Liu Cheng had once deeply despised Wang Yang for "neglecting his proper pursuits" and eagerly chasing commercial profits. He could not understand how someone of Wang Yang's learning and pedigree could be so enthusiastic about the lowly business of trade. Of course, back then, he had hated Wang Yang so much his teeth itched, leaving no room for careful reflection. He had simply assumed Wang Yang was blinded by greed, willingly debasing himself, a born money-grubber utterly without shame!
That did not seem entirely wrong, either?
So even on the Dragon Boat Festival, when Wang Yang had left him at the Yu Family with no words or arguments left, his heart and soul shattered, he had not bowed to Wang Yang's "heretical nonsense." Instead, he had become even more convinced that Wang Yang was a silver-tongued liar and a thoroughly wicked man.
Later, after the tribespeople captured him, Le Luoluo had initially instructed others to look after him, and his days had been tolerable. But once Le Luoluo stopped visiting him, those tribespeople gradually grew careless in their treatment of him. After his failed escape, he had suffered beatings and humiliation to his heart's bitter content, and his living conditions had deteriorated further. Back then, he had not yet met Lema and the others, nor had the four women cared for him. His only possessions were a cracked bowl and a tattered straw mat, and he could not even get enough to eat. That had been his hardest stretch of days.
During that time, he had gone mad craving meat-truly mad. Once, he had seen a large bone discarded by the tribespeople. Both ends had been gnawed shiny, but two big chunks of sinew and lean meat remained around the joint in the middle. Two whole chunks of lean meat!!