Chapter 127: Entering the Mirror Through Qi

Li Bai once wrote in praise, "The waters of Jinci are like green jade." Watching the ripples dance in the reflected light, it feels dreamlike. Dongting Lake, vast and calm at this moment, is as natural as poetry. The pool remains mirror-still, clearly reflecting the flickering bonfire, the shifting flames, and the jade toad in the azure sky. The sun has set, but its glow reflects from beneath the clouds, bathing the lake in a crimson hue as if the water itself were burning; everything around loses its original color, submerged in the red light. Suddenly, a brightness catches my eye. I rush forward to find a clear, man-made lake, like a grand mirror in the countryside, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds. The water is so clear that a breeze sends ripples across it, shimmering with golden light. With a soft chirp, a swallow flies by, trailing its pointed tail across the surface and sparking a ripple. In the lake, fish surface to blow bubbles, chase and play, hide under lotus leaves as if they were umbrellas, or follow their mothers with leisurely ease. The withered lotus stalks in the pond before the door suddenly quiver, and lively red carp break the deathly calm of the water.

On the lake, there are no waves, and boats glide as if on glass. The shimmering ripples resemble fine silk, smooth and lush green. Gazing into the distance, the color deepens, gradually turning into a dark emerald. Looking up at the sky, clouds drift leisurely; looking down at the heart of the lake, another sky appears, with cloud shadows wandering. The peaks on both banks are inverted in the lake, a uniform green, accompanying travelers with deep affection. Just as it seems to reach an end, a turn reveals the same mountains and the same water. One longs for a change, yet after traveling a hundred and twenty miles, the scenery remains the same. Compared to the surging waves of Dongting Lake, Jingpo Lake is calm and serene. Compared to the vastness of Taihu Lake, Jingpo Lake is more like a river without ripples. Compared to Daming Lake, it is merely a pool of clear water. Compared to the West Lake, the latter is like a beautiful, alluring young woman, "with the charm of spring mountains and the gaze of autumn waters," while the former is like a plain, natural, chaste, and self-contained maiden.

Looking out, the water sparkles, dotted with sails, and the small islands in the lake are like pieces of jade inlaid in the landscape, appearing touchingly beautiful. The lake water is too alluring, especially in such sweltering heat. As I approached the shore, the membrane of heat before me vanished. The water ripples, shimmering as if covered in a layer of gold. My hand, unable to resist, reached gently into the water. Ah! That refreshing, soul-stirring sensation is beyond words. Ripples gently caress the white marble pool wall; the undulating autumn waters flow and sway beneath the "Fish-Watching Bridge." Those small green islands look like pearls set upon the lake, or at first glance, like green waves rolling amidst the clouds. Colorful sails appear so charming in the Thousand-Island Lake, surrounded by green trees. A bird's-eye view of the clear lake reveals ripples stirred by the wind, looking like lace appearing and disappearing. Listening to the pine waves, low and melodious, evokes endless reverie, much like the legends themselves. And the white, slender reeds swaying in the wind show their unique grace, so delicate that one cannot bear to touch them.

As the sun sets, the blood-red afterglow paints half the sky, and the lake blushes like the face of a shy girl. Beside the ridge, there is a reservoir surrounded by great mountains; the water is as green as a cat's eye, awe-inspiring. Overlooking Lu Lake from Hongque Pavilion, the surface is dotted with exquisite small pavilions. Golden sunlight spills onto the emerald ripples, like thousands of brilliant gems flickering with dazzling light. Ah, the water of Taohua Pond is so green, like a flawless emerald. The autumn water brings a hint of coolness. Look! A few withered lotus leaves are scattered on the pond; their edges have turned yellow, yet crystal-clear water droplets hide mischievously upon them. Beneath the withered lotus, red goldfish swim leisurely, and the maple trees on both sides cast mottled shadows—yellow, green, red, white, and black!

