility. Yilian couldn't help but frown, "Brother Kunshan, what are you saying? Is this how our Miao village treats guests? If Uncle Dewang hears about this, he'll have you running around the mountains again!"

Kunshan, seemingly frightened, didn’t dare to speak anymore. Yilian comforted him with a smile, "Don’t worry, Brother Kunshan, I won’t tell Uncle Dewang. But don't make it difficult for Ah Lin Ge, he’s a good man and has never harmed our Miao village, right?"

Clearly, the Miao youth was no match for Yilian. Comforted by her words, he dared not say any more. Lin Wanrong watched with a smile; this Miao girl might appear gentle, but she was indeed a fiery character in the Yingyue Hamlet.

Uncle Buyi's stilted house was in the center of the village, built upon large wooden pillars on the slope of the hill, comprising two wooden floors. The roof was double-sloped, with the upper floor used for storing grains and sundries, while the space beneath the stilts was used for storing miscellaneous items and livestock.

In recent years, due to the severe taxes and levies imposed by the government, the livestock raised by the Miao people had long been sold. The storage room on the roof for grains and sundries was also empty. Uncle Buyi, along with a few other Miao elders, were already waiting at the door. Seeing Lin Wanrong approach, they hurriedly came forward to welcome him, "Yingyue Hamlet welcomes the distinguished guest from afar!"

In the Miao village, it was customary to welcome distinguished guests from afar with a communal reception. The entire village, young and old, would gather to slaughter chickens and sheep, and the elders would offer toasts and songs in honor. However, this particular night was exceptional. The interference from the government officials, posing a threat to their lives, had forced Yilian to rush out of the village with Ah Lin Ge, simplifying the usual formalities.

Lin Wanrong clasped his hands in a hurried bow, "Oh no, Uncle Buyi and all the elders are too kind!"

"Ah Lin Ge," Yilian looked at him apologetically, "I could only find one of your friends; I don't know where the other has gone."

"It's alright," Lin Wanrong chuckled, "the tall one has gone to scout in the mountains. He'll come to find us in a few days, don't worry."

Inside Uncle Buyi's stilt house, though modest and simple, everything was neat and tidy. A graceful Miao woman brought a bamboo basin of clean water, with a tree branch in the middle, and placed it before Lin Wanrong.

"Mother!" Yilian quickly stood by her side, pointing at Lin Wanrong and saying a few words. Her mother observed the guest and whispered something in her daughter's ear. Yilian's expression became anxious, and after a rapid exchange in Miao language, her mother's expression softened.

Lin Wanrong, not understanding a word of their conversation, felt uneasy under their scrutinizing gaze.

Unfamiliar with Miao customs, he hesitated before the basin of water and the tree branch. Was it for washing his face? As he was about to splash water on his face, Yilian laughed and stopped him, "Ah Lin Ge, this is our Miao custom of 'Dust Removal', a special welcome for distant guests, not for washing your face."

She dipped the branch in water and flicked a few drops on him, symbolizing the cleansing. Realizing his mistake, Lin Wanrong's face turned red, and he mimicked her actions, sprinkling a few drops of water on himself.

The villagers couldn't help but laugh at his clumsy efforts, and Yilian, standing beside him, laughed even more. Lin Wanrong felt an unparalleled embarrassment. Once the 'Dust Removal' was completed, he took his seat, and Uncle Buyi expressed his gratitude, "Guest, your brave actions today in standing up for our Miao village have earned the whole Yingyue Hamlet's eternal gratitude!"

"Where, where," Lin Wanrong modestly replied with a fist salute, "I acted rashly, almost bringing disaster to the village. I am truly ashamed."

Yilian, noticing his self-reproach, asked, "Father, why did the officials leave without reason?"

Uncle Buyi, though lean and unassuming, was the astute and worldly leader of the Red Miao Village of Yingyue Hamlet. He glanced at Lin Wanrong and nodded meaningfully, "Perhaps it was the blessing of a noble person. Guest, wouldn't you agree?"

