Eternal madness

Chapter 4: A Devastating Situation (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

After spending two days and two nights on the train, Zhang Laifu could not speak or move except to eat and use the toilet.

On the morning of the third day, Lao Song asked Lao Yu and Lao Zheng to pack their things and get off the bus, and to take some cotton from Zhang Laifu's body.

Zhang Laifu sat up in bed, took a few steps, coughed twice, and tested his voice.

It can move and speak.

Old Song instructed, "Laifu, remember the rules on set."

Zhang Lai Fu nodded repeatedly.

After packing his luggage, Lao Yu lowered his voice and said to Lao Zheng, "Why did you let him get up again?"

Old Zheng frowned: "Didn't I tell you? He has no identity in Wansheng Prefecture. The people on the platform are not easy to fool. He can't be too conspicuous."

The image of the train attendant reappeared on the poster: "Dear passengers, we are about to arrive at Heishakou Station. Passengers who are about to arrive, please gather your personal belongings and prepare to disembark in advance."

The group left the room and walked out of the fire exit, where there was still a corridor outside.

The corridor was very dark, without any light. Lao Yu and Lao Zheng led Zhang Laifu one after the other. After walking for more than ten minutes, Zhang Laifu heard some sounds.

Clang!

That's the sound of gongs and drums.

Song Yongchang walked in front, meandering east and west until he reached the wall. He knocked on the wall six times and coughed twice: "This big lock on the door is very heavy."

A voice answered from outside the door: "The lock isn't afraid of being heavy; let's see if you have the key."

Song Yongchang said, "The keys are shiny from all the travel."

The person outside the door replied, "You've all worked hard. Go home and get some rest."

The door opened, and the doorman asked Song Yongchang, "Are these all your people?"

Song Yongchang counted his men and said to the gatekeeper, "These are my men; I don't recognize the rest."

The gatekeeper collected the money as agreed and let Song Yongchang and his group pass.

There was still a corridor ahead, but after passing through it and opening the door, Zhang Laifu's eyes finally lit up.

Before me was a stage, and on it, a beautiful and spirited woman sang: "The drums are played, the banners are raised, and the canopy soars into the sky; the warships are arrayed, surrounded by iron chains. Listen to the battle cries from the army."

With lofty banners and unwavering resolve, they shook the river's tides; with unwavering loyalty and utmost courage, they safeguarded the banner of the Great Song Dynasty!

The audience cheered continuously. Zhang Laifu didn't understand opera, but he felt that the woman was stunningly beautiful yet majestic. Her unique temperament and superb performance made it impossible to look away.

Old Song found a spot and had everyone sit down. According to the rules here, they had to watch the entire show before they could leave.

Old Zheng sat to Zhang Laifu's left and Han Yucheng to his right. Watching the woman's performance, Old Zheng kept cheering.

"Laifu, this is a female warrior role (Daomadan), do you understand it?"

Zhang Laifu shook his head and said, "I don't quite understand. What are those two long things on her hat?"

Old Zheng explained earnestly, "Those are the plumes on the helmet!"

What's the name of the flag she's carrying on her back?

"That's called a flag."

What's the name of the opera she sang?

“This is called ‘Battle of Jinshan’!” Han Yucheng chimed in from the side.

Old Zheng asked with delight, "Little Han, you like traditional opera?"

Han Yucheng nodded: "I also have some knowledge of traditional art."

"The things our ancestors left behind are really good!" Old Zheng stared intently at the stage, completely absorbed.

Han Yucheng leaned close to Zhang Laifu's ear and suddenly said, "Do you know where this is?"

Zhang Laifu was taken aback and turned to look at Han Yucheng: "This is a film set!"

Han Yucheng was silent for a moment, then whispered in Zhang Laifu's ear, "A fool like you deserves to die, even if you die a hundred times over."

Zhang Laifu thought for a moment, then turned to look at Han Yucheng: "Is this your line?"