The spring pond's beauty lies in its "stillness," so quiet that one feels it is not a pool of water, but a meadow—a lush, crystalline green meadow. The blue sky, green trees, and white clouds all leave their silhouettes in its embrace, the still, green ripples infused with a thread of contemplation. Because of this eternal tranquility, it possesses an extraordinary clarity: the swimming fish and sand at the bottom are revealed without concealment—naturally, these are not the eyes of a recluse, but a pair of eyes burning with the fire of hope.

The spring pond's beauty also lies in its "motion." It is like an ever-changing green silk, so beautiful and pure. Under the sunlight, it leaps with shimmering light, like flying flowers or scattered gold. Each spot of light holds a tiny sprite, flickering, expanding, and trembling. When a breeze blows, ripples form, slowly pushing from one side to the other. Then another, and another... The clear boundaries on the water surface look like a line of pale ink on rice paper, gradually diffusing under the veil of mist, eventually becoming somewhat blurred.

The desert is monotonous and lonely, yet it is so vast and broad, allowing one's wild horses of thought to gallop through this boundless space. By evening, Sailimu Lake gradually turns deep blue, with the sky and lake merging; it is impossible to tell if the sky stained the lake blue or the lake stained the sky. At noon, under the brilliant sun, Sailimu Lake is like a shimmering piece of silk, with green grass, red flowers, white sheep, yellow cattle, grey camels, and golden horses drifting by the lake like colorful clouds.

Thousand-Island Lake is not a natural lake, but an artificial one of 860,000 mu formed after the construction of the Xin'an River Hydropower Station—an area equivalent to more than 100 West Lakes. Because the spring rain pool is no less than the Nanlao Spring: the spring water is flowing and hard to form into a piece of jade, but this pool water is quiet, soft, and beautiful, like an emerald. The lake is so green that it seems someone has draped a veil as thin as a cicada's wing over it, making one afraid to breathe deeply for fear of breaking it. The rippling ancient lake glitters in the sun, and the graceful willow branches resemble a maiden’s freshly washed hair. The water level has risen nearly 100 meters, submerging some peaks while others have become islands in the green water. These are the mountains I saw standing in the water earlier. There are 1,078 such islands of various sizes on the lake, hence the name "Thousand-Island Lake."

The broad lake surface passes through the jade-colored Seventeen-Arch Bridge, stretching its arms far out to embrace the azure sky, finally merging into the faint mist. In the crisp autumn weather, looking into the distance, one sees nothing but sparkling water traces, gently undulating. Wave after wave pushes toward the shore, lapping against the stones. The water is permeated with a chill, as if clarified; the deep colors settle at the bottom, and the swirling water mist dances with the autumn wind, leisurely and unrestrained.

West Lake is located in the west of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, covering about 5.6 square kilometers. Because of its enchanting scenery and quiet environment, it has been a famous tourist destination since ancient times. People say: "Above there is heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou." Suzhou refers to the gardens, and Hangzhou refers to this West Lake. West Lake consists of an inner and an outer lake, connected by water but separated by a long Su Causeway. Though called a causeway, it is actually six closely connected, diverse stone bridges. The outer lake is larger and dotted with three sparkling pearls: Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Little Yingzhou, and Mid-Lake Pavilion. Three Pools Mirroring the Moon is considered the best of the West Lake's sights, primarily because of the three stone pagodas standing in the lake. The two-meter-tall pagodas have holes on all five sides to let light through; on a bright night, one can see the spectacular sight of "the moonlight reflecting in the pool, with the shadows dividing into three." A stone tablet stands on the Mid-Lake Pavilion with the two characters "Chong Er" inscribed. It is said to have been written by Emperor Qianlong, implying the phrase "boundless wind and moon," a sentiment he felt during a night boat trip on the West Lake. In addition to the three sights on the water, there are many beautiful spots along the lake, such as Orioles Singing in the Willows, Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor, Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake, and Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge.