"Is that so? I'm not quite sure," Lin Wanrong replied thick-facedly with a chuckle.

Uncle Buyi laughed, "What are you waiting for, Yilian's mother? Our distinguished guest has come from afar. Where is our fine wine? Bring it quickly!"

Her mother uttered a sound, glancing at her daughter and then at her husband, hesitant to move. Uncle Buyi shot her a stern look, "What's the matter?!"

Yilian let out a gasp, gripping the bamboo tube in her hands, her face and ears turning crimson as she lowered her head in embarrassment, "Father, I... I—"

Lin Wanrong was momentarily stunned. Realizing the situation, he understood that the wine Yilian had brought up the mountain was stolen from her father, and he had already finished drinking it. What was left now?

He was deeply touched by the little sister's gesture and quickly stood up, shielding Yilian behind him, "No need to trouble yourself, Uncle. I'm not thirsty at all!"

Seeing the bamboo tube in his daughter's hand and her flushed face hidden behind the Hua man, Uncle Buyi paused, then shook his head and sighed deeply, ‘Not thirsty? You've already had your share!’

Uncle Buyi remained silent for a while, his gaze intensely scrutinizing Lin Wanrong, as if trying to see through him.

Unable to bear his piercing look, Lin Wanrong hurriedly changed the subject, "By the way, Uncle Buyi, how long does it take to walk from here to Wulian Peak's Biluo Hamlet?"

"The nearest mountain path, though treacherous, should take about four or five days," Uncle Buyi glanced at him, "Guest, are you also heading to Wulian Peak to attend the Flower Mountain Festival?"

Embarrassed to admit his true purpose of meeting the Holy Maiden, Lin Wanrong quickly deflected with a laugh, "Oh no, just going to have a look!"

The Miao elder nodded, "It's perfect timing. Many of our mi duo and mi cai are going, a good few dozen. Why don't you join them? It's just a few days away, on the third of September. You should set off early tomorrow."

Lin Wanrong, feeling lost in Xuzhou and anxious about finding his way, was delighted to hear of so many people going together and eagerly nodded in agreement.

"Guest, you fought with the county magistrate's son today," Uncle Buyi frowned, "Wearing these Hua people clothes will make you too conspicuous. If you don't mind, why not change into Miao attire for the journey?"

Change into Miao attire? What a great idea! Lin Wanrong clapped his hands in excitement, "That's great, I'll be a Miao man for once! Uncle, Kunshan, please take good care of me!"

In this era, the Miao were often oppressed and had a low social status, and typical Hua people would not dress as Miao. But Lin Wanrong harbored no such thoughts. In his eyes, all ethnic groups of the Great Hua lived together in harmony; everyone was a brother or sister. How could people be divided into different classes based on ethnic differences?

His ready agreement came as a surprise. Yilian was overjoyed, Uncle Buyi smiled, and Kunshan glared with a huff.

Uncle Buyi looked at his daughter, "Girl, are you going this time?"

"I... I don't know!" Yilian lowered her head and then ran off.

Uncle Buyi hummed, turning to Lin Wanrong, "Then it's settled. It's getting late; please rest, guest."

According to the customs of the Miao village, they would normally have prepared a grand feast for a distant guest. However, Yingyue Hamlet was too poor to afford such extravagance, and Uncle Buyi, being upset, decided to skip this important step, directing the guest to rest instead.

The two-story attic, with Uncle Buyi's family residing downstairs, had the upper floor reserved for guests. The room was quiet and tidy, with a mattress laid upon the warm, dry straw, providing considerable comfort.

Anticipating the early departure to Wulian Peak the next day, Lin Wanrong was a mix of excitement and anxiety, finding sleep elusive. Deciding against trying to rest, he pushed open the door to step outside.

The stilt house, built against the mountain, allowed one to step directly onto the hillside from the top floor. The crisp moonlight bathed the forest and ground in a cool radiance.

