Untitled Chapter 131-Awakening from the Great Dream(Hearty Beef Noodle Soup from Ximaxiang)

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Above! Li Bai once wrote in a poem, "The waters of Jinci are like jade." Watching them drift gently amidst the shimmering reflections, it feels like a dream... Dongting Lake is calm and vast at this moment, as natural as a poetic realm. The pool water remains mirror-still, clearly reflecting the leaping campfires, the shifting flames, and the jade toad in the azure sky. The sun has already set, but its light reflects from beneath the clouds, casting a red glow upon the lake. The surface seems to burn, and everything around loses its original color, submerged in the crimson light. Suddenly, my eyes brighten, and I hurry forward. It is a clear, man-made lake, like a giant mirror in the countryside, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds. The water is so clear that a gentle breeze sends ripples across its surface, sparkling like gold. With a chirp, a swallow flies over, dragging its pointed tail across the water and stirring up concentric rings... In the lake, fish swim to the surface; some blow bubbles, some chase and play with each other, some use lotus leaves as tiny umbrellas to play hide-and-seek, and some swim leisurely behind their mothers. The withered lotus stalks in the pond before the gate suddenly sway violently from time to time, followed by red carp leaping energetically, breaking the deathly calm of the water. On the lake, there are no waves, and the boat glides as if on glass. The rippling water looks like fine silk, smooth and verdant. Looking into the distance, the color deepens, gradually turning into a dark, lush green. Looking up at the sky, clouds drift leisurely; looking down into the heart of the lake, there is another sky where cloud shadows wander. The peaks on both banks stand inverted in the water, a uniform green, accompanying travelers with tender affection. Just as one reaches the end, turning a corner, there are more mountains and more water. One might crave some change, but even after traveling a hundred and twenty li north and south, the scenery remains the same. Compared to the turbulent waves of Dongting Lake, Jingpo Lake is calm and serene; compared to the vast, rounded expanse of Taihu Lake, Jingpo Lake is more like a river without ripples; Daming Lake, in comparison, is merely a pool of clear water. Compared to West Lake, one is like a beautiful young woman with "the low elegance of spring mountains and the focused gaze of autumn waters," while the other is like a plain, natural, chaste, and self-contained virgin. Gazing into the distance, the water is clear and bright, dotted with sails; the small islands in the lake are like pieces of jade inlaid in the scenery, appearing truly enchanting. The lake water is, after all, too tempting, especially in such sweltering heat. I approach the shore, and the membrane of heat before me vanishes. The water churns and flashes, as if a layer of gold were attached to the surface. My hands cannot resist, and I gently reach into the water. Ah! That refreshing, soul-stirring sensation is truly beyond words. The ripples gently caress the white marble pool wall; the undulating autumn waters flow back and forth beneath the "Fish-Knowing Bridge." Those small green islands look like pearls inlaid on the lake, and at first glance, they also resemble green waves rolling amidst the clouds. Dotted with colorful sails, the Thousand Island Lake, surrounded by green trees, appears so charming. Looking down at the clear lake water, the ripples stirred by the wind look like fleeting lace, and listening to the pine waves, their low, melodic sound is as evocative as a legend; there are also the slender, pure white reeds swaying in the wind, showing their unique beauty, so delicate that you cannot bear to touch them. As the sun sets, the blood-red afterglow dyes half the sky, and the lake surface blushes faintly like the face of a shy girl. Right next to the hillside, there is a reservoir surrounded by great mountains, with water so green it resembles a cat's eye, inspiring awe. Looking down at Lu Lake from the Hongque Pavilion, there are exquisite little pavilions on the lake, and the emerald waves sparkle; the golden sunlight spilling onto the water is truly like thousands of brilliant gems shimmering with dazzling light. Ah, the water of Taohua Pond is so green, as if it were a flawless piece of jade. The flowing autumn water brings a hint of coolness. Look! On Taohua Pond, a few withered lotus leaves are scattered here and there; their edges have turned yellow, but crystal-clear dewdrops 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 beauty of a spring pond lies in the word "stillness," so still that one feels it is not a pool of water, but a meadow—a verdant, crystal-clear green meadow. The blue sky, green trees, and white clouds all leave their lovely shadows in its embrace, and a thread of contemplation permeates the quiet turquoise waves. Because of the eternal tranquility, it possesses an extraordinary clarity: the fish and pebbles at the bottom are revealed without concealment—naturally, these are not the eyes of a hermit, but eyes burning with the fire of hope. The beauty of a spring pond also lies in the word "movement." It is like a piece of ever-changing green silk, so beautiful and pure. Under the sunlight, it leaps with sparkling waves, like flying flowers or碎 (shattered) gold. Each little spot of light has a tiny sprite flickering, stretching, and trembling; when a breeze blows, it sends out ripples, slowly advancing from one side to the other. Then comes one flower, two flowers... The once-clear boundaries on the water surface look like a line of light ink on rice paper, gradually diffusing under the veils of mist and haze, eventually becoming somewhat blurred. The vast desert is monotonous and lonely, but it is also so broad and open, allowing you to let the wild horse of your thoughts gallop across this vast space. In the evening, Sayram Lake gradually turns deep blue, and the sky and lake merge into one, making it impossible to tell whether the sky dyed the lake blue or the lake dyed the sky blue. At noon, under the brilliant sunshine, Sayram Lake is like a shimmering piece of silk; green grass and