We got off the bus and, after crossing a slope, vaguely saw the blue lake water through the gaps in the treetops. The further we went, the larger the lake became, until it was fully revealed to our eyes. The high mountains on all four sides embrace the lake, with mountains and water leaning on each other, creating a majestic momentum. Boats on the lake look like stars dotted in the center. Suddenly, a belt of water was stirred from south to north; looking closely, it was a speedboat racing across the surface. Flocks of birds frequently chirped and soared above the lake, forming a magnificent, dynamic painting.

In midsummer, we often rowed small boats into the deep lake. The boat rippled the green waves, making a rhythmic "slap-slap" sound, and rings of ripples spread out in order as we moved. Standing at the bow, we could take in the beauty of the lake: the clear, winding water surrounded the emerald-green water grass. Strands of grass drifted like a fairy's hair, stretching and curling, lingering with the lake water and teasing the fish and shrimp. In the distance, patches of pink and green appeared, and the scent of lotus drifted to our nostrils, tempting us to row faster into the embrace of the lotus. We parked the boat where the lotus leaves were densest and the fragrance strongest, lying on the bow and in the cabin. The lotus leaves were each as large as umbrellas, hiding our bodies in their dense green shade. A few bright lotus flowers and tender small seed pods poked their heads out, as if teasing us.

The pond was small, and the usually lively goldfish were staying still, perhaps asleep. In the middle of the pond stood a piece of mountain rock, carved by nature, looking even more interesting and picturesque under the moonlight. The moon reflected on the dark green bottom of the pool, washed by the water, appearing exceptionally clear and distant, like the charming eyes of the Mona Lisa, captivating the mind. A breeze blew, drawing a light green ripple on the calm water, which gently kissed the mountain rock, making a soft, metallic clinking sound, appearing exceptionally tranquil in the quiet night.

Changdang Lake, like a delicate younger sister of Taihu Lake, lies quietly on the treasure land of Jintan. When I first arrived at Changdang Lake, I felt a vague, indescribable sense of love. In the distance, the sky was blue, without a trace of cloud or a single bird, like a huge blue silk scarf gently draped over it. Nearby, the water was light green, so pure and lovely, without a trace of debris. Even the playful little fish seemed reluctant to break this quiet green and swam to the bottom. The surface was like a flawless gemstone, an early spring pasture of pale green. I was on a small boat, letting it drift, and unknowingly found myself in the middle of the vast lake. Only then did I feel that the world was so beautiful. Looking around, I could not see any extraneous colors, only an alluring green everywhere. How could I describe this lovely green? Can the flowery words and beautiful sentences in the "Cihai" dictionary compare to this green before my eyes? I passionately stretched out my hands, scooped up a handful of pure, green water, and gently put it to my mouth, feeling it was more fragrant than plum blossoms and sweeter than honey... I scooped up another handful of pure green to my heart, immediately feeling an incomparable lightness and a refreshed spirit.

The water of Xuanwu Lake is so clear and bright, like a huge, brilliant green gemstone. A breeze brushes the surface, lifting layers of ripples, and under the sunset, the lake water sparkles like fish scales and scattered jade, making one feel relaxed and happy. The rising waves, like chasing, playful children, rush toward the shore row after row, then laughingly retreat. This goes on and on, never feeling tired. Crystal water droplets splash on my hands, giving a hint of coolness and refreshing the spirit. Standing on the shore, one can see the bottom at a glance, sometimes seeing small fish and shrimp swimming, making one feel that life exists in this green water; they bring vitality to the lake and add a sense of mystery.

At dawn, under the pale blue sky, the reservoir is surprisingly quiet. A faint mist floats on the water, like a girl covered in a light veil. The small islands in the water seem to be floating in the clouds. Looking at the reservoir from afar, it looks like a silver-grey silk ribbon winding into the distance... The lake is quiet, like a bright mirror, clearly reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, red flowers, and green trees; the lake is alive, with layers of scaly waves rising with the wind, accompanied by dancing sunlight and my heart, chasing and playing; the lake is soft, with breezes and ripples, like a piece of silk dancing in the wind; the lake is hard, like a flawless emerald flashing with beautiful luster. A quiet lake is lovely, but a lake in the rain is even more moving. Silken spring rain drifts down, weaving and weaving, weaving a large piece of green "brocade" on the lake, with endless circles on the "brocade," like flowers embroidered by a beautiful girl.