"Ah Lin Ge!" A gentle, soft voice called from behind. Turning around, Lin Wanrong saw Yilian holding a set of Miao men's clothing, her eyes brimming with a smiling gaze.

"Yilian!" Lin Wanrong smiled, "It's so late, why haven't you slept yet?"

The young girl shook her head, "We need to leave early tomorrow, and Mother has many things to prepare for me. These are Father’s clothes. If you don’t mind, would you try them on to see if they fit?"

The clothes, neatly folded and carrying a hint of mugwort's fragrance, puzzled Lin Wanrong for a moment. Uncle Buyi's clothes? He was so thin; could Lin Wanrong possibly fit them? But contrary to his expectations, the clothes seemed almost new and fit him perfectly, neither too large nor too small, neither too long nor too short.

Yilian, seemingly understanding his surprise, couldn't help but laugh, "These were Father's clothes from his youth! Let me tell you, he was very handsome back then. Tall like you, and his smile was just as charming. All the young women from the nine villages and eighteen hamlets adored him—"

"Really?" Lin Wanrong stared in disbelief, comparing Uncle Buyi's lean present to his possibly dashing and elegant past. The contrast seemed too stark.

"So, Uncle Buyi was quite the heartthrob, huh?" he chuckled, turning around proudly, admiring himself in the Miao attire, "Then how did your mother manage to win over your father?"

His choice of the word 'win over' made the girl laugh out loud, striking the right note by accident. In the Miao culture, although many families followed a monogamous structure with property mostly inherited by males, the women held significant power and status within the household, not unlike the proverbial 'women who wear the pants'.

Watching him in the Miao attire, Yilian giggled, "My mother was a renowned beauty in her own right, famous for her singing which could 'summon birds to listen'. When Father heard her sing, he’d abandon all work, neglecting to chop wood or row his boat, even forgetting to eat, just to hide behind her stilt house listening to her songs. Once, he even hid for three days and nights! When my mother found him, feeling sorry for him, she gave him a bowl of millet rice. After eating, Father refused to leave, staying on the mountain, motionless. Mother had no choice but to bring him meals. And then—"

Lin Wanrong burst into laughter, finding the Miao way of love both simple and romantically profound.

He had just put on the Miao clothes, intrigued by their novelty, when his attention was drawn to the waistband, "Hey, this belt is quite unique!"

Yilian spoke softly, "It is unique, but you should be careful with it."

"Careful? Careful of what?" Lin Wanrong's eyes widened in curiosity.

The young girl shyly smiled, "This is called a jade belt. According to our Miao customs, if a man and a woman like each other, they exchange waist belts as a token of engagement. So, you should only give this jade belt to a girl you like. And if a girl offers you her jade belt and you don't have feelings for her, you must never accept it!"

So that was the significance. Miao customs indeed were intricate, easy to misconstrue without careful attention. Lin Wanrong wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Does this mean your clothes also have a jade belt?"

Yilian nodded, her cheeks flushing a few shades of red. She carefully adjusted his Miao attire, examining him for a moment before smiling, "No wonder Mother said Father looked his best in these clothes. I understand now! Father only wore this outfit once, on his wedding day!"

"Really?!" Lin Wanrong jumped in shock, hastily trying to take off the clothes, but Yilian quickly stopped him, "What are you doing?!"

Lin Wanrong gestured frantically, "Yilian, this isn't appropriate. I can't accept such an honor!"

The young girl shook her head, "This is the best outfit in our village. I begged Mother for a long time before she agreed to lend it to you! If you don't wear it, I don't know what else to find for you."

"Uh, this—," Lin Wanrong was dumbstruck.

Yilian chuckled, "Ah Lin Ge, do you know what my mother said when she first saw you?"

He had no idea what they had whispered in Miao language earlier. Seeing him shake his head, the young girl giggled, "She said that just by looking at your face, she knew you were the most cunning Hua man, probably slick and frivolous, not a good person. She warned me not to be fooled by you!"

