Nan Feng responded with a smile, “They look down on villagers, thinking city dwellers are superior. But class isn’t determined by location, but by upbringing, so we don’t need to pay them any mind.”
Yet Nan Quanyou countered, “But I still feel these people are bullies. Look, they’re so courteous to the well-dressed group at the adjoining table, yet that table only ordered five buns and a dish of pickles.”
“Perhaps… it’s the same in every era, they judge you based on your wealth,” thought Nan Feng, reinforcing her belief in the need to work harder to earn more money.
Though life in Da Ping village has been peaceful, if any natural or man-made disaster strikes, the first to suffer are always the ordinary people.
In Nan Feng’s previous life, she was beholden to the state, not in control of her own fate. But in this life, her destiny lies in her own hands. Hence, she wants to venture out, to carve a life for herself in this era.
People of Da Ping village rarely eat wheat flour-based dishes, so to Nan Quanyou, eating buns is a novelty, and he wolfed down five in one go.
“Dad, you’ve never strolled around the county town, have you? Shall we take a walk after we finish eating?” Nan Feng asked with a smile.
Nan Quanyou asked, “Aren’t we heading back to Da Ping village?”
“Of course we are. It’ll not be too late even if we return in the afternoon,” replied Nan Feng.
…
After accompanying Nan Quanyou on a stroll around the county town, Nan Feng bought him some snacks and a set of clothes. The clothes sold in the county town, made of better fabric and more expensive, differed from those sold in the village tailor shop, which catered to the villager’s daily wear for farming.
As they continued their stroll, they approached the Yamen again.
Nan Feng had no inclination to go there. But Nan Quanyou pointed at the Yamen and said, “Fengfeng, there are two big stone lions at the entrance, and several guards with knives standing guard. Is that where the magistrate holds court?”
Nan Quanyou was illiterate, so he couldn’t read the words “Ping County Yamen” presented on the plaque hanging at the entrance.
Nan Feng nodded, “Yes, this is the place. However, no trials are taking place right now. If there were, we, the common folks, could go watch.”
Nan Quanyou looked intrigued, but timidly asked, “Would we risk being beheaded by those guards if we just stand near the entrance to have a peek?”
Nan Feng replied, “No, of course not. We just need to avoid standing too close.”
Nan Quanyou then said, “Then… may I go take a look? I’ll stay at a distance, just to catch a glimpse of what’s inside, is that alright?”
Seeing Nan Quanyou so curious, Nan Feng acquiesced, “Alright, I’ll go with you. But we can’t stay too long, we should leave after a quick look.”
“Sure.”
The father and daughter approached the Yamen, of course from a distance that was quite far from the guards, only able to vaguely see the inside of the court.
One of the guards, spotting the father-daughter duo approaching, walked up to interrogate them, “What’s your business here?”
Nan Feng said, “Just looking.”
“Please move along, there’s nothing for you to see here,” the guard replied politely, probably reflecting the county magistrate’s guidance. Yet it was clear, from their demeanor, that the guards looked down on Nan Feng and her father dressed in typical rural attire.
Nan Feng looked around, “But this is a public road. Is it not allowed for us to have a look while standing here?”
“No, don’t loiter here, please move along,” the guard insisted.
Nan Quanyou, afraid, was about to pull Nan Feng away, but she only retreated to the other side of the street, where she assumed the guards didn’t have jurisdiction.
Seeing that they had stopped at an acceptable distance, the guard didn’t bother them anymore, realizing they were merely there out of curiosity.
“Country bumpkins!” one guard muttered under his breath.
Nan Feng heard it loud and clear.