This floor had flown right out of the building. Zhang Laifu saw it clearly; the floors above and below were gone, but the windows of the neighboring rooms remained.
A whole floor flying through the sky?
What kind of physics was this?
The floor took a sharp right turn in mid-air, sent Zhang Laifu stumbling. He steadied himself and caught a faint glimpse of the distant office building through the window.
The building was still there, missing a floor, but its overall structure seemed unaffected.
No wonder Zhang Laifu had counted thirty-two floors earlier, while Old Yu and Old Zheng insisted on thirty-one.
They weren't lying; they had counted just as another floor was flying away.
"What exactly is going on?" Zhang Laifu turned to ask Old Song. "Why is the building flying—"
Before he could finish, the room jolted violently, and Zhang Laifu fell.
"Laifu, get back to your position," Old Song helped him up and ushered him back to the bed, speaking earnestly. "Laifu, you've acted before. You might not be a professional, but surely you've seen basic special effects.
When actors do a scene in a car, do they actually film it in a moving car? No, they use a green screen on a set and film inside a model. The scenery outside the window is all post-production. What's there to be surprised about?"
Zhang Laifu pointed out the window. "You're telling me this is a special effect?"
"Of course! What else could it be?" Old Song shook his head as if lamenting Zhang Laifu's ignorance.
Zhang Laifu kept shaking his head. "Those effects are added in post. I'm seeing this with my own eyes."
"What you see with your eyes isn't real either!" Old Song pointed outside. "Those are all electronic screens. Effects made this way look more realistic, and it helps the actors get into character.
It's time you got into character too. Get in bed and go to sleep..."
As he spoke, the view outside the French windows turned pitch black.
Old Song continued his explanation: "That's the visual effect of the train passing through a tunnel."
Hiss— Hiss—
The sound of steam puffing was crystal clear.
"That's the auditory effect of the train accelerating."
Clang-clatter!
The room jolted again.
Old Song explained: "That's a motion effect... cough, cough, cough!"
A cloud of thick smoke drifted into the room, making Old Song choke.
Zhang Laifu asked: "And what kind of effect is this smoke?"
"This is... cough... the olfactory effect of a train in motion. This effect is really... with smoke this thick, I'm surprised the fire alarm hasn't gone off."
So there was a fire alarm in this room.
Zhang Laifu thought seriously for a moment. "What's the point of an olfactory effect? Can the audience even smell it?"
"Didn't you see me coughing?" Old Song closed the French window. "This is a supplementary method to help the actors get into character."
The window was closed, but the wind seeping through the cracks was still freezing.
Zhang Laifu wrapped himself tighter in the quilt and looked at Old Song. "I suppose this wind is a tactile effect?"
"Exactly. It's all effects, all to enhance the performance." Old Song also lay down on the bed, facing the window.
Old Song was a very peculiar man, soft like a ball of cotton.
He always made people feel a sense of warmth; even though he had kidnapped you, he somehow made it hard to feel afraid of him.
Zhang Laifu clutched his phone. He had written over a dozen messages, but because there was no signal, none had been sent.
If information couldn't get out, could a person?
Old Zheng was in the outer room, and Old Song was in the inner room.
He was in a flying house, the mechanics of which were unknown.
Escaping on his own would be too difficult; he had to find a way to call for help.
A landscape painting on the wall suddenly lit up, startling Zhang Laifu.
Old Song said: "That's a television. Don't be nervous."
"That's a television?"
It was incredibly well-hidden.
His phone had no signal, so why did the TV? Perhaps there was another signal source here?
"It's our company's closed-circuit television." Old Song seemed to know exactly what Zhang Laifu was thinking.
The landscape on the painting vanished, replaced by a young, beautiful woman in a railway uniform. She smiled warmly and said:
"Dear passengers, welcome aboard Train For those who have already boarded, please do not wander or leave your carriages.
The crew is only responsible for cleaning and station announcements; they will not disturb you at other times. We wish you a pleasant journey."
