Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Spanking

The King Serpent – Page 1 of 3

Shale was skilled both at catching turtles and at fishing for them. In truth, fishing for turtles was easier than fishing for fish, especially at night. One simply set the lines and checked them the next morning; no special expertise was required. But the methods differed entirely. For turtles, a straight needle was used as the hook. Legend held that Jiang Ziya fished with a straight hook, supposedly waiting for the willing to bite; perhaps he was fishing for turtles.

The hook for turtles was just an ordinary sewing needle, with the eye hammered flat and then tied horizontally to the fishing line. No rod was needed—just a thin piece of bamboo shaved down so it could be stuck into the earth and hold the line. The bait was different, too: usually strips of pig liver. The needle was threaded through the liver in such a way that the metal was hidden.

With the needle baited with pig liver (the fishing line tied securely and made fairly long), it was cast into deep water where turtles dwelled. There was no need to keep watch; just hide the bamboo stick somewhere discreet. Turtles fed greedily, swallowing their food in one gulp. Once the liver was ingested and reached their throat, the needle would turn sideways, locking in place so it could not be spat out. The line had to be long, since turtles disliked movement; after eating, they rarely pulled or broke the line.

Last night, Shale set eight night fishing lines and, bringing Feng Shunya along, went to check them. To their delight, two turtles had been caught.

“Teacher Feng, you truly have remarkable luck,” he said.

The first turtle hauled up weighed over three pounds. Wild turtles of that size were rare in mountain ponds and reservoirs. Feng Shunya looked on in astonishment, her horizons broadened.

“Teacher Feng, hold down the turtle for me while I fetch the other one.”

“I… I don’t dare,” she replied.

With no other choice, Shale pressed the turtle down with a large stone, then brought up another, this one weighing over two pounds. The two returned home in high spirits. For Feng Shunya, eating crab, loach, or turtle was not especially enticing, but the thrill of catching them brought her joy.

“Shale, you wild rascal, finally back,” his uncle greeted him before he even reached home. “Secretary Tao is looking for you.”

“What does the secretary want with me?”

“No idea. Hurry home, he’s waiting for you.”

“All right.” Shale and Feng Shunya quickened their pace. Turning back, Shale called, “Uncle, come by for dinner later—and bring two jugs of rice wine.”

“What good food have you caught, you wild rascal?” His great uncle smiled, knowing Shale wouldn’t invite him unless he had something special. At the mention of turtle, his eyes narrowed even further in delight.

Secretary Tao waited outside his door, guarded by a yellow dog; he dared not enter the yard. When he saw Shale and Feng Shunya approach, he hurried forward.

“Uncle Secretary, what is it you want with me?”

“Not you, I’m here for Teacher Feng.”

“Secretary Tao, what’s the matter?” Feng Shunya asked, somewhat surprised.

Page 2 of 3

“The county called, asking you to return for a bit.”

“Huh, why didn’t they call my cell?” Feng Shunya checked her phone and found a missed call. Shale chuckled, explaining there was no signal at the loach pond. Feng Shunya returned the call; it was nothing serious, just her mother missing her. Shale invited the secretary to join them for a meal.

“There’s turtle? You wild rascal, with such delicacies, how could I leave?” Secretary Tao laughed. “Is there wine?”

“Uncle will bring some soon.”

Shale’s skills in the kitchen were considerable: steamed turtle, clear stewed loach, vinegar-marinated crab, plus fresh vegetables from the garden stir-fried together. The three men drank with gusto, while Feng Shunya, tempted, tried the turtle soup and nearly swallowed her tongue. All pretense was lost; she downed two bowls, declaring it better than anything served at the county’s finest restaurants.

After dinner, Feng Shunya departed, and the three men relaxed. The two fifty-year-old elders shed their shirts, drinking and bantering, exchanging bawdy jokes.

“Secretary, you’ll have plenty of energy in bed tonight,” joked Uncle Shengtian, his face flushed red as a general.

“You old fool, with dirt up to your neck, still strutting like a cock. Your wife’s skin is wrinkled as a rag, her breasts like bags—what strength can you even muster?”

