I bid farewell at 5:30 am to get down from the mountain, chirping birds, scent of flowers, swaying bamboos followed along. My new best friend was no where to be seen. Evidently, the toad has been following me around, pretending to be part of the chair or ground wherever I was. I didn’t realize why until noticing that I was not bitten by even one mosquito this whole time. Usually the swarm of mosquitoes create a cloud around me. The toad also realized that with me around, all he needed to do was sit by me and suck all the mosquitoes with his snapping tongue. No need to hunt. A symbiotic relationship. If only relationships with people were as simple and rewarding!
Mr. Dai says that his village in this glorious, beautiful mountain may soon vanish forever. The corrupt local government officials ensure that all aid, from United Nations level to Central Communist government levels to subsidize agriculture, create jobs, or at least pave some roads to go into the mountain have all been swallowed whole by the local government. I almost, almost told Mr. Dai that rather than bitterness against such blind injustice and corruption, ALL he needed to do was sacrifice and give up the Leader Grade Yellow tea!
Then I thought better.
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