When they arrived in Maozhu County, it was mid-October and already quite cold.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The two reached their destination at dusk and found an inn to stay. The first thing they did was ask for a tub of hot water to bathe.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Let''s go out tomorrow to buy some thick clothes and inquire about the route ahead," Liu Ming''an said from behind the screen.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning, soaking in the hot water inside the screen,zily responded with an "Mm-hmm."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The ancient way of traveling was truly unbearable. After the long journey by horse-drawn carriage, Jiang Ning felt like her entire body was falling apart. Even now, lying still, she could still feel the swaying motion of the carriage.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning silently added this grievance to the ount of the person who sold her. When she found the one who beat and sold her, she would definitely make them pay!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The next day, as the two went downstairs and looked around, they discovered that the carriage driver from Wine Selling Town was right - Maozhu County indeed had bamboo everywhere, and there wasn''t much else to see.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The streets were filled with a dazzling array of bamboo items. Beyond the usual bamboo mats, beds, fans, and curtains, there were wine shops selling bamboo leaf wine, street stalls offering bamboo tube rice, and even bamboo hairpins at the essories stands for women.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
However, when they saw someone selling insects from a wooden bucket, the inexperienced Liu Ming''an fell silent.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The vendor split open a bamboo section, revealing a mass of white, writhing insects inside. With a bright smile, he carefully shook the insects into the wooden bucket.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Customers would reach into the pile of insects, scoop up a handful to inspect, while the creatures crawled out between their fingers and along their hands.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Liu Ming''an felt his scalp tingle at the sight. Even after turning away, the image kept reying in his mind.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Those are bamboo worms. Don''t be afraid, they can be fried and eaten," Jiang Ning kindly exined.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Liu Ming''an looked around to make sure no one was nearby before asking in a low voice, "Aren''t those... maggots?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning had noticed his furrowed brow and the expression of someone who had swallowed a fly. She thought Liu Ming''an was afraid of insects, but now realized he had misunderstood.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"They''re not maggots, they''re bamboo worms that grow inside bamboo. They''re quite clean," Jiang Ning exined, somewhat amused.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Liu Ming''an nodded, finally feeling less disgusted. "Indeed, customs differ every ten miles, and even more so every hundred. I still have much to see and learn."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning followed Liu Ming''an as they strolled the streets, making inquiries while shopping for clothes. They received good news at a ready-made clothing store.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Thendy, upon hearing they wanted to go to Qushui City, pped her thigh excitedly and said, "Yesterday, a theater troupe came to buy fabric for costumes, and they said they were heading to Qushui City too. Theater troupes usually travel in groups of over a dozen people, so they must have carriages and horses. You two should go find the troupe leader and see if they can take you along..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Liu Ming''an quickly thanked her. After each of them bought two sets of thick clothes and returned them to the inn, they followed the address given by thendy and found the theater troupe at arge courtyard house.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"You want to go to Qushui City?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The troupe leader was a kindly old man in his sixties. He sipped water from a purple y teapot as he smiled at Jiang Ning and Liu Ming''an, asking the question.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Yes, we''d like to ask for your help, Master Cui. We don''t know the way," Liu Ming''an said.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Liu Ming''an had learned from thendy that the troupe leader''s surname was Cui, with the given name Shan. He was said to be easy to get along with.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Liu Ming''an took out a silver tael from his pocket and handed it over, then sincerely added, "We promise not to cause any trouble for you all."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Cui Shan looked at this handsome, refined, and polite young man,ughed heartily, and pushed the silver back. "We''re going the same way anyway, so it''s no trouble to take you along. It''ll be nice to have more people to chat with on the journey."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Liu Ming''an was delighted to hear this and was about to bow in gratitude when Cui Shan continued, "Don''t thank me yet. There''s something I need to say first."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Please, go ahead!" Liu Ming''an said respectfully.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Do you know that we need to pass through Zhuangzhu Vige on the way from Maozhu County to Qushui City?" Cui Shan asked.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Yes, I do," Liu Ming''an nodded. The owner of the Hundred Knowledge Tower had told him the same.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"We''ll be stopping in Zhuangzhu Vige for two or three days. If you''re not in a hurry,e join us after breakfast on the third day, and we''ll set off together," Cui Shan said.