Chapter One: Let’s Try a Different Emperor (Part 1)

　　I walked out of a building carrying two cardboard boxes. Looking at the many well-dressed people coming and going, I couldn’t help but turn back toward the building and curse loudly, “Damn!” Then, completely ignoring the surprised looks from those around me, I strode away with flair.

　　I was an ordinary office worker in that building—no, I should say I used to be. From now on, I was free again, no longer needing to get up at eight and start work at nine.

　　I’d graduated two years ago, but had already changed jobs eight times. By today, I didn’t even know if I’d quit on my boss or if my boss had fired me. Anyway, I was unemployed again.

　　“Damn it, if only I were an emperor.” I couldn’t help but start daydreaming. Just thinking about all the perks of being an emperor made me grin from ear to ear.

　　Screech—creak—!

　　A sudden screech of brakes jolted me out of my daydream. Then a middle-aged man jumped out of the car and started cursing at me in dialect.

　　Although I wasn’t a local, I’d lived here for two years. I couldn’t really speak the dialect, but I could understand some of it—especially the swear words, which I knew all too well.

　　That guy had it coming. I have a quick temper. Normally, I’d at most slap him or something. But today was the miserable day I lost my job, so he really picked the wrong time to mess with me.

　　With everyone watching, I gave him a good beating with my fists, and finished by flipping him off. Then I turned and ran. I knew the police would be there any minute.

　　I ducked into an alley, gasping for breath. As an office worker, I hadn’t exercised this hard in a long time. But after venting like that, a lot of my frustration was gone, and I felt much better.

　　Suddenly, a middle-aged man dressed as a Taoist priest grabbed me from behind. He stared at my face for a long time, his expression growing more and more serious. He muttered, “Young man, your face bears the mark of the Son of Heaven. I…”

　　Before he could finish, I shoved him away and said disdainfully, “The mark of the Son of Heaven? Don’t try that trick on me. I’ve seen plenty of money-grubbing Taoists like you.” With that, I turned and left. Damn, I remember when I was a kid, several Taoists tried to scam my mom, saying I had the mark of the Son of Heaven. My mom got so excited she donated a whole month’s living expenses. I ended up eating thin porridge and pickles for a month. Ever since then, I can’t stand hearing anything about the mark of the Son of Heaven.

　　I left the alley and took a cab back to my place. I don’t call it home, because I have no feelings for this apartment. It’s just a place to sleep, no different from a hotel. Of course, I have my landlord to thank for that. His disgusting face is one of the main reasons I have no attachment to the place I’ve lived in for two years.

　　Lying in bed that night, I thought about a lot of things, including all the bits and pieces of my life in this city over the past two years. This isn’t my city. I don’t fit in here, and it doesn’t fit me. Realizing this, I decided to leave.

　　As usual, I’m the type to act as soon as I make up my mind—I don’t like to drag things out. So the next day, I settled up with my landlord and packed my important belongings into a travel bag.

　　I came here this way, and I left the same way. At the bustling train station, not a single person came to see me off.

　　Fortunately, transportation is pretty convenient these days. My hometown, Tai’an, isn’t exactly economically developed, but it’s a famous tourist spot, so there are plenty of trains. Too lazy to wait in the long line, I just bought a scalped ticket from a tout and headed straight into the station.

　　I lay on my bunk, admiring the scenery of Jiangnan flashing by outside the window. But my thoughts kept drifting to my hometown, Tai’an. It’s been two years since I last went back, hasn’t it? I remember boasting when I left that I’d return in glory once I made a name for myself.

　　Now, going back in such a sorry state, I’ll probably be laughed at.

　　Oh well. If I learned nothing else in these two years, at least I’ve developed a thick skin. A little ridicule doesn’t bother me anymore.

　　I hadn’t slept well for days, and as I thought about all this, I drifted off. I didn’t wake up until someone shook me: “Hello, the train is about to arrive at Tai’an Station. Please exchange your ticket.”

　　The pretty female conductor’s words were polite, but her tone was anything but. Still, I couldn’t be bothered to argue. After exchanging tickets with her, I put on my clothes, grabbed my travel bag, and waited by the door.

　　Finally, I was back in my hometown.