When a thunderstorm arrives, the lake is at its liveliest. Listen, a flash of light in the sky—that is the opening firework ascending. "Boom," the salute sounds, and the meeting is about to begin. Once the heavy rain falls, the party begins immediately. Do you see the blooming rain-flowers on the lake? Those are the jade flowers on the heads of the goldfish girls who are dancing gracefully. Do you want to know if the program is exciting? The thunderous "applause" of "crashing" will tell you everything.

In the embrace of mountains over 2,000 meters above sea level, the sudden appearance of such a deep green lake is truly breathtaking. Up close, the pool water reflects the surrounding ridges and pine trees, with distinct shades; in the distance, the white snowy crowns of the peaks appear and disappear; the sunset glow spills onto the clear water. Where the breeze passes, ripples shimmer, just like thousands of fish churning; on the hillside is an ancient spruce forest, lush and green; little squirrels jump between the branches, looking at us from time to time; the forest floor is covered with a foot of fallen leaves, making a rustling sound when stepped on, giving a soft feeling. Oh, this is simply a wonderful ink wash painting.

Qinghai Lake was called "West Lake" in ancient times and "Cuo Wenbo" in Tibetan, meaning "Blue Lake." The lake is oval, slightly longer from east to west, with a circumference of over 300 kilometers, an area of 4,583 square kilometers, and an altitude of 3,195 meters. As the seasons and weather change, the scenery of Qinghai Lake varies. In spring and summer, the mountains are green and the water is beautiful, with birds singing; in the depths of winter, it is covered in white snow and the lake is frozen; on sunny days, the blue sky is like a mirror, and the water and sky are one color; on cloudy days, the sea of clouds is vast, and the waves crash with sound. Looking at Qinghai Lake from afar, it is like a huge sapphire shining with brilliant light; up close, it is like a boundless ocean. In the morning, Qinghai Lake is shrouded in white mist, merging with the sky so that you cannot tell which is which; in the evening, the sunset glow casts onto the lake, reflecting the overlapping ripples, just like a painter unfolding a gorgeous color-ink painting for you; at night, the moon sheds its clear light onto the calm surface, the water sparkles, and the starry sky is reflected in the lake—truly, there is sky in the lake, and the lake is in the sky. Bird Island, Haixi Mountain, Haixin Mountain, Sand Island, and Guzhi Mountain (Three Stones) are five small islands inlaid in the lake like five shining pearls, adding color to Qinghai Lake.

The fish species in Qinghai Lake are relatively simple, mainly producing naked carp (commonly known as Nie fish). Naked carp are scaleless, delicious, and nutritious, and are world-famous. It takes about 11 to 12 years for a naked carp to grow from a fry to a pound, which shows its preciousness. To reasonably utilize the naked carp resources, the government has taken measures to prohibit indiscriminate fishing. Haixin Mountain in the lake has an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. Legend has it that it is famous for producing dragon horses, so it is also called Dragon Horse Island. The island is rugged with strange rocks and overgrown with weeds. In midsummer, it is lush and fragrant with birds; in winter, the ice rocks are towering, and the scenery is very beautiful. Bird Island is located near the Buha River estuary in the west of Qinghai Lake, with an area of only 0.4 square kilometers. Because the air on the island is fresh, food is abundant, and the environment is elegant, it attracts nearly 100,000 migratory birds of 11 species, such as bar-headed geese, brown-headed gulls, ruddy shelducks, and whooper swans, to inhabit and breed here every year, earning it the title "Kingdom of Birds." When you step into the Kingdom of Birds, the birds fly up in surprise, their calls echoing for miles. Sometimes endangered birds fly to the island, and the state has established special agencies here to be responsible for the breeding and research of birds.

