[[5] So It Was a Repaying-Favor Swallow!]
The village committee didn’t have a canteen, so everyone had to sort out their own three meals a day. Those who lived in the village usually went home to eat, then came back after a nap. If there wasn’t anything urgent, they simply wouldn’t return. Those who lived in Mengla County town would eat at the small eateries in the village to avoid driving back and forth.
It has to be said, the little restaurants in tourist villages are really delicious.
Then there were people like Xiao Sun, a capable young college-graduate village official who was very popular with the villagers. Sometimes he would go to villagers’ homes for a meal, helping the elderly with some chores, buying some ingredients, and having a meal with the solitary “Yibu” and “Yiya” (grandpas and grandmas).
Xiao Sun was preparing to take the postgraduate entrance exam for Yunnan University. Being a village official was both a form of training and served his fieldwork.
Liang Youyun had booked a table at a well-known Dai cuisine restaurant in the village. Yu Xiang ordered a small pot of er si noodles. Zhang He, who liked sour flavors, ordered sour soup mi gan. He also specifically ordered a bowl of pea paste congee for Liang Youyun, saying she had just recovered from her illness and should eat something easy to swallow.
Youyun scoffed, saying, “I sprained my ankle, not my intestines. Why should I eat something ‘easy to swallow’?”
As she spoke, she scooped a large spoonful of chili dipping sauce into the pea paste congee, then tossed in the chopped pieces of fried dough sticks. Without waiting for the dough sticks to soften, she crunched into them.
The weather was hot, and all the windows of the bamboo house were open. From the restaurant window, you could see the Nanla River not far away.
The river water reflected the sunlight, sparkling and shimmering. Someone wearing a straw hat was fishing.
Closer by was a row of lemon trees, blooming with creamy white flowers. Their pale yellow stamens emitted a fresh lemon fragrance. These were planted by the shop owner, Sister Yi Ying, herself.
Modern Dai houses are generally brick-and-wood structures, with low fences woven from bamboo serving as enclosures, mainly to keep out livestock rather than for theft prevention, or simply for aesthetics. Inside and outside the courtyards, various flowers and plants are grown, creating a profusion of blossoms all year round.
It was only after Liang Youyun started her residency in the village that she discovered how much people here love beauty, especially the girls. Their pursuit of beauty is reflected in every aspect.
Wearing beautiful tube skirts, adorning themselves with colorful jewelry, styling their hair in neat buns, applying lovely makeup—even when going to work in the fields, they dress up nicely.
They believe that giving others a pleasant impression is a sign of respect. Even elderly people wear beautiful ethnic costumes during festivals. At the weekly rainforest market gatherings every Saturday, the locals attend in their finest attire. The mothers and sisters are like rainbows descending to earth, their colorful colors winding along the rainforest paths like streams.
Youyun herself wasn’t someone who loved dressing up, and her clothes were quite basic. But Yu Xiang told her that loving beauty is a girl’s nature. “Our Dai scenery is so beautiful, people’s clothing should match the environment!”
Youyun couldn’t help but think of Beijing’s gray, overcast autumn and winter skies. She suddenly felt that her own black, white, and gray aesthetic might have been shaped by her environment.
Later, she had a few sets of tube skirts and short jackets made at a Dai brocade shop. She would wear them for events, and even changed her hairstyle from a simple ponytail to a side-braided style.
“That person isn’t some tourist, nor is he a villager. He’s someone who came here to live in seclusion.”
Zhang He mixed his mi gan, slurped a mouthful (mi gan is similar to northern-style liangpi cold skin noodles, but softer and smoother, with more side dishes and condiments), and spoke with great interest about the “life-saving benefactor” from the earlier photo.
“Do you guys know about ‘Salt Stone’?” Zhang He asked.
“Of course, it’s a famous chain restaurant in Jinghong, specializing in Yunnan cuisine. It’s on the must-eat list for tourists in Xishuangbanna,” Yu Xiang said.
Zhang He nodded. “That’s right, but what you don’t know is that Salt Stone used to be just a small shop selling sticky rice. The owner was Yanshuai, a husband-and-wife operation. Both of them are from our village. They worked from dawn to dusk making sticky rice, starting with a small cart and later opening a storefront. After struggling in Mengla city for a while, they came back, saying the costs were too high to handle.”
“Hold on!” Yu Xiang scratched her head. “What does this have to do with the person we’re talking about?”
Zhang He, looking smug as if he knew some palace secret, first took a big gulp of mint lemonade, then continued leisurely. “Owner Yanshuai had a son who joined the military as soon as he came of age. He even became a special forces soldier—the only special forces unit in the rainforest region. The selection process was extremely strict. He served for about seven or eight years, but unexpectedly, he sacrificed his life just before retiring.”
“Ah?” Yu Xiang exclaimed in surprise, tinged with regret. “What a pity!”
Youyun also shifted her gaze from the Nanla River back to the dining table and lowered her head to sip her pea flour soup.
