III. Outmaneuvering the Dutch Fleet
1
Yarati had just finished the meeting and ordered his men to arrange sleeping quarters for the chiefs. He was about to leave the council hall.
The two boys happened to return to the village at the same time, and Yunhua was waiting for them beneath the ceremonial gate at the entrance.
Yunhua complained, “Brother, where did the two of you go tonight? I’ve been looking for you for more than an hour.”
“Dongping and I went to the fishing harbor to meet his dolphin friends.”
Guangnan casually told a small lie. He did not want his sister asking question after question.
Yunhua said, “Oh? You went to meet Dongping’s dolphin friends? That must have been really interesting. Next time, you have to let me come along.”
The three returned home together.
Before long, Yarati also came back.
Dongping went to take a bath. While he was away, Guangnan told his father everything they had seen that night, including how Dongping had accidentally revealed that he had discovered a cache of treasure on the deserted island.
Yarati said, “Judging from this situation, that treasure must be extremely important. And it is still hidden on Turtle Island. That must be why the red-haired foreigners have gone to such great lengths, sending naval ships all the way here specifically to search for it.
“For now, all we can do is wait until the red-haired foreigners leave. Then we can persuade Dongping to tell us where the treasure is, and I will personally lead people to retrieve it. This treasure could be of great use to the future development of our Basya people.”
Guangnan said, “If Dongping discovered the treasure, taking it and keeping it for ourselves seems somewhat unethical.”
Yarati said, “Great undertakings cannot be accomplished by worrying about minor details. Besides, I already intend to betroth Yunhua to Dongping. From now on, Dongping will be one of our own family. Surely he won’t hold it against us?”
Guangnan still felt that such an approach was inappropriate.
“Father, I don’t think we should covet this treasure. Since Dongping trusts us, we shouldn’t treat him this way.”
Yarati said, “Don’t worry about that for now. The most important thing before us is figuring out how to deal with this Dutch naval force that has come here with hostile intentions. Let’s first resolve the crisis that is right in front of us.”
2
Sure enough, after searching everywhere without finding the treasure, the Dutch naval force steamed directly into the area three days later and anchored at the dock of Suao Fishing Harbor, south of the Little Keelung settlement.
The various Basya villages had already received a warning from the Little Keelung settlement and were prepared. The Dutch clearly intended to follow the principle of “diplomacy before force.”
Chief Yarati represented the Ketagalan villages and, together with several other village chiefs, came forward to receive the red-haired foreigners.
This Dutch naval detachment was led by Colonel Alpha, the fleet commander, accompanied by more than a dozen staff officers. Under the protection of an armed guard, they met with representatives of the Ketagalan people at a foreign merchants’ trading house in the harbor district.
Colonel Alpha came straight to the point.
“We have come east and caused you some disturbance because we wish to recover a cache of weapons and valuable property belonging to a merchant fleet from our country half a century ago. These items were deposited on Turtle Island, which is under your jurisdiction.
“Half a century ago, one of our merchant fleets was sailing through your waters when it encountered a hurricane. The ships were damaged, so the weapons and valuables were temporarily stored on that island. We later heard that those sailors were all killed by a group of pirates passing through. From that time onward, the weapons and valuable property disappeared, and no one knew where they had gone.
“Recently, we heard from foreign merchants that your people had obtained a cache of items on that small island and had used rifles and gunpowder manufactured by our country to destroy a group of pirates occupying Ji-lung Islet.
“We have solid evidence that these items are currently in your possession. Therefore, we request that you return them in accordance with international custom.”
Yarati and the other representatives immediately understood that the Dutch had come fully prepared. They had already learned that the Basya people had obtained the weapons and used them to defeat the pirates.
Yarati responded cautiously.
“The weapons you are referring to were indeed discovered by our people and used to deal with the pirates. When we first discovered them, we did not know who owned them, so we used them as a temporary measure in an emergency. According to international custom, they should indeed be returned to their rightful owner.
“However, as for the valuable property you mentioned, we have never seen it and have no way of returning it. Although Turtle Island is under our jurisdiction, it is an uninhabited island. Our people were stranded there because of a hurricane and happened to discover the weapons by chance. But we never found the valuable property you mentioned. I hope you will understand.”
Colonel Alpha pressed aggressively.
“When we searched the island, we discovered a cave containing cooking utensils, bedding, fishing nets, and fishing rods. Clearly, someone had been living on that island for a long time. Your claim that you have never seen the valuable property will be difficult to explain.
“We insist that you return those valuables. In exchange, we are willing to regard the weapons you borrowed and used as compensation, so that we can avoid armed conflict and preserve the harmony between us.”
The talks between the two sides were going nowhere.
Yarati knew that the Dutch were determined to obtain the treasure, but he could not possibly bring Dongping into the matter, because doing so might lead Dongping to reveal the location of the treasure.
Just as he was struggling with how to respond, Dabang, the chief of the Jinbaoli settlement, leaned close and whispered a few words into his ear.
Yarati thought the suggestion might work.
“Commander, to be completely honest with you, that deserted island was occupied for many years more than a decade ago by a group of Japanese pirates, who used it as an advance base. Those pirates must have taken the valuable property. Why don’t you inquire with Japan? Perhaps they know where it went.”
Colonel Alpha gave a cold laugh.
“Great Chief, do you take us for three-year-old children? The valuable property and the weapons were stored together. Why would the Japanese pirates take only the valuable property and leave the weapons behind?
“Furthermore, when our people conducted an on-site inspection of the cave where the weapons were stored, the traces on the ground in the storeroom where the valuables had been kept were still clearly visible. This is sufficient to conclude that the valuable property was moved only recently by whoever discovered it.