Standing by East Lake, looking out, one cannot see the edge of the lake. The peppermint-like, refreshing cool wind blowing in one's face makes one feel refreshed and clear-headed. Listening to the tinkling sound of the lake water, it is like a musician plucking wonderful strings; one seems to see the lively, leaping figure of the lake water, which makes one feel a sense of joy. Looking at this green lake water, it is lush and green—green but not wild, green but not muddy, delicate and gentle. I couldn't help but bend down and scoop up a handful of water, thinking that it would surely dye my hands green, but it was just colorless and empty. It dripped from between my fingers into the lake, as crisp as ice hitting a jade plate, and then immediately returned to its original color, crystalline and soft, flowing away to the distance.

North of the town, across the highway, are the towering mountains, and in the mountain gorge is the Tongshanyuan Reservoir. The reservoir is surrounded by mountains, with lush trees on the hills and branches laden with fruit: crystal-like grapes, golden oranges, sweet and red persimmons... Looking at it, it looks like a huge jade plate. There are many boats on the water: small wooden boats, motorized sailboats, steamships... The dam is as high as a twenty-story building, like a giant gate blocking the rushing water. At the foot of the East Mountain by the reservoir is a hydroelectric power station, which transmits powerful electric currents to factories and villages every day.

The famous Wudalianchi (Five Large Connected Pools) is like five lotus flowers blooming together. The surface of the pools reflects the blue sky, like five mirrors for a fairy to dress up; or like five crystal fire pearls inlaid in the green plain and at the foot of the lush green mountains. Dotted fishing sails drift on the surface of the pools, and bursts of cool wind bring melodious fishing songs from the pools. The oars break the blue fairy mirror, stirring up charming light waves... Suddenly, with a "pop" of a gunshot, the spillway time arrived. I saw the high sluice gate slowly rising, and immediately a clear, slippery stream gently poked its head out, as bright and clear as soft gauze, with quite a bit of a graceful lady's demeanor. The sluice gate opened higher and higher, and the water flow became larger and larger. It didn't flow as gently as before, but became angry: it surged, roared, and violently rushed toward the first flood-blocking dam. The dam tried to stop its path, but the torrent leaped up and crossed it. The waves were like the smiling faces of winners, held high. White waves rolled, unstoppable. Some people described it as a flock of sheep suddenly appearing in the grass, and others described it as white clouds rushing rapidly in the blue sky. No, it is not as weak as a flock of sheep, nor as light as white clouds, but like a soaring dragon leaping into a deep pool. The thousands of splashes stirred up, sending up water mist more than a zhang high, and under the sunlight, it looked like flying pearls and splashing jade, colorful and brilliant. It was full of infinite power, showing a magnificent spirit, daring to sweep away the debris, mud, and dirty water blocking its progress. The torrent leaped off the dam and became wider, but still maintained the momentum of rushing forward. The flood in the dam churned, and the torrent in the mountain stream surged. That momentum of rushing thousands of miles is breathtaking and refreshing.

Climbing onto the lake dike, I saw the water and sky as one color, the waves sparkling. Through the clear lake water, I could see the water grass at the bottom, green like a carpet. The water caltrop floating on the surface and the graceful lotus leaves looked like flowers on that green carpet! Following the girls' singing, a lotus-picking boat slid out from the reeds, plowing the calm lake. The fish jumped and splashed; I don't know if they were startled by the sound of the small oars or attracted by the girls' singing. I sat against the railing, barefoot, and stretched my feet into the lake. The cool and soft water licked my feet, and a feeling of being integrated into nature welled up in my heart, making me feel that the water of Thousand-Island Lake was so affectionate, the wind so fresh, the sunlight so bright, and the trees so verdant. I really wanted to stay here forever, with mountains as companions and water as a dragon, enjoying this lake and mountain scenery every day—that would be true leisure.