Han Yucheng was both amused and exasperated: "Yes, these are my lines. What do you want to say?"

“I have nothing to say,” Zhang Laifu shook his head. “I have no lines.”

Old Zheng chuckled beside him; Zhang Laifu had been taught a lesson and was now behaving himself.

After the play ended, Old Song led everyone out of the theater. Zhang Laifu looked back at the signboard, which read three big characters: Qingxiang Garden.

Zhang Laifu remembered this place.

Outside the theater is a road, and most of the buildings along the street are two stories high, with very few buildings of three stories or higher, and virtually none of them are five stories or higher.

The house has very rounded lines; the upper edge of the door is arched, the upper edge of the window is also arched, and even the corner of the shop on the street corner is rounded.

There were many pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages on the road, but Zhang Laifu didn't see a single car.

At the street corner stood a blue-brick archway, with two large red palace lanterns swaying in the wind beneath its eaves. The shops lining the street displayed eye-catching signs: "Zhencheng Cloth Shop," "Yuanfeng Pharmacy," "Yang's Sauce Shop," and so on.

Zhang Laifu looked around, feeling as if he had been pulled into an old movie.

An elderly gentleman in a long gown, holding a folding fan, slowly walked past me.

A vendor carrying a load on a shoulder pole shouted at the top of his lungs, "Drink it! Drink it! Three-delicacy braised tofu pudding!"

Zhang Laifu instinctively dodged the load, but almost got hit by a rickshaw on the other side.

The driver, with a half-smoked pipe dangling from his mouth, turned and asked, "Sir, do you need a carriage?"

Before Zhang Laifu could reply, a woman in a cheongsam came out of a white Western-style building, waved with a handkerchief, and called the driver over.

The environment here is so different from that of Huan State, so Zhang Laifu should have shown some sense of novelty.

Zhang Laifu remained calm, as if he were completely accustomed to the surrounding buildings.

Old Song became suspicious: "Laifu, have you been here before?"

“I’ve never been here before,” Zhang Laifu shook his head. “I’ve seen similar film sets before.”

Old Song smiled but didn't say anything. A short while later, Old Yu arrived with several horse-drawn carriages.

Everyone got into the car. Han Yucheng looked around, wanting to escape, but he didn't have the courage.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to get on the bus, he said to Zhang Laifu, "This isn't acting, we've been kidnapped!"

Zhang Laifu glared at Han Yucheng: "This is a film set, you have to follow the rules."

He knew Han Yucheng wanted to escape, but he had no intention of cooperating with Han Yucheng at the moment.

He was covered in cotton; Old Song could easily crush Zhang Laifu to pieces with just a flick of his wrist.

A single oil lamp hung in the dark carriage. The lamp flickered twice, and the carriage began to move.

Han Yucheng trembled all over, sweat streaming down his face.

Old Yu laughed and said, "What are you afraid of? Look at Lai Fu, he's not afraid at all."

Han Yucheng's voice began to tremble, and he was losing control of his emotions: "He's an idiot, but I'm not..."

Old Yu laughed and said, "Laifu, he said you're a fool."

Zhang Laifu said seriously, "I have no lines, I won't speak."

Old Yu laughed, then turned to look at Han Yucheng: "You should learn from Laifu and stop talking nonsense."

At 1:30 a.m., the group arrived at Fangpai Mountain.

Zhang Laifu was fast asleep when Song Yongchang woke him up.

"We've arrived. The main event is about to begin. You two newcomers, give it your best and don't let the crew down."

Zhang Laifu raised his head and looked at the rafting mountain under the night sky.

The towering mountain peaks loomed over Zhang Laifu, making it hard for him to breathe.

Han Yucheng's legs went weak, and Old Zheng had to support him to get off the carriage.

After getting off the carriage, Lao Zheng and Lao Yu followed Song Yongchang, while the others returned to their respective camps.

Song Yongchang took Zhang Laifu and Han Yucheng directly to the seedling house and put them in prison.

