Chapter 221: Playing with a Broadsword Before Guan Gong's Gate

The morning sun pierced through the clouds, tearing the thin mist into wisps. Grass buds topped with dew shimmered like Gemstones.

Under the willow tree in the garden, Wang Qi Zhi leaned backward, then squatted down. Suddenly he stood up, arms spread into a horizontal line, one hand pointing to the sky, the other reaching toward the ground.

He muttered to himself: "Bear stretches, bird extensions... inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale..."

Ye Anning stood at the Backdoor of the hotel watching for a while; only when she walked over did she notice that Wang Qi Zhi was drenched in sweat.

"Uncle, what are you doing?"

"Practicing!" Wang Qi Zhi caught his breath. "Lin Sicheng said this is the guiding technique created by Bian Que!"

"Bian Que's medical skills were lost long ago; you listen to his nonsense?"

"Don't know if it's nonsense, but it's definitely useful! Have you forgotten? During the New Year, he fought four people alone and poked a hole in a car window with just a screwdriver!"

Wang Qi Zhi straightened his back and performed a bow-drawing motion. "He said once I've regulated my breathing, he'll teach me a set of fist techniques to practice in coordination!"

"Practicing fist techniques?" Ye Anning let out a "ha," her face full of oddity. "Uncle, are you going to film an action movie?"

Wang Qi Zhi's eyes flickered away: "What do you know?"

Whether it was created by Bian Que or not, Wang Qi Zhi didn't know. But he knew that this set of movements Lin Sicheng taught him was very similar to the Western Han Dynasty "Guiding Illustrations" unearthed at Mawangdui, and those included bedroom arts.

Everyone who has practiced it says it's incredibly useful, though ordinary people just can't practice it...

Ye Anning looked around again: "Where is he?"

"Went to the lakeside to practice his fist techniques!"

"Neglecting his proper work!"

Just as they were speaking, footsteps came from behind, and Lin Sicheng jogged into the garden.

The contrast was quite obvious: Wang Qi Zhi looked like he had been fished out of water, while there wasn't half a drop of sweat on Lin Sicheng's forehead.

"Sister Anning, up so early?"

Ye Anning pursed her lips: Early? It's almost eight o'clock.

Actually, she also wanted to get up early, like Lin Sicheng, to run and do some exercises, but after persisting for two days, she gave up:

At six o'clock on a winter morning, the sky was pitch black, not to mention the cold, and sometimes it even snowed, but Lin Sicheng was as steady as a rock.

She just couldn't figure it out, why train to be so sturdy?

Ye Anning looked at her watch again: "What time are we going to the Guan Sheng Temple?"

"Still early, wait for me and Teacher to change clothes!" Lin Sicheng waved his hand and went upstairs. "Then I'll take you to eat something good!"

As soon as eating something good was mentioned, Ye Anning began to lick her lips: "Eat what?"

"Guan Gong Lamb Soup!"

After changing clothes and driving, they headed west, passed the Salt Lake, and continued south, stopping only when they were almost at the Guan Sheng Temple.

The shop was not small and seemed newly renovated; the golden plaque on the storefront shone brightly: Jiezhou Wang Jian Mutton Bun!

The roadside was farmland, and the countryside was not far away, but both sides of the road were packed with cars, and there was a long queue at the shop entrance.

Looking inside, people were shoulder to shoulder, squeezed together, making it hard to even turn around.

Ye Anning looked surprised: "This counts as the suburbs, right? How are there still so many people?"

Lin Sicheng pointed to the honor wall in the shop, which was densely covered with copper plaques: China Pasta Specialty Gold Award, Shanxi Top Ten Catering Specialty Stores, Hedong Top Ten Catering Celebrities, Gold Medal Chef...

"A century-old brand, and there's a temple fair today, so of course there are many people!"

Ye Anning started licking her lips again: "Is it delicious?"

"Of course, and cheap too!"

Lin Sicheng directly bought a membership card and ordered everything on the menu.

Afterward, they went upstairs, and after talking for a while, the waiter brought the cold appetizers first.

Four types of beef: soy-braised, peppercorn-numbing, five-spice, and tendon. Two types of lamb: lamb tongue and cold-cut.