As the sunset sets, the blood-red afterglow paints half the sky, and the lake blushes like the face of a shy girl. The lake surface, covered by green trees, is clearly divided into blue and green. Blue makes you think of the clear sky; green reminds you of the grassland. The surroundings are surprisingly quiet, the green turning from light to deep, from deep to light, with a pale grey mist veil shrouding Thousand-Island Lake, making it unfathomable, yet the clear lake water is so open and honest. I saw the charm of green here; it turns out to be so magnificent. Before you can react, it has surged into your eyes like a burst dam, making you unable to help but be infected and captivated by its spirit and vitality!

Sailimu Lake is called "Sailimu Kule" in Kazakh, meaning "Lake of Wishes." It is located between the mountains where the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture and the Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture meet, at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, and is a famous alpine lake in our country. The lake covers an area of 120 square kilometers, much larger than Yining City! The deepest part of the lake is over 90 meters, and there are rolling mountains at the bottom of the lake. The lake water is clear and sweet, and because it contains two-thousandths of salt minerals, drinking a small amount can clear the heart, refresh the spirit, reduce internal heat, and clear the bowels. Do you know? Sailimu Lake is constantly changing. According to research by physical meteorologist Zhu Kezhen, 700 years ago, it was still a land of ice peaks. But today, the beautiful Sailimu Lake is surrounded by endless grasslands. However, based on the rate of water increase in recent years, perhaps 700 years from now, this place will become a vast ocean again.

Warm sunlight falls gently. I brew a pot of fragrant tea, and in the wisps of freshness, I gently let the pages of the book unfold. I stroke the words on it, letting the leaping rhymes guide me to the promised lands everywhere, and an indescribable comfort drifts in my heart.

2. "Reading is like 'visiting' in stealth," Yang Jiang said. Reading has indeed led me to many people's homes. I shook hands with Yue Fei and shouted the heroic words: "With high aspirations, I hungrily eat the meat of the Hu barbarians; in casual talk, I thirstily drink the blood of the Xiongnu." I patted the heartbroken Liu Yong and walked with him along the "willow bank, morning breeze, and waning moon." I saw grape wine in luminous cups at the Western frontier, and drank pear blossom wine under the green flag. I talked about my heart with friends from all over the world, and we raised our glasses and laughed together. Gradually, I became drunk in the mountains of poetry and the waters of lyrics, beginning to slowly merge with books, truly intoxicated and forgetting the way home.

3. Since I don't know the way home, there is no need to return. Exploring through reading has a unique flavor. Sinbad led me to visit Solomon's temple, bypass the valley where giant pythons coiled, and pass through the end of the world where giant whales haunted; Verne put me in a submarine to sail twenty thousand leagues and brought me to a mysterious island; in the gentle waves of Cambridge, I saw the melancholy Little Prince asking questions desperately. I walked under the crotches of countless giants, and countless small people walked under mine. Oh, what a wonderful journey. Reading brought magic and surprises to my side one by one, letting me travel with them.

4. As I walked, an old man named Knowledge joined our ranks. The light of wisdom shining from him shone through my eyes, as if lighting a lamp in my heart. I learned that magnificent giant towers would tilt and invincible steel would sink; some people used their bodies to block sharp blades for a circle, and some people nailed their lives to the cross for a bag of copper coins. Swimming in the ocean of knowledge is like a bird gliding freely in the sky. Once the speed of thought is released, not even light can run faster than it; but reading and books are like the perfect black hole, always capable of guiding thinking to it, accumulating in it, and preparing for the most magnificent explosion. The clouds and moon of an eight-thousand-mile journey all entered the depths of my soul through reading.

5. Looking up suddenly, the sunlight is still smiling, coming toward me. I gently touch the little tadpoles on the book, those wonderful little elves, savoring the reading experience in the wisps of tea fragrance, letting enjoyment merge with me.

6. Brewing a pot of tea in my spare time, holding a book in the wisps of light mist, tasting the tea fragrance, smelling the book fragrance, chewing repeatedly, savoring every word, every sentence—this is my greatest pleasure in my spare time. Some people say that reading is an art. Yes, reading is truly like that.