“Since the people who discovered the weapons were from your side, it naturally follows that your people were responsible for moving the valuable property.
“Great Chief, please do not attempt to change the subject or create another diversion. Otherwise, we will be forced to take extraordinary measures to recover what belongs to us. I urge you and all the representatives here to think carefully before making your next move.”
These words made it clear that the red-haired foreigners were willing to go to war with the Ketagalan people to recover the treasure.
Yarati thought, “Their attitude is so determined and uncompromising. The treasure must be worth a great deal.”
This strengthened his determination to protect it.
His attitude became equally firm.
“Your country is a great maritime power. How can you falsely accuse us of taking your valuable property and use that accusation as an excuse to invade our territory?
“If such conduct becomes known overseas, and people say that the mighty Dutch Empire is using its strength to bully the weak and its size to oppress the small, would that not damage your country’s image and reputation?
“We will ask the representatives of foreign merchants from the various countries within our territory to form an international investigation team and intervene in mediating this dispute. This will demonstrate our greatest sincerity in seeking peace.
“But if mediation fails, then for the sake of our survival, even though we know we would be like an egg striking a rock, we will still commit all our strength and fight your country to the death!”
Seeing that these natives did not appear to fear war, Colonel Alpha suddenly found himself in a difficult position.
He therefore agreed to have representatives of foreign merchants from the various countries jointly form an international investigation team to investigate the matter and mediate between the two sides.
Until the investigation results were released, Alpha and his fleet would remain anchored in the harbor district.
The villages of the Ketagalan people fully cooperated with the international investigation team. They opened every warehouse in every village, as well as the homes of every chief and commoner. They also opened every outlying island under their jurisdiction and provided the investigators with unrestricted access for a thorough search.
After two months, the investigation team had practically searched every inch of the Ketagalan territory, yet they found nothing.
The international investigation team then convened a mediation meeting between the two sides.
The chairman, Smith, an agent of a British trading company, urged Commander Alpha to accept the facts and not invade the territory and create an international dispute.
Forced by the circumstances, Alpha could only accept the outcome reluctantly and lead his fleet away.
But he was still unwilling to give up.
He merely moved the fleet farther offshore, where he continued to monitor the area, while placing informants around Suao Fishing Harbor.
Yarati was no fool either.
He understood that he could not begin retrieving the treasure until the red-haired foreigners had finally given up hope of finding it.
During this waiting period, Yarati appeared to remain inactive on the surface. Privately, however, he not only showed Dongping extraordinary concern and attention, but also instructed Guangnan to spend more time with Dongping, hoping to coax the location of the treasure out of him as quickly as possible.
Dongping was a straightforward and kindhearted young man, but he was not a fool.
However, he knew that the treasure of gold had never been earned by him, and he had never intended to claim it as his own.
IV. Yunying Warns Dongping in Time
Yalati hurried back to the Jinbaoli Village overnight. As he passed through the village entrance, he ran into Wula, who was on duty.
“Boss, weren’t you going to Wanli Fishing Harbor in Xiaojilong Village to meet with the Dutch officers?”
“The meeting ended, so I came back first.”
“You didn’t have to rush back overnight. What’s the hurry?”
“The Dutch have found out about that batch of gunpowder and Chen Dongping. They’ll soon come into our village to search for him.”
“How can that be? They’ll capture Dongping.”
“That’s why I came back overnight. I need to arrange for Dongping to leave the village and temporarily avoid the danger.”
After saying this, Yalati hurried home and immediately summoned his son Guangnan and Chen Dongping.
“Dongping, I don’t know how the Dutch found out about you. Today, I went to Xiaojilong Village to negotiate with the Dutch representatives, and they specifically demanded that I hand you over.”
Dongping and Guangnan exchanged bewildered looks.
“Dad, Dongping is a benefactor of our Bashag people. Without his great help, we could never have taken back Keelung Islet and wiped out the Japanese pirates. You cannot hand him over to the Dutch. That would be an act of ingratitude.”
“My son, of course I won’t hand Dongping over to the Dutch. That’s why I want you to take him into Qixing Mountain and hide in our summer retreat cabin. It’s very secluded, and the Dutch will never find it there.”
Guangnan breathed a sigh of relief.
“That’s good. I thought you were going to… Dongping, don’t worry. Wula and I will protect you.”
Yalati instructed them, “Go get yourselves ready first. I’ll have Wula bring food and accompany you there. Guangnan, come to my room later. I still have something to tell you.”
“Yes, Dad.”
Guangnan and Dongping left the living room and returned to their room to pack their belongings.
“Dongping, so the Dutch won’t find you, we’ll leave for the summer retreat cabin early tomorrow morning.”
“Okay. Actually, you don’t have to go to all this trouble. If you let me return to the seaside, my dolphin friends will take me away from here.”
Guangnan explained, “My father doesn’t want you to wander around anymore, so he made this arrangement.”
2
Late that night, Yalati and his son were talking in the bedroom. Yunying, who had gotten up to drink some water, accidentally overheard their conversation through the bamboo wall.
“Dad, even if you successfully obtain that treasure, I still won’t agree to you handing Dongping over to the Dutch.”
“My son, the Dutch specifically demanded that I hand over Dongping because they believe he knows where the treasure is. They have been unable to find it, so they will certainly demand that I give them Dongping. If I don’t hand him over, they won’t let the matter go. They might even go to war with our Bashag people. Think about it. I’m doing this to protect the people of our tribe. Sacrificing Dongping is something I have no choice but to do.”
“But you plan to make Dongping deaf and mute and then hand him over to the Dutch. That is too cruel!”
