#the earth master’s shovel is seen as embarrasing despite its practicality

[memory-lane-and-back-again]

I do agree that fenx xin is really abrassive when speaking to mu qing and needs to apologise for saying things that hurt (however I do think he hasn’t actually figured out he’s said anything wrong yet) however I disagree that this has anything to do with jealousy.

A big part of feng xin’s postition is devotion above all else. He, unlike mu qing, prioritises ‘typical’ displays of loyalty over ‘atypical’ shows of it and does not comprehend the way mu qing thinks or acts.

Classic comparison is between mu qing prioritising choosing his mother over xie lian whilst feng xin chose loyalty to his prince over his lover and child. Xie lian ‘gets’ it (he doesn’t really but he ‘can’t force mu qing to stay’) but feng xin fundementally sees it as a betrayal.

This difference in perspective between feng xin and mu qing happens a lot but particularly when mu qing questions xie lian on anything; feng xin absolutely does not get why mu qing does this instead of blindly obeys.

I personally think this reflects back on a bigger look at class surrounding mu qing’s arc (and in tgcf) rather than jealousy because it’s not only feng xin that does this, it’s just feng xin that speaks out.

Xie lian and mu qing admittedly do not understand each other. Mu qing sees himself as a good deed ticked of a list whilst xie lian, born to want for nothing and raised with the security to foster an insanely altruistic to the point of self destructive ethos, cannot comprehend the ‘loops’ mu qing has had to jump through to even consider it a possibility. Being in a position where he wants for nothing (in his youth) has never had to play underhand, manipulate or use other people so literally cannot comprehend it.

The social gap between the two is only really rescued when mu qing dares to speak plainly to xie lian in book 8 after he is rescued. It’s really interesting how mu qing and hua cheng sometimes foil each other from their impoverished backgrounds to their talent with a sabre that is identified by xie lian.

Mu qing, sceptic at heart, interprets every action xie lian takes as double edge. An insecurity xie lian never really disperses fully because he doesn’t see it, experience it, understand it until his first banishment. By which point the stain to his reputation he experiences is so sudden and sharp that mu qing’s action to not stand by him feel like a direct betrayal and, ironically, he also misinterprets mu qing’s actions as a direct slight against him. [I am thinking specifically of that cultivation valley scene]

Whereas Hua Cheng trusts xie lian’s every action implicitly and unwaveringly. Unlike mu qing, who views xie lian’s kindness as tokenistic, hua cheng experiences how xie lian stands by his ethos even against striking adversity and interprets xie lian’s intentions far more accurately. Which in some ways is possibly easier for him because xie lian gains nothing except a bad omen from having honghong-er around.

Xie lian’s misinterpreation of mu qing’s behaviour relates back to feng xin’s treatment in a few ways. Feng xin was likely brought up with similar comfort to xie lian and, likewise, does not get how mu qing may have a steeply different world view and Anything feng xin percieves as a slight against xie lian he is going to criticise. Which fundamentally makes these two clash; unlike xie lian who is more open to dialogue once he’s figured out they aren’t on the same page, feng xin is far quicker to jump to conclusions.

We see mu qing criticised far more times than feng xin is, but the one time feng xin is: for defending a child and hurting qi rong, he responds to breaking his own arm as recompense for his infraction. And he dubs it ‘fair.’ Notably qi rong does not have to be beaten to near death for doing the same to a child; mu qing opposes class differences like these whereas feng xin upholds them and xie lian doesn’t see the problem with them.

Another example is mu qing picking cherries. He is allowed to in theory but in practice is labelled as stealing them for him mother. Xie lian, instead of saying what he thinks, which is that mu qing is allowed to pick the fruit, uses his authority as prince and says mu qing is picked them for him because he think it makes mu qing’s life easier. In this case, xie lian’s support overlooks the bigger issue of classism that he doesn’t see mu qing struggling with.

To highlight further the differences in class that Feng xin and Xie lian have compared to Mu Qing; only mu qing is able to effectively handle money during the first banishment. And Feng Xin is no happier once mu qing leaves during xie lian’s first banishment. I do wonder if there is a subtle element of classism showing however in how they only begin busking once mu qing leave even though it was his idea (this hypocrisy of the upper class appearing more dignified than the working class whilst on show vs being just as, in this case, desperate for money as anyone else).

Another clue to how feng xin and mu qing differ is their interpretation of xie lian robbing. Mu qing sees it as dismissable whereas feng xin almost needs an explanation for why, because he does not see it as a viable solution to desperation. This is when I would timeline xie lian to begin to become aware of how ludicrously difficult his ethos is to follow for the common person. Again, he percieves mu qing openly acknowledging his robbing attempt as a slight against him (in a very mu qing fashin tbh) whilst mu qing doesn’t really grasp the whole integrity of it at the time.

I do think mu qing has a lot of internalised classism too that blooms as insecurity. The above moment parallels when mu qing gets flustered about his supposed theft of the golden foil (? Forgotten word). (Notably feng xin is far quicker to lose faith in mu qing for an infraction than he is xie lian.) Mu qing assumes he is going to be accused of theft because he is from a poor background and the poor always steal. Even when he really isn’t this insecurity permeates how he views himself to be viewed; he can never leave his background behind him and stand confidently as an equal with xie lian or feng xin even when they are all gods. He always views himself as lesser and a victim of their classism, even when he is the one actually projecting it onto himself.

His entire persona as a god exudes haughtiness and agonising superiority, from the tidiness and prettiness and prioritising of his own image, mu qing is desperate to be perceived as equal because he is overcompensating for feeling inferior.

But as feng xin notes, the sarcasm is a plaster being used to cover up a missing arm. If you want to be friends just say so, stop with the sarcasm. Feng xin is painfully idealistic in the sense that he genuinely just does not notice certain issues like with Jian Lan, it occurs to her that he cannot buy her out but he doesn’t even see bit trying as an option. Likewise, he doesn’t ever stop to think or try to empathise with mu qing’s perspective. But I personally interpreted the banter in book 8 as feng xin just kind of jabbing at mu qing like an equal, not recognising that what he is saying is actually riling mu qing up (he doesn’t even notice xie lian politely trying to tell him to shut up) because in his mind, he’s just making a point and there is nothing to be sensitive about.

In a way, Feng xin’s blindness to social differences crossed with mu qing’s hyperawareness of his perceived inferiority boils over into these two clashing badly because they constantly misinterpret each other’s intentions. I don’t think feng xin is intentionally being cruel but it kind of emphasises the idea that ignoring a person’s background and experiences is not the same as treating them equally. Xie lian gets this by the end but Feng xin does not. (Or if he does i have not read it yet)

tgcf fandom can we please start holding feng xin accountable for being an ass to mu qing for 800 years. like. he started most fights and was constantly on servant mu qing's ass who was just trying to survive but people always skip over it