Chapter 8: An Unexpected Evening

All the actors were gathered together and lined up in several rows under the guidance of their leader.

Anan, perhaps because of his good looks, was placed in the middle, next to the elderly group. He was a head and shoulders taller than them, and standing in the crowd, expressionless, he looked rather awkward.

Before the host had even finished arranging the positions, tourists eagerly rushed forward to take photos. Once one went up, the others wouldn't be outdone, and everyone swarmed forward, snapping pictures. The host, seemingly accustomed to this, said into the microphone, "Please don't push," and let them be.

Cheng Yun's gaze remained fixed on Zhou Dongnan. He stood out among the actors, both for his height and good looks. After the group photo, many people approached him for individual photos, and he readily agreed, posing for pictures with everyone who asked.

Cheng Yun stood a short distance away, watching two young girls run over, each grasping one of Anan's arms and posing for photos. The other girl took pictures of them with her phone, saying, "Smile, handsome, smile!"

After a while, Anan still had the same expression. It wasn't that he didn't want to smile, but he was simply not used to it and couldn't force it; his face merely twitched.

The girl taking the photos was speechless. She quickly snapped two pictures and went to photograph someone else.

Cheng Yun watched for ten minutes; this scene repeated itself several times. She looked to the other side. There were also ethnic minorities, also young men, and several of them were having a great time with the tourists, mingling and taking pictures in all sorts of ways—posing, putting their arms around each other's shoulders, one man even giving a female tourist a princess carry, everyone cheering and taking pictures.

In contrast, Anan looked stiff, like he was taking a passport photo.

After a while, when the tourists had finished taking their pictures and started leaving, Cheng Yun went over to talk to Anan.

"Is your face made of plaster?"

Anan removed his hat. "No."

"I advise you to think it over carefully before you speak."

Anan shook his head, a little sweat on his forehead. "Really not."

Someone came to Anan and called him. Anan handed him the lusheng and said a few more words, which Cheng Yun couldn't understand. She watched as the person took the lusheng and left.

"Finished? Anything else?"

Anan wiped his face. "No, it's over."

"Are you tired?"

"Not at all, just one show."

"Are there more shows?"

"Yeah, during peak season, I can do many shows a day."

"You're quite busy."

"No, I don't come here often." Anan explained, "I'm a substitute. Someone was sick today, so I came."

"Save the day?"

"Sort of."

The two talked as they walked out with the crowd. Cheng Yun said, "Let me treat you to dinner."

Anan quickly turned to look at Cheng Yun. Cheng Yun frowned and said with dissatisfaction, "What's with that look? It's like I'm setting a trap for you. By the way, have you eaten?"

Anan shook his head. "No."

"Then I'll call Director Zhang—let's eat together."

Anan finally agreed. There was no reason to refuse a free meal. Cheng Yun called Director Zhang, who hadn't come in to watch the performance and was outside. He answered Cheng Yun's call, and the three of them met outside.

It was now completely dark, and all the houses and shops in the village had lit up. Looking up from the performance center, half the hillside was dotted with lights.

The flow of people outside the performance center split into two groups: most went uphill, where there were many guesthouses and inns, while a smaller group went downhill, where there were mostly Miao shops and restaurants.

Cheng Yun and her group were going downhill.

There were many restaurants on both sides of the road. Director Zhang stood to Cheng Yun's left, while Anan walked slightly ahead. Cheng Yun asked, "What's special about the food here?"

They both answered almost simultaneously.

"Sour fish soup."

"No."

"..." This speechless response came from Director Zhang. While Cheng Yun smiled and looked down, she glared fiercely at Anan, signaling him to shut up.

Unfortunately, Anan was walking with his head down and didn't see anything.

Cheng Yun ignored Anan's answer and asked Director Zhang, "What is sour soup fish? Is it the same as pickled cabbage fish?"

"No, it's different." Director Zhang was pleased that Cheng Yun hadn't been swayed by Anan. "Sister Cheng, when you come to Guizhou, you must try sour soup fish!"

"How is it made?"

"The most important thing about sour soup fish is the sour soup. The original sour soup was made from the tail liquor after brewing wine. Later, it was changed to fermentation with rice water. There are many other methods, each with its own unique recipe."

Cheng Yun said, "You know so much."

"This is a Guizhou specialty—of course I have to know about it." Director Zhang said, giving Anan a subtle, almost imperceptible look. "How can you be a guide if you don't know anything?"

Anan was still walking with his head down.

"Sister Cheng, the sour soup is fermented by microorganisms, and the healthy bacteria are very good for the human digestive system."

"Okay, okay." Cheng Yun felt that if she didn't agree, Director Zhang would talk all night. "Let's eat this. Can you recommend a restaurant?"

Director Zhang led Cheng Yun and Anan to a restaurant where the waiters were all dressed in Miao ethnic costumes and came over with menus.

"You guys order," Cheng Yun said, standing up. "I'm going out for a bit."

"Sister Cheng?"

"It's okay, I'll be right back."

Cheng Yun went out and walked along the path to a small shop.

There was a glass cabinet at the entrance of the shop, displaying all kinds of cigarettes. Cheng Yun looked through them but couldn't find the one she wanted. The shopkeeper came over and asked her, "Buying cigarettes?"