“If I don’t do this, Dongping will surely reveal that we have already obtained the treasure. Then the Dutch still won’t let us off the hook.”
“Dad, I’m really in a difficult position! If we repay Dongping’s kindness by hurting him like this, my conscience will never be at peace.”
Outside the bedroom door, Yunying listened to the conversation in terror, cold sweat breaking out all over her body.
“How could my loving father, the man I have always admired, have such a cruel heart?”
“With this treasure, we’ll be able to give our people a prosperous life, with plenty of food and clothing. You know I’m not a selfish elder.”
Guangnan reluctantly said, “All right. I agree.”
“Put the medicine I give you into Dongping’s food every day. First, use the antidote as bait and coax him into revealing where the treasure is hidden. Once he tells us the location and we successfully retrieve the treasure, seize Dongping and make him deaf and mute. Then I’ll notify the Dutch and let them come and take him away.”
“Ah! I feel so terrible about this.”
“I’ll have your sister Yunying go with you. You must persuade Yunying to take the initiative to befriend Dongping and get him to reveal the location of the treasure as soon as possible. But don’t tell Yunying our real purpose, in case she softens and interferes with our plan.”
“If my sister finds out about this someday, she’ll hate me for the rest of her life. Sigh!”
“Then the two of us will keep this secret forever. Never let Yunying find out!”
At that moment, Yunying made up her mind.
“I absolutely cannot let Dad do something this outrageous. I have to save Dongping!”
Early the next morning, Melissa and Yalati saw the children off at the entrance of their home.
Yalati instructed, “Wula, take good care of the children. Once the danger has passed, I’ll send someone to notify you and bring them back.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Melissa said, “Dongping is a benefactor of our Bashag people. Take good care of him.”
Wula clasped his hands respectfully.
“Yes, Chieftain.”
Yunying remained calm and showed no sign of what she was planning.
“As soon as I get the chance, I’ll leave the group with Dongping.”
Melissa hugged each of the children one by one, and the four of them waved goodbye.
3
The villages of the Ketagalan Kingdom fully cooperated with the international investigation team. They opened every warehouse in every village, as well as the homes of the chiefs and common people. They also opened all the outlying islands under their jurisdiction for the investigators to conduct thorough searches.
When the international investigation team arrived at Jinbaoli Village, Melissa and Yalati led them from house to house. Naturally, they found nothing.
The group returned to the village entrance.
“Director Smith, Mr. Peter, you’ve inspected every house. The treasure is indeed not in our village.”
Peter said, “The treasure is indeed not in your village, but that does not mean it has not fallen into your hands. You had already heard the news and had plenty of time to move the treasure somewhere secret. So this inspection could never have uncovered any trace of it.”
Smith asked, “Mr. Peter, from what you’re saying, are you insisting that they secretly kept your treasure for themselves? The Bashag people have shown the utmost sincerity. They have no obligation to open their villages for you to search, yet they were willing to do so. At the very least, they have earned the trust and respect of the foreign merchants from various countries. Therefore, when you return, we ask that you report to Commander Alpha and ask him to accept this fact and refrain from invading their territory and causing an international dispute.”
Peter sneered bitterly.
“No matter what, we will never give up this treasure easily.”
In the conference room aboard the Dutch flagship, Commander Alpha and his staff officers were meeting to discuss the situation.
Peter said, “Commander, I am certain that these natives secretly kept the treasure, even though we found nothing during this expedition.”
Alpha asked, “Staff Officer, what should we do next?”
Peter proposed, “Let us respond to inaction with patience. Return to Guishan Island and station troops there for the long term, while continuing to monitor the area. Then send men disguised as foreign merchants to infiltrate the various Bashag villages, investigate the whereabouts of the treasure, and track down the movements of that boy who rides dolphins.”
Alpha said, “For now, that is all we can do. If we cannot find that treasure, we have no face to return to Tainan Harbor and report back.”
Peter ordered, “Makan, Pierce, choose several clever soldiers and disguise yourselves as foreign merchants. Infiltrate the Bashag villages. Report any information by carrier pigeon.”
Makan and Pierce replied in unison, “Yes, sir!”
4
At the watchtower at the entrance of Jinbaoli Village, the village guards spotted a Dutch naval fleet anchored off Guishan Island.
Two guards hurried to the chief’s residence.
Guard A clasped his hands respectfully and said, “Reporting to the chief, we have spotted the Dutch fleet anchored at Guishan Island.”
Melissa said, “Continue monitoring them. Report immediately if anything happens.”
Guard A said, “Yes, Chief.”
The two guards turned and left.
Yalati assessed the situation.
“Looks like the Dutch won’t give up anytime soon. We’ll just have to keep wearing them down.”
Melissa asked anxiously, “Couldn’t the Dutch lose their temper and launch a surprise attack against us?”
“I don’t think it will come to that. Chairman Smith has already issued a stern warning to the Dutch. They aren’t pirates. They wouldn’t dare act however they please.”
Melissa said uneasily, “We still need to stay on our guard!”
Guangnan and the others walked through the jungle. Yunying deliberately slowed her pace and fell behind the group.
“Slow down, you guys!”
Guangnan pursed his lips and said, “Dongping, this is your chance to show what you’re made of.”
“You two wait here. I’ll go back and help Yunying.”
Dongping walked over to Yunying and helped her up.
Yunying immediately whispered, “Dongping, we’ll soon pass a pool of water. My brother will probably stop there to rest. If he invites you to get in the water with him, politely refuse.”
Dongping asked in puzzlement, “Oh? It’s so hot. Why shouldn’t we get in the water to cool off?”
