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sid_guardian2020-06-20 11:29 am
china_shop) wrote in sid_guardian2020-06-20 11:29 am
Entry tags:
Focus on Fourth Uncle of the Snake Tribe
Fourth Uncle of the Snake Tribe is a parent figure, a tribe leader, a committed isolationist, and a historian or keeper of knowledge.
Fourth Uncle gives nothing away as one of the young Snake men pours drugged wine into Zhu Hong and Guo Changcheng's cups. (Ep 11.)
Note: This is a drama-only perspective. If you’re familiar with the novel, please feel especially free to chime in with your take on his character and the Snake Tribe generally.
We first meet Fourth Uncle at the Snake Village in episode 11 (39:27), when Zhu Hong and Guo Changcheng go to him on behalf of the SID, seeking information about the Hallows. He greets Zhu Hong, “Little brat, you’re finally coming back to see me,” which suggests she’s not a regular visitor.
He’s concerned for Zhu Hong’s safety. He wants her to give up working at the SID. To achieve this end, he drugs her wine and ties her up. (She later escapes and drugs him right back.)
Fourth Uncle slumped in a chair with his head on his arm, after Zhu Hong forced drugged wine down his throat.
Despite their disagreements and the mutual druggings, Fourth Uncle and Zhu Hong have an affectionate relationship. He cares for her and calls her Ah-Hong; she bats her eyelashes and acts cute to coax information out of him or get her way, while also being totally comfortable standing up to him and speaking her mind. (But it’s Guo Changcheng’s earnest defence of the SID that wins Fourth Uncle over to Zhu Hong’s working there.)
In episode 21, Fourth Uncle tries to match-make Zhu Hong into a relationship with any of an array of Snake Tribe men, and gives her a hard time about her crush on Zhao Yunlan. But he doesn’t push too hard, and he does tell her about the Yashou flea market, saying it might be the key to undoing Zhao Yunlan’s blindness.
Over and over, throughout the show, Fourth Uncle reconfirms his isolationist stance, believing that if the Yashou follow the treaty and stay out of the conflict, it will keep them safe.
Fourth Uncle is worried. He doesn't like his little Ah-Hong working at the SID.
Fourth Uncle grabbing Zhu Hong's wrist, about to drag her back to the forest to protect her from the conflict.
Zhu Hong, Shen Wei and Ying Chun all work on him, trying to convince him to join the fight, especially once it becomes clear Ya Qing has sided with Ye Zun. I’d argue that, despite Ying Chun’s accusation in episode 19, it’s not personal cowardice that holds Fourth Uncle back, but his trying to protect the Snake Tribe. Once he’s decided to fight, he shows no fear.
But it isn’t until episode 39 that he definitively gets with the programme. “I understand now. Ye Zun clearly wants to kill all living creatures in Haixing. If we don’t help you out now, who’ll help us in the future?” (17:17) Ying Chun replies, “Old worm, you don’t often say something so accurate.”
Perhaps Fourth Uncle’s political stance is bolstered by his brother's having gone to live among the humans and died there. Fourth Uncle laments his brother’s fate several times, alluding to it as a cautionary tale or a reproach to Zhu Hong, telling her she’s too much like her father. He explains to Guo Changcheng, “He liked humans. He left the forest deep in the mountains to live in the city, enjoying love and romance. Eventually he lost his life and left behind that little rascal Zhu Hong as a baby. I really don’t want her to make the same mistakes.” (Ep 13, 22:48)
The Snake Tribe lives in a remote village in the forest, and aside from Zhu Hong, all the Snakes we see in human form wear (what I assume is) traditional Snake clothing. They seem content to live without electricity or other modern amenities. They make their own wine.
Fourth Uncle and the Snake Tribe generally seem to be very aware of history and their place in it. Zhao Yunlan sends Zhu Hong to Fourth Uncle for information about the Hallows, and Fourth Uncle does know about them. And in episode 29, he says, “We must look to the Black-Cloaked Envoy. After all, he brought us peace ten thousand years ago.” (38:27) The fact that Zhu Hong reacts so strongly to seeing Fu You in the Hallows transmission also supports the idea that the Snake Tribe remember and value their ancient past.