The beautiful woman gave a slight smile and disappeared.
The ink-wash landscape on the painting quickly reappeared.
Zhang Laifu turned to Old Song. "Was that a flight attendant? Is this a train? A one-story-building train?"
Old Song replied: "What train? You're still in our company's office building. That TV program was just a work prompt. Seeing that means filming is about to start. Everyone, get into character immediately."
Zhang Laifu looked around. "Where are the camera positions?"
Old Song shook his head. "Our company is an industry leader. We're not like those amateur troupes; we don't use such outdated equipment.
There are many hidden cameras in this carriage that can film from every angle, providing plenty of material for post-production.
You don't need to worry about camera positions. You just need to maintain your performance."
As he spoke, the sound of a pipa drifted in from outside the window.
Zhang Laifu didn't understand pipa music, but this piece was so beautiful it made his ears tingle and his body feel light, as if he were floating.
...
"Dear passengers, we are approaching Baiduan River Station. Passengers departing here, please gather your belongings and prepare to disembark."
Zhang Laifu opened his eyes groalily; he had actually slept until evening.
The painting on the wall was still lit, and he could still see the attendant's smiling face.
Just that one smile? Where was Old Song?
Zhang Laifu sat up and found Old Song was not in the room.
The curtains were drawn, but lights were flashing past the window.
Judging by the frequency of the flashes, the train was slowing down.
Zhang Laifu walked to the window. After a moment, the attendant on the painting made the next announcement: "Baiduan River Station has arrived."
The station!
Was this station also built out of stacked trains?
Zhang Laifu pulled open the window, intending to check the train's height. If it was below five stories, he planned to jump.
Whoosh!
A wave of heat hit him, and he quickly slammed the window shut.
He touched his face and wiped away a layer of black soot from his eyebrows.
His hair had also been singed. He hadn't expected the temperature outside to be so high.
The window seemed like a bad exit; he would have to use the door.
He pushed open the wooden door and looked into the outer room. Old Yu and Old Zheng were fast asleep, snoring loudly.
Zhang Laifu crept out of the room and into the corridor.
There were a few people in the corridor carrying luggage toward the safety doors.
That must be the way out. If he just followed them...
"Laifu, where are you going?" Old Yu stood behind him, smiling.
Zhang Laifu answered calmly: "To the bathroom."
"I'll go with you." Old Yu led Zhang Laifu to the end of the corridor. Zhang Laifu looked around and saw a ladder on the wall.
"What's that for?" Zhang Laifu pointed at the ladder.
Old Yu glanced at it. "A ladder, obviously. What's so strange? It goes upstairs."
"Upstairs?" Zhang Laifu didn't quite understand. If a single floor was flying in the sky, how could there be an "upstairs"?
Old Yu urged him: "What are you thinking? You really think this is a train? You're still in our office building. This is our set!"
Zhang Laifu looked up the ladder; there was light at the top.
Old Yu tugged at him. "Stop staring. Upstairs is another set. Don't disturb their filming."
Zhang Laifu continued to look around. This was the time for boarding and disembarking; perhaps he would run into a crew member.
Old Yu suddenly said: "The attendant is here."
"Here?" Zhang Laifu tried to hide his excitement, searching for the attendant with a calm gaze.
Before boarding, he had tried to talk to the uniformed staff, but the group had blocked him.
Those in uniform were station staff; if this group was afraid of them, they must be afraid of the train crew too.
Old Yu said she was here, but where?
A tile on the bathroom wall suddenly lit up, and the attendant appeared.
The woman in uniform appeared on the wall's TV, smiling and saying in a sweet voice: "Dear passengers, welcome aboard Train For those who have already boarded, please do not wander or leave your carriages.
The crew is only responsible for cleaning and station announcements; they will not disturb you at other times. We wish you a pleasant journey."
Old Yu pointed at the wall. "See? That's the reminder that filming is starting again. Get back to the room."
