At the Zhen Residence, a servant named Xiaojiu early in the morning treaded on the snow and ran out to a pavilion on top of the mountain, where he grabbed the rope and rang the bell.
The melodious bell sound immediately awoke the town resting at the foot of the mountains.
The head of security in Niutoulan Village, Lin San, woke up; he was an old man over sixty, with white hair and skin on his face cracked like ravines.
He took pride in having obtained the title of "Scholar" in his youth, a distinction he'd carried with pride all his life.
With the heavy snow sealing off the mountains, the old Scholar Lin had originally been cooped up at home, playing Pai Gow with a few old brothers.
Unexpectedly, just as they'd started a round with a sky-high nine, someone rushed in and burst through the door.
Head of Security Lin flew into a rage, "It's a crime to barge into one's home without invitation! Speak quickly if there's an issue, don't dally."
