Chapter 45 - 35: Not part of the family, do not enter the household
Killing and arson grant one a golden belt, while building bridges leaves no corpses.
In today’s world, traitors sit proudly in bright halls, loyal ones lie low under eaves. There are frequent laments over the grains, but no songs from the phoenix.
Those who build bridges and roads are often unable to fill their stomachs, while murderers and arsonists flaunt their wealth around town, laden with gold and silver.
Linhe now has a cleaner, rarely seen or noticed, who often stops killing with more killing and treats fire with more fire. Over the long term, though his achievements can’t compare to those building bridges, his actions make the heavy world a bit cleaner, which is considered an immeasurable virtue.
The night fog was thick, Xu Qing finished his tasks and pushed a cart out the door. After walking a few streets, he heard the night watchman’s call:
"It’s three o’clock, all is well—dong!—dong, dong!"
Followed by the slow and fast rhythms of the watchman’s wooden clappers.
The cart creaked as it passed by, the night watchman approached, and upon seeing Xu Qing, he raised his lantern to get a better look. Though he felt familiar, he couldn’t recall exactly who it was, likely someone met...some time ago.
The night watchman saw that Xu Qing glanced at him, then smiled and said, "You look familiar, what are you doing out here in the middle of the night?"
Xu Qing looked at the night watchman’s gong and the clapper cylinder hanging at his waist, thinking if the man were to lift the cloth covering the cart next, he might soon be banging the gong and shouting with his cock’s crowing voice, "Murder! There’s a murderer! Everyone wake up! Protect your homes—"