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Nov. 18th, 2020 07:18 pmThe Jingshi was warm, talismans pinned to the inside of the doors and windows doing their job, the air sweetened with smoke from incense. Lan Xichen is seated near the doorway, his nephew settled comfortably in his lap where he can watch the snow fall. It is too early in the season for it to stick for long, but it is beautiful while it lasts.
"The largest one was called the king of the chickens, because, of all the hundreds in the flock, he was the strongest. And for this reason he was the leader of them all. He led the flock to new places for food. He could crow the loudest, and as he was the strongest, none dared oppose him in any way.
One day he said to the flock, "Let us go to the other side of the mountain near the wilderness to-day, and hunt rice, wheat, corn, and wild silkworms. There is not enough food here."
But the other chickens said, "We are afraid to go so far. There are foxes and eagles in the wilderness, and they will catch us.""
Lan Xichen's voice is calm and steady as he tells fables to his new nephew. He is entirely sure his uncle would prefer that he hand all child care duties to a subordinate. The argument about that had been sharp, and short, and here he was, waiting for his younger brother to awaken for a visit from his son.
"The largest one was called the king of the chickens, because, of all the hundreds in the flock, he was the strongest. And for this reason he was the leader of them all. He led the flock to new places for food. He could crow the loudest, and as he was the strongest, none dared oppose him in any way.
One day he said to the flock, "Let us go to the other side of the mountain near the wilderness to-day, and hunt rice, wheat, corn, and wild silkworms. There is not enough food here."
But the other chickens said, "We are afraid to go so far. There are foxes and eagles in the wilderness, and they will catch us.""
Lan Xichen's voice is calm and steady as he tells fables to his new nephew. He is entirely sure his uncle would prefer that he hand all child care duties to a subordinate. The argument about that had been sharp, and short, and here he was, waiting for his younger brother to awaken for a visit from his son.
