Chapter 21: Liu Si Niang Returns, Zhong Jinqiu Listens to the Wind

Although the person felt off, the banquet was still quite pleasant.

The cook raised by the Mayor himself had a different style from the delicacies previously eaten in town.

Large chunks of braised beef, stewed until soft and flavorful, even the tendon could be bitten through easily.

Chicken and pork stewed in one pot, pickled cabbage with pig's trotters, bamboo tube chicken, cold mint salad, pineapple sticky rice, and red bean sour soup.

Since arriving in this world, Chu Tianshu had mostly eaten meat, and it had been a long time since he had such a well-balanced feast.

Especially the pineapple sticky rice.

He didn't know what variety it was; compared to modern pineapples, it lacked much sweetness but also lacked the sour astringency, being refreshing, sweet, and smooth.

The Mayor seemed to have inquired about Chu Tianshu's appetite, as the main dishes on the table were piled high.

Tables were filled in the front hall and front courtyard, and the bright sun outside couldn't dampen the enthusiasm for this big meal.

After noon, the crowd gradually stopped eating, but didn't leave the tables, just chatting idly.

The Mayor always wanted to talk to Zhou Fuguan, but Zhou Fuguan always chatted with Chu Tianshu about things he had seen in the city.

Nearby, the masters of the Zhu and Tan families finally found an opportunity to chat with Shopkeeper Ma, who had revealed his identity as a mage.

Meng Lianfa and Zhong Jinqiu chatted about tea leaves.

"... Yizhou Martial Arts Hall?"

Chu Tianshu nodded, "I've seen it in the newspaper. It's a place for training new-style military officers, studying military strategy and tactics, and emphasizing the training of new soldiers."

Zhou Fuguan had already taken off his torn clothes and changed into a black jacket with centipede-style toggles from the Mayor's house. He sat at the table, leaning to one side, talking with great interest.

"That place is not just a place to learn military strategy; it might also be the martial arts school with the deepest foundation in all of Yizhou."

Zhou Fuguan said, "Although it hasn't been established for long, the various fist technique manuals and weapon skills collected there are so numerous that one or two rooms couldn't hold them. I hear there are also many rare records of magical arts stored there."

"Currently, they haven't produced any particularly famous masters, but once the students graduate and temper themselves for a few years, who knows."

Chu Tianshu listened with great interest, which showed on his face.

"Brother, you have such martial arts skills at your age; staying in this small town is truly a waste."

Zhou Fuguan said, "Our Colonel is a good brother of mine, and he can recommend specialized students to the Martial Arts Hall. If you have any interest, Brother, I will ask him to write a letter of recommendation when I return."

Chu Tianshu quickly said: "I have done nothing to deserve such a reward; I dare not accept."

Zhou Fuguan said: "In the current situation, everyone's life is unsettled, but if you have skills and can command military power, you will always feel more secure than being helpless."

"With your age and foundation, Brother, if you return after further study at the Martial Arts Hall, securing a battalion-level position under our Colonel would be a matter of course. It's not helping you for nothing; in the end, it's brothers helping each other, and I see a future for you."

"In the future, we can build a career together and rise together; how satisfying that would be!"

Shopkeeper Ma suddenly said: "If you join the army and make a career for yourself, that would indeed be a good path."

Chu Tianshu couldn't help but look at the old man.

From Shopkeeper Ma's perspective, given the spirit, martial strength, and various circumstances Chu Tianshu had shown, joining the army in the future should be the best choice.

If it weren't for the token screen showing the hope of returning home.

Chu Tianshu estimated he would really find a way to enter the Martial Arts Hall; even if he didn't take Colonel Xu's path, he could try it himself.

However, at least for now, he wasn't prepared to lock himself into a military academy in this unfamiliar Republic era.

"I still feel that I can't stand the military regulations and mundane affairs. Perhaps in a year or so, my thoughts will change."

Chu Tianshu smiled and raised his glass, "Let's not talk about that; let's drink first."

Zhou Fuguan looked somewhat regretful, holding his glass and taking a sip.

Everyone watched as the afternoon passed; the sun should have been an hour or so from setting, but the sunlight wasn't as intense anymore.

An old man arrived outside, wearing a black hat with a jade ornament on the front shining brightly. His face was white and ruddy, his goatee fine and soft, and he held a snuff bottle, looking for Zhou Fuguan.