The image vanished, leaving the gray-white tile as ordinary as ever, without a trace.
Zhang Laifu touched the tile and asked Old Yu: "How was this building of ours constructed?"
Old Yu smiled. "If I said it was grown in a bowl, would you believe me?"
"A bowl? Grown?" Zhang Laifu suspected Old Yu was also performing pingtan. "I'm a civil engineering student. I've had a higher education. I don't understand you. What do you mean 'grown in a bowl'? How can a building be grown?"
Old Yu gave a dismissive answer: "That's science. The science of Myriad Lives and Myriad Changes."
"What is Myriad Lives and Myriad Changes?"
Old Yu wasn't like Old Song; he didn't have the patience to explain. "Piss if you have to, or go back to sleep. Didn't I tell you filming has started?"
Zhang Laifu went into the bathroom stall. When he came out, the ladder leading upstairs had disappeared.
Old Yu urged him again: "Done? Let's go!"
Zhang Laifu followed Old Yu back to the room, where Old Zheng gave him a lunch box.
"Hungry, Laifu? Have some food. The train meals aren't bad."
Zhang Laifu was stunned. "Why is the crew eating train meals?"
"It's a prop. Just eat."
Zhang Laifu was indeed hungry. The meal was quite lavish, with meat and vegetables. Just as he was about to eat, he heard Old Yu say: "I heard you open the window earlier. You have to be careful on set. Last time, a new actor about your age tried to film a scene jumping off the train. He got sucked under and crushed into eighteen pieces."
Zhang Laifu was startled. "Exactly eighteen pieces?"
Old Yu laughed. "I counted. I'm good at calculating; I count very fast. I don't get the number of floors wrong, and I don't get the number of body parts wrong. Exactly eighteen."
Zhang Laifu lowered his head and ate in silence.
The two returned to the outer room and lay on their beds. Old Zheng sighed softly: "Even here, this 'Seedling' won't stay quiet."
Old Yu blew out a cloud of smoke. "If the Second Master hadn't stopped me, I would have broken his legs!"
"If you break his legs, how will he walk? You plan on carrying him back?" Old Zheng pointed at the ceiling. "Did the Second Master go upstairs?"
Old Yu nodded. "Just went up."
"Did the Seedling see him?"
Old Yu didn't seem to care. "So what if he did? He wouldn't understand! I'm not worried about the Seedling; I'm worried about the Second Master's business."
Old Zheng smiled. "The Second Master must be confident. Didn't he come to this Outer State just to 'open the bowl' for the Chief?"
"Open the bowl?" Old Yu laughed. "You're trying to fool even me? If it were just to open the bowl for the Chief, would the Second Master go to all this trouble?"
Old Zheng lowered his voice. "I heard the Second Master mainly wants to buy himself a good bowl this time."
Old Yu shook his head slightly. "I doubt it's just for a bowl. The Second Master took such a big risk; he's here for something major."
Old Zheng was taken aback. "Buying a bowl isn't major?"
Old Yu lowered his voice to a whisper. "There's something even bigger than buying a bowl. I heard a high-ranking official under Commander Wu is boarding at Baiduan River tonight. The Second Master might be after him."
"Commander Wu!" Old Zheng shuddered. "If the Chief finds out..."
Old Yu glared at Old Zheng, signaling him to stop. "The Chief must never find out about this, or none of us will survive."
The more Old Zheng thought about it, the more terrified he became. "We shouldn't concern ourselves with things that aren't our business. We'd better just watch that Seedling; that's better than anything."
"Watch him for what? What could a fool like him even do?"
"What if he tries to jump off the train again?"
Old Yu sneered. "Let him jump! This is the Baiduan River. Who dares to go out the window? He'll be burned to death the moment he jumps!"
Old Zheng was still uneasy. "If he really gets burned to death, how will we explain it to the Second Master?"
"Don't worry, he doesn't have the guts. Even if the window is open, he won't dare go out. I can keep an eye on him with half an eye closed..." Old Yu sniffed, sensing something wrong.