red flowers, white sheep and yellow cattle, gray camels and golden horses, all seem like colorful clouds drifting by the lakeside. Thousand Island Lake is not a lake; it is a man-made lake of 860,000 mu formed after the completion of the Xin'an River Hydropower Station, equivalent to the area of more than 100 West Lakes. Because the spring rain pool is no less beautiful than the Nanshan Spring: the spring water is flowing and hard to congeal into a piece of jade, but this pool water is quiet, soft, and beautiful, like a piece of emerald. The lake water is so green that it seems as if 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 sparkles in the sunlight, and the graceful willow branches are like the washed hair of a young girl. The water level has risen by nearly 100 meters, with some peaks submerged and others becoming islands in the turquoise water. These islands are the mountains I saw earlier standing in the water. There are 1,078 such islands of various sizes on the lake, hence the beautiful name "Thousand Island Lake." That broad lake surface passes through the jade-colored Seventeen-Arch Bridge, stretching its arms far out to embrace the blue sky, finally melting into the faint clouds and mist. When the autumn air is crisp, looking into the distance, one sees nothing but shimmering water, rippling slightly. Layer upon layer of waves push toward the shore, lapping against the stones. A chill permeates the water, as if it had been clarified; the deep colors settle at the bottom, and the swirling mist dances with the autumn breeze, leisurely and unrestrained, soaring. West Lake is located west of the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, covering an area of about 5.6 square kilometers. Because of its charming scenery and secluded 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 Suzhou gardens, and Hangzhou refers to this West Lake. West Lake is composed of an inner lake and an outer lake. The two lakes are connected, separated only by the long Su Causeway. Though called a causeway, it is actually six closely connected stone bridges of various shapes. The outer lake is larger than the inner lake and is dotted with three shining pearls: Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Lesser Yingzhou, and the Mid-Lake Pavilion. Three Pools Mirroring the Moon is considered the best of all the West Lake scenes, mainly because of the three stone pagodas standing in the lake. The pagodas, over two meters high, have five openings on each side that allow light to pass through. On a bright moonlit night, one can see the marvelous sight of "the moonlight reflecting in the pool, the shadow divided into three." On the Mid-Lake Pavilion stands a stone tablet with the characters "Chong Er" inscribed on it. It is said that the Qianlong Emperor inscribed them, secretly implying the four characters "boundless wind and moon," inspired by his night tour of the West Lake. In addition to the three scenes on the lake, there are many other beautiful views along the shore, such as Orioles Singing in the Willows, Viewing Fish at Flower Pond, Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake, and Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge. We get off the bus, cross a slope, and through the gaps in the treetops, we vaguely see the blue lake water. The further we walk, the larger the lake surface becomes, until it is basically presented before our eyes. The high mountains on all four sides embrace the lake; mountains and water depend on each other, creating a magnificent spectacle. Boats on the lake are like stars dotted in the center. Suddenly, a band of water is stirred up from south to north; looking closely, it turns out to be a speedboat racing across the surface. Flocks of birds call and soar over the lake from time to time, forming a magnificent, dynamic picture. In midsummer, we often row small boats to the deep parts of the lake. The boat ripples through the turquoise waves, making a rhythmic "pat-pat" sound, and concentric rings ripple away in order as we move. At this time, we stand at the bow, and the beautiful appearance of the lake is in full view: winding clear water, winding clear water, surrounding the lush green water grass. Strands of water grass are like a fairy's hair drifting with the waves, stretching and curling, lingering with the lake water and teasing the fish and shrimp. In the distance, there are dots of pink, patches of green shade, and waves of lotus fragrance drill directly into your nostrils, tempting us to speed up our rowing and sail into the embrace of the lotus. We park the boat where the lotus leaves are densest and the fragrance is strongest, then lie on the bow and in the cabin. Each lotus leaf is as large as an umbrella, hiding our bodies in its thick green shade. A few bright lotus flowers and tender little lotus pods poke their heads out, as if teasing us. The pond is very small, and the usually lively goldfish are now staying quietly there, perhaps asleep. In the middle of the pond is a piece of mountain rock, a work of nature, which looks even more interesting and picturesque under the washing of the moonlight. The moon is reflected at the bottom of the dark green pond, and after being washed by the water, it appears exceptionally clear and distant, like the charming eyes of the Mona Lisa, making one yearn for it. A breeze blows, drawing a light green ripple on the calm pond water. The water ripples slightly, kissing the mountain rock and making a soft, metallic clashing sound, appearing exceptionally gentle in the quiet night... Changdang Lake, as a delicate younger sister of Taihu Lake, lies quietly on the treasure land of Jintan. When I first came to Changdang Lake, I felt a hazy, indescribable love. In the distance, the sky is blue, without a trace of cloud or a flying bird, like a huge blue silk scarf gently draped over it. Nearby, the water is light green, so pure and lovely, with no debris in it. Even the playful little fish seem reluctant to break this peaceful green and swim to the bottom. The water surface is like a flawless gem, a pale green early spring pasture. I place myself on a small boat, letting it drift, and before I know it, I realize I am in the middle of the vast lake. Only then do I feel that the world is so beautiful. Looking around, I cannot see