In episode 19 when Fourth Uncle and Ying Chun are trying to detain Ya Qing (so Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei can capture Zhu Jiu), political arguments don’t work, but Fourth Uncle succeeds by inviting Ya Qing to stay and celebrate the Reunion Festival together.
Fourth Uncle at night, convincing Ya Qing to stay and celebrate the Reunion Festival.
And Fourth Uncle is the one who appeals to Ya Qing’s sense of tradition regarding the Yashou chief and the sacred wood, in episode 37. He’s also the first to recognise Zhu Hong’s chieftainship, and he kneels to her with the others. He convinces her to accept the position: “Sweetie, you... Back then your father left the tribe to try and bring Humans and Yashou closer together. The Sacred Branch in front of you is a responsibility as well as an opportunity. Sweetie, ask yourself—do you really want to refuse?” (35:43)
In encouraging her to take this step, and framing it this way after so long trying to make her be a traditional isolationist like himself, Fourth Uncle is recognising and accepting that she is her father’s daughter.
There are three fanworks under the Fourth Uncle (or Sìshū) tag on AO3, two by me and the other by![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
branch . I haven't read branch's because it's not my pairing and is a drama-novel fusion, but their writing is excellent, and it looks great:
If you know of any other works about Fourth Uncle or the Snake Tribe generally, please do link them in the comments.
So -- come and talk about Fourth Uncle! Share links to meta, picspams, and related fanworks, new or old! Self-recs whole-heartedly encouraged. Basically, this is the place for anything you want to say or link to about Fourth Uncle or the Snake Tribe generally.
Important: If you're commenting with meta/discussion/thoughts, please say whether you're coming from a novel perspective, a drama perspective, or a blend of the two, so we don't end up talking past each other. Thanks!
Fourth Uncle gives nothing away as one of the young Snake men pours drugged wine into Zhu Hong and Guo Changcheng's cups. (Ep 11.)
Note: This is a drama-only perspective. If you’re familiar with the novel, please feel especially free to chime in with your take on his character and the Snake Tribe generally.
Parent figure
We first meet Fourth Uncle at the Snake Village in episode 11 (39:27), when Zhu Hong and Guo Changcheng go to him on behalf of the SID, seeking information about the Hallows. He greets Zhu Hong, “Little brat, you’re finally coming back to see me,” which suggests she’s not a regular visitor.
He’s concerned for Zhu Hong’s safety. He wants her to give up working at the SID. To achieve this end, he drugs her wine and ties her up. (She later escapes and drugs him right back.)
Fourth Uncle slumped in a chair with his head on his arm, after Zhu Hong forced drugged wine down his throat.
Despite their disagreements and the mutual druggings, Fourth Uncle and Zhu Hong have an affectionate relationship. He cares for her and calls her Ah-Hong; she bats her eyelashes and acts cute to coax information out of him or get her way, while also being totally comfortable standing up to him and speaking her mind. (But it’s Guo Changcheng’s earnest defence of the SID that wins Fourth Uncle over to Zhu Hong’s working there.)
In episode 21, Fourth Uncle tries to match-make Zhu Hong into a relationship with any of an array of Snake Tribe men, and gives her a hard time about her crush on Zhao Yunlan. But he doesn’t push too hard, and he does tell her about the Yashou flea market, saying it might be the key to undoing Zhao Yunlan’s blindness.
Leader and Isolationist
Over and over, throughout the show, Fourth Uncle reconfirms his isolationist stance, believing that if the Yashou follow the treaty and stay out of the conflict, it will keep them safe.
Fourth Uncle is worried. He doesn't like his little Ah-Hong working at the SID.
Fourth Uncle grabbing Zhu Hong's wrist, about to drag her back to the forest to protect her from the conflict.
