tr "`echo -e 'xE2x80x99'`" "`echo -e 'x27'`" < a > b

We’re not a different species
“All alone?” Jeth mentioned.

We're not a different species
“All alone?” Jeth mentioned.

We'''re not a different species
''<9C>All alone?''<9D> Jeth mentioned.

$ sed "s/’/'/g" <a
We're not a different species
“All alone?” Jeth mentioned.

$ sed "y/’/'/" <a
We're not a different species
“All alone?” Jeth mentioned.

$ echo -n ' | wc -c
1
$ echo -n ’ | wc -c
3

$ iconv -f utf-8 -t ascii//translit < a
We're not a different species
"All alone?" Jeth mentioned.