"Where's that fire coming from..."
Old Zheng looked at the green door. "The inner room! There's smoke coming from the inner room!"
Old Yu kicked the door open and saw Song Yongchang's bundle on fire. Flames were licking up, and thick smoke was rising to the ceiling.
His face went pale instantly. Old Zheng rushed into the room and used his clothes to beat out the fire.
Old Yu's face turned from pale to black, his eyes cold as he glared at Zhang Laifu. "Did you start this fire?"
Zhang Laifu shook his head and explained quickly: "I wasn't trying to start a fire. I wanted to test the special effects outside the window. I wanted to know how high the temperature was."
Old Yu looked at Old Song's luggage, which was nearly half-burned. "You used luggage to test the temperature?"
"What luggage? These are props! You have to be in character!"
"Can you just test props whenever you want?"
Zhang Laifu was astonished. "If I don't use props, how else am I supposed to test it? Should I go out and test it myself? Do you have no sense of safety?"
He was telling the truth. He wanted to jump, he had a sense of safety, so he used Old Song's luggage to test the temperature first. The conclusion of his experiment was that he couldn't jump.
"Now you aren't safe. Do you know why they call me Yu the Calculator?" Old Yu rolled up his sleeves. "Let me calculate if you're about to have a bloody disaster."
Old Zheng stepped in to stop him. "Don't be in a hurry. Wait for the Second Master to return and deal with him..."
"No need to wait. This kid needs a lesson!"
Old Yu walked toward Zhang Laifu, who remained calm, watching him.
He wasn't afraid, because the smoke alarm in the carriage had gone off.
Zhang Laifu had burned Old Song's luggage for this very moment!
Just as Old Yu reached him, there was a knock at the door.
Old Zheng asked: "Who is it?"
A raspy, old voice came from the door: "Attendant. Open up!"
The attendant was here!
Zhang Laifu smiled!
After all that effort and risk, he had finally summoned the attendant!
Old Yu and Old Zheng went to the outer room, closed the inner door, and called out: "Come in!"
The attendant was an old woman carrying a trash bag. She asked Old Zheng and Old Yu: "The smoke alarm went off. What's the situation?"
Old Yu said nothing. Old Zheng said with a smile: "We felt a bit stuffy just now and opened the window. Some dust and smoke blew in."
The old woman wasn't angry, just nagged a bit: "Is this your first time on a train? You can't open the windows at Baiduan River."
Old Zheng nodded repeatedly. "We'll be careful next time."
The old woman asked again: "Any trash that needs clearing?"
Just as Old Zheng handed her the used lunch box, Zhang Laifu pushed open the door and walked out of the inner room.
He was very excited now; he had something to say!
This old woman clearly belonged to the non-combatant type. He couldn't be too direct, or Old Zheng and Old Yu might do something desperate.
But given her age, if he was too subtle, she probably wouldn't understand either.
He had to strike the right balance.
Zhang Laifu had prepared thoroughly. As long as he got the balance right, he would surely be saved.
His goal now was to leave the room directly with the old woman.
While Zhang Laifu was weighing his words, the old woman looked at him, then at Old Zheng and Old Yu.
Sensing the tense atmosphere, she realized these people might have some secrets.
With a kind smile, she asked another question: "Any corpses that need clearing?"
Zhang Laifu stared at the attendant, speechless for a long time.
Sensing his hesitation, the attendant gave a brief introduction to her services: "Our disposal process is completely reliable. Important organs are recycled at the current market price."
Old Zheng and Old Yu both stared at Zhang Laifu.
Seeing that no one was speaking, the attendant added: "There was a little girl next door we just dealt with. The organ recycling fees have already been credited."
The little girl next door...
Meng Xuanxuan?
Old Yu asked the attendant on purpose: "Why was that girl dealt with?"