"Chen Banzhu!"

Zhou Fuguan greeted him, "Is the Old Master settled?"

Before Chen Banzhu entered the door, he already had a smile on his face: "The Old Master has already rested, and the troupe has regained their spirits. Since there are no bright lights here like in the city, we'll have to set up the stage in the wild to perform the grand play. We might as well start early."

Zhou Fuguan thought that made sense: "To share the joy with the people, we do need to find a spacious place."

Chen Banzhu said: "I've already found the place. There is a river to the west of the town, with a large grassy area in front of the riverbank. But to set up the stage, we need people to lend a hand."

Zhou Fuguan laughed: "So you're borrowing people."

"You lot!"

He waved his hand casually and shouted to the soldiers who were full and resting, "All of you, go with Chen Banzhu to set up the stage."

The soldiers responded in unison and followed Chen Banzhu out the door.

No one paid much attention to the time, and it felt like not long after, someone came to pass the message that the stage had been set up.

Chu Tianshu and the others went to the west of the town to take a look.

The stage was more than three feet high and about ten paces square, with thick canvas supported by large bamboo poles at the edges to serve as a roof.

The front of the shed was open for viewing, while the back had canvas hanging down, preventing people from seeing what was happening behind the stage.

Many townspeople had already gathered on the grass, waiting to watch the play. The empty seats in the front row were left unoccupied, clearly reserved for the Mayor, Zhou Fuguan, and the others.

Zhou Fuguan pulled Chu Tianshu to sit in the front.

At this time, one could still see people moving things from the nearby carriages to behind the stage, very solemnly, especially the last item.

Before moving it, the troupe leader bowed three times to the carriage, then solemnly carried it out, walking step by step as if measured, toward the back of the stage.

It turned out to be a colorful porcelain statue about a foot high, dressed like a martial general in a play, with a dignified face, sitting on a precious chair.

"It's the statue of Huaguang."

The Mayor praised from the side, "Although the Great Emperor Huaguang is also called the Great Emperor Wuxian, regarded as the God of Wealth for theater troupes and the founding master of acting, it is rare to see such respect when setting up a stage and performing in the wild."

"Truly worthy of a troupe raised by the Old Master!"

Zhou Fuguan laughed: "That's right. Don't look at this troupe as having only twenty-odd people; each one has unique skills, and they can perform all eighteen classic plays of the Jianghu."

He raised his voice, "Chen Banzhu, what are you performing today?"

Chen Banzhu poked his head out from behind the curtain and replied: "Since we are starting from sunset, we will perform the Mulian play."

The Mayor slapped the armrest: "Mulian play, 'Red at Both Ends', good!"

The Mulian play tells the story of Mulian saving his mother, but it is already very different from the small story of Mulian, a disciple of Buddha, having gone through local folk adaptation and revision.

The so-called "Red at Both Ends" means that those who perform this play often start from sunset and sing until sunrise the next day, seeing the red sun at both the beginning and the end.

Chu Tianshu was not interested in the play. He felt that if he practiced less on any given day, he wouldn't feel satisfied. It was fine during the meal, but now that it was almost dark and he still had to stay here, it was a waste of time.

But he found that not only Zhou Fuguan and the Mayor, but also Shopkeeper Ma, Zhong Jinqiu, and Meng Lianfa in the neighboring seats were all full of excitement.

Turning his head again, he clearly saw the cook and assistant from the restaurant in the crowd.

Fine, let's watch then.

The Mulian play is too long to finish in one night, so they often choose a wonderful segment to start, becoming more and more exciting as it goes on.

Today's opening started with a flurry of gongs and drums. A woman climbed onto the stage from behind the curtain, wearing black clothes with long sleeves, small feet taking tiny steps, and ghost makeup with eyebrows drawn in green. With a few lines of recitation, she briefly summarized the previous events.

This person was Mulian's mother, "Liu Si Niang," and the performance was "Liu Si Niang Returns."

It said that Liu Si Niang had sworn to serve Buddha, but then broke her vow to eat meat, violating the five precepts, and was cast into hell. Today, taking advantage of the opening of the Ghost Gate, she followed two ghost messengers home to visit her relatives.

Another gong sounded from behind the curtain, and the tune was eerie. Two ghost messengers on stilts climbed onto the stage, swaying.

