Chapter 22: The Temple Fair

Although it is said that a leopard cannot change its spots, a person’s temperament can still be masked through acquired training.

Though Jiang Xiaodao still lacked refinement and remained a stubborn, defiant mule at heart, his days of begging along the streets had taught him the art of wearing a smiling face, reading the room, and uttering insincere words.

As long as there was something to be gained, he could immediately drop his pride and bow to others.

Given time, this piece of raw iron would surely be forged into fine steel!

Guan Wei pulled six silver dollars from his waist. "Xiaodao, this one is a New Year’s gift from your Uncle Six! Old Cui, thank you for your hard work these past few days. These five are a token of my big brother’s appreciation; don’t think it’s too little!"

Old Cui’s face crinkled into a smile as he hurriedly accepted them. "Brother Hai treats me with respect. This is nothing, you’re too kind."

Jiang Xiaodao, overcome by greed, kept his eyes fixed on the parcel in Guan Wei’s hand. He swallowed hard and asked, "Uncle Six, is that dumplings you’ve got there?"

"Look at how impatient you are. You think they’ll fly away?"

Guan Wei placed the parcel on the heated brick bed and unwrapped it. A steaming, fragrant aroma instantly filled the room.

Old Cui couldn’t help but exclaim, "Wow! Brother Six, your legs are quick! These dumplings are still hot!"

"That’s right!" Guan Wei chuckled. "I tucked them inside my coat and jogged all the way here to bring them to you! They’re three-delicacy filling—eat up!"

Jiang Xiaodao could no longer contain himself. "Uncle Six, great kindness needs no words of thanks; I won't stand on ceremony!"

With that, he began to wolf them down.

Seeing them eating with such gusto, Guan Wei stood up and picked up the parcel. "You two take your time, I’m off."

Old Cui tried to keep him. "What’s the rush? Sit down and have some with us!"

Guan Wei shook his head. "I have other errands to run. You eat."

Jiang Xiaodao, while shoveling food into his mouth, eyed the pot and asked, "Uncle Six, what kind of filling is in that bag of yours? Let me have a taste of that too."

"You greedy brat!" Guan Wei hugged the parcel close. "Did you think I only brought dumplings for you? These are for someone else."

"Stingy!"

As Guan Wei reached the door, he turned back and said, "Oh, by the way, Xiaodao. Your father said that on the fifth day of the New Year, you must go to the temple fair with Old Cui to beg. For every coin you collect, he will give you ten more as a bonus."

Jiang Xiaodao wiped the grease from his mouth. "Fine! Go back and tell Old Qiang to have his coffers ready. I’m a pro at this now; tell him not to run out of money and end up losing face!"

This was his way of telling Guan Wei to inform Jiang Chenghai to prepare enough cash, as he, Jiang Xiaodao, was now a capable earner, and he didn't want Jiang Chenghai to run short and look bad.

Guan Wei was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "Alright! Xiaodao, you’ve picked up quite the attitude, haven't you? Don't worry, just keep begging—your father has plenty of money. See you at the temple fair!"

...

The fifth day of the lunar new year, also known as "Po Wu," is traditionally the day to "break the poverty" by creating noise.

During the New Year, there are many taboos and superstitions, all of which are broken on this day.

People clean their houses, sweep their courtyards, visit relatives and friends, cast away the God of Poverty, and clear out bad luck.

Wealthy families hang strings of firecrackers on bamboo poles, lighting them as they walk from inside the house to the outside; the louder the noise, the further the God of Poverty is driven away.

Businesses of all trades began to open their doors, finally bringing a lively atmosphere to the streets.

Before dawn, Jiang Xiaodao and Old Cui were already up, getting ready to head out.

Since they couldn't afford firecrackers, the two decided to clap their hands together to make a "clatter" as they walked out the door, hoping to bring themselves a bit of luck.

They hurried along the way and, upon reaching the White Pagoda district, found that many vendors had already opened for business.

Before they had even arrived, the sounds of hawking were already deafening.

"Tanghulu! Candied hawthorn sticks!"

"Sugar paintings! All twelve zodiac animals, I can draw whatever you are!"

"Ancestral miracle medicine! Keep your manhood standing! Sir, buy some and try it—turn that cornstalk into a cannon!"

"Yin and Yang, Five Elements! Ten divinations, nine are true! I tell the future with absolute certainty, clear as day!"

"Dear spectators, as the saying goes, a gun for survival, a blade for your life! Keep your eyes peeled, today my brother and I will perform a show of a single blade breaking a flower-tipped spear!"

In the past, such a lively temple fair would have left Jiang Xiaodao wide-eyed and eager to play. But now, every stall he saw only made him think of the tricks of the trade.

Near an intersection leading to the fair, Jiang Xiaodao caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.

A legless girl was sitting on a straw mat by the roadside, begging.

Jiang Xiaodao recognized her instantly as one of the children raised by Old Lady Feng. After all, she was the only one who hadn't attacked him that night.

Old Lady Feng would drag these children to the temple fair area before dawn and smuggle them back late at night.

Whoever collected the most money got to eat an extra bowl of rice; if they didn't collect enough, they were sure to receive a brutal beating.

Old Lady Feng wasn't worried about them escaping, for they had been completely broken and enslaved.

While he was lost in thought, the girl clearly noticed and recognized Jiang Xiaodao.

Two orphans, separated by a street, looked at each other and gave a small nod.

Old Cui, watching from the side and fearing that Jiang Xiaodao might try to play the hero and do something foolish, hurriedly shoved him forward.

When they reached the entrance of the temple fair, Old Cui whispered, "Are you ready?"

"You bet!" Jiang Xiaodao replied with conviction.

"Good, let’s begin!"

"Alright!"

As soon as the words fell, Jiang Xiaodao immediately held up seven fingers on his left hand and six on his right, turned his feet inward, hunched his back, squinted his eyes, and let his lip droop, drooling onto his coat collar. He called out foolishly, "Daddy!"

Old Cui immediately entered character, rolling his eyes, leaning on a cane, and resting a hand on Jiang Xiaodao’s shoulder, crying out pitifully, "Oh, my son!"

They began to shuffle slowly into the temple fair.

As they walked, Old Cui reached out to the passersby, begging.

"Kind folks! Have pity on this pair of father and son! My son here, he lost his soul to a fright at age three, got his head caught in a door at five, had his mouth twisted by the wind at seven, and had his leg snapped by a donkey at nine!"

Jiang Xiaodao mumbled with a thick tongue, "Daddy, don't cry!"

"How can I not cry? Kind folks, all our money has been spent treating this child’s illness over the years; it’s blinded my eyes and worried his mother to death! Is this even my son? He’s my ancestor!"

"Daddy, I want to eat that!"

Old Cui let out a wail: "Silly boy, that’s a shoe insole! Do you think it’s a leek pancake? Good sirs, we have no other way to survive! If you have some spare change, toss us a few coins; if you don't, that’s fine too—just please be kind and don't say cold, biting words."

Believe it or not, after this whole performance, several passersby tossed them a few coins.

Some might not have been fooled, but it was like a comedic folk performance—the spectators enjoyed the show, and tossing a few coins for the entertainment was worth it!

Moreover, their business had just begun. If they kept this up all day, the earnings would surely be substantial.

But just then, several martial arts practitioners appeared on the other side of the street, walking aggressively toward them.

Jiang Xiaodao squinted and saw that the man in the lead was the very culprit behind all the bizarre experiences he had faced over the last month—Big Gapped-Tooth!