[Q n A]
Q> Do they have an English version RTK books?
A: Yes, they do.
Q> I am in China, but i want to get the English version RTK books. Where can i get it?
A: You can go to the English book store in fu xing road. (There is only one English book store in fu xing road, the biggest one with 4 floors of English books, it is very famous in Shanghai). They have it on the first floor in the Chinese section on the left hand side if you are facing inside the store with your back to the exit.
Q> How much is it in Renminbi (rmb or also known as Chinese Yuan)?
A: I am quite sure it is about 160-180 rmb. What i am unsure is, if that is the price for one book or for the whole set. Since the books are tighten together and it is supposed to be seperated into book one to three. Some publisher made it into four books, some into three. So it depends. But the Romance of the Three Kingdom is a very long story, so it won't fit into just one book. And the story continues on from book one to book two and so on. It is not a serial. So every book does not have a different story, but it continues on from book one, it's just that because the story is so long and it is impossible to put it all together in one book the publisher seperated it into seperate books. But if you just buy one of the book, then you will only get part of the story. Maybe this is the reason why it came in bundles.
Q> i don't feel like reading such a thick book, especially three thick books with thousand of pages. Isn't there any comics or DVD about the Romance of the Three Kingdom?
A: Fortunately for those who cannot stand reading for too long, there are some comic books about the Romance of the Three Kingdom. But you have got to be careful because some cartoonist, especially the Japanese Mangas, have changed the original story with his/her own. Or some of them slipped in their self-made characters into the story. You need to find comics that illustrates only the original story and not a made up one. Yes, these kind of comics do exist. Although maybe the illustration isn't very satisfying (good drawing skills, high quality).
Or you can also buy the Romance of the Three Kingdom DVD in any DVD store in Shanghai, China. (If you are in Shanghai) or if you are outside of China, you can try looking it up in your local DVD store. The movie is also as long as the book. It is a serial movie. Approx. up to 50 DVDs. However, the quality of the movie and the skills of the actor is not very satisfying. Some are even laughable because it just seemed so stupid when we see it in film. But it does not sound that stupid when we read it. For example, the scene where Zhuge Liang scold one of the enemy's staff in front of all the soldiers when they are face to face before the war started. All the soldiers including their generals and staffs from both sides were there facing each other with anger and disgust. Zhuge Liang kept on addressing one of the enemy's high staff with his past life secrets, his mistakes and stupidity that nobody knew, or at least the enemy thought nobody managed to found out. Then suddenly, the enemy clutched his heart, as if he is in pain, and just had a heart attack because of Zhuge Liang's words, then fell from his horse and died. It doesn't seem funny, right? But wait until you see it in the movie. It is funny! Because it looked so stupid and not believe able.
Q> I am a huge fan of Zhuge Liang. And i want to buy a similar feather fan like the ones that he always carry around everywhere with him. Where can i buy it?
A: well, if you are in Shanghai, you are in luck. I know a store where sell a similar feather fan like Zhuge Liangs. You can go to The Grand Gateway Mall in Xujiahui by taking metro (subway) line 1 and get off at Xujiahui. Go and take the exit that is connected to Grand Gateway. Inside Grand Gateway, on the upper floors (I am not sure which floors) there is a small hall that looked like ancient Chinese halls, and there are some small stores inside. In one of the store, they sell the fan. Or you can go to Shanghai Science and Technology museum by taking metro line 2 and exit at any exit. Do not go up, but on the same floor, there are huge underground stores. These stores are the stores that used to went about selling in Xiang Yang before the government moved them down there. If you walk around, you will see some small shops sell ancient Chinese stuffs. You can get it there.
Q> How much does it cost in rmb?
A: I am not sure about the price. But i can give you some shopping tips. When you are interested of an item, ask them 'How much is it --the last price?' (Cui di do sao?) You need to say this magic words, or else they will give you a much higher price, especially knowing that you are a foreigner. But even after you have said the magic words, most probably they will still give you a foreigner price. Then what you should do is divide the price by 70%. Then that is the price you should pay. After dividing it by 70%, tell the seller you will only pay that much. If the seller rejects, pretend to leave the shop. The seller will call you back in no time. :)