The attendant sounded a bit regretful: "They were all in the same carriage, but somehow a fight broke out. It was a brutal one. By the time we got there, the corpse was in eighteen pieces."
Old Zheng laughed. "You can even dispose of something in eighteen pieces?"
The attendant gave a relaxed smile. "Eighteen pieces is nothing. We can clean up even smaller fragments. It's just that some good stuff couldn't be recovered. If you don't believe me, take a look."
She dragged the trash bag behind her in front of them, opened it, and introduced the contents one by one: "The important organs have been taken. This is what's left."
The three of them craned their necks and stared.
It was indeed Meng Xuanxuan.
Old Yu turned to Zhang Laifu. "Count them. Exactly eighteen pieces!"
Zhang Laifu nodded repeatedly. "Old Yu, you really are fast at counting. Not a single piece missing!"
The attendant closed the bag. "So, any corpses to be disposed of?"
Old Yu asked Zhang Laifu: "You've got a lot of good stuff on you. Want to dispose of it?"
"I've got some trash here, sorry to trouble you with it." Zhang Laifu handed the lunch box to the old woman and turned back into the inner room.
The attendants and station staff seemed to be different.
Old Zheng smiled at the attendant. "We don't have any corpses for now."
The attendant left. Old Yu looked at the green door and said: "Should we give him a beating? Otherwise, who knows what other trouble he'll stir up!"
"Do you think his frame can take a beating from you?" Old Zheng pointed at the ceiling again. "The Second Master is on official business. We must not cause him any trouble."
...
Old Song arrived at the second floor of the train, passed through two carriages, and saw two guards outside the door of the third.
He stepped forward, took off his felt hat, pressed it to his chest, and bowed to the guards.
"Trouble you two to pass word: Song Yongchang seeks an audience with Commander Wang."
One guard entered the carriage and returned shortly after, inviting Song Yongchang inside.
A Biaotong (Commander) was the leader of a regiment-sized unit.
This Commander Wang was named Wang Jixuan, a subordinate of Wu Jingyao, the newly appointed Governor of Southern Wansheng State. He was a man of rules and etiquette; seeing these two guards tonight, Song Yongchang felt they were different from others.
This carriage was a luxury suite on Train , complete with a living room, bedroom, wine cellar, and tea room.
Commander Wang had a tall, straight posture. His rounded cheeks bore a pair of round-rimmed glasses, and his thick black hair was neatly combed back. If not for his military uniform, he would have looked like a schoolteacher.
After changing the tea leaves and adding fresh water, Commander Wang invited Song Yongchang to sit at the tea table.
"Second Master Song, what a coincidence. I ran into you just as I boarded the train."
Song Yongchang spoke the truth directly: "Commander Wang, it's no coincidence. I went to great lengths to catch this train of yours."
Commander Wang feigned surprise. "You were that eager to find me?"
Song Yongchang didn't beat around the bush. "I have two urgent matters to trouble you with: one is a heart for submission, and the other is a love for treasures."
Commander Wang thought for a moment and nodded slightly. "I know about Mr. Song's heart for submission. I will report it to Governor Wu, but as for his arrangements, I cannot decide.
You also mentioned a love for treasures. I'm not sure where that comes from?"
The water boiled, and Commander Wang brewed the first pot of tea.
The first brew isn't for drinking; it's used to wash the leaves and the cups.
Taking advantage of the tea-washing, Song Yongchang said: "Commander, I heard you bought something good for Governor Wu during your trip to the Outer State."
The cups were washed. Hearing this, Commander Wang let the cups soak in the tea water a bit longer. "From whom did you get this news? Do you know the penalty for spying on military secrets?"
Song Yongchang apologized repeatedly: "Commander, please calm your anger. I truly desire this treasure."
"You want the treasure?" Commander Wang suddenly laughed. "Do you want me to ask Governor Wu if he can let you have it?"
The words were chilling, but Song Yongchang knew where he stood.
If Commander Wang really wanted to turn hostile, he would have called for men already.
