Li Yuan woke up before dawn, an old habit from thousands of years of cultivation that was not easy to lose. The gray light of morning filtered through his room window, and he could hear the subtle sounds from the garden—birds beginning to chirp, leaves rustling in the morning breeze.
He got up from bed and walked to the window. The old mango tree in the garden was already clearly visible in the morning light, its shady branches still holding dew. There was something calm and stable in the presence of that tree, as if it had witnessed decades of change in Sancheng but still stood patiently.
Like a silent witness to the evolution of this place, Li Yuan thought, observing the tree. How many stories has it witnessed—conflict, reconciliation, love that crosses boundaries, children who grow up without prejudice.
From downstairs, Li Yuan heard the sounds of early activity—Liu Ming preparing breakfast, Kesi setting the tables. Familiar and calming domestic sounds.
Li Yuan tidied his gray hanfu and tied his hair with the red cloth as usual. Today he would see Sancheng in a different mode—not in the daily routine with subtle segmentation between communities, but in a joint effort to create something beautiful.
When he went downstairs, Li Yuan found Henrik and Elsa already sitting at a table, sipping morning tea. They seemed more enthusiastic than the night before.
"Good morning, Li Yuan," Henrik greeted. "Ready to see the magic of Sancheng?"
"Magic?" Li Yuan asked as he sat at the same table.
Elsa smiled. "Henrik is always dramatic in the morning. But he's not wrong—the festival preparations are truly something. We've seen it for three months, and we're still impressed every time."
Kesi appeared with a tray containing bowls of rice porridge with toppings of nuts and fresh fruit. "Simple breakfast today," she said. "We have to hurry to the main square. Preparations start at seven."
Liu Ming came out of the kitchen, tying a cloth around his waist. "The decoration team started working at five in the morning. We will be joining the food and music teams."
Li Yuan tasted the porridge—simple but filling, with a flavor that was not overwhelming but satisfying. Food designed to provide energy without weighing down the stomach for what would be a long day.
"What is our contribution today?" Li Yuan asked.
"Kesi will help coordinate the menus from the three traditions," Liu Ming answered. "I will help set up the main stage. Henrik and Elsa usually help in the craft display area."
"And me?" Li Yuan asked.
Liu Ming and Kesi exchanged a look with a slightly mysterious smile.
"We thought you would be a good fit for the general coordination team," Kesi said. "Zhang Wei will be leading, and he needs someone who can communicate with all sides without bias."
They have already judged my character from last night's conversation, Li Yuan thought. And for some reason, they feel I can be a bridge.
After a quick breakfast, the five of them walked together toward Sancheng's main square. The ten-minute walk gave Li Yuan a chance to see the city in a different atmosphere.
The streets that had yesterday seemed subtly segmented were now filled with people from all three communities walking in the same direction with the same purpose. There was a joy in the air—not an excessive euphoria, but the controlled enthusiasm of people who knew they were about to create something special.
What interested Li Yuan was how spontaneous interactions occurred along the way. A Kuatri mother helped a Zuwa child who had dropped a toy. A young Luxen offered a hand to an elderly Kuatri man who was carrying a heavy load. Small gestures that might not happen on an ordinary day.
Or perhaps those gestures are always there, Li Yuan reflected, but in the context of a festival, they become more visible, more significant.
When they arrived at the main square, Li Yuan paused for a moment to appreciate the sight in front of him.
The wide square had completely changed from the condition he had seen briefly yesterday afternoon. A large stage was being erected at the northern end, with a design that combined architectural elements from all three cultures. Food stands were being set up on the eastern side, each with decorations that reflected a different culinary tradition. On the western side, a craft display area was being arranged with colorful fabrics.
But what was most captivating was how people from all three communities were working together without visible awkwardness. Mixed teams were raising decoration poles, mixed groups were arranging the lighting, and even children from various backgrounds were helping to carry small items while playing.
This is not 'pretending' as Henrik said yesterday, Li Yuan observed. This is... a natural expression of what can happen when the focus is shifted from differences to a common goal.
Zhang Wei saw them from a distance and approached, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Perfect timing," he said to Liu Ming. "We need more hands for the stage. And Li Yuan—" he turned to Li Yuan, "I have a special task for you."
"What is it?" Li Yuan asked.
Zhang Wei pointed toward the center of the square where a group of people was sitting in a circle, looking as if they were discussing something seriously.
"That's the coordination committee—representatives from the three communities who are planning the details of the event. The problem is, they've been sitting there since five in the morning and haven't reached an agreement on the order of performances."
Henrik laughed softly. "Classic. It's the same thing every year—who performs first, who gets the prime time slot."
"Well," Zhang Wei continued, looking at Li Yuan, "yesterday I saw that you have a... fresh perspective on the situation here. Maybe you can help them see things from a different angle?"
Li Yuan contemplated the offer. He could refuse and choose a safer task like helping with the physical setup. But there was something about this situation that was interesting—an opportunity to see firsthand how three communities negotiate, and perhaps help them find a win-win solution.
This is a real test for the philosophy I talked about last night, Li Yuan thought. It's easy to talk about harmony in abstract discussion. It's much harder to apply it in a concrete situation with different egos and interests.
"I will try," Li Yuan replied.
Zhang Wei smiled with relief. "Good. Just remember—they are already frustrated, so a diplomatic approach will be more effective than a direct one."
Li Yuan nodded and walked toward the discussion circle in the center of the square. As he approached, he could hear the conversation in three mixed languages, with the tones getting higher.
