Having said that, Xiao Hua lifted his foot to leave. The scholar opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to offer words of thanks, but seeing Xiao Hua's calm, unruffled manner, he ultimately said nothing. Yet just as Xiao Hua had taken two steps, he heard one of the four burly men behind him hurriedly lean close to the scholar's ear and whisper a few words. "Young Master, I fear it will not be easy for us to enter the city today. The person Young Master arranged to meet... is still waiting inside the city, isn't he? We can naturally go there, but would that not make him unhappy? Young Master, why not ask this gentleman to bring Young Master into the city..."
The burly man put particular weight on the word "ask," and Xiao Hua frowned when he heard it. Still, he pretended not to have heard, raised the book in his hand, and swayed his head as he recited, "The Master said, 'Was not Shun greatly filial? His virtue made him a sage, his rank made him Son of Heaven, and he possessed all within the Four Seas. His ancestors received the offerings in their temples, and his descendants preserved them.' Thus, one of great virtue must attain his position, must attain his emolument, must attain his fame, and must attain his longevity. Therefore, when Heaven gives birth to things, it surely enriches them according to their material. Thus, what is planted, it nurtures; what is overturned, it topples. The Book of Odes says, 'The joyous gentleman possesses splendid virtue, fitting for the people and fitting to govern men. He receives his emolument from Heaven. Heaven protects and ordains him; Heaven renews his mandate.' Thus, one of great virtue must receive the mandate..."
Xiao Hua had only gone several zhang