“Don’t ask yet. I won’t hurt you. Once my brother and Wula are both in the water, I’ll hide their clothes. Then we’ll leave the jungle. I’ll take you away from the Bashag villages and head south.”
Dongping asked, confused, “Why do you want to take me away?”
“My father and brother are conspiring to harm you and take the gold treasure from you. I don’t want them to hurt you. Please, you have to believe me!”
Dongping said in surprise, “All right. I believe you.”
Before long, they came to a pool of water.
“Wula, let’s rest here. I want to get in the water and cool off for a while. Dongping, come in with us.”
Dongping said, “No, I’d rather rest on the bank.”
Guangnan loosened his shirt until he was wearing only a pair of shorts.
“Wula, come in and enjoy the water too.”
Wula replied, “Yes, Young Master.”
The two men entered the water one after another. While they were not paying attention, Yunying hid both of their clothes.
“Let’s get out of here quickly and head south.”
Yunying took Dongping by the arm and quietly left the scene with him. The two hurried to a fork in the road.
Dongping said, “This path should lead south.”
Yunying slipped her arm around Dongping’s and said, “Let’s head south.”
Guangnan emerged from the pool and looked around for quite a while.
“Hmm? Where did my sister and Dongping go?”
Wula climbed out of the water as well.
“They were just here.”
Guangnan called out, “Sister! Dongping! Come out. Stop fooling around.”
Other than the echoes reverberating through the valley, there was no response.
“Could they have slipped away? Wula, let’s get dressed quickly and go back to look for them.”
The two of them came to the large rock where they had left their clothes.
Guangnan asked, “Huh? Where are our clothes?”
Wula also asked, “Young Master, how did our clothes disappear?”
“Damn it! We may have fallen into their trap. They must have taken our clothes and run away.”
Wula asked in confusion, “Why would they run away?”
“There’s no time to explain everything to you now. Let’s go back and look for them first.”
Guangnan wore a frustrated expression. Wula still had not figured out what was going on, but he replied, “Yes, Young Master.”
The two of them hurried back.
On the jungle trail, Yunying and Dongping gradually slowed their pace.
Yunying explained everything from the beginning.
“I accidentally overheard the conversation between my father and my brother. I was both heartbroken and deeply ashamed of them. I don’t want them to use you and then torture you until you are deaf and mute before handing you over to the Dutch.”
Dongping found it unbelievable.
“I happened to discover that treasure on Guishan Island. It never belonged to me in the first place. If your father really wants it, I can simply give it to him.”
“Dongping, you are too innocent. Even if you tell them where the treasure is, you still won’t be able to walk away safely.”
“I didn’t earn that treasure myself, and I never intended to keep it for myself. I would rather be nothing more than a fisherman who earns his own living and lives a contented, happy life.”
“Dongping, I know you are not a greedy person, but not everyone is like you. I am willing to give up everything and follow you because I know you would share a peaceful yet happy life with me, and that is the happiness I want.”
Yunying spoke calmly from the bottom of her heart.
“Oh? Back then, your father said that if I helped him eliminate the pirates, he would arrange for you to marry me. At the time, I took it as nothing more than a joke, although I knew you didn’t dislike me. Later, after the raid was over, my dolphin friend Lele sacrificed his life. Your father asked me to return to the village with him, but I was in terrible spirits at the time, so I refused and went straight back to Guishan Island.”
“My father may have meant it sincerely when he said that. But afterward, when I learned about it from my brother, I felt repulsed and resistant. I didn’t want to be treated as a gift to be given away, even though you had done so much for our Basha people.”
“Yunying, I understand how you feel.”
“Further south, we will enter the territory of the Kavalan communities. But we cannot stay there. My parents have quite a few friends there.”
Dongping suggested, “How about this? Once we enter Kavalan territory, we’ll head toward the coast. I’ll call my dolphin friends, and they can take us farther south.”
Yunying readily agreed.
“Let’s do that.”
5
Guangnan and Wula returned with dejected expressions.
Yarati asked in surprise, “Why are you back? Where are Dongping and Yunying?”
Guangnan said in frustration, “While Wula and I were cooling off in the pool, the two of them ran away together. They even hid our clothes to prevent us from chasing them.”
Yarati thought to himself, “Damn it! Could that girl Yunying have overheard my conversation with Guangnan?”
Melisa was equally astonished.
“How could something like this have happened? My husband, we have to find them and bring them back quickly…”
Yarati said, “Let me think… Dongping and Yunying should be heading south. Wula, go to Kavalan with Guangnan. Take my token and deliver my message. Ask their paramount chief, Noah, to help us find Dongping and Yunying as quickly as possible.”
Wula clasped his hands in front of his chest.
“Yes, Boss!”
Yarati frowned.
“At a critical moment like this, that girl Yunying had to cause trouble.”
Dongping and Yunying arrived at the Kavalan coast. Dongping took out his conch shell and blew into it.
“Whooo—whooo—”
Before long, a dolphin swam toward them.
“Which friend is calling for us dolphins?”
“I’m Chen Dongping. I have an urgent matter and need to speak with Huanhuan.”
“You’re Dongping? I remember now. Wait here. I’ll send word to her immediately. Huanhuan will be here soon.”
“Thank you, my dolphin friend.”
The dolphin swam away.
“We’ll wait here for Huanhuan.”
Yunying asked curiously, “My brother said you can talk to dolphins. He also said you rode a dolphin with him to Guishan Island. I thought he was joking, but I never imagined you really could make friends with dolphins!”
“Dolphins are actually very kind-hearted. They would never harm their own kind.”