Cheng Yun looked up. "Marlboro, soft pack—do you have any?"

The shopkeeper shook his head.

"What about Esse?"

He shook his head again.

Cheng Yun went to two or three other shops, but still couldn't find the cigarettes she wanted.

Back at the restaurant, the food had already been served, but neither of them noticed Cheng Yun immediately.

Anan was staring at the sour fish soup, his eyes conveying—I want to eat.

Director Zhang was also staring at Anan, his eyes conveying—Don't move.

Anan shifted his posture, and Director Zhang immediately said, "Wait for Sister Cheng to come back before we eat."

Anan was about to say something when he looked up and saw Cheng Yun walking over. Director Zhang turned around, following his gaze.

"Sister Cheng!"

Cheng Yun smiled and sat down next to Director Zhang. "Why aren't you eating? You don't need to wait for me." She glanced at Anan. "Are you hungry?"

Anan picked up his chopsticks, and Cheng Yun said, "Let's eat."

The sour fish soup was reddish, with plenty of vegetables inside, somewhat like a hot pot. As for the taste, well... for Cheng Yun, it was a little strange.

But she couldn't quite put her finger on why. It was different from the sauerkraut of Northeast China, and also different from the sauerkraut fish of Sichuan. The sour fish soup had a heavier sourness, not refreshing, but the flavor was unique. After a few more bites, you could taste the rich aroma.

Anan and Director Zhang ate with great enthusiasm, while Cheng Yun wasn't too hungry. After a few bites, she put down her chopsticks. There were several other people eating at nearby tables. Cheng Yun looked around for a while and said to Director Zhang, "Go back and rest after you finish eating."

Director Zhang said, "Okay, it's late today. What time should we meet tomorrow morning?"

Cheng Yun said, "I'll call you then."

After finishing their meal, Director Zhang insisted on paying the bill. Cheng Yun smiled and said, "What did Liu Jie tell you? Will this be reimbursed?"

Director Zhang had just finished eating, her face flushed from the steam. She smiled at Cheng Yun and said, "No, Sister Cheng, it's our first day together. This meal is on me—consider it a friendly introduction."

Cheng Yun smiled faintly. "Okay."

As Director Zhang said this, Cheng Yun glanced at Anan, who had an expression that said, I'm already full, and didn't react to their conversation.

No wonder he's always a temporary worker, Cheng Yun thought to herself.

After leaving the restaurant, Cheng Yun said she wanted to take a walk, so Director Zhang went back to her accommodation first.

Anan also started walking back.

Cheng Yun called out to him from behind.

Anan turned around. He'd walked up a slope and was now at a higher vantage point when he saw Cheng Yun looking up at him.

In the darkness, Cheng Yun's face wasn't clearly visible, but her fair skin and defined black eyebrows were still discernible.

"Wait a minute—help me find something."

Cheng Yun walked to his side. Anan asked her, "What are you looking for? Do you need a car?"

"Can't you help me find it without a car?" Cheng Yun raised an eyebrow. "You want to freeload again?"

Anan drew a deep breath, not bothering to explain whether he was actually freeloading or not.

"What are you looking for?"

"Find me a place that sells cigarettes."

"There are cigarette shops everywhere here."

"I've looked at a few, but they don't have the brand I want."

"What brand do you want?"

The two walked along the cobblestone path, exchanging a few words. The mountain night was cold, and Cheng Yun, with her hands in her pockets, looked at Anan's performance costume and said, "Aren't you cold? Do you want to get a jacket?"

Anan said, "Sure."

Anan led Cheng Yun to the performance center they'd just been at. Now it was empty. Anan came in through the back door and went straight backstage. He rummaged through a pile of packages and found a black bag, from which he pulled out a jacket.

The Miao village night, during the off-season for tourism, was exceptionally quiet. Cheng Yun looked up and saw stars in the sky, not many, but very bright.

She exhaled a few breaths, seeing no white mist, but felt refreshed.

It wasn't like the north, where the cold was so stark.

She turned her head, and this time the man beside her wasn't walking with his head down. He looked left and right, helping Cheng Yun find a cigarette shop. He was wearing a jacket, but still had his performance trousers underneath, making him look somewhat mismatched.

Reaching the end of the road, they came to a gust of wind, a cold blast blowing directly at them. Cheng Yun pulled her coat tighter, glancing sideways to see Anan also seeking shelter from the wind.

Their faces met, and they both saw each other's hair being blown about.

Black hair was indistinct in the darkness.

Once the wind subsided, Anan turned away, continuing his search for a cigarette shop.

"Anan,"

Anan paused, looking at Cheng Yun. Cheng Yun pointed to the side. "Want to sit down?"

Anan followed her finger. At the end of the mountain path was a small shop, without lights, only a sign. In the moonlight, he could vaguely make out four characters—Miao Family Wine Shop.

He kept looking at it. Cheng Yun said, "You don't smoke, and you don't drink?"

Anan met her gaze.

Cheng Yun said calmly, "Are you even a man?"

Anan turned away, then turned back.

"You're treating?"

Cheng Yun gave a smirk and went into the wine shop.