"Last month?"
That was indeed when Longwu Commandery had suffered disaster.
He had asked his father to keep an eye on things there, hoping to learn how his confidante was doing. It was rare to find a true kindred spirit in life; what a pity it would be if she had died so soon. Though he didn't know exactly what had happened, he knew the final outcome: a great victory.
Mama Ji was blessed by heaven and turned misfortune into fortune.
Now, hearing the story again didn't make his heart ache.
"Was it really that bizarre?"
He even found himself getting a little invested in the gossip.
Gongxi Chou dragged his little stool closer to the merchant. Everyone was eager to hear the gossip and paid him no mind, so he slipped right in among them. He even asked the shopkeeper for a plate of beans. Tucking his father's urn beneath his left arm, he tossed beans into his mouth with his right hand.
He urged excitedly, "Come on, quit keeping us in suspense."
The other listeners joined in.
"Exactly!"
"Anything entertaining should be shared!"
One impatient fellow even threatened him. "You blockhead, if you keep dodging the question, we're all leaving!"
The merchant's face darkened as everyone ganged up on him. He pretended to be annoyed and waved them away. "Go on, get lost! Listen or don't, I don't care! This isn't something I can explain in a couple of sentences. I heard it from someone else on the road, so shouldn't I take the time to polish it up a little?"
A good story needed its twists and turns.
Everyone immediately stopped pressing him.
A month earlier, Longwu Commandery. Deep in the night.
Rustle, rustle.
"Got him!"
"Chief, we caught a scout!"
With a graceful arc, a