After entering the Inner City, Shen Qing returned to the inn where he usually lodged as if nothing had happened.
As usual, he called Shen Xiaohu to have a casual meal together.
Since they had a hearty lunch at noon, neither of them was very hungry by evening.
Seeing that there were fewer guests in the hall, Shen Xiaohu moved his stool closer to Shen Qing and said, "Brother Qingzi, something bad has happened."
Shen Qing, holding a chopstick with a peanut between them, threw it into his mouth, clueless, and asked, "What happened?"
"Ouyang Tie Niu is dead. Not long after you left, Senior Brother Ouyang came to our school in mourning to request the presence of our uncle, the Hall Master, to preside over the funeral."
Shen Qing almost lost his grip on the chopsticks in his hand, exclaiming in surprise, "Ah, Ouyang Tie Niu is dead? We just ate lunch together, how could this have happened so suddenly?"
