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I'll leave the other vote open for a while since it is relatively important and continue updating in the meanwhile.
The start of the year passes by, and with it Kinzou's 11th birthday. A child he still is, but perhaps a more mature and reasonable one than before. Not to say that he still wouldn't hit someone with a stick if they said they could beat him in a fight, but perhaps he may offer a word of warning first. Growth.
Winter passes without much ado. Nui does her clothwork, Takigi continues marching through the snow to work, and Kinzou mostly stays at home or in the surrounding forests. But with the spring thaw, Fogtop slowly wakes up for the year. With the third month's arrival Kinzou's, and most everyone elses', work resumes as per normal.
With the lifting of the snow, caravans begin passing through the village once more. The storehouses and granaries are refilled through trade, supplies a bit low after the cold. Kinzou is made busy once more, and doesn't have too much time for things other than his usual diversions.
The normal occurrences of yet another spring are interrupted during the fourth month of the year. A notice sits in the town square, in large, striking, calligraphy.
<span class="mu-s">OUR VILLAGE HEAD, MU REN, HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 83. FOR THE PAST FOUR DECADES HE HAS SERVED US WELL, VYING FOR OUR INTERESTS AMONG THE GREATER COUNTY AND PROVINCE AND ENSURING FOGTOP'S SAFETY AND STABILITY. HIS PASSING IS MUCH LAMENTED, AND WE ONLY HOPE THAT HIS NEXT LIFE BRINGS HIM AS MUCH HAPPINESS AS HE HAS BROUGHT US.</span>
While most of the villagers cannot actually read the posting, it is read aloud quite a few times, and the news rapidly spreads. As for what happens next, that is a bit more of a murky subject. Some old fellows, having lived during the appointment of the past chief, say that an election will be held. Others, even older, say that the county magistrate may appoint their own candidate, as the village head before last was appointed that way. What becomes most clear, however, is that neither occurrence will happen quickly. Instead of the announcement of a new village head, or an election, the next couple of weeks simply pass with a vague air of uncertainty.
From the office at the intake, a rather eccentric may in queer, foreign dress can be seen wandering around outside, giving orders. Kinzou stops staring out the window at him and turns to Brynn. 「Who's he?」 Brynn turns his attention to where the boy is pointing, before chuckling. "Shoulda known you ment him. That's the boss." 「Jin Mao's not the boss?」