any mixed colors, only an alluring green everywhere. How can I describe this lovely green? Can those flowery words and beautiful sentences in the "Cihai" dictionary compare with the green before my eyes? I passionately stretch out my hands, scoop up a handful of pure turquoise water, and gently put it to my mouth, feeling that it is more fragrant than plum blossoms and sweeter than honey... I scoop up another handful of pure green and hold it to my chest, suddenly feeling an unparalleled lightness in my heart, and my spirit is invigorated. The water of Xuanwu Lake is so clear and bright, simply like a huge, brilliant green gem. A breeze brushes over the lake, lifting layers of ripples, and under the sunset, the lake water sparkles like fish scales and碎 (shattered) jade, making one feel relaxed and happy. The rising waves, like children chasing and playing, rush toward the shore one after another, then laugh and retreat. This cycle repeats, and one never feels bored. Crystal-clear droplets splash onto my hands, giving a hint of coolness and invigorating the spirit. Standing on the shore, one can see the bottom of the water at a glance, and sometimes one can see small fish and shrimp swimming around, 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 strangely quiet. A faint mist floats on the water, like a girl wearing a light veil. The small islands in the water seem to be floating in the mist. Looking at the reservoir from afar, it looks like a silver-gray silk ribbon, winding away into the distance... The lake is still, 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 the leaping sunlight and my heart, chasing and playing; the lake is soft, with gentle breezes and ripples, like a piece of silk dancing in the wind; the lake is hard, like a flawless piece of emerald flashing with beautiful luster. The quiet lake is lovely, but the lake in the rain is even more moving. The silk-like spring rain falls, weaving and weaving, weaving a large piece of green "brocade" on the lake, with endless rings on the "brocade," like flowers embroidered by a beautiful girl. When a thunderstorm arrives, the lake is the liveliest. Listen, there is a flash of light in the sky; that is the opening fireworks going up. "Boom," the salute sounds, and the meeting is about to begin. When the heavy rain falls, the party begins immediately. Do you see the flowers blooming competitively on the lake? Those are the jade flowers on the heads of the goldfish girls who are dancing. Do you want to know if the program is wonderful? The "thundering applause" of the rain will tell you everything. In the embrace of mountains more than 2,000 meters above sea level, the sudden appearance of such a deep blue lake is truly astonishing. Looking closely at the pond water, it reflects the surrounding ridges and pine trees, with clear contrasts of light and dark; looking into the distance, the white snowy crowns on the peaks are faintly visible; the afterglow of the setting sun spills onto the clear water. Where the breeze passes, the water sparkles, just like thousands of fish churning; on the hillside is an ancient spruce forest, lush and green; little squirrels jump between the branches, occasionally peering at us; the forest floor is covered with fallen leaves, and stepping on them makes a rustling sound, giving one a soft feeling. Oh, all of this is simply a marvelous ink painting. Qinghai Lake was called "West Lake" in ancient times and is known as "Tso Ngonpo" in Tibetan, meaning "blue lake." The lake is elliptical, slightly longer from east to west, with a circumference of more than 300 kilometers, an area of 4,583 square kilometers, and an altitude of 3,195 meters. With the changes of seasons and weather, the scenery of Qinghai Lake is different. In spring and summer, the mountains are green and the water is beautiful, with birds singing; in the dead of winter, it is covered with white snow, and the lake is frozen; on a sunny day, the blue sky is like a mirror, and the water and sky are the same color; on a cloudy day, the sea of clouds is vast, and the waves sound as they strike. Looking at Qinghai Lake from afar, it is like a huge sapphire shining with brilliant light; looking closely, it is like a boundless ocean. In the morning, Qinghai Lake is shrouded in white fog, and it merges with the sky, making it impossible to tell which is the sky and which is the water; in the evening, the rosy clouds cast onto the lake, reflecting the overlapping waves, just like a painter unfolding a gorgeous colorful ink painting for you; at night, the moon spills its bright light onto the calm lake, the lake is sparkling, and the stars are reflected in the lake; it is truly that there is sky in the lake, and the sky is in the lake. Bird Island, Haixi Mountain, Haixin Mountain, Sand Island, and Guji Mountain (Three Stones) are five small islands like five brilliant pearls inlaid in the lake, adding color to Qinghai Lake. The species of fish in Qinghai Lake are relatively simple, mainly producing naked carp (commonly known as Nie fish). Naked carp are scaleless, delicious, and nutritious, and are famous far and wide. It takes about 11 to 12 years for a naked carp to grow from a fry to one jin in weight, which shows the preciousness of the naked carp. To rationally utilize the resources of naked carp, 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 colts," so it is also called Dragon Colt Island. The island is rugged with strange rocks and overgrown with weeds. In midsummer, it is covered in red and green, with birds singing and flowers fragrant; in the dead of winter, the ice rocks are precipitous, and the scenery is very beautiful. Bird Island is located near the Buha River mouth 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 11 kinds of nearly 100,000 migratory birds such as bar-headed geese, brown-headed gulls, ruddy shelducks, and whooper swans to nest and raise their young here every year, and it is known as the "Kingdom of Birds." When you step into the Kingdom of Birds, the startled birds fly in groups, and their sound can be heard for miles. Sometimes, birds that are on the verge of extinction also fly to the island. The state has set up a special agency here to be responsible for the breeding and research of birds. Standing on the shore of East Lake and looking into