Cerys was astonished to see Quentin and Eileen; it was her first time encountering outsiders.
“Hello, Sir and Miss. My name is Cerys, Harry’s sister. Welcome to our Miao Village.”
Cerys greeted Quentin and Eileen politely and poured them some sweet Miao tea.
The tea had a refreshing aroma that was soothing to the soul.
“Hello, Cerys. My name is Quentin, and this is Eileen.”
“We came from the southeast region. On our way to Miao Village, we met your brother Harry, and he brought us here,” Quentin explained.
“Cerys, where is the southeast region? Is it also part of Miao Territory?” Cerys asked, puzzled.
“Cerys, the southeast region is very far from Miao Territory,” Eileen replied with a smile.
“Then… you must have had a tough journey!”
“The mountains are full of dangers. It’s not easy to get here; hardly any outsiders have ever come.”
“Harry, what happened to your hand?!”
While speaking, Cerys suddenly noticed Harry’s bandaged right arm.
“Cerys, I was attacked by a fierce beast while climbing the mountain today. Fortunately, Quentin and Eileen saved me and brought me back safely,” Harry explained, not wanting to go into details to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
“I’m just glad you’re back. Cerys thanks Quentin and Eileen for saving Harry’s life; we will always remember this kindness,” Cerys said gratefully, bowing to Quentin and Eileen.
“No need to be so formal,” Quentin replied.
“Quentin and Eileen, please rest here and enjoy your tea. I’ll go fetch mom and dad.”
“Harry, take good care of our guests. I’ll be back soon.”
With a sweet smile, Cerys left the room.
Quentin and Eileen sat in the hall, closing their eyes to rest.
The journey over mountains, slaying fierce beasts, and crossing the Miao River had taken a toll on their energy.
A few moments later, Cerys returned with two middle-aged people who looked kind and gentle.
They were dressed in colorful and splendid Miao clothes, with the woman adorned in silver jewelry.
Seeing Quentin and Eileen, the two outsiders, they were visibly shocked.
“Quentin, Eileen, these are my father Henry and my mother Aimee,” Cerys introduced them.
“Hello, Uncle and Auntie,” Quentin and Eileen greeted politely.
Henry and Aimee nodded with smiles and offered freshly picked wild fruits and homemade beef jerky to Quentin and Eileen.
The hospitality of the Miao people made Quentin and Eileen feel very welcome.
Aimee brought a basin of clear water, dipped a twig into it, and sprinkled a few drops on Quentin and Eileen’s faces.
“Auntie, what is this for?” Quentin asked in confusion.
“Quentin, Eileen, you might not know this as outsiders,” Cerys explained with a smile. “This is our Miao custom called ‘dust removal,’ meant to welcome guests from afar and rid them of bad luck.”
Quentin and Eileen suddenly understood.
As the sun set, villagers of Miao Village returned home after a day’s work. They lit fires to cook dinner, gathering around the table for a simple yet happy family meal.
In Miao Village, there was no city noise. People worked hard and were self-sufficient. There was no scheming; the villagers’ hearts were pure, kind, and hospitable.
To entertain Quentin and Eileen, Henry and Harry slaughtered a yellow cow. Aimee and Cerys busied themselves in the kitchen, washing vegetables, cutting meat, lighting fires, and cooking.
The family worked up a sweat as they prepared various special dishes.
Henry brought out homemade wine stored in the cellar.
Good wine paired with good food; although the dishes were simple, they were extremely delicious, reminiscent of home.
Cerys poured everyone a bowl of wine.
The aroma of the wine filled the air. Quentin took a sip; it was low in alcohol content, slightly bitter yet fragrant-not exactly smooth but pleasant.
“Quentin, do you like our homemade wine?” Cerys asked expectantly.
“Miao Wine is indeed rich and refreshing.”
“Today, Quentin is very grateful for your warm hospitality,” Quentin praised.
“Quentin, you are our guests. Hospitality is a tradition of us Miao people.”
“Try more of Cerys’s beef; it’s quite tasty!” Henry said with a smile.
“My daughter Cerys not only sings beautifully but also cooks wonderfully. Many young men in Miao Village are after her!” Aimee added with a laugh.
“Dad! Mom!” Cerys stomped her foot shyly.
Everyone chatted happily together.
“By the way, Quentin, are you and Eileen married?” Aimee asked.
“Auntie, Quentin and I are siblings; we are not married,” Eileen explained, though her eyes showed a fleeting hint of sadness that Aimee’s sharp eyes caught. She could easily see through young people’s feelings.
“I see. So why did you risk coming to Miao Village?” Aimee asked curiously.
“Auntie, we came to Miao Territory to find an herb called White Dragon Beard.”
“Do you know where we can find it?” Quentin asked.
“White Dragon Beard? Is this what you’re talking about?” Cerys thought for a moment before fetching some dried herbs from the pharmacy for Quentin.
The dried herbs were yellowish-brown in color and resembled dragon whiskers in shape.
“Yes, this is exactly what I’m looking for!” Quentin exclaimed excitedly.
“This White Dragon Beard can be found year-round in Miao Village.”
“But it prefers to grow in damp places. It has detoxifying properties and can heal scars and wounds-it’s very precious.”
“This one was given to my father by the former village chief for healing purposes.”
Quentin nodded and asked, “Do you know where we can gather more?”
Cerys looked worried. “I’ve heard that White Dragon Beard can only be found on Five Poison Mountain.”
“But Five Poison Mountain is dark and damp, teeming with highly poisonous snakes and insects.”
“Villagers who venture there rarely return alive.”