Riding the wind of rebirth

The function and structure of the Tusi Building are not like those of traditional Chinese buildings. In addition to living, a large part of it also served military and administrative functions. Instead, it is more like a small medieval European castle.

There is a stone gatehouse facing the entrance, and above the gatehouse is a "Sanxing Cave" in the shape of the Chinese character "品" (pin). It used to be the location of the giant crossbows that faced the attackers outside the gate. Later, the chieftains introduced foreign guns and cannons, and heavy machine guns were once placed here.

There are also tall watchtowers in the four corners. The watchtowers are quite tall and are still well preserved. The space in the middle is very small, and there are wooden ladders that can be used to go up to the top for sentries to keep watch.

The rooms on all four sides of the ground floor have doors and windows that open inwards, and some small holes that open outwards. These holes are usually sealed with mud, but can be opened during wartime to allow for firing outwards.

The area on both sides, which used to be a winery and warehouse, was formerly a stable and military post, capable of accommodating hundreds of elite soldiers to protect their leader.

The second floor has a corridor facing the courtyard, which also serves as a passage for deploying troops and allows for firing from a high vantage point.

Additionally, the rooftop is also accessible. It's now covered with solar-powered roof tiles and satellite receiving antennas. In the past, it could also be used to set up battle sheds and armored vehicles, providing protection against enemy projectiles while also enabling combat.

Inside Old Chi Ri's room, there is a tunnel leading to the chicken farm on the back mountain. If they are outmatched here, they can retreat to the mountains and wage guerrilla warfare in the more treacherous forest.

"It's a pity Wen Yu didn't come," Yan Xiao said. "Otherwise, this place would have been enough for him to study for several days."

Besides military facilities, this place also contains many traces of unique ethnic customs and special rooms. For example, the residence of the Grand Bimo (priest) is filled with all sorts of strange and unusual items, and the grain station contains many relics from the Tusi (chieftain) era, the military control era, and the first few decades of the People's Republic of China. Zhou Zhi unearthed all of these during his two or three years here, and everyone found them fascinating and interesting under his explanation.

Standing on the roof of the Tusi Building, you can see the entire old village. The old houses, made of earth and wood, stretch along both sides of the mountain road to the mountainside. Combined with the forest behind the mountain, the babbling streams on both sides of the stone steps, and the orchards, although there are many villagers walking around on the road, you can still feel a sense of peace and tranquility.

"I feel that when I get here, my mind is much calmer," He Shiqing said.

“You won’t say that tonight,” Zhou Zhi laughed. “Then you’ll see what it means to be a talented singer and dancer, and to have a truly lively and exciting time.”

"Where are your rooms? Show us!" Feng Xueshan said with a smile.

"Yes, and your rooms have all been arranged," Zhou Zhi said. "Let's go take a look."

Zhou Zhi and Mai Xiaomiao's living and working areas are connected. There are two bedrooms connected to a large studio. One side of the studio retains the layout of a traditional Chinese study, which is obviously Zhou Zhi's own work area. On the other side, where there should be an incense table, in addition to a guqin and two swords, there are two computers and satellite communication equipment on both sides.

Even now, there is still code running on both computers, and two laptops are placed opposite each other on the traditional large table in the middle. You can tell from the mouse pads that one laptop belongs to Zhou Zhi and the other to Mai Xiaomiao.

The table was very large, with long benches on both sides. If you moved to the right from where the notebooks were placed, there was a complete tea set near the door.

If you move to the left, there is a Go board and two Go baskets.

"You really know how to enjoy yourself." Liang Hong looked at the elegant and spacious study and clicked her tongue repeatedly. She then took the smaller longsword from the sword rack, pressed the spring, and with a "clang," drew it out a section: "Oh, it's the real thing."

"Xiao Miao, are you really practicing swordsmanship?" Feng Xueshan plucked the strings of the guqin. "Can you learn it from Zhouzi?"

"Isn't the teacher here?" Yan Xiao said with a smile. "We'll find a time to have the teacher evaluate our skills and we'll know how good they are." "By the way, Zhouzi said that our fist and sword techniques were taught by Brother Yang. Thank you so much." Mai Xiaomiao gave Yang Honghui a fist-and-palm greeting.

“Xiao Miao and Zhou Zi have been practicing for a while, and they’ve already mastered the basics,” Yang Honghui said with a smile. “I could tell from the moment they were climbing the wooden stairs.”

"Is there any particular custom to climbing the wooden stairs?" Yan Xiao asked. "Is there anything different about you compared to us?"

“The wooden stairs are flexible,” Yang Honghui said with a smile. “After practicing Tai Chi for a long time, you will develop a kind of internal strength. You can’t see it normally, but when you encounter external force, it will spontaneously form a kind of ‘resistance’ to maintain balance. In our terms, this resistance is called ‘frame’. As the saying goes, ‘the frame doesn’t fall when the person falls,’ which is what this means.”

"What's the use of this thing?"

"It strengthens muscles and bones, improves physical fitness, and allows for faster reaction times in emergencies. For example, it makes it less likely to lose balance and get injured, or it allows for an instinctive choice of the best way to resist external forces, thus protecting oneself."

"The elasticity of the floor slab can also be considered an external force. When they go upstairs, their bodies will automatically adjust and use elastic steps to deal with this reaction force. This is a manifestation of having already mastered the basics."

"Is it really that far-fetched?" Yang He was stunned. "So, both Zhouzi and Xiao Miao have become martial arts masters, just like in martial arts novels?"

"That's not what I meant, it's far from it," Yang Honghui said with a smile. "It's just that with practice over time, you're bound to reap some benefits."

“This case is big enough that we could all sit here and have tea without any problem,” Yan Xiao said with a smile.

“There are better places to drink tea.” Zhou Zhi laughed. “Let’s go downstairs and cook. Uncle Tu and Grandpa Chi Ri will be back soon. Salt Rat and Brother Yang will have to put in a lot of effort at noon today.”

"Grandpa Chiri has a high alcohol tolerance?" Yan Xiao asked.

"I don't know, but I usually just get drunk and pass out first," Zhou Zhi said. "Never try to outdrink the Yi people, that's my advice. They have a belief that if they don't get you drunk, it's because they didn't treat you well, so don't try to push yourself."

When they got downstairs, Feng Xueshan went to breastfeed Xiao Shunzi first, while Zhou Zhi started cooking.

Bear paw tofu needs to be served with scallions. Since the tofu is already fried until golden brown on both sides, it's easy to prepare. Just heat oil, sauté ginger and garlic until fragrant, add some fermented bean paste and sugar, then add broth and the tofu. Simmer over low heat.

Meanwhile, in the oil pan on the other side, the seasoning for sweet and sour fish with broad bean paste is prepared, and then the fish pieces coated in batter and deep-fried are added. The so-called "Tuotuo fish" is actually sweet and sour fish with broad bean paste made using the same method as braised fish.

The third pot is for making braised seafood, which also involves adding pork belly strips, garlic, crispy pork, and fried meatballs to a broth.

Finally, add scallion segments to the first two dishes, and add bamboo shoot strips and carrot strips to the three-delicacy hot pot. Then, thicken the sauce in all three pots and it's ready to serve.

When Feng Xueshan returned to the kitchen carrying Xiao Shunzi, she saw that Zhou Zhi had already started preparing the dishes. She couldn't help but give him a thumbs up: "Great job! I can't even keep up with this speed!" (End of Chapter)