the distance, one cannot see the edge of the lake. The peppermint-like refreshing breeze blowing on your face makes you feel refreshed and clear-headed. Listening to the tinkling sound of the lake water is like a musician plucking wonderful strings; it seems to see the lively and 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, not wild, not turbid, delicate and gentle. I cannot help but bend down and scoop up a handful of water, thinking that it will definitely dye my hands green, but it is just colorless emptiness, trickling through the gaps in my fingers back into the lake, as crisp as ice hitting a jade plate, and then it immediately returns to its original color, crystal-clear, soft, and murmuring towards the distance. To the 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, and the trees on the mountains are lush and green, with branches full of fruit: crystal-like grapes, yellow oranges, sweet and red persimmons... At a glance, it looks like a huge jade plate. There are many boats on the water: small wooden boats, motorized sailboats, steamboats... The dam is as high as a twenty-story building, like a giant door blocking the rushing water. At the foot of the East Mountain by the reservoir is a hydroelectric power station, which transmits powerful electric current to factories and villages every day. The world-famous Five Great Lakes are like five lotus flowers blooming on the same stalk, with the lake reflecting the blue sky, like five mirrors for a fairy to dress up; or like five crystal-clear fire pearls inlaid in the green plains and at the foot of the lush green mountains. On the water surface of the lakes, there are dots of fishing sails, and bursts of cool breeze bring the melodic and melodious fishing songs from the surface. The oars break the blue fairy mirror, sending out fascinating light waves... Suddenly, with a "pop" of a gunshot, it is time for the spillway to open. I see the high sluice gate slowly rising, and immediately a clear, smooth stream gently sticks its head out, as bright and clear as soft gauze, with a bit of a young lady's demeanor. The gate opens higher and higher, and the water flow becomes larger and larger. It does not flow as gently as before, but becomes angry: it rushes, roars, and violently charges toward the first flood-blocking dam. The dam attempts to block its path, but the torrent leaps up and crosses it. Those waves are like the triumphant smiling faces of victors, held high. White waves roll, unstoppable. Some describe it as a flock of sheep suddenly emerging from the grass, and others describe it as white clouds rushing rapidly in the blue sky. No, it is not as weak as a flock of sheep, nor as frivolous as white clouds, but like a soaring dragon leaping into a deep pool. The millions of splashes stirred up, soaring into water mist more than a zhang high, are like flying pearls and splashing jade under the sunlight, colorful and brilliant. It is full of infinite power, showing a magnificent spirit, daring to clear away the residue, stones, mud, and dirty water that block its advance. The torrent leaps down the dam and becomes wider, but it still maintains the momentum of rushing forward. The floodwater in the dam is churning, and the torrent in the stream is rushing. That momentum of rushing thousands of miles is heart-stirring and invigorating. Climbing onto the lake embankment, I see the water and sky are the same color, and the waves are sparkling. Through the clear lake water, one can see the water grass at the bottom, green like a carpet. The water chestnut greens floating on the surface and the graceful lotus leaves are just like flowers on that green carpet! Following the girls' singing, a lotus-picking boat rows out from the reeds, plowing through the calm lake. The fish jump and hop; I don't know if it was the sound of the small oars that startled them or the girls' singing that attracted them. I sit by the railing, barefoot and stretching into the lake water. The slightly cool and gentle water licks my feet, and a feeling of having merged into nature surges in my heart, making me feel that the water of Thousand Island Lake is so affectionate, the wind is so fresh, the sunlight is so bright, and the trees are so green. I really want to stay here forever, with the mountains as companions and the water as a dragon, enjoying this lake and mountain scenery every day—that would truly be leisurely and carefree. As the sun sets, the blood-red afterglow dyes half the sky, and the lake surface blushes faintly like the face of a shy girl. The lake surface covered by green trees is clearly divided into two colors: blue and green. Blue makes you think of the blue sky; green makes you recall the grasslands. The surroundings are strangely quiet, and the green goes from light to deep, from deep to light. The light gray mist gauze shrouds Thousand Island Lake, making it unfathomable, yet the clear lake water is so open. I see the charm of green here; it turns out to be so magnificent. Before you have even reacted, it has already poured into your eyes like a burst dam, making you unable to help but be infected and conquered by its spirit and vitality! Sayram Lake is called "Sayram Kul" in the Kazakh language, which means the Lake of Wishes. It is located between the mountains connecting Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture and Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, at an altitude of more than 2,000 meters, and is a famous high-altitude lake in our country. The lake has an area of 120 square kilometers, much larger than Yining City! The deepest part of the lake is more than 90 meters, and there are undulating mountains at the bottom of the lake. The lake water is sweet and delicious, and because it contains two-thousandths of salt minerals, drinking a small amount can refresh the heart and spirit, remove fire, and clear the stomach. Do you know? Sayram Lake is constantly changing. According to the research and investigation of the physical meteorologist Zhu Kezhen, 700 years ago, it was still a piece of ice peak. But today, the beautiful Sayram Lake is surrounded by endless vast grasslands. However, based on the speed at which the lake water has increased over the past few years, perhaps in another 700 years, this place will become a vast ocean again.

