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Thunderclap Society is the palace's cricket-fighting club. We have put our notes and hard-won tricks into this…

Thunderclap Society is the palace's cricket-fighting club. We have put our notes and hard-won tricks into this booklet for fellow enthusiasts. This month's issue is penned by the Verdant Strider of the Rear Garden. Comments are welcome. In cricket-fighting, "catch, raise, fight" are the three essentials. But how do you pick the right champion for your jar? We are curious too. We want to know. Part I: Judging a Cricket We invited Lord Fan of the Ministry of War to share his tips on sizing up a fighter. "To judge a cricket is to judge a general. If your eye is bad, you lose before the match even starts. "I have been in office for over a decade, served through two reigns, and still managed to keep my footing. That is all from knowing how to read people. Crickets work the same way. "Start with head color, then wing color. Check the neck, and use the body tone as a final clue. Some are called 'one-glance overlords': rugged heads, bulging brow marks, a hard temper that will not bend. Fighters like that often have sharp, hooked jaws, made to pierce an opponent's head casing. They win more often than not. "Others look steady and plain, the rust-grey type that never shows off. Small, maybe, but their staying power is rare. Charging first and breaking through is courage. Taking a hit to lure the enemy in is brains. People come in all kinds, and so do crickets." Editor's Note: There is no end to learning. If I can learn Lord Fan's way of reading both people and crickets, then I can stay at the bottom of the cricket world without getting knocked out. Part II: Feeding and Rearing This section is sponsored by Little Zhangzi's AAA Palace-Supply Cricket Feed. "Raising a cricket is like being on duty. Your methods have to be right, and the little fellow has to be tough. Some amateurs, hungry for a win, feed their crickets chili. Do not do that. "If you want your fighter to flip the other one in the ring, remember two words: fresh and slow. "Fresh means changing the feed every day. "Slow means building it up bit by bit. No rushing. "And since we are here, I recommend my own Carrying-Pole Cricket Feed. Honest nourishment, solid stuff. Limited stock, get it while you can." Editor's Note: Sponsorships are still welcome for this section. Part III: Master Q&A Interviewee: "Cloud Gazer" Editor: Master Zhan, as the top cricket fighter in the inner palace, what do you make of all these schools mixing it up? Cloud Gazer: "Different schools, different moves. Bite. Throw. Lift. Pinch. Hook. Drag. Roll. Press. Those are all tactics a cricket can use. "It is the same as two masters trading blows. You win when strength, brains, and technique come together. "A cricket's world is one little jar. Do not make your own world even smaller than that. "If you cannot even tell what kind of fighter your cricket is, let it go now. Do not send it into the ring just to die for you. "Winning and losing are small things. The point is to let the kings meet, trade moves, and learn some sportsmanship. Alright. I have carpentry to get back to." Back Cover Editor's Note: What a satisfying interview that was.