Chu Tianshu found it a bit interesting. The two ghost messengers were on stilts, stepping on foot-long wooden sticks, their bodies swaying back and forth, very dangerous, but they never fell, fully displaying the elusiveness of ghosts.

He had long heard that in the old society, performers in large theater troupes also had real skills.

This troupe, although not large in scale, actually had some extraordinary skills.

But compared to Liu Si Niang, these two ghost messengers were much worse.

According to the script, the two ghost messengers enjoyed the offerings on the table, while Liu Si Niang was so hungry she couldn't help it, picking up two candles and gnawing on them.

Originally, this segment was just a quick performance of biting the candles and then mixing in a bit of fire-swallowing and fire-spitting.

But this Liu Si Niang bit the candle head off in one bite, her tongue seemingly wrapped in firelight, then spat it out to light the remaining candles, then bit and spat again.

The firelight flickered, the candles dimmed and brightened, and the drumbeats became faster and faster.

Chu Tianshu saw clearly that from the first bite, Liu Si Niang hadn't taken a breath. With just one breath, she bit off two long candles, during which she swallowed and spat fire dozens of times.

This skill was much more powerful than the two ghost messengers.

Soon, Liu Si Niang's son appeared. Liu Si Niang didn't want her son to see her ghostly appearance, so she raised her sleeves to cover her face, dodging left and right.

She didn't have bound feet; she wore wooden small feet on the soles of her feet, which was very inconvenient, but she relied on such steps to jump freely among the tables and chairs on the stage.

Standing on one foot on the back of a chair, the whole chair rotated, and her other leg could slowly be raised above her head, half-covering her face with her sleeve, her eyes sweeping over the audience.

A burst of intense applause and cheers erupted from the audience.

Chu Tianshu met that gaze.

The woman's eyes were sorrowful, but when the corners of her eyes hooked, they suddenly changed, truly like the seven parts of resentment after a ghost suffers, her voice chanting and turning.

"Impressive!"

Chu Tianshu couldn't help but clap. There was no evil energy on the other person, but those eyes were really like a ghost's; he was an expert in this.

The theater troupe likely also served as the Old Master's guards, which was why they had so many skilled people.

Looking at this Liu Si Niang, she should be proficient in cold, poisonous, and ruthless fighting methods like "skirt-hidden legs" and "poking feet."

One night passed, others watched the play, and he watched the play too, everyone was satisfied.

It was probably only Chu Tianshu who knew what he was pondering all night.

When the sun rose and the crowd dispersed, Zhou Fuguan made an appointment to watch another one in seven days, and then everyone went home.

Chu Tianshu returned to the restaurant and was still a bit distracted as he walked toward his room.

Shopkeeper Ma and Zhong Jinqiu, who were behind him, stopped when they reached the courtyard.

The wind blew through the small tree in the courtyard, and Shopkeeper Ma sighed as he looked at the yellow leaves on the branches.

"I'm really old, my energy isn't what it used to be. After joining in the fun all night, I feel restless, as if something is not quite right."

"It's normal for your physique to feel flustered after staying up late. My constitution isn't that bad, but I have the same feeling."

Zhong Jinqiu reached out to catch a leaf and suddenly changed the subject, "That thing you mentioned yesterday, were you thinking of giving the Spirit Yang Gall to Chu Tianshu?"

Shopkeeper Ma was stunned: "Wait until you spend some time together..."

Zhong Jinqiu said decisively: "You've always been a better judge of character than me. If you've decided, then that's it. When we roamed the Jianghu in the past, you were the brains and I was the hands."

Shopkeeper Ma laughed: "I'm at most the eyes, and you are the ears, hands, feet, and weapons all in one. This matter requires your effort, but I still wanted to wait for you to see him a bit more."

"Hmm... then listen to me. I'll go sleep for four hours, and then I'll bring the thing over."

Zhong Jinqiu looked thoughtful, raised his palm, and gently flipped it like a wave. The withered, yellow, narrow leaf quietly landed on the tip of his middle finger, and with just a slight breeze, it couldn't help but spin.

If he was the ears, then from this half-day and one night, he had already vaguely heard the disturbing wind.

He still couldn't say exactly how it would be disturbing.

While the wind wasn't yet fierce, seeing that his old friend had a thought, he would fulfill it first!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 22 =====