After settling Zhang Laifu in, Song Yongchang was about to go find Yuan Kuilong when he was surprised to find that Yuan Kuilong had already arrived at the door of the seedling house, with Zhao Yingde, the grain depot manager, following beside him.

"Old Song, you did something so big, and you didn't even tell me beforehand." Yuan Kuilong walked up to Song Yongchang and grabbed his clothes.

The surrounding bandits were terrified, thinking that the leader was going to attack the second-in-command.

Song Yongchang remained completely calm and replied respectfully, "Master Long, I have never done anything of great importance."

Yuan Kuilong turned and glanced at Zhao Yingde: "What do you think Old Song means by this?"

Zhao Yingde shook his head and said, "I don't understand what Second Master means."

"You can't tell?" Yuan Kuilong's eyes widened. "Everyone on this mountain knows that you and Lao Song are the closest. You're telling me you can't tell? Who are you really on the same side?"

Zhao Yingde became anxious: "Husband! I'm of one mind with you! Don't you know what my heart looks like?"

"Don't try to fool me with your heart!" Yuan Kuilong wasn't easily fooled. "Your heart is made of radish!"

"Fine! If the master doesn't trust me, I'll chop off this hand today and show him what kind of person I am!"

Zhao Yingde raised his knife, ready to cut off his own hand.

Yuan Kuilong snatched the knife away and roared, "You think I can't even talk to you? What do you mean by cutting off your hand right here? Your hand..."

Yuan Kuilong held Zhao Yingde's hand to his nose and smelled it carefully, then asked, "Is this hand of yours a cucumber?"

Zhao Yingde nodded and said, "Crispy Heart Green, the first good batch of cucumbers this year, I've already stored them for the husband."

“Look at you, there’s not even any soybean paste here, and you still had to cut off your hand. How am I supposed to eat this? You didn’t handle this matter well.” Yuan Kuilong laughed, then turned to Song Yongchang and said, “Old Zhao still cares about me.”

Zhao Yingde chimed in from the side, "I also have the head of the household in my arms."

Yuan Kuilong complained to Song Yongchang, "Old Song, Old Zhao is loyal to me, but you're half-hearted towards me." Song Yongchang was taken aback, "Master, what makes you say that?"

Yuan Kuilong's expression was very gentle: "I just said you did something big, but you insist you didn't. You found six idiots to cook for me, isn't that a big deal?"

Song Yongchang quickly lowered his head: "My lord, this is a matter of utmost importance to me. I would do anything for you, even die for you."

"Really?" Yuan Kuilong asked with delight.

“Not a single lie!” Song Yongchang felt a little calmer.

"Where are the liver and brain?" Yuan Kuilong asked with a smile.

"Husband, you're joking again..."

"Who's joking with you? Didn't you say you'd be willing to die for your country? I'm asking you, where are your liver and brain?" Yuan Kuilong still looked at Song Yongchang with a smile.

Song Yongchang's heart, which had just been at ease, was now on edge again.

Everyone in Hunlong Village knew that Yuan Kuilong loved to joke, but no one knew which joke was true.

Despite Yuan Kuilong's smiling face, Song Yongchang felt that he was serious.

He wanted a liver and a brain, but what could Song Yongchang give him?
What are the consequences if we can't provide it?
"I'm asking you about your liver and brain!" Yuan Kuilong's smile gradually disappeared.

Click!

Zhao Yingde plucked a bunch of grapes from the back of his head and handed them to Yuan Kuilong: "Honey, the brain's right here!"

Yuan Kuilong picked a grape, took a bite, and was very satisfied with the taste: "You're the clever one, kid!"

"I still have oranges on my liver, they're sweet!" Zhao Yingde picked up a knife to cut himself open.

Yuan Kuilong stopped Zhao Yingde: "Brother, we haven't finished the grapes yet. Let's not eat the oranges first. Let's take a look at the idiot from out of town."

