Lord Lister No. 0035: De man, die veertig draken doodde

A vibrant street festival erupts in imperial Beijing as the wooden statue of the spring god Tsai‑Soi rolls through the city, glittering with offerings of grain, livestock and firework bursts. The crowd parts for Kwo‑Saing, the famed “man who slew forty dragons,” whose gold‑laden robes and dazzling fan command awe and envy. As he scatters shining copper coins, a modest young man named Win‑Seng and a veiled girl slip through the turmoil, searching for a place to stay with the girl’s uncle, I‑Lai‑Ko, while hunger gnaws at their resolve.

Win‑Seng’s rugged determination contrasts sharply with the opulence surrounding Kwo‑Saing, whose idle smile turns serious when he notices the girl’s plain beauty. Their brief encounter hints at hidden motives and a bond that could thrust them into the dangerous currents of court intrigue. Listeners are drawn into a world of lavish ceremonies, stark poverty, and the promise of a destiny that may reshape both the humble and the heroic.