Zhong Asi (simplified: 钟阿四, traditional: 鍾阿四, pinyin: Zhōng Āsì, jyutping: zung1 aa3 sei3) was a humble vegetable farmer in Foshan, Guangdong, whose family was brutally murdered by the tyrant Feng Tiannan. This act of injustice sparked Hu Fei’s relentless pursuit of justice against Feng Tiannan in Side Story of the Flying Fox.
Biography
Tragedy in Foshan
Zhong Asi was a simple and honest vegetable farmer living in Foshan. His family became victims of the cruel tyrant Feng Tiannan, who coveted their two mu and four fen of vegetable land. Feng Tiannan falsely accused Zhong Asi’s two sons, Xiao Erzi and Xiao Sanzi, of stealing a goose from his household.
The local authorities subjected Zhong Asi to severe torture. Zhong Asi’s wife, unable to find justice, was forced to cut open her four-year-old son Xiao Sanzi’s stomach in the Beidi Temple to prove his innocence. The child died, and Zhong Asi’s wife went insane from the trauma. Feng Tiannan, enraged, then claimed that since Xiao Sanzi had not eaten the goose, it must have been Xiao Erzi, and ordered his men to search for and capture Xiao Erzi.
Hu Fei’s intervention and Zhong Asi’s death
Hu Fei, witnessing the injustice, vowed to avenge Zhong Asi’s family. He confronted Feng Tiannan, but due to repeated interference from Yuan Ziyi, Feng Tiannan managed to escape. In his escape, Feng Tiannan returned and murdered Zhong Asi and the rest of his family, leaving no survivors.
Zhong Asi’s tragic fate served as a powerful catalyst for Hu Fei’s journey, solidifying his commitment to upholding justice in the jianghu.
Personality
Zhong Asi was portrayed as a helpless victim of tyranny, representing the common people who suffered under the oppression of powerful villains. His tragic story highlighted the brutal realities of the jianghu and the need for heroes like Hu Fei to fight for justice.
Relationships
- Feng Tiannan: The tyrant who murdered his family.
- Hu Fei: The protagonist who sought to avenge his family’s death.
- Yuan Ziyi: The mysterious woman who inadvertently allowed Feng Tiannan to escape, leading to Zhong Asi’s complete family annihilation.