Chapter Thirty-Seven I Am Not A Eunuch

  The disaster has finally passed, and everyone is in a good mood. While waiting for the Helen cargo ship to be repaired, people have been indulging in the exotic atmosphere of Madeira Island, enjoying a wonderful holiday. Due to Judy's special status as an American diplomat, the local Portuguese government also gave everyone high-level treatment, so there were no problems with the entry approval procedures. Judy was arranged by the Madeira Island government officials to stay at a high-end official hotel that receives international friends, while Kang Fan and others were arranged to stay at an ordinary private hotel, but the conditions were also very good, and everyone was satisfied. Originally, Kang Fan had planned to pay out of his own pocket for everyone to change to a better place, but seeing this situation, he gave up.

  Save some money for Chinese people, Kang Fan. Kang Fan persuaded himself.

  Judy smiled and asked: "What are you muttering to yourself? Are you hiding something?"

  Kang Fan smiled and didn't say anything.

  There's a dinner party tonight and I'd like you and my cousin to come along. You have to accept the invitation, Judy said.

  Kang Fan hesitated, "You are a foreign guest, what am I? It's better for me to stay with my soldiers."

  Judy got annoyed and said "If you're not going, I'm not going either." Then she turned around and ran off.

  Kang Fan gazed at her back, shaking his head with a bitter smile.

  At dusk, Judy bought a suit and a pair of leather shoes for Kang Fan, and forced him to change into them to attend the dinner party with her. Kang Fan couldn't resist her, so he had no choice but to comply.

  You are more stubborn than those Spanish people who chased us. Kong Fan laughed and said.

  Judy also laughed and said because we Americans are more stubborn than they are, that's why we ran the British colonizers out!

  The banquet was set in a luxurious room of a hotel at the port, with the sea outside the window. There was also a piano in the room to add to the excitement, and everything was arranged very romantically. Judy seemed to attach great importance to this banquet, carefully preparing for it by taking a bath, applying light makeup, wearing a black evening gown and a pair of sparkling high heels, stunning everyone present, including the officials from Madeira Island who were completely enchanted and couldn't help but stare at her in awe. Even Kang Fan couldn't help but take several glances at her.

  Li and Judy were both familiar with the scene, and they could handle drinking with ease. But Kang Fan was different, he couldn't hold his liquor to begin with, and due to the guests' enthusiastic toasting, a few cups of bitter foreign wine went down his throat, and his consciousness began to blur. Under the influence of alcohol, Kang Fan walked over to the piano and played a piece of "Liang Zhu", the beautiful and slightly melancholic melody echoed in the quiet and elegant room, and everyone inside listened with rapt attention.

  As the music ended, thunderous applause erupted. Judy rushed over, shouting Kang Fan's name in a daze, just as he had downed a large cup of wine handed to him by the pianist with great respect. Suddenly, he felt dizzy and both of them fell onto the thick carpet at the same time, with Judy on top of Kang Fan, her fragrant body warm and extremely hot.

  I must hold on. Convinced himself.

  When he woke up, Kang Fan was still dazed and lay in bed, unable to distinguish where he was or what he was doing for a moment. In his confusion, he saw Judy walking into the room with her golden hair scattered after just taking a bath, wearing pajamas, and suddenly understood everything.

  Even in a drunken, hazy state, the impression left by Judy's fragrant and snowy body was unforgettable. The fragmented memories of last night that lingered in his mind slowly connected together, and when these images changed from static to dynamic, Kang Fan felt his body sinking non-stop, crushing the bed, smashing through the floor, and falling into a deep, dark place.

  Awake? Judy brought the fresh morning air and pounced on Kang Fan, with a radiant smile that was more charming than ever.

  Kang Fan opened his eyes and stared intently at the ceiling. On the ceiling was a painting: half-naked Adam and Eve were scrutinizing a bright red apple under an apple tree in the Garden of Eden.