Additionally, there were Jishan Twisted Dough, thousand-layer crispy cakes, meat pies, and several vegetable dishes.

After just a few bites, the lamb soup was also brought up: soaked buns, boiled cakes, Hu Bu, vermicelli soup... a whole table full of various items.

After a shout, the group ate with a clatter.

Ye Anning puffed out her cheeks, mumbling: "Lin Sicheng, this Jishan Twisted Dough is delicious..."

"This is authentic Jishan Twisted Dough, with a longer heritage, over two hundred years!" Lin Sicheng said, holding a soup Bowl and scooping up vermicelli. "It was submitted for national intangible cultural heritage last year, and it should be approved in the next batch!"

"This lamb is also delicious!"

"Zhongtiao Mountain grass-fed sheep, they eat medicinal herbs... It is said that Guan Yu grew up eating this kind of lamb..."

"Are you talking nonsense again?"

"Why would I lie to you? Otherwise, why would it be called Guan Gong Lamb Soup?"

The two kept talking, and they ate incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, Lin Sicheng had finished two and a half bowls of lamb soup.

Ye Anning had eaten one and a half bowls, but she hadn't eaten less of the cold meat, at least half a jin.

Zhao Xiuneng felt that, other things aside, just talking about eating, these two were a perfect match: one loved to eat and wanted to taste everything they saw.

The other knew how to eat; no matter where they went, they knew exactly what the local flavor was and what the delicacies were.

Like a Wind sweeping away the clouds, they ate for almost an hour.

After giving the card to the waiter to pay the bill, just as it was returned, the sound of Firecrackers crackled outside.

Looking out, blue smoke rose from the square outside the Guan Sheng Temple.

Ye Anning looked excited and rushed to the window: "It's starting, it's starting..."

"What's the rush?"

Wang Qi Zhi glared at her and turned back: "General Manager Zhao, did that boss say when the porcelain pieces will be brought back?"

"Said it would be in the afternoon, two or three o'clock at the earliest!"

"Then let's go for a stroll first!"

Fang Jin did not like the noise, and the two Data Clerks also found it too loud, so Lin Sicheng had Zhao Er send them back to the hotel.

It was right across the street, only separated by one road; the remaining five people did not drive, but strolled over slowly.

There were an extreme number of people, and the area outside the mountain gate was packed tight. One could only see flags and banners standing like a forest, and a sea of people.

After the firecrackers finished exploding and incense was offered, a dozen or so burly men carried large sedan chairs out of the mountain gate.

There were four in total, front and back; the first three were Yao, Shun, and Yu, and the last one was Guan Yu.

Just as the four divine statues exited the plaza, a loud "Boom" sounded, and the ground beneath their feet swayed twice.

Following that, the gongs and drums shook the heavens.

Ye Anning was startled, and then her eyes widened.

Twenty-four girls draped in crimson phoenix robes and wearing kingfisher feather inlay crowns held drumsticks, striking war drums with force.

On both sides were eight young men each wearing arrow-sleeve robes; four held clappers, and four held wooden clappers, standing on either side to provide harmony.

She did not know what they were playing, but the rhythm felt sonorous and forceful, grand and bold, as if she had stepped onto a battlefield, and the blood in her entire body began to boil.

The twenty-plus girls were high-spirited and heroic; Ye Anning watched, dazzled and mesmerized.

They performed for nearly ten minutes before stopping, and Ye Anning's face was flushed: "Lin Sicheng, what kind of drum is this?"

"Jiangzhou (part of Yuncheng) Drum Music, Flower Beating Drum, a first-batch National Level World Heritage Application project; it was on the Spring Festival Gala the year before last!"

"It's so rousing, it's like fighting a war?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "What they just performed was 'Qin King Breaking the Formation Music', of course it's rousing!"

Just as they were speaking, another drum sounded, and forty or fifty men surged out of the temple gate.

They wore tight-fitting outfits and hero headbands, moving extremely fast; in the blink of an eye, they had formed a formation on the plaza.

They had waist drums tied to their waists and held knotted hemp ropes in their hands; with a "Boom", the soft mallets struck down in unison.