Through his limited passive Wenjing Realm effect, Li Yuan began to catch the intentions of the people who were discussing: frustration, pride, desire to represent community well, fear of being overshadowed.
They all want the same thing—a successful festival, Li Yuan analyzed. But they are trapped in a competition over who is more important.
When Li Yuan reached the edge of the circle, a tall woman with typical Luxen features—blonde hair neatly tied back, elegant but practical clothes—looked at him with a questioning expression.
"Excuse me," she said in Kuatri with a clear Luxen accent, "who are you? We are in a closed meeting."
Before Li Yuan could answer, an old man with a white beard and Zuwa features rose from his seated position.
"Let him join, Astrid," the old man said in a deep and calm voice. "Maybe we need a fresh perspective. Our discussion has been going in circles for two hours."
The woman named Astrid looked hesitant, but other members of the circle—a mix from all three communities—seemed to agree with the old man.
"I am Li Yuan," he introduced himself, giving a polite nod to everyone in the circle. "Zhang Wei asked me to help if possible."
"Marcus," the old Zuwa man introduced himself. "And this is Astrid from the Luxen community, Chen Wei from the Kuatri community." He gestured to a middle-aged man who sat with a sturdy, typical Kuatri posture.
Li Yuan sat down in the circle, positioning himself so he could see everyone equally.
"What is the problem you are facing?" Li Yuan asked in a neutral and non-judgmental tone.
Chen Wei, who seemed frustrated, answered in a somewhat sharp tone. "The problem is the allocation of performance time. Each community has its own music and dance traditions they want to showcase, but time is limited."
Astrid added, "And every year, someone feels they get a smaller portion or a bad time slot."
Marcus nodded with a tired expression. "We have tried various formulas—rotating every year, drawing lots, even voting. Nothing satisfies everyone."
Li Yuan listened carefully, not just to their words but also to the intentions behind the frustration. Through his Wenjing Realm, he sensed something interesting: beneath all the competition and ego, there was a genuine desire from all sides to create a truly beautiful festival.
They are not arguing because they don't care, Li Yuan realized. They are arguing because they care too much.
"May I ask," Li Yuan said slowly, "what is the main purpose of this festival? I mean, the most fundamental purpose?"
The three people were silent for a moment, looking surprised by the seemingly simple but fundamental question.
Chen Wei answered first. "To celebrate the unity of the three communities, of course."
"And what is the best way to celebrate unity?" Li Yuan asked again.
"By... showing our diversity?" Astrid replied, but her tone indicated she wasn't sure that was the right answer.
Marcus laughed softly. "This young man is clever. He makes us face the contradictions in our own thinking."
"Contradictions?" Chen Wei asked.
"We say we want to celebrate unity," Marcus explained, "but the way we plan the festival is with competition—who gets more time, who performs in the best slot. That's not unity, that's competition."
Li Yuan nodded. "Perhaps a better question is: what if, instead of three separate communities performing, the festival showcases what can be created when the three communities collaborate?"
Silence descended upon the circle. Li Yuan could feel a shift in their intentions—from competition toward... curiosity.
"What do you mean?" Astrid asked with a more open tone.
"Fusion music that combines instruments from three traditions. Dance that integrates movements from three cultures. Stories narrated in three languages simultaneously," Li Yuan explained. "Not three separate performances, but one performance that can only exist because the three communities worked together."
Chen Wei frowned. "That's... never been tried. How would it work in practice?"
Marcus stood up, his eyes beginning to sparkle. "Wait. I have an idea." He began to pace in a small circle. "What if we create three segments, but each segment is a collaboration? The first segment focuses on fusion music, the second segment on integrated dance, the third segment on multilingual storytelling?"
Astrid began to look interested. "And each segment is co-led by artists from all three communities?"
"Exactly!" Chen Wei clapped his hands. "So no one feels their community gets a smaller portion, because every segment involves everyone."
Li Yuan smiled, seeing the enthusiasm that was starting to emerge. Through his Wenjing Realm, he felt a dramatic change in their intentions—from frustration and competition to creative and collaborative joy.
"But what about the logistics?" Astrid asked. "We only have one day to make this a reality."
"We have three days of the festival," Marcus reminded. "The first day can be for the music segment, the second day for dance, the third day for storytelling."
Chen Wei nodded enthusiastically. "And every day, the preparations and rehearsals can be part of the festival itself. The audience can see the collaboration process, not just the final result."
"A living and evolving festival," Astrid added, her eyes shining. "Not just a pre-made performance."
Li Yuan felt a deep satisfaction seeing how the dynamics in the circle had completely changed. From three people arguing about time allocation, they had transformed into a creative team excited about new possibilities.
This is a real testament to the theory I presented last night, Li Yuan reflected. When the focus shifts from competition to collaboration, from what divides to what can be created together, magic happens.
"Alright," Marcus said, clapping his hands, "we have a concept. Now we need volunteers from each community for the segment coordinators."
"And we need someone to communicate this change in plans to everyone who has already prepared for the old plan," Chen Wei added.
Astrid glanced at Li Yuan. "You said Zhang Wei sent you here. Maybe you can help with this communication? You seem to have a way of presenting ideas that is... well-received."
Li Yuan nodded. "I will help in any way I can."
As they got up from the circle and prepared to communicate the new plan to the entire preparation team, Li Yuan felt something he hadn't felt in a long time: the joy of seeing people find a way out of a deadlock through creativity and collaboration.
This festival will be something special, Li Yuan thought, walking with the three coordinators toward the various work groups scattered across the square. Not because it will be perfect, but because it will be genuine—a true expression of what can be achieved when differences are seen as assets, not liabilities.