Zhao Jing became the center of everyone's conversation the moment he boarded the ox cart.
First, Dashan told him that with the weather turning cold, walking to and from the county town would be too miserable. He insisted that Zhao Jing take his ox cart from now on.
He added that while his father had found his own release by leaving, it had made life difficult for Zhao Jing. Not only did he have to support his mother and sister, but he also had to pursue his studies.
A mountain of responsibility had fallen on his shoulders, yet he hadn't buckled. He'd even found work copying books for a bookshop to support his family. Many men well over fifty, Dashan said, couldn't compare to his capability.
Dashan recited this same speech whenever he saw Zhao Jing. Anyone who regularly rode his ox cart was guaranteed to hear it, so no one was surprised anymore.
