Chapter 129: ????!!!

Li Bai once wrote in praise, "The waters of Jinci are like green jade." Watching the light ripple and drift, as if in a dream, I find the Dongting Lake at this moment calm and vast, as natural as a poetic vision. The pool remains as still as a mirror, clearly reflecting the flickering campfires, the shifting flames, and the jade toad in the azure sky. The sun has set, but its light reflects from beneath the clouds, casting a crimson glow upon the lake until it seems as if the water itself is 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—a great mirror set in the countryside, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds. The water is crystalline; a gentle breeze stirs it into ripples that shimmer like gold. With a soft chirp, a swallow darts down, its pointed tail grazing the surface, sending out concentric rings. In the depths, fish rise to the surface: some blow bubbles, some chase and play, some use lotus leaves as tiny umbrellas for hide-and-seek, and others follow their mothers, swimming leisurely to and fro.

The withered lotus stalks in the pond before the door suddenly tremble violently, followed by red carp leaping with such vitality that they shatter the deathly stillness of the water. On the lake, the surface remains undisturbed; boats seem to glide across a sheet of glass. The shimmering ripples are like fine lines on silk, smooth, tender, and green. Looking into the distance, the color deepens, gradually turning a dark emerald. Gazing up at the sky, clouds move lazily; looking down into the heart of the lake, another sky appears, where cloud shadows wander. The peaks on both banks stand inverted in the water, a uniform green, accompanying the traveler with lingering affection. Just as one reaches the end, a turn reveals the same mountains and the same water. One longs for a change, yet even after traveling a hundred and twenty miles, the scenery remains unchanged. Compared to the turbulent Dongting Lake, Jingpo Lake is calm and serene; compared to the vastness of Taihu Lake, it resembles a wide, motionless river. Daming Lake is but a pond of clear water in comparison, and West Lake is like a beautiful, glamorous young woman, while Jingpo Lake is like a simple, natural, and chaste maiden.

Looking out, the water glimmers with brilliance, dotted with sails. The small islands in the lake are like pieces of jade inlaid within the landscape, appearing remarkably enchanting. The lake is far too tempting, especially in such sweltering heat. I approach the shore, and the barrier of heat vanishes. The water oscillates, flashing as if covered in a layer of gold. My hand, unable to resist, gently reaches into the water. Ah! That refreshing, soul-stirring sensation is beyond words. The ripples gently caress the white marble walls of the pool; the undulating autumn waters drift back and forth beneath the "Knowing Fish Bridge." Those small green islands look like pearls set into 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.

Bird's-eye view of the clear lake reveals ripples stirred by the wind, appearing like delicate lace that appears and disappears. Listen to the soughing of the pines, low and evocative, as thought-provoking as a legend; there are also the frail, pure white reeds swaying in the wind, showing their unique beauty, so delicate one cannot bear to touch them. At sunset, the blood-red glow dyes half the sky, and the lake blushes like the face of a shy young girl. Nestled against the hillside is a reservoir surrounded by great mountains; the water is as green as a cat's eye, inspiring a sense of awe. Looking down at Lu Lake from the Hongque Pavilion, one sees exquisite little pavilions on the water, ripples glistening as golden sunlight scatters upon the surface like thousands of brilliant, flickering gems.

Ah, the water of Peach Blossom Pool is so green, like a flawless emerald. The undulating autumn water brings a hint of coolness. Look! On the pool, a few withered lotus leaves are scattered; their edges have turned yellow, yet crystal-clear dew drops hide playfully upon them. Beneath the withered lotus, red goldfish roam. The maple trees on both sides cast mottled shadows—yellow, green, red, white, and black! The beauty of the spring pond lies in its "stillness," so quiet that one feels it is not a pool of water, but a green meadow—a lush and crystalline green. The blue sky, green trees, and white clouds all leave their silhouettes in its embrace; a thread of contemplation permeates the quiet turquoise waves. Because of this eternal tranquility, it possesses an extraordinary clarity: the fish and sand 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 the spring pond also lies in its "movement." It is like a piece of ever-changing green silk, so beautiful and pure. Under the sunlight, ripples dance like flying blossoms or crushed gold; in every tiny patch of light, a little sprite flickers, stretches, and trembles. When a breeze blows, water patterns arise, slowly advancing from one side to the other. Then, one blossom, two blossoms... The clear boundaries on the water surface look like a thin stroke of ink on rice paper, gradually diffusing under the mist and light gauze of the void, eventually becoming blurred.

