Pages 41-65 Summary

As the next section opens on page 41, Hong is visited by a retired soldier named Zhu Tong who lives in the same village. Zhu Tong has high regard for Hong and speaks to him as an equal. He asks Hong to deliver a letter for him to his former commander, named Ma, who is stationed in Suzhou, which is on the way to Beijing. Hong agrees.

Chen is visited by the schoolmaster, Master Fei Qun, who also asks that he carry a letter. He warns Chen that the letter might upset any officials who read it and so if he is questioned he should not say where it came from. He demands the favor from Chen in return for his having written the letter of recommendation for the county exam. Chen, out of duty to his teacher, agrees. As Fei Qun...