“Sigh! I know what you’re trying to say. My father was simply led astray by his desires, which is why he came up with those vicious schemes to harm others…”
Half an hour later, two dark spots appeared on the surface of the sea and gradually approached the coast where Dongping was waiting.
Dongping stood up and waved both arms.
“Huanhuan is here! Huanhuan, it’s me, Dongping.”
Huanhuan and her companion swam over.
“Young Master Dongping, ever since I carried you away from Guishan Island, I’ve been waiting for news from you these past few days.”
“It’s a long story. This is Yunying.”
“Yunying? She’s your betrothed. My brother Lele told me about her. Sister-in-law, it’s very nice to meet you.”
Huanhuan raised both pectoral fins and bowed several times.
Yunying asked curiously, “What did your dolphin friend say?”
Huanhuan said, “I told my companion, ‘She is the wife of my benefactor, and she said she was very happy to meet you.’”
Yunying’s cheeks flushed.
“She really said that?”
Huanhuan nodded.
“Yes!”
“Huanhuan, take us south. We can’t stay here.”
“Young Master Dongping, but that treasure is still hidden on Guishan Island.”
“That treasure never belonged to me in the first place. There’s no point in taking it with me.”
“Young Master Dongping, my brother Lele told me that the treasure was originally meant to be yours, and that one day you would return to rebuild and revitalize the Basha people.”
“Huanhuan, let’s not talk about that now. Right now, we just want to get far away from here.”
“Young Master Dongping, climb on. I’ll take you away.”
Dongping helped Yunying onto Huanhuan’s back and then climbed onto her back himself.
Huanhuan and her companion carried the two of them across the deep blue sea.
As they rode on the dolphins’ backs, Dongping told Huanhuan about the misery he had endured during those days, when he had been virtually confined by Yarati and his son, as well as the schemes the father and son had been plotting.
After hearing everything, Huanhuan shook her pectoral fins.
“I originally thought that those two tribesmen had sincerely welcomed you. I never imagined they were only interested in you because of the gold treasure. It seems that father and son have crooked hearts and cannot be called honorable men. If you continue staying in their village, sooner or later those two will plot against you. In my opinion, that young girl Yunying truly has feelings for you. Since she is willing to give up everything and follow you, let’s take Yunying with us and wander together to the ends of the earth!”
“Huanhuan, I want to take Yunying back to Guishan Island first, and then we’ll head south.”
“I know what you mean, Young Master Dongping.”
6
Under the foggy night sky, Huanhuan and her companion carried Dongping and Yunying quietly toward the coast of Guishan Island.
The Dutch soldiers on shore had already fallen into a deep sleep.
Dongping recalled, “The underwater cave should be somewhere around here.”
“I know where the cave is, Young Master Dongping. Hold on tight. I’m going to dive.”
Dongping pinched his nose with one hand and gestured to Yunying.
The two dolphins immediately dove into the underwater cave where the gold treasure was hidden. After swimming for a short distance, they surfaced.
“Young Master Dongping, this is the place.”
Dongping held Yunying’s hand and guided her through the darkness.
He took out a fire striker and lit the candle holder on the stone wall. Deep inside the cave, the outlines of several wooden crates appeared.
Dongping pointed toward them.
“Yunying, the gold treasure is hidden here.”
“Dongping, I know you brought me here to prove that what you said was true. But I have decided to follow you, and it has nothing to do with this gold treasure. You know what I mean, don’t you?”
“Yunying, you and I are alike. Neither of us will change our original convictions because of a gold treasure. Many people want to claim this treasure for themselves, but it is ill-gotten wealth, and now it may bring me deadly trouble. If possible, I would rather leave it buried forever, so that everyone who wants to claim it for themselves will finally give up their greed. I would rather live an ordinary life, hold my head high, and continue being a man of the sea than live as a fugitive, constantly hiding because I possess this treasure.”
Yunying said with emotion, “I once heard our elders say, ‘People die for wealth, and fish die for food.’ I never imagined that my father, who has always been an upright man, would develop such greed and even hurt you without scruples. Before we subdued those pirates, my father boldly declared in front of you that if you helped drive them away, he would arrange for you to marry me. At the time, I could not accept a marriage arrangement that treated me like a gift. But after spending these days with you, I asked myself honestly and realized that I truly like you. I like your sincerity and your simplicity.”
“Yunying, as long as I can be with you, I would rather be nothing more than a poor fisherman, living on simple food every day. I have no great ambitions or extraordinary talents, and I don’t expect to make anything of myself in the future.”
Yunying smiled.
“I haven’t even praised you with a single word, and you’ve already described yourself that way. Dongping, after spending these days with you, I feel that you are sincere toward others and steady in everything you do. You have a strong sense of justice and a willingness to help the weak and those in distress. You are a friend worthy of trust. And now I have discovered that you are also an honorable man who is content with a simple life and does not covet wealth. So I am willing to spend the rest of my life with you. No matter where in the world you go, I am willing to accompany you.”
Hearing these words, Dongping felt a deep sweetness and warmth in his heart. He could not help embracing Yunying.
Nearby in the water, Huanhuan heard Yunying’s heartfelt confession and squealed with delight, slapping her pectoral fins vigorously and sending waves of water splashing into the air.
Curious, Yunying asked coquettishly, “Dongping, your dolphin friend seems even more excited than you are. She keeps squeaking and chattering. What exactly is she saying?”
Dongping pondered for a moment, then smiled mysteriously as if keeping a secret.
“You’ll find out very soon.”
Dongping took Yunying by the hand and led her toward the stone chamber behind the cave.