The vast desert is monotonous and lonely, yet it is also so expansive and magnanimous, allowing one to let the wild horses of thought gallop across this wide space. In the evening, Sayram Lake gradually turns a deep blue, sky and lake merging into one; one cannot tell if the sky has dyed the lake blue or the lake has dyed the sky. At noon, under the brilliant sun, Sayram Lake is like a shimmering piece of silk; green grass and red flowers, white sheep and yellow cattle, gray camels and golden horses seem like colorful clouds floating by the shore.

Thousand Island Lake is not a natural lake; it was formed after the construction of the Xin'an River Hydropower Station, creating an artificial lake of 860,000 mu, equivalent to the area of over a hundred West Lakes. Because the spring rain pool is no less magnificent than the Nanlao Spring: the spring water flows, making it difficult to form a solid piece of jade, yet this pool water is quiet, soft, and beautiful, like an emerald. The lake 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 glitters in the sunlight, the graceful willow branches like a maiden's freshly washed hair. The water level was raised by nearly 100 meters, causing some peaks to submerge while others became islands in the turquoise water. These islands are the mountains I saw standing in the water earlier. There are 1,078 such islands on the lake, hence the beautiful name "Thousand Island Lake."

The broad expanse of the lake passes through the jade-colored Seventeen-Arch Bridge, stretching its arms far out to embrace the blue sky, finally melting into the faint mist. In the crisp autumn, looking into the distance, the eyes are filled with shimmering water traces, gently undulating. Wave after wave pushes toward the shore, lapping against the stones. The water carries a chill, as if clarified; the dark colors sink to the bottom, and the swirling water mist dances with the autumn wind, leisurely and unrestrained, soaring.

West Lake is located in the west of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, covering about 5.6 square kilometers. Due to its enchanting scenery and quiet environment, it has been a famous tourist destination since ancient times. People say, "There is heaven above, and Suzhou and Hangzhou below." Suzhou refers to the Suzhou gardens, and Hangzhou refers to this West Lake. West Lake consists of an inner lake and an outer lake. The two are connected by water, separated only by the long Su Causeway. Though called a causeway, it is actually six closely linked stone bridges of different shapes. The outer lake is larger than the inner, and its surface is dotted with three shining pearls: Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Lesser Yingzhou, and Mid-Lake Pavilion. Three Pools Mirroring the Moon is considered the best of the West Lake scenes, mainly due to the three stone pagodas standing in the lake. The two-meter-high pagodas have five holes on each side to let light through; on a bright moonlit night, one can see the spectacular sight of "the moonlight mirroring the pool, the shadow divided into three." On the Mid-Lake Pavilion stands a stone tablet inscribed with the characters "Chong Er." It is said that the Qianlong Emperor inscribed it himself, implying the words "boundless wind and moon," a sentiment he felt during a night cruise on the lake. In addition to the three scenes on the lake, there are many other beauties 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 got off the bus, crossed a slope, and through the gaps in the treetops, we glimpsed the blue lake water. As we moved forward, the lake surface grew larger, until it was fully revealed to our eyes. The surrounding high mountains embraced the lake, water and mountain leaning on each other with majestic momentum. Speedboats on the lake looked like stars scattered in the center. Suddenly, a belt of water was stirred up from south to north—looking closely, it was a speedboat racing across the surface. Flocks of birds chirped and soared over the lake from time to time, composing a magnificent, dynamic picture.