They only struck once, and as the drum sound paused, the dozen or so men on both sides struck their gongs in unison. Then, the forty or fifty gong and drum players all stepped forward together, letting out a loud shout.

With a hum, she felt the blood rush to her head, and her face felt numb.

They performed for another ten minutes or so, and beads of sweat seeped out on Ye Anning's forehead.

"Lin Sicheng, what kind of drum is this again?"

"Wanrong (part of Yuncheng) Soft Mallet Gong and Drum!"

"Is this also a battle music?"

"Yes, Liu Xiu's great battle against (Wang Mang) at Gufeng Mountain (Wanrong)!"

They hadn't spoken for long when another burst of drums sounded. Looking toward the sound, a dozen or so men in white clothes came out of the temple gate.

There were drums at their waists, drums on their shoulders, drums on their chests, drums on their backs, and even a drum on their foreheads.

The sound was much crisper, not as surging and impassioned as before, but much more festive.

And they danced while playing, sometimes reaching for their waists, sometimes reaching for their legs, sometimes circling their knees, and sometimes performing a 'Qin Qiong carrying a sword on his back' move.

Not until the performance ended did Ye Anning lean over: "Lin Sicheng, what kind of drum is this again?"

"Wanrong Drum Dance, also known as Multi-Drum, Duogu!"

"What is this piece?"

"Praying for a Bountiful Year!"

Before the words had faded, another group of girls in red jackets rushed out from the temple gate, one by one climbing onto a high platform made of stacked benches.

Following a drum beat, Ye Anning gasped: the twenty-plus girls hooked their legs around the benches and leaned backward in unison, forming a 'bridge' with their bodies.

Then they rose, reached toward the right side, and struck a mallet against a companion's drum surface.

Like this, they sometimes played backward, sometimes wrapped around their waists, sometimes wrapped and struck; the movements were extremely thrilling.

But it was also truly beautiful; Ye Anning was dazzled.

It was a good while after the performance ended before she came back to her senses: "Lin Sicheng, what kind of drum is this again?"

"Jishan High Platform Flower Drum, also featured on the Spring Festival Gala!"

"Why is it all drums?"

"The Jin region has been defending against the Qiang and Rong tribes since the Warring States and pre-Qin periods, all the way to the Ming Dynasty, defending against the Hu for over two thousand years. Because there were so many wars, the drum music that was passed down is also abundant. That is why there is the saying, 'All drum music under heaven comes from Shanxi'..."

Lin Sicheng smiled, "These four types are all National Level World Heritage Application projects; the only difference is that some are already listed in the catalog, while others are in the process of applying... And this is just in Yuncheng alone; in the whole of Shanxi, there are at least ten or twenty types of drum music that can apply for World Heritage status..."

"So many..." Ye Anning was startled, then pointed to the stage, "Are they starting to sing opera?"

Several middle-aged men and women dressed in opera costumes stood on the stage, some playing four-page tiles, some plucking the three-stringed lute.

Lin Sicheng took a look and listened for a moment: "Lin Yi's Meihu, also known as Qing Opera. This act is called 'Three Top Scholars'. In ancient times, when wealthy families held celebrations, blind people and the poor would go to add to the fun, and this is the play they would sing. That is why there is a theory that Meihu originated from the 'Lotus Falling' of Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces..."

"What about that one? The one holding the puppet?"

"That is Ruicheng String Opera, which also requires singing lyrics; one person plays two roles, roughly similar to a two-person comic act!"

"Oh, Lin Sicheng, look quickly, is that Dou E?"

"It is indeed Dou E. Guan Hanqing was a native of Yuncheng, and it is said he was a descendant of Guan Yu..." Lin Sicheng glanced at it, "This is Puzhou Clapper Opera, also known as Luan Tan... It has many unique skills, and it is quite good to watch..."

"How do you know?"

"It's written in books!"

"Hiss~"

The two chatted as they watched, in high spirits. Zhao Da and Zhao Er pricked up their ears, listening carefully.

Zhao Xiuneng and Wang Qi Zhi, however, looked at each other in dismay.

Get it straight, this is Shanxi, not Shaanxi.

Lin Sicheng, on the other hand, understands the food, understands the drum music, and even understands the opera... Are there any locals as familiar with it as he is?