He lit a torch, and in an instant, the chamber was filled with shimmering golden light.
Yunying gazed at the golden bars, but there was no expression of surprise on her face.
“Dongping, it was this gold treasure that completely changed my father’s and my fate.”
After leaving the underwater cave, Dongping and Yunhua mounted two dolphins and headed south across the sea.
Guangnan climbed southward from the northern shore, searching for Dongping and Yunying. When he reached the mountainside, he saw two figures riding on the backs of dolphins in the distance. He wanted to shout, but it was already too late.
On the dolphin’s back, Huanhuan said, “Young Master Dongping, I’ll take you to Orchid Island in the south first. The indigenous people there also make their living by fishing. They are simple and kind-hearted, and I think you will like starting a new life there with Yunhua. As for the gold, I’ll gather our dolphins and our seal cousins later, and together we’ll move it to your new home.”
“It looks like several sailboats are chasing us from behind,” Dongping warned Huanhuan anxiously.
Huanhuan laughed and said, “Those tribesmen really won’t give up. I’ll make a few turns and shake them off. Once we get rid of those bad guys, my family and I will help you two find a small sailboat and push it toward Huilan, so you can get completely away from this troubled place.”
On the deep blue sea, a small sailboat headed south. A flock of seabirds circled around the boat, while a group of dolphins accompanied them through the water.
II. A New Home in Huilan
1
Escorted by Huanhuan and a group of dolphin companions, the small sailboat followed the current southward. At dawn, the sea off Huilan was calm and peaceful. A pale glow had just begun to appear along the eastern horizon, while the distant mountains emerged and disappeared in the morning mist. The coastal plain gradually revealed itself through the thin fog. Huanhuan and several dolphins occasionally leaped out of the water, leading the way ahead of the sailboat. At times they swam toward the bow, and at other times they spread out along both sides, escorting the newlywed couple who had just escaped from danger toward their new home.
Dongping stood at the bow, one hand resting on the railing as he gazed at the unfamiliar land in the distance. Along the way, he had experienced too many life-and-death upheavals, from being hunted by pirates to the Dutch naval forces searching for the treasure, and then to Yarati and his son coveting the gold. He had never dared to relax for even a moment. Now, as he looked at this coastline with no pursuers and no fighting, a sense of peace unlike anything he had ever known quietly arose within him. He turned to look at Yunying standing beside him, gently took her hand, and said, “Yunying, after wandering all this way, we have finally found a place where we can start over. I just don’t know whether the people here will be willing to accept us.”
Yunying gazed at the distant shoreline. The breeze lifted her long hair, and she reached up to tuck the loose strands behind her ear before moving a little closer to Dongping.
“As long as I can be with you, I’m not afraid of where we live. We’ve endured every kind of hardship along the way. As long as no one comes after us anymore, even if we live in nothing more than a thatched hut, I’ll consider it our home.”
Dongping was deeply moved. He gently patted the back of her hand. He knew that Yunying had given up the peaceful and secure life she could have had in order to follow him, accompanying him all the way to this unfamiliar place. Thinking of this, he secretly made up his mind that no matter how difficult their future might be, he would make sure Yunying could live a secure life and would never allow her to be hurt again.
Just as the two were talking, Huanhuan suddenly leaped out of the water ahead of the boat, turned gracefully in midair, and then plunged back into the sea with a splash, sending a large spray of water into the air. Seeing Huanhuan, Dongping could not help smiling. He walked to the side of the boat and reached down to touch her head as it emerged from the water.
“Huanhuan, we really owe you and your friends for escorting us all this way. Once we get settled, we’ll come back to the shore to see you.”
Huanhuan let out several cheerful cries and then swam a circle around the boat with her companions. She had understood Dongping’s words.
The small sailboat finally approached the shore. Dongping jumped off the boat and stepped onto the damp sand. He firmly tied the boat’s rope to a wooden stake on the shore, then turned around and helped Yunying off the boat. The two stood on the shore with their simple bundles of belongings, looking back at Huanhuan and her dolphin companions still circling in the sea. Both understood that from this day forward, they would be embarking on a completely different life.
After walking along the coast for a while, they saw several Amis young men emerge from the woods. The young men carried spears and bows and arrows, and their expressions showed a degree of caution. They had clearly noticed the two strangers. One of the young men stepped forward and stared at Dongping.
“Where did you come from? Why have you come to our land?”
Dongping stopped, clasped his hands respectfully, and answered politely, “My wife and I have wandered here from a very distant place. We mean no harm. We only hope to find a piece of land where we can build our own house, grow crops, and fish in the sea. If you are willing to let us stay, we promise we will not disturb anyone’s life.”
The young men exchanged glances. One of them turned and ran toward the village. Before long, a sturdy, middle-aged man approached with several tribesmen accompanying him. When the others saw him, they all stepped aside to clear a path. Dongping knew that this man must be the village chief, so he stepped forward and respectfully clasped his hands in greeting.
“I am Ali, the chief here. Why did you and your wife decide to settle in Huilan?”
Ali looked at Dongping. Although his tone was questioning, there was no hostility in it.
Dongping answered, “My wife and I simply want to find a quiet place to live. Everything that happened in the past has left us exhausted, so we no longer want to fight with anyone. We only hope to make a living with our own hands.”
Ali looked at Yunying, then back at Dongping. After pondering for a moment, he said, “There is plenty of land here. If you don’t mind, you can build a house behind the village, near the stream. No one lives there, so you can cultivate the land yourselves.”
Dongping had not expected Ali to agree so readily. He froze for a moment before asking, “Chief, you are really willing to let us stay?”