Lin Wanrong's face was drenched in sweat. Yilian's mother, with her keen perception, seemed to have a sharp eye for character.

"I told Mother that's not true, that you're a good person, I know it! When I told her about you, she was even more alarmed, saying a Hua man like you could 'devour people without spitting out their bones', haha—"

Yilian laughed heartily, while Lin Wanrong scratched his head, perplexed by her mother's harsh judgment. ‘I'm not such a bad person, am I? My relationship with Yilian is purely platonic!’

Seeing his worried expression, Yilian finally stopped laughing, "Don't worry, Ah Lin Ge, this outfit has been in the chest for many years! Since Father wore it on his wedding day, Mother never let him wear it again!"

"Why not?" he asked, baffled.

"Mother said she feared Father, in these clothes, might attract other girls!"

Lin Wanrong was astonished. Did Uncle Buyi really possess such charm? The Miao customs were truly fascinating. He laughed heartily, ‘If that's the case, then I must wear it at least once!’

Yilian softly said, "But you can only wear it once too."

Lin Wanrong, donning the attire and shouldering a hatchet, walked back and forth with a boastful air, indeed exuding the aura of a Miao man. The young girl nodded with a smile.

Suddenly, Lin Wanrong remembered something, "By the way, Yilian, Uncle Buyi asked if you were going to the Flower Mountain Festival. Why did you say you didn’t know? Didn’t you tell me you wanted to go?"

Yilian's cheeks reddened, "In the past, Father always pushed me to marry, urging me to attend the Flower Mountain Festival, but I never went. This time, I wasn't planning to go either. It's just that you all needed a guide, so I decided to take a look!"

‘So, like me, you're just going to 'take a look'!’ Lin Wanrong made an understanding sound, speaking with a hint of mystery, "I get it, you must have someone you like in the village, that's why you don't want to go to the Flower Mountain Festival. Hmm, Kunshan is a good match for you!"

"Kunshan?" The girl shook her head, "Why bring him into this? I grew up with him like he's my own brother. Only you would jump to such wild conclusions! Ah Lin Ge, if I were to like someone, he would have to be extraordinary, like my father."

Uncle Buyi had indeed become an idol! Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, finding the Miao people's charm more endearing the more he interacted with them.

The village was tranquil, bathed in moonlight, with a gentle breeze blowing, bringing a sense of serenity and peace that was hard to find elsewhere.

After a moment of silence, Lin Wanrong suddenly asked, "Yilian, you're the songbird of the Miao lands, could you teach me to sing a mountain song?"

Yilian blinked, "You want to learn singing? Oh, I see, after all, you want to compete in singing at the Flower Mountain Festival! Ah Lin Ge, do you really have someone special in mind here in our Miao lands? Are you learning to sing for her?"

"I'll tell you again seriously, the girl I have in mind is the Holy Maiden—see, you don't believe me again, do you?"

‘You're really serious!’ Yilian covered her mouth, giggling nonstop, "That counts as someone you like? Every young man in the Miao lands likes the Holy Maiden! Alright, alright, I'll teach you, no need for so many excuses! But most people start learning at six years old, and you're already so grown. I can't guarantee how well I'll be able to teach you!"

He chuckled, "Just do your best. I doubt the Holy Maiden expects me to sing like a songbird anyway."

"Always mentioning the Holy Maiden, you almost sound serious!" Yilian muttered under her breath, then hopped up indignantly, "If you want to learn singing, come early tomorrow! I'm off!"

With those words, she left quickly, her footsteps echoing on the floorboards. Lin Wanrong shook his head, amused yet helpless.

The mist blurred the view of the mountains and water, all hidden in the night's embrace. Tomorrow's journey to Wulian Peak was drawing near, bringing him closer to meeting Sister An. In such a beautiful night, what could she be doing?

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