Don't believe it?

Grab an audience member from below the stage and ask them what kind of drum was just performed, and what opera is being sung right now; how many locals could answer completely?

After the drum music and opera performances finished, followed by acrobatics, nearly three hours had passed, and the Four Sages patrolling the city returned.

They were carried into the temple, invited into the main hall, and then offerings were presented and homage paid. With another burst of drum music, the festivities truly began.

Food, games, clothing, and daily goods—it was dazzling and overwhelming.

Seeing a ring-toss stall, Ye Anning looked curious: "Lin Sicheng, look, there are chickens and geese... they're all so fat!"

Lin Sicheng looked helpless: "Cousin Ye, if you toss and win one of these, where do you plan to keep it?"

"Why would I keep it?" Ye Anning licked her lips: "Find a restaurant on the street, right?"

Always thinking about eating, there's no saving her!

Lin Sicheng sighed and took another look: "The chickens are fine, but those geese, I reckon they won't be easy to catch!"

"Why?"

According to Ye Anning's understanding, geese were larger, taller, and had such long necks; they surely had to be easier than chickens.

Lin Sicheng smiled: "They can turn their necks and dodge the rings you throw!"

Ye Anning was half-doubting: "That's not very likely, is it?"

Lin Sicheng didn't speak; he bought fifty yuan worth of rings on the spot.

It was quite expensive, five yuan each; catching a chicken counted as two, and a goose counted as three.

Ye Anning took the plastic rings, aimed for a long time, and then threw one out.

Then, while the ring was still halfway there, the goose began to shake its neck. And it wasn't just the one Ye Anning was aiming at that shook; the whole flock followed suit.

Unsurprisingly, the ring landed on the empty ground.

Ye Anning pointed at the geese, stunned for a long time: "No... Lin Sicheng, can it really turn its neck?"

"More than just turn it? If a ring lands on its neck, it can even take it off itself, believe it or not!"

"Impossible!"

"Don't believe me? Watch..."

Lin Sicheng took a ring and tossed it casually, "Whoosh~"

It was as accurate as could be, landing steadily around the neck of a large goose.

But immediately, the goose lowered its head, and the ring slid off.

It was no exaggeration; the eyes of Ye Anning and Wang Qi Zhi were about to pop out.

Zhao Xiuneng chuckled: Two city folk, where would they have seen this before?

"These geese have all been specially trained, Assistant Ye. Junior Brother Lin didn't lie to you; they really aren't easy to catch!"

Ye Anning was very open to advice; she stopped trying for the geese and went for the chickens.

As a result, every time she threw, the geese would move, and the chickens would follow suit. Her aim wasn't great either, and after throwing all eight rings, she hadn't even caught a single chicken feather.

Looking at her empty hands, she bought another fifty yuan worth.

Then she shoved them all into Lin Sicheng's hands, arguing with justification: "I've spent a hundred yuan, I have to win at least two back!"

Lin Sicheng looked at the rings, then at the couple guarding the stall, and the three children in the "Lan-camel" vehicle (a three-wheeled tractor) nearby.

"It's hard work for them to run a stall, isn't it a bit much?"

Ye Anning paused, then let out a "Ha": "Win one first before you talk!"

"Fine!"

As he spoke, Lin Sicheng tossed one out, and a ring landed precisely around the neck of a large goose.

Just as the goose's neck swung, a second ring flew over and landed just as accurately. Then a third... by the time the goose reacted, several rings had been pushed down to its belly; how could it shake them off?

The man guarding the stall looked simple-minded, as if stunned.

Lin Sicheng smiled and returned the remaining seven rings: "Buying a goose for a hundred yuan isn't a loss!"

The man finally reacted: Had he encountered an expert?

He hurriedly expressed his thanks, tied up the goose, and insisted on tying a large rooster for Lin Sicheng as well.

Calculating the cost, a chicken and a goose for a hundred yuan was more than enough, but Ye Anning still felt a bit embarrassed.

After tying them up in a few quick motions, they had Zhao Er deliver them to the car.

"No... Lin Sicheng, have you practiced this too?"