Song Yongchang was all smiles. "Commander, I heard you brought back more than one treasure from the Outer State."
At this, Commander Wang looked up at Song Yongchang. "How do you know everything? Do you know too much?"
He tapped the table lightly with a pair of tweezers; this time, it seemed he really might call for men.
Song Yongchang explained quickly: "Commander, I mean no harm! I heard you spent a lot on this, so I came specifically to ask."
Commander Wang circled the tweezers around the tea cup.
Ting.
The sound was very pleasant.
Commander Wang was in a good mood.
He set the tweezers aside, picked up the teapot, brewed the second pot, poured a cup, and pushed it toward Song Yongchang.
With this cup of tea, Song Yongchang felt much more at ease. He sat back slowly, picked up the cup, and drained it.
Commander Wang took a sip of his tea. "This trip to the Outer State was to buy a bowl for the Governor. The seller there didn't follow the rules. We had agreed on a price, but when it came time for business, he changed his mind.
I thought he was trying to hike the price, but I later learned he was trying to bundle his goods. He had two bowls: to sell the large one, he had to include a small one. Both had to be bought together for him to release the goods.
As you know, whatever the Governor wants, I must bring back, no matter the cost. So, out of necessity, I paid out of my own pocket to buy the small bowl as well."
At this, Commander Wang poured Song Yongchang another cup.
This cup of tea carried significant weight.
Song Yongchang picked up the cup. "That merchant is truly detestable. Commander, I truly admire your selflessness and loyalty."
"Mr. Song, you flatter me. I'm only doing my duty. I owe everything I have today to Governor Wu's promotion. Doing my best for him is only natural.
I am a man of integrity. Buying this extra small bowl cost me fifty thousand silver dollars, which cleaned out my pockets.
If I take it back and the Governor wants both, I might recover some of my costs. If he only wants one, I'll have to swallow the loss myself."
As he spoke, Commander Wang produced a white felt hat.
The material of this hat was exquisite, made from top-quality rabbit felt, smooth and dense. The crown was high, the lines rounded, and the brim was pressed firm and strong, wrapped in a deep-colored grosgrain ribbon with fine, even stitching. At first glance, it was a top-tier piece.
However, upon closer inspection, several flaws were visible.
One part of the brim's edge wasn't pressed perfectly flat, and the stitching on the inner sweatband was a bit uneven—signs of a craftsman rushing to finish without proper refinement. This hat came from a master's hand, but with these marks of haste, it certainly wasn't worth fifty thousand dollars. Twenty thousand, perhaps. Still a fine item.
This was the bowl—the small bowl Commander Wang had bought!
"I can't let you take that loss!" Song Yongchang pulled a check from his breast pocket. "Sell this small bowl to me."
Commander Wang looked at the amount and pushed the check back. "I paid fifty thousand for that bowl. What do you mean by giving me a hundred thousand?"
Song Yongchang pushed the check back again. "This bowl is worth it. You getting it for fifty thousand was due to your reputation. Anyone else would have paid two hundred thousand and might still not have gotten it.
Getting it from you for a hundred thousand is already a favor. In the end, I'm the one getting the better deal."
"You're being too polite. I can't take your money." Commander Wang tried to push it away again.
"I truly wish to join Governor Wu, but I have no way in. I'll need you to go to some trouble for me, Commander."
The teapot lid rattled; the water was boiling.
Commander Wang brewed the third pot. "Old Song, we'll surely be serving Governor Wu together from now on. You mustn't be so polite."
The deal was done.
Song Yongchang was ecstatic, nearly steaming with excitement like the teapot.
Commander Wang took the check and handed the hat to Song Yongchang. "Brother Song, since you wish to leave the darkness for the light, Governor Wu certainly won't turn you away. But in what capacity you enter, that must be carefully considered."
"Commander, I'm not picky. Serving Governor Wu is enough for me!"
Commander Wang stared at Song Yongchang for a moment. "Brother Song, with your background and strength, I think being a battalion commander would be a waste of your talent. You should be at least a Biaotong like me."