“The year after the shop owner’s son sacrificed his life, someone came from outside—the very person who saved Secretary Liang’s life.”
Zhang He winked at Youyun, who shot him a sidelong glance. She wasn’t too fond of the phrase “Secretary Liang’s lifesaver,” as if she were the only one who had been rescued.
“I heard they were comrades-in-arms, the kind who share life-and-death bonds. He planned to settle down here long-term to take care of the elderly couple. I don’t know much about what happened afterward, but according to the old village chief, this man’s surname is Jiang, and his hometown is in Beijing. His parents apparently also ran a restaurant. Then, over three years, he turned a small sticky rice shop into a regional chain. Now the whole family lives in a villa in Jinghong, enjoying their fortune, and rarely returns to the village.”
“But this Jiang came back a year ago. He chose an old bamboo house at the foot of the mountain and renovated it. I went there a few times back then. He doesn’t talk much and gives off a cold vibe. He does all the household chores himself—sawing wood, painting, wiring electricity—quite versatile, as expected of someone from the special forces. It wasn’t until last month that everything was completely finished, and he moved in.”
“So he’s a grateful swallow returning to repay kindness!” Yu Xiang exclaimed.
“Doesn’t he go home anymore? Logically, the military arranges placements for discharged soldiers, especially for elite special forces like him. Staying here seems like a waste of his talents! Doesn’t he take care of his own parents? Why would he want to stay here alone?” Youyun couldn’t wrap her head around it.
Zhang He gave her a mischievous look. “Tsk tsk tsk, oh, Secretary Liang, if you’re interested, why not ask him yourself? This humble director happens to have some time and is willing to condescend to accompany you. Besides, he saved you, your colleagues, and the university students, averting a crisis. Shouldn’t you, as the secretary, present him with a commendation banner?”
Youyun had indeed considered the idea.
“Yes, yes! I second that!” Yu Xiang chimed in enthusiastically. “Secretary, my dear sister, at the very least, we should pay him a personal visit to express our gratitude!”
Youyun looked at Yu Xiang skeptically. “I’ve never seen you so dedicated to work before.”
“How about we go this afternoon! Man Nuan Village is only about six li away from Man Le Village. We can walk there in no time.” Yu Xiang grew even more excited.
Zhang He agreed, saying he needed to go door-to-door anyway to remind everyone about safety precautions for the Water Splashing Festival. With more tourists around, he was worried about accidents, and the villagers needed to be safety-conscious. This would be a good opportunity to check on the situation.
Liang Youyun was outmatched by the two of them and was practically shoved into the little red Polo with peeling paint. As soon as Zhang He stepped on the gas, the three of them left the village.
She really didn’t want to go. Even though she knew she owed someone a proper thank-you, she still wanted to wait a little longer.
She believed in timing, and the current situation wasn’t ripe—it was too rushed. At the very least, she should have made a phone call first or had Zhang He contact the person in advance to arrange a meeting place. She could have written a thank-you letter or made a commendation banner, then visited together with Village Chief Yan Wenkan. That would have felt more formal and sincere.
Rushing like this always felt a bit insincere.
Although she knew Yu Xiang was probably driven by curiosity, Zhang He was acting strangely too. He wasn’t usually this straightforward, so his sudden enthusiasm was highly suspicious.
The car soon arrived at Mannuan Village. After entering the village, they drove further in, crossed the Nanla River, and headed toward the foot of the mountain.
Mannuan Village was even more remote, with Laos’ Phongsaly Province just across the mountain. However, the environment here was more beautiful—lush trees, clear and rushing river water, with no trace of commercialization.
The urban areas of Banna City and Mengla County, as well as the surrounding villages and towns, had developed tourism early on, with a high degree of commercial development. The nearby Manle Village, home to the only rainforest market in the entire prefecture, had also become a popular tourist destination.
In contrast, Mannuan Village, due to its remote and narrow geographical location, had preserved the most original Dai ethnic village, with no bustling tourists or a variety of shops.
Zhang He had chosen to station himself here with ulterior motives.
In recent years, the company had been expanding its market in the health and wellness sector, establishing sanatoriums and wellness centers across the country. The company’s leadership had taken a keen interest in Yunnan as a golden opportunity but had yet to make substantial progress.
Zhang He attributed this to the constant power struggles among the company’s top executives and the uneven distribution of benefits. He firmly believed that, before long, once the leadership reached a consensus, there would be major moves in Banna. As long as he held his ground, he would surely achieve great success in the future. Enduring hardship now would lead to a brighter future!
Liang Youyun didn’t have such grand ambitions. Having a respectable job was already enough for her. She only hoped to return to Beijing as soon as possible, settle into her work and life after being promoted to deputy director, and live without regrets.
The scene before her suddenly opened up.
Behind was a mountain, in front was a lake, and on an open highland stood a building.
