Sun Bu was taken back to the Post House in Nanye. After heating water to wash the grime from his body and changing into clean clothes, he stepped out of his room to find that Ding Feng had already laid out a banquet at the Post House to calm his nerves.
Ding Feng was from Anfeng in Lujiang. Born humble and untutored in letters or strategy, he had clawed his way up from the lowest-ranked foot soldier, and only he knew the bitterness he had endured along the way. He belonged to the Huaisi faction but had no patron to rely on. Thus, even now that he was nearing thirty, amid the rapid withering of Jiangdong's generals, he had still failed to distinguish himself and remained merely a minor Colonel in the army.
After taking society's beatings, a person usually slowly learned to adapt to its rules. He had once served under Chen Wu and Pan Zhang, but unfortunately, both patrons had collapsed on their own. Before he could even forge connections under Lu Xun, he had been sent to guard the frontier in southern Luling.
After Wang Jin had publicly humiliated him, Lu Dai, the Governor of Luling, had not been close to him either. Just as Ding Feng was idling away his days, Sun Bu suddenly appeared before him. That was why Ding Feng displayed an enthusiasm unlike anything before.
Though Nanye County was originally short on supplies, Ding Feng had still prepared a table full of fine wine and dishes. Unfortunately, Sun Bu feared that drink might loosen his tongue. After merely two bowls of wine, he drank no more and focused all his attention on the food before him.
After enjoying the calming banquet, Ding Feng wanted to keep Sun Bu for a few more days.