7. Reading is an art of enjoying life. Mr. Wuliu said, "I like to read, but I don't seek to understand everything; whenever I have an understanding, I am happy and forget to eat." When you are bored and frustrated, reading can make you happy; when you are confused and melancholy, reading can calm your heart and let you see the road ahead; when you are in a good mood, reading can let you discover more beautiful things around you and make you enjoy life more. Reading is the most beautiful enjoyment. "There is a house of gold in books, and there is a lady like jade in books."

8. Reading is an art of self-improvement. "If jade is not polished, it will not become a vessel; if a person does not learn, they will not know the truth." Reading is a learning process. A book has a story, a story narrates a life, and a life reflects a world. "Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles" is exactly this truth. Reading poetry makes one elegant, and reading history makes one wise. Reading every book will have different gains. "Hanging beams and piercing thighs," "reading by the light of fireflies and snow," since ancient times, diligent reading and self-improvement have been the lifelong pursuit of everyone. Reading is the most elegant quality, which can shape a person's spirit and sublimate a person's thoughts.

9. Reading is an art of enriching life. A life without books is like a hollow bamboo, empty and void. Books are the greatest wealth in life. Jews let their children kiss books coated with honey, to let them remember: books are sweet, and to let sweetness fill life, one must read. Reading is the most rare passbook in life. Accumulate it bit by bit, and you will find that you are the richest person in the world.

10. Reading is an art of perceiving life. Reading Du Fu's poetry makes people perceive the bitterness of life, reading Li Bai's poetry makes people understand the corruption of officialdom, reading Lu Xun's articles makes people recognize the darkness of society, and reading Ba Jin's articles makes people feel the hope of the future. Every book is a friend that teaches us how to view life. Reading is an indispensable lesson in life. Read books, perceive life, and help us walk every step of life well.

11. Books are lamps, reading illuminates the road ahead; books are bridges, reading connects each other's shores; books are sails, reading pushes the boat of life. Reading is an art of life, because of reading, life is more wonderful!

12. It was a charming afternoon. You sat by the window reading a thick old book. The afternoon black tea exuded a rich sweetness. The old dog you raised lay lazily at your feet. The sun曬 (basked) your silhouette into golden yellow, mixed with this lazy time, and brewed into memory.

13. This is a memory of your own, like a dewdrop attached to your fingertips in the early morning. You smell its fragrance, but you cannot grasp it or explain it clearly. Look, reading is just like this. It's just a feeling.

14. Sometimes when you read, it's as if you've embraced the whole world. You are not just yourself; you can be a bystander, like a world-weary wandering poet, watching everything happen before your eyes. The story begins, rises and falls, turns, and finally ends. You collect them, write them into songs that are either light or sad, and sing them carefully. As you read, you read into life, read out a taste, and read out a realm. At that time, you are like an open-minded old man, calmly watching the expressions of life's joys and sorrows. Perhaps life is just a waning moon in a quiet night, seemingly cold and incomplete, but in fact, it has always been full; it is just a distant planet rotating quietly. Of course, sometimes you will indulge in it, inevitably being manipulated by fate, occupied by the seven emotions and six desires, because we need to love and hate; no one can avoid customs. You read attentively, so nervous that you almost forget to breathe. Isn't this the excitement of life? It pulls you to run wildly. You are led by a mood, running blindly forward, the wind whistling in your ears. At this moment, reason is submerged, and you throw away the mask of life. You shout and bump like a child, without scruples. You are even brave enough to blame the unfairness of fate and scold the darkness, obscurity, bitterness, and weakness of this society.

15. At that moment, you cried uncontrollably, tears wetting the pages of the book, and then you found that you were just reading someone else's story. But why did you see your own shadow there? You felt that you lived so vividly, so real? At a certain moment, you gave all your emotions to it without regret.