Liang Youyun had never seen such a beautiful house! Built on the foundation of a Dai-style bamboo house, it incorporated many modern elements. With its brick and tile structure, it was even more sophisticated and elegant than the most stylish homestay in Manle Village, blending the beauty of both northern and southern styles. In short, it looked incredibly comfortable, and living there must be just as pleasant!
How fortunate the owner of this house must be!
The courtyard wall was not high, painted white, and the yard was spacious, with solid wood flooring in the middle. There was a terrace, a coffee table, a sun umbrella, bamboo lounge chairs, and high stools—perfect for the owner to enjoy tea or coffee, relax, or indulge in a drink.
Flowers and plants grew both inside and outside the courtyard wall. In the yard, there was a rose garden where coral-colored cherry blossom roses bloomed like a sea of flowers, along with lemon trees, bodhi trees, papaya trees, and banana trees… It was like a paradise!
The house was large, and its interior was clearly visible.
Liang Youyun saw a rowing machine and a treadmill by the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor. On the first floor, the living room featured a brown leather sofa, a carved tea table, and a beech bookshelf filled with books.
The owner must have a deep appreciation for life and enjoyed a touch of luxury. If nothing else, that non-motorized treadmill alone cost over a hundred thousand yuan.
Rather than saying this person came here to live in seclusion, it would be more accurate to say they came to enjoy life.
Those who lived in seclusion in ancient times mostly led simple and austere lives—how could they have had the leisure to furnish their homes with high-end furniture?
Youyun had worked in the company’s general management office for ten years, serving leaders of all ranks. She had long been exposed to and gained some insight into those seemingly plain yet priceless treasures in the leaders’ offices.
The wooden courtyard gate was open. Zhang He was delighted and turned to Youyun, saying, “It looks like Jiang is home. Think about how to express your gratitude when you speak to him.”
Youyun suddenly felt something was off. Wasn’t Zhang He being a bit too serious about this? Moreover, it was clear that this Jiang disliked being in the spotlight—otherwise, he wouldn’t have turned and left immediately after rescuing people.
“Is Mr. Jiang home? Sorry to disturb you. I’m Zhang He from the village committee—Director Zhang. You know me, I’ve been here before!”
Zhang He shouted at the gate, afraid the person inside wouldn’t hear him.
But there was no response from inside.
Zhang He was puzzled. Could it be that he had stepped out temporarily? Still, since they were already here, he decided to pretend someone was home. He pushed the door open on his own initiative, a wide smile on his face. “Well, I’m here for two things today. First, the holiday is coming up…”
“My brother isn’t here.”
Before Zhang He could finish, a young man came down from the second floor. He had dark skin and a slender build, holding a rag in his hand as he wiped the staircase railing on his way down.
“Yan Nuo?”
Zhang He recognized him—the nephew of Boss Yanshuai, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, who had leased a piece of land on the back mountain to grow roses.
“Just you here? Where did your brother go?”
“Don’t know. He said he was going out and asked me to take care of the yard.”
“When will he be back?”
“Next week.”
“Next week?” Zhang He put his hands on his hips, feeling somewhat defeated. Trying to save face, he asked, “That long? Did he go back to Jinghong to spend the holiday with your uncle?”
“Could be.” Yan Nuo had already come downstairs, his eyes wary as he looked at the three unexpected visitors.
Seeing this, Youyun felt a flicker of relief and said to Zhang He, “Since that’s the case and he’s not home, let’s head back for now!”
Zhang He wasn’t ready to give up. He asked Yan Nuo, “You have your brother’s contact, right? I need to talk to him about something important.”
Yan Nuo hesitated for a moment, then pulled out his phone from his pocket and dialed. After a few seconds, the call connected. “Bro, Director Zhang He from the village is here. Says he needs to talk to you… Looks pretty urgent… Alright, I’ll hand the phone to him then.”
Zhang He said “thank you,” took the phone, cleared his throat, and his voice suddenly became several degrees sweeter:
“Hello, Mr. Jiang, it’s Zhang He here… Oh no, no, I’m not calling about that matter. It’s about the Manle Village incident. I just wanted to confirm with you—was it you who rescued those people last Friday? Please don’t deny it. I saw you in the media photos, and I’ve also confirmed with their village’s Party Secretary Liang that it was you who lent a helping hand, allowing them to return safely. Secretary Liang is very grateful to you and has been looking for you these past few days. When would be a convenient time for you to meet?”
The other end of the line remained silent, but the call wasn’t disconnected.
These few seconds felt particularly long. Zhang He grew uneasy and glanced guiltily at Liang Youyun.
Suddenly, the man on the other end of the phone asked in a deep voice, “Is she there?”
Zhang He didn’t react immediately and froze for a moment. Then, looking at Liang Youyun, he suddenly realized who “she” referred to and quickly replied, “Yes, yes, yes! Party Secretary Liang is right here beside me. I’ll hand the phone to her so she can speak with you!”
“Okay, thank you,” the man said.