Secretary Tao, equally red-faced, had set aside all elder dignity.

“You’re the secretary, find yourself something young and tender.”

“Shengtian, you’re courting death, flapping your mouth without a care. Am I that sort of person?”

The old men, satisfied with their drinks and their banter, waddled off with bulging bellies. Shale, tired and a bit tipsy, cleaned up, then collapsed onto the bamboo cooling bed. When he awoke, dusk had already fallen.

His mouth dry, he grabbed a large bamboo flask, drew a full container of spring water from the village well, and drank deeply. Appetite gone, he skipped supper.

The night breeze still carried heat. He walked to the vegetable garden, stripped naked, drew two buckets of water from the well, and doused himself for a thorough, refreshing wash. Bathing was easy here—no one to disturb him, he could wash however he pleased.

“Ah, that’s relief!”

Wearing only his shorts, he returned to the courtyard, lit the biogas lamp, set up a coil of mosquito incense, and pulled out a book on snake husbandry. He lay on the bamboo bed, reading. With all the village’s young people gone, there was nowhere to play, only this.

Reading was a struggle; he recognized many characters, but many more eluded him, forcing him to consult the dictionary. Two or three hours passed quickly. Suddenly, the yellow dog barked at the shadowy bamboo woods.

“Damn dog, what are you howling at?”

He cursed, but abruptly, someone appeared at the gate.

“You damn woman, come looking for trouble?”

It was Luo Yinxian, carrying something in her hand. Seeing her, Shale frowned, but opened the gate to let her in.

Page 3 of 3

“Weren’t you going to catch my crabs? I brought them for you to catch.”

“Damn woman, I haven’t settled accounts with you yet, so you’ve come at a good time.”

“Come inside—aren’t you afraid someone will see us catching crabs?” Luo Yinxian grinned, deliberately brushing her chest against him. Shale, genuinely afraid someone might see, turned off the courtyard lights and led her inside.

Inside, Luo Yinxian set down her things and smiled at him. She carried a sweet scent, wore a dark skirt below, and a light blue, tight-fitting t-shirt above, accentuating her slender waist and full breasts.

“You’re still laughing? Watch me teach you a lesson.”

Shale, genuinely angry, pulled her to the bed, held her head down, and stripped off her skirt and underwear. He smacked her pale backside, leaving red handprints as he berated her.

“Shale, be gentle… Ouch, it hurts…”

Her fair skin was soon covered in red finger marks.

“Let’s see if you dare ruin things for me again, meddling with your words.”

“Shale, please stop, I won’t dare again.”

He released her. She didn’t get up, but lay across the bed. Seeing tears in her eyes, Shale realized he’d been a bit harsh.

“Did it hurt?”

“You smack me, see if it hurts. Using such force—you wouldn’t treat a real wife so roughly.”

“You deserved it,” Shale replied sternly. “Do you know who Teacher Feng is?”

“Isn’t she just Teacher Feng? Who else could she be, a princess from the emperor’s house?” Luo Yinxian scoffed. “She’s just a bit fancy, drank a little ink; I’ve had my share too—I graduated high school. Hmph, her crabs aren’t necessarily fresher than mine. I’m only twenty-one; why do you defend her so fiercely?”

“Damn woman, I’ll smack you to death.” Shale, enraged, landed another heavy slap on her backside. “She’s the daughter of the county party secretary—are you trying to get yourself killed?”

“The county party secretary’s daughter…” Luo Yinxian struggled to comprehend. “Then why is she here teaching?”

“It’s her choice—what business is it of yours?”

“Heh, my wild husband is so bold, daring to catch the secretary’s daughter’s crabs,” she teased, seeing he was about to lose his temper and finally showing a trace of fear. “Alright, Shale, I won’t dare again; please forgive me this time. See how good I am to you—I brought you chicken soup, drink it up, you’ll have more strength later.”

Only then did Shale notice the earthenware jar she’d brought. He glanced at the jar, then at her; her eyes brimmed with allure. Moving to her side, he gently caressed her reddened skin, and she collapsed into his arms, tears flowing unbidden.