Wang Ping found it rather ironic. 'I've been wracking my brain over how to handle that shut-in,' he thought. 'I never expected Hongchen to be so mentally fragile. He collapsed on his own before I even had to make a move.'
The topic of Hongchen was merely a small interlude at the gathering. After a few more cups of wine, everyone had forgotten about him and began discussing the state of the world.
The world was currently enjoying peace and prosperity, with the common people living and working in contentment. But it was precisely this golden age that caused social classes to become increasingly rigid. This was especially true in the Northwest Region, where the local populace was already known for its fierce nature. The rigid class structure, combined with raids from the steppes, had pushed the local people to the brink of an eruption. All it would take was a single spark to reignite the chaos of a hundred years ago.