The warm sunlight spills gently. Brewing a pot of fragrant tea, I gently let the pages of the book unfold amidst the wisps of freshness, caressing the words on them, letting the leaping rhymes guide me to the promised lands everywhere. An indescribable comfort drifts in my heart.

2. "Reading is like 'visiting' while invisible," said Yang Jiang. Reading has indeed allowed me to enter many people's homes. I shake hands with Yue Fei and shout together the heroic words, "With hungry ambition, I eat the barbarian's flesh; laughing and talking, I drink the Xiongnu's blood." I gently pat the heartbroken Liu Yong and walk with him past the "willow bank, morning breeze, and waning moon." Just as I witnessed the grape wine and luminous cups in the Western Regions frontier, I laugh and buy pear blossom wine under the green flag. I talk about my heart with friends from all over the world, raising glasses and laughing together. Gradually, I get drunk in the mountains of poetry and the waters of lyrics, and begin to slowly become one with the book, intoxicated and forgetting the way home.

3. Since I don't know the way home, there's no need to go back. Exploring through reading has a unique flavor. Sinbad leads me to visit Solomon's temple, detour around the valley where giant pythons coil, and pass through the end of the world where giant whales appear; Verne puts me in a submarine to travel twenty thousand leagues to the mysterious island; in the gentle waves of Cambridge, I see the melancholy Little Prince desperately asking questions. I walk under the crotches of countless giants, and countless little people walk under mine. Ah, what a wonderful journey. Reading brings magic and surprise to my side one by one, letting me travel with them.

