Grain Heads Crossing the South River

【Story Synopsis】 “Those old dance steps stopped bringing in traffic ages ago.” The Nanjiang River flowed slowly past the Lian Tan riverbank. The He Lou Dance was caught in the middle, between lively performances that drew crowds and old stories on the verge of being buried in the mud. “We can’t scrape away our roots just to make ends meet.” Jiang Xunyuan had come from far away, with a stack of worn, dog-eared historical documents spread out beside him. “Dozens of people need to put food on the table. It’s not that easy to talk about principles.” Wen Suizhen’s fingertips brushed the frayed hemp-rope bracelet around her wrist. “Women aren’t allowed to perform the He Lou Dance. That’s the old rule!” Luo Qike’s voice grew stern. “Preserving the old ways won’t put food on the table.” Su Wangshe’s eyes were fixed on the short-video platform’s creator dashboard. Chu Yangyun let out a quiet sigh. “But when certain things are lost, you can’t help feeling there’s an emptiness inside.” Cen Yansi only shook her head gently. “Knowing too much can bring trouble upon you.” A torrential rain washed open a collapsed pit in the riverbank, and half of a wooden Nuo mask was revealed. On its inner side was a single, lonely inscription. Bits and pieces of rumors circulated: there had once been seven principal sacrificial Nuo masks in the world, as well as a Ming-dynasty shamaness whose very existence had been erased from her clan’s records. It was an old story that had lain beneath the waters of the Nanjiang River for four hundred years, one no one dared lightly disturb. Note: This is a work of fiction. The characters, secret history, and related events are artistic inventions and should not be taken as historical records of Yunan He Lou Dance or as a reflection of local reality. 【Reading Guide】 A realistic ensemble story with plenty left unsaid. Even when the truth comes to light, it can’t magically solve every problem. This isn’t a hard-core mystery-solving power fantasy, so please keep that in mind before reading. 【Preliminary Note】 The complete master outline for He Sui Crosses the Nanjiang has been deposited with Que Zao for copyright verification. Plagiarism, unauthorized use of the outline or characters, and unauthorized adaptations for any kind of commercial work are strictly prohibited. Copyright infringement will be pursued. Theme: Passing on a tradition doesn’t mean clinging to old things. We must also support the livelihoods of the living and do justice to the grievances buried with those who came before us.