Song of the Week

This is one of my favorite songs from the Hmong rock band, The Sounders.  It conveys a sort of nostalgic, haunting feeling of unfulfilled love between a couple in the old days.  So while listening to it about two years ago, it became an inspiration for a subplot to my in-progress story, Nkauj Nog.  Keep an eye out for that...

Song of the Week

(I thought this was a really nice Hmong Chinese song, to be exact the singer is Ahmao, but it was a bit of a challenge to understand and translate because the singer has an accent.  I couldn't really make out some of the words she was singing in the chorus in particular, so I tried my best to translate so that it makes some sense.)

Luo Na Yi - Koj Tias Kuv Tsis Hlub

Koj tias, kuv zoo xws rev paj tawg

You said that I am like a blooming flower

Tsuas yog pom kuv luag ntxhi

As long as I smile

Koj tsuas zoo siab

You are happy

Koj tias, koj tsuas hlub kuv ib leeg

You said that you would love only me

Yuav hlub txog hnub uas kawg koj lub neej

Love till the last day of your life

Nkauj Nog Chapter 1

The color of the morning sky did not change much from its night counterpart.  The clouds appeared liked a herd of gigantic dark and angry elephants, readied to destroy anyone and anything in its path.  The wind blew turbulently at times, flaunting its prowess and forcing everything except the sturdiest object to bend before its greatness.  The heavens did not smile with its bright orange flames, but instead, wished to cry any minute.  It seemed as if the heavens was moved by the goodness of someone below, and pitied that person very much.

A woman, slender and graceful, stood patiently by the gate of a manor as if waiting for her husband.  Although there were loud cheers and laughter vibrating from inside the main courtyard, the woman’s face was pale and wet with tears.  She looked past the gate to the far distance, and then back at her abdomen.  She touched it and more tears flowed down her cheeks.  Her husband did not know that she was with child for a few months already.

“Nyab—Sister-in-Law!” a woman called from behind.

“Mab, it’s you,” the woman by the gate turned around and answered.

“Nyab, don’t shed anymore tears.  I too am saddened by what my brother has done to you, but no matter what, what has been done has already been done.  Whether anyone likes it or not, Luj Tuam is bringing his second wife home today.  Let’s just consider that this is your fate so the only thing you can do now is continue to be a good-hearted person who does the right thing.  One day, the sky will brighten and my brother will see your goodness.”

Nkauj Nog Prologue

            Once upon a time, the Miao lived in the fertile valley of the Yellow River.  Although majestic and grand, the river often flooded during the rainy season and swallowed many lives.  For some, the catastrophic circumstance was so intolerable that they were prompted to follow Txiv Yawg—Chiyou, to the northern land where they established the magnificent, technologically-advanced Kuj Cuab Cuaj Lig Ntuj—Juili Kingdom.  It was only after Txiv Yawg was defeated and lost his life at Lima Pass to the Yellow Emperor—Huangdi, that the Juili Miao crossed the river once more and returned south to reunite with their Miao relatives.

The Juili Miao soon discovered that their southern counterparts were scattered everywhere, dwelling a poor and backward lifestyle that lacked structure, leadership, and unity as a people.  They knew that in order to lead a life of comfort and prosperity, the Miao people must be organized into a civilization.  Thus, the Juili Miao became the leaders and applied Txiv Yawg’s innovative and profound principles of governorship, development, and solidarity to change the future of the Miao.  But the Miao homeland was impressive.  To reduce the daunting task of governing such an enormous country where some citizens may not even be aware of the existence of a monarch, the Miao leaders decided that it was wisest to divide the land into three kingdoms to better facilitate the process of ruling a people.  The western kingdom became known as Cuaj Zag—Nine Dragons; the middle kingdom was known as Lig Xia—Blue Li; and the eastern kingdom was termed Ntuj Kag—Clear Heavens.  So for a period of time this notion of governance flourished, and the three kingdoms existed peacefully and harmonically—prospering together.

But civilization and progress often lured attention, jealousy, and lust from neighbors.  Lingering in the northern land was the old nemesis of the Juili Miao—the Suav, descendants of the Yellow Emperor and his people.  Their population was booming but land became scarce.  When they heard of the prolific soil in the south, they gradually embarked on the journey south like large groups of infesting locusts and began to intrude and rob land away from the native inhabitants until they finally approached the northern border of the three kingdoms. 

Leej Nus Ntxim Hlub

This story was originally published in 2012, now updated with new artwork in 2026.

Chapter One - The Chairman's Seven Daughters

“General Manager, you are my most loyal employee and my friend.”

The chairman's voice carried across the enormous office, but there was none of the authority that usually accompanied it. Tonight, the man who had built an empire from almost nothing sounded weary—deeply, almost painfully weary.

He sat behind a polished mahogany desk, his broad shoulders slightly stooped beneath a white dress shirt with the collar loosened at his throat. Silver and white strands had overtaken much of his once-black hair, and faint lines had gathered around his eyes. Years of sleepless nights and endless business battles had left their marks upon him.

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city was sinking into evening. The last orange light of sunset glimmered between the towers while thousands of headlights began to flicker awake below. Even through the thick glass, the distant hum of traffic seemed to vibrate through the office.

The chairman barely noticed.

He picked up a framed photograph from the corner of his desk.

Seven young women smiled back at him.

His daughters.

A Candlelight Dream

  

The Miao drum thundered through the mountains.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

Each strike seemed to shake the earth beneath my feet.

I stood at the edge of the battlefield, watching smoke crawl through the valleys like dark fingers. Blood soaked the grass. Arrows hissed through the air. Men shouted names of the dead while women cried from the hillsides, their voices rising above the chaos before disappearing into the roar of war.