4. As I walk, an old man named Knowledge joins our ranks. The wisdom shining from him passes through my eyes, as if lighting a lamp in my heart. I learn that magnificent giant towers can also tilt, and invincible steel can also sink; some people have blocked sharp blades with their bodies for a circle, and others have 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 runs faster than it; but reading and books are like the most perfect black hole, always capable of drawing thoughts toward them, accumulating within them, and preparing for the most magnificent explosion. The clouds and moon of eight thousand li all walk into the depths of my soul through reading.

5. Suddenly looking up, the sunlight is still smiling as it comes toward me. I gently caress the little tadpoles on the book, those wonderful little sprites, and savor the experience of reading in the curling tea fragrance, letting enjoyment and I become one.

6. Brewing a pot of tea in my spare time, holding a book amidst the wisps of light mist, savoring the fragrance of tea, smelling the fragrance of books, chewing repeatedly, tasting 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 this.

7. Reading is an art of enjoying life. Mr. Five Willows "loved to read, did not seek deep understanding, and every time he had an understanding, he would happily forget to eat." When you are dull and bored, reading can make you happy; when you are lost 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 are golden houses in books, and there are jade beauties 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 way." Reading is a process of learning. 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 people elegant; reading history makes people wise. Reading every book will have different gains. "Hanging the beam and piercing the thigh," "reflecting the snow by the window"—since ancient times, diligent reading and self-improvement have been every person's lifelong pursuit. 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 painted with honey to let them remember: books are sweet, and to let sweetness fill life, one must read. Reading is the most precious passbook in life; accumulating little by little, you will find that you are the richest person in the world.

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10. Reading is an art of understanding life. Reading Du Fu's poems makes one understand the bitterness of life; reading Li Bai's poems makes one understand the corruption of officialdom; reading Lu Xun's articles makes one see the darkness of society; reading Ba Jin's articles makes one feel the hope of the future. Every book is a friend that teaches us how to look at life. Reading is a lesson that is most indispensable in life; reading books and understanding life helps us walk every step of life well.

11. Books are lamps; reading illuminates the road ahead; books are bridges; reading connects the 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 heavy old book, the afternoon black tea exuded a rich sweetness, the old dog you kept lay lazily at your feet, the sunlight tanned your outline golden, mixed with this lazy time, brewing into memory.

13. This is your own memory, like a dewdrop caught on your fingertips in the early morning; you smell its fragrance, but you cannot grasp it, cannot describe it. Look, reading is like this. It is just a feeling.

14. Sometimes you read and read, as if you have embraced the whole world. You are not just you; you can watch from the sidelines, like a world-weary wandering poet, watching everything happen before your eyes. The story begins, rises, turns, and finally ends. You collect them and write them into songs that are either light or sad, singing them carefully. Reading and reading, you read about life, read about a taste, read out a realm. At that time, you are like an open-minded old man, calmly watching the joys and sorrows of life. Perhaps life is just a waning moon in a quiet night; it looks cold and incomplete, but in fact, it has always been full; it is just a distant planet spinning quietly. Of course, sometimes you will indulge in it, inevitably being manipulated by fate, occupied by seven emotions and six desires; this is because we need love, we need hate, and no one can be vulgar-free. You read attentively, so nervous that you almost forget to breathe; isn't this the excitement of life, pulling you to run wildly? You are led by a mood, running forward blindly, the wind whistling in your ears; at this moment, reason is submerged, and you throw away the mask of life at once. You shout and collide like a child, truly and unreservedly. You even bravely blame fate for being unfair, scolding this society for being dark, obscure, bitter, and weak.