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Liu Ming''an turned to look at Jiang Ning, who had already picked up the silver tael and ced it next to Cui Shan. She thanked him sincerely, "Thank you, Master Cui. We''ll be there. Please ept this silver as a token of our appreciation for tea. We''ll take our leave now."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Hahaha... Well, thank you then!" Cui Shan wasn''t one to be coy. He epted the silver graciously and saw them to the door.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Three dayster, after breakfast, Liu Ming''an and Jiang Ning arrived at the house where Cui Shan and his troupe were staying.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The theater troupe consisted of twelve people, making it fourteen including Liu Ming''an and Jiang Ning. The entire group had four horse-drawn carriages, carrying not only people but also boxes of musical instruments, costumes, and props.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Along the way, Cui Shan, having nothing else to do, often chatted with Liu Ming''an, sharing stories of his many years running the theater troupe and his travels across thend. His troupe members were tired of hearing these tales and didn''t pay much attention, but Liu Ming''an was an excellent listener. He listened attentively and gave timely feedback, which made Cui Shan take a great liking to the young man.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The two got along so well that before half a day had passed, they were already addressing each other as "Uncle Cui" and "Ming''an," developing something of an intergenerational friendship.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As they neared Zhuangzhu Vige, Cui Shan said, "Ming''an, the vige head of Zhuangzhu Vige loves schrs. You''ll surely be treated as an honored guest when we arrive."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Indeed, this turned out to be true. When the group entered the vige and Cui Shan introduced Liu Ming''an to the old vige head, thetter''s eyes immediately lit up. He sped his hands and bowed, addressing Liu Ming''an as "Honored Schr Liu."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Liu Ming''an was startled by this reception. Cui Shan patted him on the shoulder,ughing heartily, and after a while, whispered to him, "The vige head probably wants to soak up some of your schrly aura!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"What do you mean?" Liu Ming''an didn''t understand.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"This vige head tried to be a xiucai (entry-level schr) in his youth but failed the exams his entire life. He forced his two sons to take the exams, but unfortunately, neither of them had the aptitude for studying. Now he''s set his sights on his grandson. He invited us here to perform for his newborn grandson. Do you know which ys we''re going to perform?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Liu Ming''an shook his head; he wasn''t familiar with opera.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Cui Shan''s eyes twinkled with mischief, and like a mischievous child, he counted off on his fingers for Liu Ming''an: "''The Top Schr Pays Respects to His Mother,'' ''The Top Schr as Matchmaker,'' ''The Butcher Bes Top Schr,'' ''The Saga of the Top Schr,'' ''Achieving Top Schr Rank''... We''ll be performing these over the next two days."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After hearing this, all Liu Ming''an could think of was the phrase "Top Schr."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Hahaha... So he respects you, just ept it. The old man has a bit of an obsession, a lifelongplex... After we finish our performances, we''ll head to Qushui City together."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
With that, Cui Shan left to direct the setup of the stage at the vige entrance.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was the first time Liu Ming''an had received such special treatment due to his schr status, and he still couldn''t quite understand it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Jiang Ning, why do you think the vige head has such strong conviction?" he asked.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
To struggle for a lifetime, to force his sons to struggle, and now to ce such deep expectations on his newborn grandson.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning thought for a moment and said, "All trades are lowly, only studying is high."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Liu Ming''an disagreed, "Schrs, farmers, artisans, and merchants - how can there be a hierarchy among them?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning looked at Liu Ming''an. The young man''s eyes were clear and pure, his gaze as innocent as a child''s, his thoughts simple and uplicated. It was evident that he had not yet been battered by the harsh realities of life.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Even in a feudal society with clear ss distinctions, let alone in the modern world that proimed "all men are created equal," the differences between people were often greater than those between humans and dogs. Where was true equality to be found?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Liu Ming''an had not left Lingshan Town in his neen years, and his worldview was limited to the few ssics he had read. The darker side of the world had not yet had a chance to reveal itself to him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning had no intention of trying to convince Liu Ming''an otherwise. An innocent heart was a rare and precious thing in this world, and she was willing to protect Liu Ming''an''s pure nature as much as possible.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In the end, Jiang Ning changed the subject.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Let''s go help Master Cui set up the stage. They seem to be short-handed."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0