Ali smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
“Since you mean no harm, why shouldn’t you stay? We Amis believe that anyone who comes here and is willing to live together with everyone can become a friend.”
Yunying stood nearby listening to these words, and her eyes gradually reddened. She quietly took Dongping’s hand. Feeling the warmth of her palm, Dongping clasped her hand tightly. A warmth he could hardly describe suddenly surged through his heart. After years of wandering, this was the first time he truly felt that perhaps he could finally have a home of his own.
From that day on, the two began building a thatched hut with the help of the tribespeople. The men cut timber and drove the wooden posts into the ground, while the women prepared the thatch and wove the roof. Dongping worked alongside everyone else. Although Yunying had never done such work before, she was not afraid of hardship. She carried bundles of thatch and smoothed the earthen floor inside the house. Even when she became drenched in sweat from exhaustion, she continued looking happily at Dongping as he worked.
A few days later, a simple thatched hut was finally completed. As the sun set, orange-red clouds illuminated the coastline. Standing in front of the hut and looking at this simple yet truly personal home, Yunying could not help saying, “Dongping, we really have a house of our own.”
Dongping stood beside her, gazing at the thatched hut before turning to look at the distant sea. His heart was filled with complicated emotions. He knew that the Dongping who had once hidden from one place to another was now a thing of the past. If he truly wanted to begin a new life, he had to conceal his former identity.
After remaining silent for a while, he said to Yunying, “Starting today, we should stop using our old names.”
Yunying turned to look at him.
“Then what will your name be?”
Dongping watched the setting sun slowly sink beneath the horizon. Remembering all the darkness he had experienced along the way, he suddenly said, “Let’s call me Risheng. Let the days of the past pass away. From now on, every day will be like the sun rising again, giving us a fresh start.”
Yunying softly repeated the name.
“Risheng… What about me?”
Dongping looked at her and smiled.
“You will be called Yueniang. Risheng and Yueniang. From now on, we will live our own lives here.”
Yunying smiled sweetly and gently leaned against his shoulder. Standing together in the afterglow of the setting sun, they felt for the first time that their former life, filled with pursuit and fear, seemed to be growing farther and farther away.
2
After settling in Huilan, Risheng soon discovered that although the people of Meilun had lived by the sea for generations, they still relied mainly on simple wooden rafts for fishing. The rafts could only operate in coastal waters and were easily overturned when they encountered rough waves, so the tribespeople had to face considerable risks every time they went out to sea.
One morning, Risheng stood by the shore watching several young men paddle their wooden raft out to sea. A wave struck, causing the raft to rock violently, and one of the young men nearly fell into the water. Seeing this, Risheng quickly walked over to Ali and said, “Chief Ali, if we build a boat out of timber, it will be much more stable than a raft. It can also carry more fish and allow us to fish farther out at sea.”
Ali listened with some doubt.
“What is the difference between a boat and a raft? Our ancestors have fished this way for generations. Are you saying that wood can be made into something better than a raft?”
Risheng crouched down, picked up a branch, and drew the shape of a boat in the sand.
“A raft is simply a group of logs tied together. A boat, however, uses planks to form a curved hull. The bottom can cut through the waves, while the sides can keep seawater out. With a mast and sails, it can also use the wind to travel. If we make larger fishing nets as well, we can catch more fish at one time.”
Several young men gathered around, curiously studying the drawing in the sand.
“Risheng, can you really build this kind of boat?”
Risheng smiled.
“I can build one first and show you. As long as everyone is willing to learn, I can also teach you all how to build boats, weave nets, and fish.”
From that day onward, the sound of chopping wood and hammering could be heard along the coast of Meilun every day. Risheng personally led the young men in selecting timber, cutting planks, assembling and securing the hull, and teaching them how to weave fishing nets, read the tides, and identify schools of fish. At first, the young men often made mistakes, but Risheng never blamed them. Instead, he patiently demonstrated the techniques again.
After some time, a wooden fishing boat was finally completed. On the day it was launched, everyone in the village came to the shore. Several young men worked together to push the fishing boat into the water. After climbing aboard, they raised the sails. When the sea breeze blew in, the sails quickly filled, and the boat began sailing steadily forward.
The tribespeople on shore immediately erupted in cheers.
Ali watched the fishing boat sail farther and farther away, a rare smile appearing on his face. He turned to Risheng and said, “We used to dare fish only near the shore. Now that we have this boat, we can venture much farther out to sea.”
Risheng nodded and said, “As long as you learn to read the wind and the tides, you’ll be able to catch even more fish.”
Sure enough, from that day on, Meilun Village’s fishing yield increased rapidly. The villagers no longer had to worry so often about having too little food. Seeing everyone’s lives gradually improve, Risheng felt a sense of accomplishment he had never experienced before. He suddenly realized that the skills he had learned in the past were not merely for keeping himself alive. In another place, those same skills could also help a group of strangers improve their lives.
3
After solving the fishing problem, Risheng turned his attention to the farmland.
The people of Meilun Village mainly grew dry rice and millet, and their harvests depended heavily on rainfall. In years of drought, the food supply would decrease, and the villagers could only ration their food to get by.
One day, Risheng walked along the stream for a long time. As he watched the clear water continuously flow toward the sea, an idea suddenly occurred to him: “If we could divert the stream into the fields, then the farmland wouldn’t have to rely entirely on rainfall.”
He immediately returned to find Ali and told him about his idea.
After listening, Ali asked, “You mean we should dig a channel from the stream and divert the water into the fields?”
“Yes.” Risheng nodded and said, “If we dig an irrigation channel along the natural slope of the land and use a water wheel to help lift the water, the stream can naturally flow from the higher ground into the farmland. With a reliable water supply, we can grow rice and taro, and the harvest will certainly be much greater than it is now.”