15. At that moment, you cry passionately, tears wetting the pages of the book, and you realize that you are just reading someone else's story. But why do you see your own shadow there, and you feel that you live so vividly, so truly? At a certain moment, you gave all your emotions to it without regret.

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

17. This is reading; you have never utilitarianly thought about getting anything from it; there is no conspiracy, no pressure; you just vaguely taste life there. You cry, you laugh, you hate, you love. You have read it, then you forget, turn around, and return to the busy reality. Reading is triggered by your emotions at that moment; because you are happy, you read happiness; because you are sad, you read sadness.

18. Reading is like this, and life is like this. Grasping a moment of blooming, life is as brilliant as summer flowers.

19. Since humanity separated from the ignorant animal world, there has been language, then characters, then articles, and finally books—sometimes when I think of this long process, I cannot help but feel a thrill in my heart, because without this process, there would be no "reading," and today, this is such an unbearable loss!

20. However, although everyone cannot live without reading, the realm of reading has differences of opinion.

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21. One realm is seeking fame for exams. This kind of reading is "low-grade" in my opinion, because it can no longer be considered true knowledge-seeking, and naturally there is no true happiness to speak of. When fame and fortune are always shining in the eyes of the reader, any knowledge is forced to become a "stepping stone"; once the door to fame is opened, it is inevitably abandoned. Can this not be considered a profanity to knowledge? This kind of reading has the scholars of the imperial examination in the past as evidence, and today there are people who rush to take various exams—college entrance exams, postgraduate entrance exams, certificate exams, civil service exams—as examples. Do you not see all kinds of candidates sitting or standing and frowning while reading "true scriptures" outside the exam room before each exam? This kind of reading is better described as a nightmare in the reader's life, with only pain and no happiness. However, in this world, there are few people who can be exempted from this "painful reading," which must be said to be a kind of alienation.

22. Another realm of reading is for exhausting knowledge and truth. This kind of reading can be listed as "high-grade," because it has broken free from personal fame and fortune and originates from humanity's great curiosity. How many giants of science, past and present, domestic and foreign, have studied hard and tirelessly to explore a certain problem; there are even some rare "polymaths" 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; we have no reason not to express our deep respect for them. I even want to say that those who can enter this realm have already obtained the blessings of life.

23. However, Zhuangzi once said: "Life is limited, but knowledge is limitless. To follow the limitless with the limited is dangerous." This is not a "partial truth." Therefore, in my eyes, although the second realm above is considered "high-grade," it cannot reach the "top-grade" realm. The reading that can be called "top-grade" is non-seeking, non-desiring reading; it is a walk of the soul, a wandering of the spirit. Such readers not only have no desire to seek wealth from books, but also have no pursuit of digging for treasure troves of knowledge from books, and even less impulse to extract moral proverbs from books to help the world and save the people. He sees kindness and beauty in books; he is moved by the wonderfulness in books and cries for the happiness in books. He always needs to read, but he has no demands on "reading," just because he is filled and peaceful through reading. What "reading" gives him is spiritual air and food, and thus he transcends material and realistic life.

24. The three realms of reading have similar appearances, but their spiritual cores are vastly different. Finally, I have to admit that who is higher and who is lower, different people will have different judgments. The order of "low-grade," "high-grade," and "top-grade" may be exactly the opposite in the minds of different people...

25. Listen to nature: the sound of pine waves is the rhythm of the pine forest; the chirping like a complaint is the private whisper of autumn insects; the clear sound like a grievance is the complaint of the cuckoo... ???

26. Listen to the soul: gentle and affectionate... is a piece of tenderness; as bright as a torch is a piece of enthusiasm; a kind greeting is a piece of pure heart.

27. Listen to the language of books: there are the tactful and skillful words of Qu, Tao, Li, and Du, fresh and bright; there are the brilliant, dream-like tenderness of Zimo and Eileen; there are the flying personalities and humanistic insights of Han Han and Annie... ?...