Name: Little Fifth Brother: Putian Afanti
Author: Zhang Yuankun

Stats

51Chapters

47Reads · all time

Synopsis

"Little Five Brother Big Cannon" was originally a joking name among Putian folk for a talkative and irrelevant gangster. The author adapted this proverb to create the legendary figure "Crazy Five Brother" in Putian in the middle and late Ming Dynasty. He wears a lychee bamboo hat crookedly, his sleeves are stained with field mud, and he utters the witticism "I'm not going to make a cake". His crazy appearance hides a delicate heart. He is the "wisdom star" of Linong and the "guardian" of the common people. The adapted "Little Fifth Brother Cannon" has become a legend passed down from generation to generation. When the Japanese invaders came, he turned "big talk" into wisdom to fight against the Japanese: he used lychee wood as a frame, hollowed out the lychee shells and filled them with gunpowder and iron sand to make "lychee shell cannons", and used the power of the tide to blast the Japanese ships. Counterfeit goods are rampant in the market. He pretends to be a beggar and plays tricks on liars. He exposes the scam by saying "fake cakes turn stupid", builds trustworthy monuments, builds fake tents, and lets the nursery rhyme of "genuine goods at a reasonable price" fill the streets. Faced with the sixth-grade official uniform and gold reward, he left the ink mark of "The credit goes to the people, I return to Liyuan" and retired to seclusion, planting lychee trees, teaching his children to recognize the word "like", using lychee water to save fruit trees and resolve irrigation disputes. In the end, he lived to be the "Afanti" of Putian, and the story of "Little Fifth Brother Big Cannon" got rid of the derogatory connotation, and "an ordinary hero defends his homeland" was sung by Lixiang from generation to generation.

Reader comments

Putian fireworks in the wisdom of the market. "Brother Xiaowu: Putian Afanti" uses Putian in the Ming Dynasty as the background, and portrays the image of local hero Zheng Xiaowu in a vivid and three-dimensional way. He seems to be crazy, but he fights against Japanese invaders with lychee shell cannons, breaks scams with clever tricks, and deals with wisdom in court and examination halls. Under the appearance of madness is his sincerity to protect his neighbors. The novel cleverly incorporates Putian folk customs such as Red Balls and Puxian Opera, allowing the chivalrous story to take root in the regional cultural soil. The wisdom of the market and the local warmth are intertwined.
7 likes9mo ago
The legend of Li Xiangmanjuan's wisdom, Putian's version of "Afanti" is amazing! I finished reading "Little Fifth Brother: Putian Afanti" in one go and got all the five stars! This is definitely one of the most pyrotechnic historical fantasy novels I have read in recent times! The author is so good at writing! The market life of Putian in the Ming Dynasty is vividly displayed - the sweet fruity aroma in the Liyuan Garden, the soft and glutinous texture of the red dumplings, and the melodious singing of Puxian Opera. There are strong regional customs between the lines, as if you are in the streets of ancient Putian in the next second. The protagonist, Zheng Xiaowu, has a delicate heart hidden under his "crazy" appearance. He uses local wisdom to play with the dandy, clear up his grievances, and protect his homeland. Every "famous battle of wits scene" is amazing. He has Avanti-style humor and agility, but also has the passion and warmth of the southern Fujian people. What moved me most was the core of the story: ordinary people can protect justice and their homeland with wisdom. Brother Xiaowu uses lychee honey to set up situations, uses couplets to break ice, and uses the "Three Elements of Heaven, Earth, and Man" to solve exam questions. Every plot is filled with the warmth of "little wisdom and big energy", making you smile knowingly and feel the brilliance of humanity at the same time. If you like novels with regional characteristics, intellectual confrontation, and pyrotechnics and warmth, this "Little Fifth Brother: Putian Afanti" is definitely worth reading! Highly recommended!
6 likes9mo ago
Five-star recommendation! The Putian version of "Afanti" is too over the top. Who can resist the "Crazy Fifth Brother" who uses local wisdom to punish evil and promote good! "Little Fifth Brother: Putian Afanti" takes Putian in the Ming Dynasty as the stage, blending litchi culture and folk customs into the imaginative plot. The plots of solving problems in the imperial examination, playing a dandy in Liyuan, and cleaning up injustice in the court are cute and exciting. Zheng Xiaowu's "crazy" appearance hides transparency and justice, and he uses down-to-earth wisdom to resolve crises. He has the liveliness of a small person and the passion to protect his homeland. The text is relaxed and humorous, and the pictures are full of meaning. It is stress-free to read, and you can also get a feel for Putian's unique culture. The short and concise chapters + compact plot make you more and more addicted as you read. It can be called a masterpiece to relieve stress. Five stars for all readers who like light comedy + folklore style!
6 likes9mo ago