All four were overjoyed.
Although Li Qiu was young at heart, he was mature for his years. Furthermore, having now become the eldest brother and wanting to look the part, he spoke with formal deliberation. "Father, Uncle Shui, I'd like to go to Wanjia Town to sell the White Wolf. I'd like to travel with my second, third, and fourth younger brothers, and I kindly ask for Uncle Shui's approval." With that, he bowed deeply from the waist.
Li Ershui caught him with a supportive gesture and nodded immediately. "The lads of Xujiawa don't even fear tigers and wolves, so what is a mere few hundred miles to us? Going out to see the world and gain some experience is a good thing. However, I can only make decisions for Zhuo'er; you'll have to ask Suo'er and Shu'er in person."
When Li Zhuo and the other two heard this, their hearts blossomed with delight. Being youths, they couldn't contain their excitement and yearned for the colorful world outside. Wang Suo immediately nodded to indicate he would go along. Zheng Shude, however, said he needed to go home and ask his parents. Li Zhuo urged him to hurry home and consult them, and bring back a reply to Li Qiu's place by evening.
Li Ershui smiled and said, "In that case, you lads had better hurry home and pack." After lingering a moment to exchange idle chatter with Li Laosan, he took his leave.
With only the family of three left in the house, Mistress Zhao, acting as a mother, could not help but shower him with endless instructions and reminders. To set his mother's mind at ease, Li Qiu had no choice but to lean in close and listen attentively. They chattered away right up until lunchtime, when Li Laosan used the pretext of cooking to chase Mistress Zhao out.
Left alone in the room, father and son suddenly found themselves with nothing to say. Li Laosan knew that Li Qiu had been clever since childhood. Now that he knew the boy had such daring, showing both courage and resourcefulness, he wouldn't come to any great harm out in the world, and there was nothing to worry about. But having lived for the better part of a lifetime, how could his worldly experience compare to that of a mere fledgling? In the end, out of lingering concern and advice, he said, "Qiu'er, a few days ago you went up the mountain alone to hunt a wolf, and you even took the wolf bare-handed. Although I was worried and therefore angry, the men of our Xujiawa respect a bold fellow above all else, and everyone in the village admires you. I was secretly pleased too, so I didn't say anything more. However, you've lived in the mountains all your life and have had very little contact with the outside world. So, while you can handle tigers, leopards, wolves, and venomous beasts, you must always remember this: 'Though tigers and leopards are fierce, the human heart is far more terrifying.' When you travel outside, never trust people lightly, and never casually display your wealth to others. The outside world has all sorts of people, just like the beasts in these mountains: tigers and leopards are fierce and unyielding, wolves are steady and persistent, foxes are cunning and suspicious, and snakes are venomous and calm. Therefore, people are as varied as they are numerous; you must be extremely careful."
Hearing this, Li Qiu quickly put on a solemn expression and said, "I have taken your words to heart, Father." Li Laosan nodded and left. Li Qiu then went back to his room to pack his travel bag.
Once he finished packing, seeing that the day was still early, Li Qiu said to his father, "I'm just going over to the Old Scholar's place to return a book, and I might as well borrow a few others to read." Li Laosan gave his consent.
...
When Li Qiu reached the western end of the village, a thatched cottage with grayish-yellow eaves came into view—this was where the Old Scholar lived. Knowing it wasn't yet time and that the Old Scholar would still be teaching at the schoolhouse, Li Qiu saw that the thatch needed repairs, so he borrowed a sickle from a neighbor and cut some thatch from the foot of the mountain to patch up the roof for the Old Scholar.
Before long, he had worked up a fine sweat. Just then, a breeze swept past like a gentle wind caressing the clouds. Li Qiu felt completely refreshed and relaxed, and couldn't help letting out a soft hum, even dancing about on the ladder. Suddenly, he heard a cough from beside him. Li Qiu opened his eyes to see the Old Scholar standing below, stroking his beard and looking up at him. He hastily jumped down from the ladder like a monkey, stepped up to the Old Scholar, bowed, and said, "Teacher, this student was unseemly."
The Old Scholar smiled and said, "No matter. Come inside and we will talk." Li Qiu hurriedly followed him in.
Although this wasn't his first time inside the Old Scholar's house, whenever he looked at the portrait hanging in the center of the room, Li Qiu always felt something was a bit odd. He had heard others say that anyone who is a teacher must hang a portrait of Confucius out of respect, but the figure in this portrait was dressed in blue robes, holding a horsetail whisk, and possessed the air of an otherworldly sage. Whenever Li Qiu had asked about it in the past, the Old Scholar had only smiled and brushed the question aside without ever telling him. Having come today and assuming it would be the same, he kept his mouth shut and did not ask.
Naturally, the Old Scholar knew what Li Qiu was thinking. He spoke up first: "The other day you actually took a wolf bare-handed. You truly have courage and resourcefulness, much like your father in his younger days."
Li Qiu said, "I don't deserve Teacher's praise. I merely saw how hard my parents work and wanted to contribute a tiny fraction of effort. If I had to hunt in a pack like the other hunters, I would lack both the ability and the means."
The Old Scholar stroked his beard and shook his head. "Not so. Though you may not be as strong and brawny as an adult hunter right now, which of those hunters ever achieved a feat like yours when they were your age? It's just that you are too young and lacked good nourishment, which is why your strength is somewhat lacking. But your meticulous mind is something many people never attain even on their deathbeds. As the saying goes, 'You can tell what a person will be at eighty by the time he is three.' You are already thirteen, and I see you are no ordinary creature. One day you will surely become a dragon or a roc, soaring far beyond the nine heavens."
Li Qiu thought to himself: *If I become a dragon or a roc, wouldn't that make me a monster?* At this thought, he couldn't help laughing aloud, being as mischievous as he usually was.
The Old Scholar paid him no mind and let him be, asking instead, "Qiu'er, let me ask you: what are your lifelong ambitions?"
Li Qiu scratched his head and answered honestly, "Teacher, I've been poor since I was little; I only ask to be free from the worries of food and clothing."
"And if you were already free from the worries of food and clothing, what then?" the Old Scholar asked, stroking his beard.
Li Qiu said, "Naturally, I would pass the imperial examinations and bring honor to my ancestors."
"A frog at the bottom of a well," the Old Scholar said dismissively.
"Then I'll go into commerce, amass millions in family wealth, and have courtyards full of servants."
"Fame, wealth, and rank are nothing but dirt and dung."
Li Qiu thought to himself: *I've already stated several ambitions—things ordinary people might not find even a few of in a whole lifetime—yet Teacher sneers at them all. Could it be that the Old Scholar wants me to raise the banner of rebellion and become emperor? But the realm has enjoyed peace for a long time now, and the common people live and work in contentment. What kind of rebellion is there to start?*
Guessing what he was thinking, the Old Scholar laughed and scolded, "You rascal, don't let your thoughts wander." Then he said disdainfully, "Even if you truly became an emperor, what of it? You'd still only have a lifespan of a hundred years or so before turning to dust in the end. Success and failure all turn to empty air; only the green mountains remain, as the sunset glows red time and again."
Li Qiu had never heard the Old Scholar express such sentiment. Accustomed to hearing him spout classical jargon, hearing him suddenly chant, *"Success and failure all turn to empty air; only the green mountains remain, as the sunset glows red time and again,"* he felt a transcendent spirit burst forth within his heart, and he was left momentarily dazed.
The Old Scholar had not expected a single line of verse to bring Li Qiu to such an epiphany, and thought to himself: *This boy has fine comprehension and is worthy of being entrusted with my legacy.*