So he strolled forward, extended a finger, and knocked three times on the wooden door. Knock, knock, knock.
No one answered. The arguing inside continued.
Cui Jiuyang struck harder, pounding three more times. Bang, bang, bang.
The arguing in the courtyard stopped abruptly, as though someone had pressed pause.
After a brief silence, a middle-aged man's deep voice came from within, carrying a hint of impatience and authority. "Xiaoliu, go open the door! See who's outside!"
A burst of hurried footsteps followed. The creaking wooden door was pulled open a crack from inside, and a boy of about thirteen or fourteen poked his head out to give Cui Jiuyang a wary look, then turned back toward the courtyard and called, "Someone I haven't seen before."
Only then did he open the door fully and step aside, exposing Cui Jiuyang to the eyes of everyone in the courtyard.
Cui Jiuyang swept his gaze across the sizable courtyard. It was packed with people, men and women, young and old. Perhaps the whole village was sitting here.
The crowd had left a small clearing in the middle, where a crude wooden table stood with a somewhat worn wooden chest on top. Beside it stood a tall, middle-aged man with a square face, dark skin, and sharp eyes. He was probably the one who had ordered the boy to open the door.
Seeing Cui Jiuyang's unfamiliar face, the middle-aged man looked him up and down before frowning and asking in a deep voice, "Young man, you look like a stranger. What have you come to our village for?"
Cui Jiuyang put on a harmless smile, scratched his head, and grinned. "I was only passing through and lost my way. I happened to hear you arguing, and curiosity got the better of me, so I