Chapter 166 Myriad Worlds System

"Brother Liu, what have you been busy with lately? I haven't seen you around. Liu: It's the school's big reading campaign, I'm just reading! Wan: Oh, so you're reading! Reading is good, it broadens your horizons and enriches your knowledge. Liu: Isn't that the truth? After three days, one should look at each other with new eyes, why are you so late to realize this, Brother Wan! Wan: Yes, yes, Brother Liu is right. But, what are you reading lately? Liu: "A Guide to Masterpieces," "Rickshaw Boy." Wan: Oh, Mr. Lao She's. Liu: What old snake? No, no, it's a camel. Wan: How can that be wrong? The author of "Rickshaw Boy" is Lao She, whose original name was Shu Qingchun, courtesy name Sheyu. He was awarded the title of "People's Artist." Liu: So he's a great master! Wan: Indeed, he was the first People's Artist in our country! Liu: Great masters are great. Writing a book for a camel can also become a masterpiece! (Sighs and nods) Wan: Alas! Alas! Alas! How did it become a book written for a camel again? Liu: How can it be wrong? Doesn't it just tell the story of a camel named Xiangzi? These literary figures are different. They can write a book for their pet camel and it becomes a masterpiece! Brother Wan, if I become famous too, and write a book for my Blackie, will it also become a masterpiece? Wan: Wait, are you talking about "Rickshaw Boy"? Xiangzi is a person, he pulls a rickshaw, and his nickname is Camel! Liu: Why is a rickshaw puller nicknamed Camel? Shouldn't a rickshaw puller be called a horse or a donkey? Wan: It's clear you haven't read the book carefully! Xiangzi's nickname has a story. His rickshaw and he himself were robbed. He was supposed to do forced labor for the army, but although the rickshaw was lost, he actually led back three camels. He sold them for 35 yuan, but he said it in his sleep, so he got the nickname Camel. And because his personality was similar to a camel's, this novel is called "Rickshaw Boy." Liu: I'm just browsing! Browsing! Wan: Oh? Then tell me, what else have you browsed? Liu: I know the female protagonist is called Hu Niu, Xiangzi's wife. You see, the People's Artist isn't that great. The male protagonist is called Camel, and the female protagonist is called Tiger. But Camel is quite pitiful, marrying a tigress. Wan: Oh?! Not bad! You even know Hu Niu's personality! Liu: Of course. Since Xiangzi's personality is similar to a camel's, Hu Niu must be like a tiger, so isn't she a tigress! Wan: Anything else? Liu: I also know about "Bandits Rob the Rickshaw," "Angrily Resigning from the Yang Residence," and "Danger in the Cao Residence." Wan: Oh! You've read quite carefully! But if you've read so carefully, why do you still think Xiangzi is a camel? Since you've read so carefully, why don't you introduce these main plots of "Rickshaw Boy" to everyone! Liu: This... this... Alright, I'll tell everyone. This "Angrily Resigning from the Yang Residence" means Xiangzi angrily bid farewell to the Yang Residence! Wan: Then why was Xiangzi angry? Liu: Uh, uh. Xiangzi was angry because... because, anyway, he was angry. The people at the Yang Residence angered Xiangzi, so he left the Yang Residence. Wan: Then what about "Danger in the Cao Residence"? Liu: It means Xiangzi encountered danger in the Cao Residence! But Xiangzi is also like this. Isn't he a rickshaw puller? Why is he always associated with other people's residences? Isn't that neglecting his own business! It seems Xiangzi is not a steady person! Wan: To be honest, Liu Meng Hui! Did you even read the book! Liu: This, this. I read it! Wan: You call this reading the book, with your absurd interpretations! What book did you actually read! Liu: Hehe, I... I... I read the preface and the study guide provided by the teacher. Wan: Is this what you call reading? Is this all you read during the big reading campaign! kanshuwA.kanshuwU.net Liu: I'm just browsing, browsing! A cursory read! Wan: This is probably the worst defamation of "browsing" ever. This is not browsing, this is taking things out of context! This is perfunctory! The school gave us time for the big reading campaign, not for you to waste it like this! "Rickshaw Boy" is not only a guide to masterpieces, but also part of the exam. Are you just going to get by like this? Liu: So you're saying you read very carefully, Brother Wan? Why don't you tell me? I get dizzy when I see words! You also said this is exam material, how can I take the exam if I'm not familiar with it? (Smiles fawningly) Wan: Alright, I'll tell you. But there's a condition... Liu: What! There are conditions! You're too selfish! Helping a classmate still has conditions. You should be willing to share. Haven't you heard the saying, "Giving roses to others leaves a fragrance in your hand." Our friendship is so strong, why do we need conditions! Wan: You haven't even asked me what the condition is and you're calling me selfish? Your desire to learn is not sincere at all! Then forget it! Liu: Don't! What condition? Tell me. Don't say one, even ten, twenty, I'll agree! Wan: You don't need ten or twenty. Just one. Since I'm teaching you, you should become my disciple! Liu: Yes, yes, yes. Greetings, Teacher Wan! (Bows) Wan: Well, since you've become my disciple, your teacher can't just watch you fail the exam! I'll explain it to you then! Liu: Thank you very much, Teacher. Wan: "Rickshaw Boy" is a novel by Mr. Lao She. Mr. Lao She, as I mentioned earlier, was a People's Artist. His representative works include the novel "Rickshaw Boy," "Four Generations Under One Roof," and the plays "Teahouse" and "Dragon Beard Ditch." Last year we studied his "Winter in Jinan." Liu: Sigh! Didn't you want to tell me about "Rickshaw Boy"? Why are you talking about Lao She again? Wan: This is also knowledge! You're going to study his works, so shouldn't you learn about the author? This is literary common knowledge! Learning Chinese shouldn't be so one-sided. Chinese is a process of accumulation. You can't eat hot tofu if you're in a hurry! How can you learn Chinese well if you're so impatient! (Shakes head and sighs) Liu: You're right, you're right! Shall we continue now? Wan: Alright, I'll continue. Sigh? Where did I leave off? Liu: Lao She. Wan: Well, Mr. Lao She is from Beijing, so Xiangzi's story also takes place in Beijing! Liu: Good heavens! Xiangzi is a citizen of the capital! Wan: Xiangzi was originally from the countryside. Later, he lost his land, so he came to the city to make a living. He chose to pull a rickshaw because he felt he had strength. Liu: Oh, I understand! He changed from a farmer to a taxi driver. Wan: Your understanding is not wrong. The rickshaws of that era were equivalent to today's taxis. Liu: Of course, I'm best at inferring. Connecting to reality,"