All eyes were on Zhang Laifu and Han Yucheng.

When Han Yucheng saw grapes being picked from the back of his head and heard that he would have to cut open his stomach to get his liver, his face turned ashen.

Despite his fear, Han Yucheng remained clear-headed.

Since entering the seedling room, he had been observing, studying the identities, statuses, and purposes of these people, and he had a clear understanding of the current situation.

That bearded man is called the Boss; he's their leader.

Old Song's status was lower than Big Beard's, and everyone else's status was lower than Old Song's.

They want to catch a fool. Although I don't know what "opening the bowl" means, it probably isn't a good thing.

The only way out now is to prove that I'm not a fool.

As long as you can prove to this leader that you're not an idiot, you can survive!
Yuan Kuilong looked at Han Yucheng: "What's your name?"

Han Yucheng quickly replied, "My name is Han Yucheng, you can just call me Xiao Han. Boss, it is my greatest honor to meet you. From now on, I will serve you faithfully. Just give me your order, and I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Yuan Kuilong was taken aback: "Speaking in such a refined manner? Are you not an idiot?"

Han Yucheng quickly shook his head: "I'm not stupid. I can read. I've been to school. I received higher education. I studied abroad. I have my degree certificate in my backpack. I wouldn't dare lie to you, Boss."

Yuan Kuilong ate a grape, his face darkening as he looked at Song Yongchang: "Old Song, what kind of thing have you done?"
"They're clearly not stupid, yet you insist on arresting them as if they were. Aren't you just persecuting an honest and loyal person?"

Is this how "to persecute loyal and virtuous people" is used?
Does being a fool mean you're not a loyal and virtuous person?
Old Song had to continue the conversation: "Boss, I think this guy is pretty stupid. Don't be fooled by how convincing he sounds..."

“He looks quite respectable! He’s studied abroad, how could he be a fool?” Yuan Kuilong scolded Old Song, then comforted Han Yucheng, “Young man, were you scared?”

Han Yucheng nodded and said, "I am quite scared."

"Don't be scared or angry. It's all a misunderstanding. We didn't want to arrest you. How about I give you some money?" Yuan Kuilong reached for his money bag.

Han Yucheng waved his hands repeatedly: "No need! Boss, you're too kind. It's just a small matter. How could I dare to make you pay for it?"

“That’s true, losing money would only create distance,” Yuan Kuilong thought for a moment, then looked at the grapes in his hand. He picked one and put it in Han Yucheng’s mouth. “I’ll treat you to a grape, and this matter will be over. How about that?”

Han Yucheng nodded repeatedly, a grape in his mouth.

"Don't hold it in your mouth, eat it!" Yuan Kuilong patted Han Yucheng on the back, and Han Yucheng swallowed it whole, skin and all.

"Is it delicious?"

"Okay!" Han Yucheng nodded vigorously.

"So, is this matter over?"

"It's over!"

Do you know the way down the mountain?

"do not know."

Yuan Kuilong frowned: "This is a bit troublesome. I'll have to find someone to take you down the mountain."

Han Yucheng quickly corrected himself: "I know it. I know the way down the mountain. I can walk back by myself."

Yuan Kuilong smiled and said, "It's dark and the road is slippery, so please be careful."

"Thank you, Boss. I'll be going now." Han Yucheng quickly walked out of the cell, and his legs, which had been numb, gradually regained their strength.

Han Yucheng was almost in tears when he realized he had actually survived.

Fortunately, I was prepared and quick-witted. If I had said even one wrong word, I wouldn't be able to leave the seedling house alive today.

He longed to look back at Zhang Laifu's situation, but he was also worried that if he did, other changes might occur.

Forget it, why bother looking at him? That idiot deserves to die!

Actually, Zhang Laifu had been watching Han Yucheng's back the whole time, not out of envy or reluctance, but because two leaves had grown on the back of Han Yucheng's head.

Han Yucheng also felt something was wrong with the back of his head; it was a little itchy and seemed to hurt a bit.

