14 Results in the "Call to Arms" category
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Chapter
Tomorrow
"No sound, what's happened to the little one?" Old Arch, with the red nose, held a bowl of yellow wine and nodded towards the next room as he spoke. Blue-skin Ah Wu then put down his wine bowl and gave him a hard slap on the back, mumbling: "You... you're lost in thought again..." Lu Town, a secluded place, still held onto some of its old customs: by the first watch, everyone would close their doors and retire for the night. The only two households awake in the deep of the night were the Xianheng…-
179.1 K • Completed
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Chapter
The Story of Hair
On a serene Sunday morning, I peeled away the calendar's worn page to reveal the fresh date, and upon a second glance, I mused, "Ah, October 10th—why, today is National Day. Yet, there's no trace of its mention here." As fate would have it, my elder acquaintance, Mr. N, was paying me a visit for a casual chat. Upon hearing my observation, he responded with a tinge of irritation, "They're correct! If they choose to forget, what can you do? And if you remember, what does it change?" Mr. N has…-
179.1 K • Completed
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Chapter
The Playfulness of the Opera
In the span of twenty years, I've only had the chance to watch Chinese opera twice. For the first decade, I steered clear of it, lacking both the desire and the opportunity. Both experiences occurred in the latter half, yet neither left a lasting impression before I departed. The first encounter was in the inaugural year of the Republic when I first set foot in Beijing. A friend, keen on sharing the city's cultural offerings, suggested that I broaden my horizons by experiencing a performance. Intrigued…-
179.1 K • Completed
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Chapter
The Playful Ducks
After the Russian poet, Mr. Elroy Shanko, who was blind, arrived in Beijing with his six-stringed lyre, he soon complained to me, "Lonely, so lonely, a loneliness akin to that of a desert!" His words likely reflect a profound truth, yet I, having grown accustomed to the city, have not felt this solitude. Instead, I find Beijing to be quite bustling. However, the very noise I perceive might be the loneliness he speaks of. It seems to me that in Beijing, spring and autumn are but a fleeting moment.…-
179.1 K • Completed
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Chapter
Storm in a Teacup
As the sun dipped below the horizon, its golden hues began to wane over the riverbank. The leaves of the Chinese tallow trees, just released from their parched state, were abuzz with a few mosquitoes dancing beneath them. The smoke from the farmhouse chimneys started to thin, signaling the end of the day's cooking. Women and children sprinkled water on the earthen courtyards outside their homes and arranged small tables and low stools, a clear indication that dinnertime had arrived. Elders and men…-
179.1 K • Completed
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Chapter
Rabbits and Cats
In the rear courtyard of our residence, the Third Mistress, during the summer season, acquired a pair of purebred white rabbits as a delightful spectacle for her children. These rabbits, not long separated from their mother, radiated an innocence that, despite the species barrier, was palpable. Their tiny, bright red ears perked up, they sniffed the air, and their eyes betrayed a flicker of apprehension, likely sensing the unfamiliarity of their new environment compared to the comfort of their original…-
179.1 K • Completed
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Chapter
Preface
In my youth, I was blessed with a multitude of dreams, most of which have now faded from my memory, and I harbor no regrets over their loss. Memories, while capable of bringing joy, can also lead to a sense of desolation, as the threads of our spirit remain tethered to the silent moments of the past. What significance does this hold? Yet, I am haunted by the fragments that refuse to fade, and these remnants have become the genesis of "Call to Arms." For more than four years, I was a frequent…-
179.1 K • Completed
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Chapter
Medicine
I In the late autumn night, the moon had set, and the sun had not yet risen, leaving only a dark blue sky; everything was asleep except for nocturnal creatures. Hua Lao Shuan suddenly sat up. He struck a match and lit the greasy lamp, casting a pale light throughout the two rooms of the teahouse. "Are you off, Father Xiao Shuan?" It was the voice of an old woman. A fit of coughing also came from the small inner room. "Hmm." Old Shuan listened, responded, and fastened his clothes; he reached out…-
179.1 K • Completed
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Chapter
Kong Yiji
In the town of Lu, the taverns have a distinctive layout, unlike any other: an L-shaped counter stands at the forefront, always stocked with hot water to warm wine on the spot. It was a common sight for laborers, post-work, to spend four copper coins—a price that has since tripled—to enjoy a steaming bowl of wine, resting by the counter. For an additional coin, they could afford a plate of salted bamboo shoots or fennel seeds; a more substantial sum might secure a meat dish. However, most patrons,…-
179.1 K • Completed
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Chapter
Homecoming
I defied the piercing cold to return to my hometown, a place over two thousand miles away and separated from me by more than twenty years. It was the heart of winter, and as I drew near to my hometown, the skies turned gloomy. A cold wind howled through the cabin of my boat, and through a gap in the canopy, I gazed out at a desolate landscape under the sallow sky. A few scattered villages lay lifeless in the distance, devoid of any vitality. My heart was overcome with a profound sense of…-
179.1 K • Completed
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