16. A long time later, you picked up the book again, recalled the feeling at that time, and shook your head in confusion. You may have forgotten why you were so moved.

17. This is reading. You never thought of getting anything from it pragmatically. There was no premeditation, no pressure, you just vaguely tasted life there. You cry, you laugh, you hate, you love. You have read it, then you forget it, turn around, and return to the busy reality. Reading, catalyzed by your emotions at that moment, because you are happy, you read joy; because you are sad, you read sadness.

18. Reading is like this, and life is like this. If you grasp a certain moment of blooming, life is as brilliant as summer flowers.

19. Since human beings separated from the ignorant animal world, there was language, then writing, then articles, and finally books—whenever I think of this long process, my heart cannot help but feel a thrill, because without this process, there would be no "reading," and today, this is such an unbearable loss!

20. However, although everyone cannot do without reading, there are differences in the realm of reading.

21. One realm is to seek fame for examinations. This kind of reading is "low-grade" in my opinion, because it can no longer be regarded as real knowledge-seeking, and naturally there is no real happiness to speak of. When fame and fortune are always shining in the reader's eyes, any knowledge has to be reduced to a "stepping stone." Once the door to fame is knocked open, it is inevitable that it will be thrown away, and can this not be considered a blasphemy to knowledge? For this kind of reading, there are long-standing imperial examination scholars as evidence, and today there are compatriots who follow one after another to participate in various examinations—college entrance exams, postgraduate entrance exams, certificate exams, civil servant exams. Don't you see all kinds of candidates holding "true scriptures" outside the examination room before each exam, sitting or standing, frowning and studying hard? This kind of reading is better said to be a nightmare in the reader's life experience, with only pain and no happiness. However, there are few people in the world who can avoid this "painful reading," which cannot but be said to be an alienation.

22. Another realm of reading is to exhaust knowledge and truth. This kind of reading can be listed as "high-grade," because it has broken free from one's own fame and fortune and originates from human's great curiosity. How many scientific giants, ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign, have spent their whole lives studying a certain problem tirelessly; there are even some rare "generalists" who dabble in multiple disciplines at the same time and explore the mysteries of the world and life in reading. This is automatic, autonomous, and conscious "reading." On the road to exhausting knowledge and truth, they are brave travelers and explorers, and we have no reason not to show them deep respect. I would even say that those who can enter this realm have already obtained the blessings of life.

23. However, Zhuangzi once said: "Life has an end, but knowledge has no end. To follow the endless with the limited is dangerous." This is not a "partial truth." Therefore, in my eyes, although the second realm above counts as "high-grade," it cannot reach the realm of "super-grade." The reading that can be called "super-grade" is reading without desire, a walk of the soul, a wandering of the spirit. This kind of reader not only has no desire to seek wealth from books, but also has no pursuit of digging for treasure of knowledge from books, and even less the impulse to extract moral proverbs from books to help the world. He sees kindness and beauty in books; he is moved by the brilliance in books and cries for the happiness in books. He always needs to read, but he has no demands on "reading," just because reading makes him full and quiet. What "reading" gives him is the spiritual air and food, and he thus transcends the material and realistic life.

24. The three realms of reading have similar appearances, but the spiritual core is very different. Finally, I have to admit that who is higher and who is lower, different people will have different judgments. "Low-grade," "high-grade," "super-grade"—in the minds of different people, the order may be exactly the opposite...

25. Listen to nature, the sound of pine waves is the rhythm of the pine forest; the chirping like a complaint is the private chirp of autumn insects; the clear sound like resentment is the complaint of the cuckoo.

26. Listen to the heart, gentle and tender is a piece of tenderness; fierce like a torch is a piece of enthusiasm; kind greetings are a piece of ice heart.

27. Listen to the language of books, there are the euphemistic and skillful words of Qu, Tao, Li, and Du, fresh and bright; there are the brilliant literary talents of Zhimo and Eileen, gentle as a dream; there are the individualistic and flying personality of Hanhan and Annie, and the perception of human nature.