He didn't care about the back of his head; he just wanted to leave the seedling shed as soon as possible, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't take a step.

The third leaf emerged from the back of the head, covered in blood.

The fourth leaf emerged from the back of the head, carrying a lot of brain matter.

The fifth leaf emerged, bringing with it a skull fragment.

Looking at the skull lying on the ground, Han Yucheng tried to shout, but no sound came out.

He suffered severe brain damage, losing both mobility and language abilities.

Han Yucheng's legs gave way and he fell at the entrance of the seedling house.

Yuan Kuilong said with some dissatisfaction, "Look at you, if you take just two more steps, you'll be outside! You don't get any sunlight inside, and the grapes won't grow well!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yingde quickly ordered the bandits, "Carry this man out and take him to a sunny place."

Yuan Kuilong was still not satisfied: "Is that all?"

Zhao Yingde thought for a moment, then instructed his men: "Remember to stick a few more bamboo poles into his body, the grapes need to climb the trellis."

Yuan Kuilong nodded and said, "That's more like it."

Several bandits carried Han Yucheng out, and Yuan Kuilong looked down at Zhang Laifu.

“Old Song, if this person isn’t a fool, then you’ll have to trouble yourself to collect his body first, and then make a trip to another state.”

Old Song nodded repeatedly: "I will follow the boss's orders."

Yuan Kuilong asked Zhang Laifu, "What's your name?"

Everyone waited for Zhang Laifu to reply, but Zhang Laifu remained silent.

Yuan Kuilong frowned: "Are you mute?"

Zhang Laifu raised his lifeless eyes, but still remained silent.

There was a guy nearby who walked up to Zhang Laifu and kicked him, saying, "I'm asking you a question, can't you hear me?"

Fangchazi were a special type of bandit soldiers, specifically responsible for guarding the seedbeds. These people were not very skilled or brave, and were completely useless on the battlefield.

However, these people usually have a fierce appearance, are ruthless, and are very good at intimidating and torturing hostages, so there is a special line of bandits.

That kick was really hard, landing right in the chest. Zhang Laifu coughed for a while, then looked at Song Yongchang: "He asked me what my name was."

Song Yongchang frowned and said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Zhang Laifu looked bewildered and said, "Didn't I not have any lines?"

Song Yongchang said, "When Lord Long asks you a question, can't you think of a good answer?"

Zhang Laifu thought for a while before answering, "My name is Yangzi."

The crowd was quiet for a moment, then burst into laughter.

He calls himself Yangzi.

Yuan Kuilong didn't laugh. After a long pause, he finally spoke: "I'm asking what your name is?"

Zhang Laifu shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Yuan Kuilong looked on in astonishment and said, "You don't know your own name?"

Zhang Laifu said very seriously, "They didn't even give me the script, how am I supposed to know my name?"

Yuan Kuilong stared wide-eyed and asked, "What kind of script do you need for a name?"

Zhang Laifu stared wide-eyed: "Without a script, where would the name come from?"

Yuan Kuilong patted his chest and declared, "My name is Yuan Kuilong, and whether there's a script or not, my name is Yuan Kuilong!"

Zhang Laifu straightened up and said, "My name is Yangzi. The script calls me Yangzi. If there were no script, what else do you think I could be called?"

Yuan Kuilong retorted angrily, "How would I know your name?"

Zhang Laifu got angry too: "If you don't know, how am I supposed to know?"

Yuan Kuilong was silent for a moment, then slowly turned around and looked at the crowd behind him: "This idiot is contagious. Don't talk to him, and stay away from him."

PS: "Battle of Jinshan" is a traditional Peking Opera piece featuring Liang Hongyu, a famous general of the Southern Song Dynasty who resisted the Jin army. It showcases her heroic deeds in defeating the Jin army and is a representative piece of the Mei School (Mei Lanfang) and the Shang School (Shang Xiaoyun).

(End of this chapter)