Song Yongchang waved his hands repeatedly. "You flatter me. I don't have the ability to stand on equal footing with you. Finding a post under you would be the blessing of several lifetimes."
Commander Wang waved it off. "We're on the same side; why the politeness?
Let me be clear: Governor Wu hates bandits above all else. If you want to see him, you can't go empty-handed. You must bring a grand gift."
Song Yongchang nodded repeatedly. "I understand. I will certainly deliver that gift."
Commander Wang held his cup, blew on the scalding tea, and asked: "How do you plan to deliver it?"
The way he asked made Song Yongchang unsure of how to answer.
He couldn't exactly state his plan to betray his own people in such grand terms.
Commander Wang finished his tea and continued: "I heard the third Lin son, Lin Shaochong, has gone missing. Do you think it's possible Hunlong Stronghold did it?"
"Unlikely!" Song Yongchang shook his head immediately. "I haven't heard a word about it."
Commander Wang laughed. "You haven't heard? Then let's make a hypothetical. If Hunlong Stronghold did do it, do you think the Lin family would go to war with them over it?"
"I still think not. The third Lin son is a fool, completely ignored by the family." Song Yongchang picked up the teapot to refill Commander Wang's cup, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
Commander Wang sighed. "Ignored or not, he's still a Lin. He represents their face.
The Lin family has been entrenched in Heishakou for years, appointed as supervisors by Old Marshal Qiao himself. They have the men, the money, and the status.
If they really went to war with Hunlong Stronghold, who do you think would win?"
Song Yongchang set the cup before Commander Wang. "I still think... they won't fight."
Commander Wang took the cup and looked at Song Yongchang. "I'm just speaking hypothetically. If they did fight, who do you think would benefit?"
Holding the tea in his hand, Commander Wang kept his eyes on Song Yongchang.
Song Yongchang knew he couldn't hide it any longer. He stood up and answered respectfully: "When that day comes, I'll be counting on your support, Commander."
"No need for such formality. Suppressing bandits is a soldier's duty. We're on the same side!
The five Marshals of Wansheng State have picked everything clean. How much is left for the twenty-eight Governors? Governor Wu is looking for talent like you!" Commander Wang pulled Song Yongchang back into his seat to continue their tea.
...
Returning to his room, Zheng the Pipa quickly explained the situation: "Second Master, the Seedling went mad for some reason and burned your luggage."
Song Yongchang looked at the luggage on the floor and sternly criticized Zhang Laifu: "Laifu, you must have the discipline of a professional actor. Cherish your props!"
He didn't care!
He didn't care at all!
Song Yongchang truly didn't care, because the important things were on his person.
After dismissing Old Yu and Old Zheng, Old Song looked at Zhang Laifu. "Laifu, time for bed. Get into character immediately."
"Okay." Zhang Laifu lay on the bed, wrapped in the quilt, thinking about his next move.
If he couldn't go to the attendant, what other choice did he have?
Thump! Ting-ting-ting!
A rhythmic tapping sounded by his ear. Zhang Laifu thought Old Song was painting, but then he found his quilt rapidly expanding.
Pop!
The quilt burst.
The cotton inside crawled over Zhang Laifu, strand by strand.
Zhang Laifu tried to get up, but after several attempts, his waist and legs wouldn't bend. He couldn't sit up.
He tried to prop himself up with his arms, but as soon as he moved, the fine cotton fibers bit into his flesh, drawing blood.
In agony, Zhang Laifu tried to scream, but it felt as if something had been stuffed down his throat. He couldn't make a sound.
Old Song stood by the bed, looking down at Zhang Laifu. "Laifu, twenty thousand a month—don't you want such a good job?
I actually quite like you. I wanted you to act with ease and comfort, but you have no sense of rules.
From now on, do not speak unless you have lines. Do not move unless you have a scene. Do you understand what professional discipline means now?"