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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mfrench" data-source="post: 3936357" data-attributes="member: 32901">The chatter from the far side of the room stops, and the gathering turns to look at Master Chen.  Even the ox turns his dull, stupid eyes at him briefly before resuming his search.  A man breaks off from the group, turning a wary eye on the one who interrupted their preparations.  He is stout but well-muscled, and seems like he can handle himself well enough.  "Come out and show yourself, stranger.  We've room enough for another to warm up by the fire."One of those by the fire that had struck Chen as a child before is revealed by his fu manchu as a korobokuru.  On second impression, his clothing is much more travel-stained, despite the effects of the storm.  After a giving the new arrival a quick once-over, he turns his shaggy head back to the fire and spits a big, fat lougy into it.  There is one older woman at the fire working there on the cooking who shoots the boorish man a disapproving glance.  What must be the two oldest daughters look disgusted; the two youngest, covered up in blankets at the wheel of the cart, begin to giggle.  A slight, bookish man, too thin to be a member of this family, chides the girls from his place at the fire.</blockquote>