Zhu Hong, Shen Wei and Ying Chun all work on him, trying to convince him to join the fight, especially once it becomes clear Ya Qing has sided with Ye Zun. I’d argue that, despite Ying Chun’s accusation in episode 19, it’s not personal cowardice that holds Fourth Uncle back, but his trying to protect the Snake Tribe. Once he’s decided to fight, he shows no fear.
But it isn’t until episode 39 that he definitively gets with the programme. “I understand now. Ye Zun clearly wants to kill all living creatures in Haixing. If we don’t help you out now, who’ll help us in the future?” (17:17) Ying Chun replies, “Old worm, you don’t often say something so accurate.”
Perhaps Fourth Uncle’s political stance is bolstered by his brother's having gone to live among the humans and died there. Fourth Uncle laments his brother’s fate several times, alluding to it as a cautionary tale or a reproach to Zhu Hong, telling her she’s too much like her father. He explains to Guo Changcheng, “He liked humans. He left the forest deep in the mountains to live in the city, enjoying love and romance. Eventually he lost his life and left behind that little rascal Zhu Hong as a baby. I really don’t want her to make the same mistakes.” (Ep 13, 22:48)
Traditionalist/historian
The Snake Tribe lives in a remote village in the forest, and aside from Zhu Hong, all the Snakes we see in human form wear (what I assume is) traditional Snake clothing. They seem content to live without electricity or other modern amenities. They make their own wine.
Fourth Uncle and the Snake Tribe generally seem to be very aware of history and their place in it. Zhao Yunlan sends Zhu Hong to Fourth Uncle for information about the Hallows, and Fourth Uncle does know about them. And in episode 29, he says, “We must look to the Black-Cloaked Envoy. After all, he brought us peace ten thousand years ago.” (38:27) The fact that Zhu Hong reacts so strongly to seeing Fu You in the Hallows transmission also supports the idea that the Snake Tribe remember and value their ancient past.
In episode 19 when Fourth Uncle and Ying Chun are trying to detain Ya Qing (so Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei can capture Zhu Jiu), political arguments don’t work, but Fourth Uncle succeeds by inviting Ya Qing to stay and celebrate the Reunion Festival together.
Fourth Uncle at night, convincing Ya Qing to stay and celebrate the Reunion Festival.
And Fourth Uncle is the one who appeals to Ya Qing’s sense of tradition regarding the Yashou chief and the sacred wood, in episode 37. He’s also the first to recognise Zhu Hong’s chieftainship, and he kneels to her with the others. He convinces her to accept the position: “Sweetie, you... Back then your father left the tribe to try and bring Humans and Yashou closer together. The Sacred Branch in front of you is a responsibility as well as an opportunity. Sweetie, ask yourself—do you really want to refuse?” (35:43)
In encouraging her to take this step, and framing it this way after so long trying to make her be a traditional isolationist like himself, Fourth Uncle is recognising and accepting that she is her father’s daughter.
Fanworks
There are three fanworks under the Fourth Uncle (or Sìshū) tag on AO3, two by me and the other by
The Marriage of Lightning and the Lake (7462 words) by Branch
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Yā Qīng/Zhù Hóng
Characters: Zhù Hóng, Yā Qīng, Dà Qìng, Chǔ Shùzhī, Sìshū, Yíng Chūn
Additional Tags: Romance, Fluff, Humor, Character Study, Drama, Action, Alternate Universe - Fusion
Series: Part 4 of Changes
Summary:Zhu Hong works on how to be Chief Elder, and falls hard for Ya Qing in the process. (Her uncle may have a point about her terrible taste.) Fluff, Romance, Character Study, Drama with a Pinch of Action, I-3
Zhu Hong had perfected the pout, the winsome look, and the hard fist as tools to make the world go her way, and she knew exactly how to use them. As time went on, and she’d started wanting to be stronger, she'd honed her natural abilities until she could do almost what any of her fully-transformed cousins could. She'd learned human ways so well she could blend in as completely as she wished.
None of that told her the first thing about how to be Chief Elder of the Yashou people.