  Kang Fan, the piano piece you played last night had a distinct and unique oriental style, it sounded great! I've never heard anything like that before, Judy exclaimed.

  Kang Fan said: I didn't know about it before, that's what I learned in 21st century China.

  I really didn't expect those killer hands of yours could play such beautiful piano pieces, you always surprise people! Do you know what even bigger surprise you gave me last night? Judy asked enthusiastically.

  Kang Fan smiled and said: I am trying to think of it.

  Forget it, I'll tell you, you've proven yourself to be a real man! Judy said, her face turning red.

  Last night, after playing the piano, Kang Fan carried Judy away in front of all the guests, shocking everyone! These scenes were later confirmed by Captain Li's account, but Kang Fan himself couldn't recall these actions that the guests present jokingly called "bloody heroism". In any case, it was his own initiative, so he couldn't blame Judy. Even if it was indeed Judy who took the initiative, what could he complain about? Since things had already happened, he might as well go with the flow; trying to restore the original state was purely self-deception.

  I was forced, Confan. Judy suddenly had a serious face, but then laughed and said "I didn't think your country also has men as ruthless as you." I heard that the men in your country are willing to become eunuchs, giving up their manhood to live a better life in the palace.

  Kang Fan smiled, did you hear it from Captain Li?

  Judy nodded, did Brother say the same thing as me?

  "It's almost the same," said Kang Fan.

  Judi held Kong Fan's face, gazing intently at him. "The first time I saw you was when I came to your country for the first time," she said. "I originally thought that a man like you, who is well-nourished, tall and strong, fashionably dressed, and clean-shaven, must be one of those legendary eunuchs. From your appearance, you absolutely look like someone with a good quality of life."

  I am a freak and those eunuchs are monsters, said Kang Fan.

  Judy's greatest worry was that she suspected Kavan would also be a eunuch, and this worry made her regret it countless times. In the first few days, this idea made her almost sleepless at night. Later, she persuaded herself: forget about it, just let it go, no matter what, Kavan had too many attractive places to himself, which was worth paying for. Now, after the crazy night of drunkenness, the last bit of regret left in Judy's heart also disappeared with the wind, leaving only satisfaction and joy.

  Kang Fan's heart was in a mess, so he didn't look very happy. When Judy was talking excitedly and gesturing nonstop, he fell asleep again. But no matter how hard he tried to sleep soundly, the image of Mei Xiang's resentful tears would flash before his eyes, causing Kang Fan's heart to ache violently. Finally, Kang Fan turned over and lay on his stomach, pressing one fist under his body to hold down his heart.

  "Are you all right, Connie?" Judy asked anxiously.

  Kang Fan hummed and then fell silent. This time, he saw his loving parents in his dream, so they hugged each other and cried loudly, only to find out that he was really crying when he woke up, with the tears on his pillow still wet. He suddenly saw Judy standing beside him, thinking of his parents' faces in his dream, and hugged Judy again, crying again. Judy was confused by his actions, staring blankly with wide eyes, her body stiffened, and a bewildered expression on her face. After a while, Kang Fan let go of Judy, wiped away his tears, and then went out the door.

  Get me a pair of football shoes, I'm going to teach those Portuguese people a lesson. Kong Fan laughed and said.

  Judy did the same, but she suspected Kang Fan's level. It's no wonder that most Chinese people of this generation have no concept of modern sports, let alone participate in them. But the fact is: The football team composed of Kang Fan and the crew members of the Helen beat the football team composed of local government workers by a landslide! Kang Fan was physically strong, fast, and had good footwork, playing as a forward with great fanfare, several shooting movements like martial arts acrobatics left both teams staring in amazement! Kang Fan vented his frustrations thoroughly, really getting into it. Judy cheered Kang Fan on from the sidelines, shouting herself hoarse.