Ali thought for a moment, then gathered the villagers to work together.
Thus, the people of Meilun Village once again began a major construction project. Everyone dug earth, carried stones, repaired the channels, and built water wheels, while Risheng constantly surveyed the terrain to determine where the irrigation channel should run.
Every day, Yunying would bring food and drinks to visit him. One day, she looked at Risheng, covered from head to toe in mud, with both hands rubbed raw and cracked from the tools, and could not help frowning.
“You work this hard every day. Aren’t you tired?”
Risheng took the water she handed him, drank a sip, and smiled. “Of course I’m tired. But once the irrigation channel and water wheel are finished, everyone won’t have to depend entirely on the weather for their food anymore.”
Yue Niang crouched down, took his hand, and wrapped his wounds with a strip of cloth. “The Dongping I used to know was never this concerned about other people.”
Risheng lowered his head and looked at her. After remaining silent for a moment, he said, “The old me only thought about how to escape with my life. Now that we have a home of our own, I also want to do something for the people here.”
Yue Niang looked up at him and smiled. “Then go ahead and do it. I’ll always be by your side.”
Hearing this, Risheng gently touched her head, his heart filled with warmth.
Several months later, the irrigation channel was finally completed. When the first stream of water flowed along the channel and into the fields, the children ran excitedly alongside it, while the elders stood on the ridges between the fields, watching the clear water flow past them with smiles on their faces.
Afterward, the villagers began planting rice in the paddies and taro along the irrigation channels beside the fields. When harvest season arrived, the rice paddies rolled with golden waves beneath the sunlight, while the taro grew lush and abundant. Meilun Village’s food supply gradually became stable.
Ali held a heavy bundle of rice stalks in his hands and said to Risheng with emotion, “In the past, every year we never knew whether we would have enough food the following year. Now that we have irrigation channels and rice paddies, we finally don’t have to worry about going hungry anymore.”
Risheng looked at the villagers working busily in the fields, his heart filled with satisfaction. He suddenly realized that he had once believed gold was the most precious thing in the world. Only now did he understand that land capable of feeding people, an irrigation channel capable of watering farmland, and a group of people willing to help one another were the true treasures worth cherishing.
4
News of Meilun Village’s growing prosperity soon spread to several nearby Amis villages. Some villages sent people to learn how to build boats, while others came to ask about weaving fishing nets. Some even came specifically to learn how to dig irrigation channels, build water wheels, and grow rice. Risheng never kept anything to himself when the villagers came to ask for his help. Whatever he knew, he patiently taught everyone. As a result, the name “Risheng” began to spread along the Hualien coast. Some said he knew how to build boats, others said he knew how to fish, and still others said he could turn barren land into fertile rice paddies. The chiefs of several nearby villages even came personally to visit him, hoping to bring Meilun Village’s experience back to their own communities.
Risheng’s reputation grew greater and greater, but he himself never took these things to heart. Every day, he still worked in the fields, repaired boats, wove nets, and worked alongside the villagers.
One evening, Yue Niang sat outside their thatched hut. Seeing Risheng return covered in mud, she smiled and said, “You know, people in the surrounding villages are saying that you’re the most capable man in all of Hualien.”
Risheng put down the tools on his shoulder and shook his head with a smile. “How could I be that capable? It’s just that everyone is willing to work together.”
Yue Niang looked at him and said, “But if it weren’t for you, everyone would never have known these methods existed.”
Risheng was silent for a moment, then gazed toward the distant fields. “Yue Niang, I only understand now that a person doesn’t live merely for himself.”
Yue Niang said nothing. She simply reached out and took his hand. The two of them sat quietly on the field ridge beneath the setting sun, watching cooking smoke rise from the village in the distance.
Just then, a familiar cry suddenly came from the sea.
“Eee—eee—”
The moment Risheng heard it, he immediately stood up. “It’s Huanhuan!”
He hurried toward the shore, and Yue Niang followed behind him.
Several familiar figures were rapidly swimming toward them across the sea. When Huanhuan saw Risheng, she immediately leaped out of the water and cried out joyfully. Risheng walked into the seawater, reached out, and touched Huanhuan’s head.
“Huanhuan, what brings you here again? Haven’t you seen us for a long time, so you came especially to visit us?”
Huanhuan gently rubbed her snout against his chest as if she were acting affectionately toward him. Standing on the shore, Yue Niang watched the scene and could not help smiling.
“You two really are destined to be friends. Even though you’re both so busy every day now, she still hasn’t forgotten to come and see you.”
Risheng turned back toward Yue Niang and smiled. “Our old friend has come back to visit us.”
Huanhuan began rolling playfully across the surface of the sea. Several dolphin companions followed her and leaped from the water as well. The setting sun cast its afterglow over them, and the entire surface of the sea shimmered with golden light.
Risheng held Yue Niang’s hand as they stood by the sea, looking at their dolphin friends. His heart was filled with an incomparable sense of peace. He knew that his life with Yue Niang was now completely different from the past. Although they were busier every day than they had ever been, this busyness was not for the sake of escaping death, nor was it for the sake of gold. It was for the sake of allowing themselves and the people around them to live better lives. And this unfamiliar Hualien coast was gradually becoming their true home.
Yet at that very moment, Risheng and Yue Niang did not know that as Meilun Village grew increasingly prosperous, Risheng’s name was also beginning to travel to more distant places. The grudges and conflicts stemming from the treasure beneath the sea were gathering once again in a faraway place, waiting for the arrival of the