"Does this need practice? Didn't you say I'm a martial arts master..."

"Pfft~"

Before the words had even faded, Ye Anning stopped in her tracks.

Not far away, by the entrance of a side hall, a crowd had gathered. Tables were set up at the back of the area, and several men and women wearing work badges sat behind them.

In the middle stood three weapon racks, each holding a Green Dragon Crescent Blade. A railing surrounded them, and a sign stood to the side: "Wielding a Great Blade before Guan Gong."

The rules of the game were simple: three Guan Gong blades—one weighing twenty jin, one forty jin, and one sixty jin.

Regardless of which one it was, if you could lift it with one hand and hold it level for fifteen seconds, there was a prize.

The prizes were abundant, mostly local handicrafts, the most common being statues of Guan Gong—some large, some small, some civil, some martial, some bronze, some wood.

The entry fee wasn't cheap, ten yuan per try, so while many people watched, few actually played.

Ye Anning pursed her lips: "Aren't you a martial arts master? Come on..."

Lin Sicheng had never said such a thing; on the contrary, Ye Anning teased him constantly, saying that every morning he was either practicing Qi Gong (guiding techniques) or boxing, and that he was so diligent he must be a martial arts master from ancient times.

Lin Sicheng couldn't be bothered to correct her and pointed: "Which one do you want?"

"That one, just that half-person-tall Daoist; that's a statue of Lv Zu, right?"

Tsk, she really knew how to pick, didn't she?

That was a replica of the divine statue of Lv Zu worshipped at the Ruicheng Yongle Palace, a Ruicheng Yongle Peach Wood Carving. In a few years, it would be listed as a national intangible cultural heritage project.

Just that one piece, if bought with money, would cost at least five or six hundred.

Lin Sicheng nodded and went in to buy a ticket. Upon asking, he learned that to get that wooden carving of Lv Zu, one had to lift sixty jin, and for at least thirty seconds.

Ye Anning covered her mouth, laughing with schadenfreude.

Wang Qi Zhi glared at her, then shouted toward the center: "Lin Sicheng, be careful not to hurt yourself!"

There were guardrails on all sides, so he certainly wouldn't be hit; Wang Qi Zhi was afraid he would push himself too hard and strain his ligaments and muscles.

Lin Sicheng nodded: "I'll try it first!"

As he spoke, he gripped the handle of the blade and lifted it upward with one hand.

"Huh~"

Ye Anning paused for a moment, and then, she was stunned: Lin Sicheng was holding the blade, just holding it out level like that, without moving at all.

A blink of an eye ago, the surrounding crowd was still noisy and boisterous, with no lack of people mocking: "Young man, never mind holding it level, it would be good enough if you could even lift it."

There were even a few children nearby cheering him on.

But immediately, it suddenly went quiet, and their necks all stretched forward in unison.

No way... buddy, that blade is a full sixty jin?

It wasn't that no one had tried before; with the guardrails so far away, people couldn't get close, so they could only lift it straight up. So never mind holding it up, they couldn't even lift it.

It wasn't that no one had tried the two blades on the side either; never mind forty jin, even twenty jin required them to use every ounce of their strength.

By the time they lasted fifteen seconds, their legs would be shaking uncontrollably, their arms would be trembling like a winnowing sieve, and their faces would be as red as Guan Gong.

But at this moment, this young man's legs weren't shaking, his arms weren't trembling, and his complexion hadn't even changed in the slightest.

Lin Sicheng counted silently; it had already been forty seconds and no one had called for him to stop. He turned his head and glared at the staff members: "Did you buy your watches from abroad or something?"

He looked down and saw it had already been forty-five seconds.

It wasn't that they wouldn't honor the agreement, but that they were truly stunned...

"Sorry, sorry..." Several people hurriedly stopped their stopwatches and ran over.

Lin Sicheng tossed it aside, and with a "thud," the weapon rack swayed twice.

Suddenly, cheers shook the sky.

Ye Anning was dazed and wooden, staring blankly for a long time: "He... he really lifted it?"

Wang Qi Zhi didn't think much of it: "Didn't you say before that he knows Qi Gong?"

I was just joking.

Ye Anning opened her mouth, not knowing how to refute...