  After that, Kang Fan made playing football his main activity during his stay on the island of Madeira. Under his guidance, the ten intelligence personnel also started playing football with him. These people originally had a solid foundation in martial arts, stable lower limbs, agile movements, and good physical quality, and they had all been exposed to football in the Qing Sheng camp, so they made rapid progress. A month later, Kang Fan was eager to take them onto the field to participate in matches. Although the results were dismal, everyone's enthusiasm was high, and there were more laughter and smiles in their lives. And on this distant island, which was like a paradise on earth, everywhere left behind the shadows of him and Judy accompanying each other, adding a touch of romance to the atmosphere.

  The SS Helen has been refurbished after more than two months of repairs. Due to the ongoing Spanish-American War, it can only take a detour via Africa into the Indian Ocean and then return to China. The journey is a bit longer, but it will be very safe, and it's also a good opportunity to send Judy back home in South Africa. Judy was still unmarried and had been living with her parents in Cape Town, South Africa, due to her aristocratic family background, she was elegant, well-educated, and after graduating from an American university, she was employed by the US State Department to work in diplomacy. No one expected that her first boyfriend would be a Chinese man. Therefore, when she held hands with Kang Fan and stood together with Captain Li in front of her parents, the two elderly people were furious!

  Judy, you have the noble and excellent Anglo-Saxon white blood, how can you be with this inferior yellow race?! This is absolutely not allowed in the Wood family! Judy's father was a stubborn racist who wouldn't consider Kong Fan's feelings when saying these words.

  Judy was so shocked that she almost fainted, her lips trembling and unable to utter a single word.

  Captain Li was quite dissatisfied and said: Uncle, please don't insult Judy and our common friend like this.

  Kang Fan had not planned to visit Judy's parents and only reluctantly agreed due to the persistent requests of Judy and Captain Li. Now, receiving such treatment, he was furious, but couldn't vent his anger, so he turned around and left. Judy and Captain Li rushed out together.

  "Don't bring this person here again or don't enter my house!" Judy's father shouted angrily in the room. "Judy, this is your home. They are going back home, where will you go?"

  Judy looked at Kang Fan and her cousin walking away without looking back, then looked at her furious parents, hesitated for a moment, and finally chose to stay.

  Back on board, the first mate and sailors had completed the replenishment work for Helen's voyage. Seeing Captain Li and Kang Fan walking far away, the first mate ordered to cast off.

  Kang Fan was still angry, but since Captain Li was nearby, he didn't dare to lose his temper. He leaned against the railing and looked out at the sea. Captain Li also didn't know what to say, so he stood with Kang Fan in silence for a while before going off to attend to his own matters.

  On June 11, 1898, the Guangxu Emperor issued the "Decree of Determining the National Policy", appointing Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao to implement the Reform Movement. However, this move was met with fierce resistance from the conservative faction in the court, leading to nationwide turmoil and the Qing dynasty's centuries-old foundation on the verge of collapse. On September 21, 1898, Empress Dowager Cixi launched the Gengzi Coup, suppressing the Reform Movement, putting Guangxu Emperor under house arrest, and regaining control over the government, gradually stabilizing the situation. Kang Fan returned from abroad in early October that year, by which time all this had already ended. He was in a terrible mood, and when he saw Mei Xiang, he looked dejected and disheartened.

  Take good care of your Ningwu Mansion, at least we all have a place to settle down. Meixiang advised.

  I miss you, Mei Xiang. Kang Fan said with deep feeling, pulling Mei Xiang over and hugging her tightly. It's been a long time since he smelled the sweet scent on Mei Xiang's body, and Kang Fan couldn't help but indulge in it.

  In Mei Xiang's warm and gentle embrace, Kang Fan's lost heart was quickly found again. However, the guilt that had been etched in his heart could never be erased. But Kang Fan didn't think he should regret it, because when he was with Judy, their hearts were sincere to each other. In comparison, Judy was like a fleeting spark in his life, dazzling, passionate and short-lived. Mei Xiang, on the other hand, was the sunshine in his life, warm, gentle and forever radiant.