Protect your heart, protect your head (9603 words) by china_shop
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Zhù Hóng, Fourth Uncle (Guardian), Yā Qīng, Original Characters
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Time Travel, Fix-It, Spoilers for everything, Canon-typical motives for eviltude, Bechdel Test Pass, discussion of harm to children, Yashou Politics
Series: Part 4 of Back to the Middle (parallel time travel fixits)
Summary:Damn the Hallows! They should have given her instructions, instead of dumping her outside the SID without so much as a hint she was in the past. She didn’t know how much longer she had before they stole her away again, and she’d wasted precious time coming to the Snake village when she could have gone straight to lao-Zhao and Shen Wei. They were the ones who would know what to do. They were the leaders.
Except, oh. Zhu Hong was a leader, too.
If you know of any other works about Fourth Uncle or the Snake Tribe generally, please do link them in the comments.
Questions
- Fourth Uncle knows about the Hallows. Where does he get his information from? Is he a historian, or just really old? (He says snakes don’t have long lives, but we don’t know what he’s comparing them to: plants? Dixingren? ten-thousand-year-old cats?) Is there a Yashou archive -- in the ancient script, perhaps -- or do they mostly have an oral history tradition?
- He recognises Shen Wei as the Envoy, when Shen Wei and Zhu Hong visit him in episode 19 (24:26), and calls him Shen Daren (Lord Shen). When do you think he met Shen Wei before? If it was as the Envoy, why might Shen Wei have taken off his mask then?
- Going by Zhu Hong’s reaction, the Snake Tribe still venerates Fu You, one of the leaders of the ten-thousand-years-ago Allied Forces, but Fourth Uncle is staunch in his isolationism. Is this hypocrisy, or are the contexts different enough for it to be consistent? Perhaps they think Fu You’s efforts have exempted them from any future conflict?
- Parents in Haixing seem to feel free to interfere in their children’s work- and love-lives. We see three contrasting gambits in the show by parent figures:
- Guo Changcheng’s uncle sets up a semi-formal meeting with Zhao Yunlan to ask that Changcheng be transferred to another department, without discussing it with Changcheng first. But he does subsequently listen to Changcheng’s pleas and concede.
- Zhao Xinci badmouths Zhao Yunlan to his subordinates, then plays mind games with them, challenging them to mutiny against their boss, supposedly in the name of testing their loyalty.
- Fourth Uncle drugs Zhu Hong and ties her up to try to prevent her from returning to the SID. He then listens to Changcheng’s arguments, rather than Zhu Hong herself.
Which of these is the worst strategy, and why? - Where are the Snake Tribe women? Seriously?! Are they all up trees being snakes?
So -- come and talk about Fourth Uncle! Share links to meta, picspams, and related fanworks, new or old! Self-recs whole-heartedly encouraged. Basically, this is the place for anything you want to say or link to about Fourth Uncle or the Snake Tribe generally.
Important: If you're commenting with meta/discussion/thoughts, please say whether you're coming from a novel perspective, a drama perspective, or a blend of the two, so we don't end up talking past each other. Thanks!
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I’d argue that, despite Ying Chun’s accusation in episode 19, it’s not personal cowardice that holds Fourth Uncle back, but his trying to protect the Snake Tribe. Once he’s decided to fight, he shows no fear.
I agree. I never thought that he was a coward, just conservative and cautious.
And I like his relationship with Zhu Hong, despite his misguided attempts to “protect” her at first. And I like that he never doubts that Zhu Hong will be a good leader for the Yashous.
He recognises Shen Wei as the Envoy, when Shen Wei and Zhu Hong visit him in episode 19 (24:26), and calls him Shen Daren (Lord Shen). When do you think he met Shen Wei before? If it was as the Envoy, why might Shen Wei have taken off his mask then?
Oh, interesting question. But doesn’t Ying Chun know who Shen Wei is, too? So maybe the leaders of Yashou tribes just know this. Maybe they were informed about Black-Cloaked Envoy’s secret identity from the start for some reason.
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Yes, me too! :-)
Oh, good point. Shen Wei has to identify himself to Ying Chun, but Ya Qing recognises him, doesn't she? As does Zhu Jiu, somehow...? *is a bit hazy on this*