In midsummer, we often rowed small boats into the deep lake. The boat rippled the turquoise waves, making a rhythmic "slap-slap" sound, and concentric circles spread out in order as we moved. Standing at the bow, we took in the beauty of the lake: winding clear water, clear winding water, surrounding the green water weeds in groups. Strands of water weeds floated like a fairy's hair, extending and curling, entwining with the water, teasing the fish and shrimp. In the distance, specks of pink and patches of green shade, the fragrance of lotuses drilled into your nostrils, tempting us to row faster into the embrace of the lotuses. We parked the boat where the lotus leaves were densest and the fragrance strongest, and lay on the bow and in the cabin. Each lotus leaf was as large as an umbrella, hiding our bodies in its thick green shade. A few bright lotus flowers and tender little seed pods peeked out, as if teasing us.

The pond was small, and the usually lively goldfish stayed still, perhaps asleep. In the center of the pond was a piece of mountain rock, carved by nature, made even more evocative 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 heart. A breeze brushed over, creating a light green ripple on the quiet pond; the water undulated slightly, kissing the rock and making a soft, metallic clinking sound, appearing exceptionally gentle in the quiet night...

As a delicate younger sister of Taihu Lake, Changdang Lake lies quietly on the precious land of Jintan. When I first came to Changdang Lake, I felt a hazy, indescribable affection. In the distance, the sky was blue, without a trace of clouds or a single bird, like a giant 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, swimming to the bottom. The surface was like a flawless gemstone, a pale green pasture of early spring. I was on a small boat, letting it drift, and unknowingly, I found myself in the middle of the vast lake. Only then did I realize the world was so beautiful. Looking around, I saw no other colors, only an enticing green everywhere. How could I describe this lovely green? Could the flowery words and beautiful sentences in the dictionary compare to the green before my eyes? I passionately reached out my hands, scooped up a handful of pure, emerald 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 into my arms, suddenly feeling a sense of incomparable lightness, my spirit invigorated.

The water of Xuanwu Lake is so clear and bright, like a giant, brilliant emerald. A breeze brushes the lake, stirring up layers of ripples, and under the sunset, the water sparkles like fish scales or shattered jade, refreshing the mind. The rising waves, like chasing, playing children, rush toward the shore in rows, then laughingly retreat. This cycle repeats, never feeling weary. Crystal water droplets splash on my hands, providing a hint of coolness, refreshing the spirit. Standing on the shore, one can see to the bottom; sometimes one can see small fish and shrimp swimming, making one feel that life exists in this turquoise water, bringing vitality and adding a sense of mystery to the lake.

At dawn, under the pale blue sky, the reservoir is strangely quiet. A faint mist floats on the water, like a young girl covered in a light veil. The small islands in the water seem to float in the mist. Looking at the reservoir from afar, it looks like a silver-gray silk ribbon winding into the distance... The lake is still, like a mirror, clearly reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, red flowers, and green trees; the lake is alive, layers of ripples rising with the wind, accompanied by dancing sunlight and my own heart, chasing and playing; the lake is soft, with gentle breezes and ripples, like a silk cloth fluttering in the wind; the lake is hard, like a flawless emerald gleaming with beautiful luster. A quiet lake is lovely, but a lake in the rain is even more moving. Silky spring rain falls, weaving and weaving, creating a large piece of green "brocade" on the lake surface; on the "brocade," endless circles look like flowers embroidered by a beautiful maiden.

The lake is most lively when a thunderstorm arrives. Listen, a flash of light in the sky—that is the fireworks of the opening ceremony going up. "Boom," the salute fires, and the assembly is about to begin. Wait for the heavy rain to fall, and the party begins immediately. Have you seen the blossoms competing to open on the lake? Those are the jade flowers on the heads of the goldfish maidens dancing; do you want to know if the program is wonderful? 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 blue lake is truly amazing. Looking closely, the pool reflects the surrounding ridges and pine trees, with distinct shades of light and dark; looking into the distance, the white snow crowns on the peaks appear and disappear; the afterglow of the sunset spills on the clear water. As a breeze passes, the light ripples, just like thousands of fish churning; on the hillside is an ancient spruce forest, lush and green; little squirrels jump between the branches, peeking at us from time to time; the forest floor is covered in fallen leaves, and stepping on them makes a rustling sound, giving a soft feeling. Oh, this is simply a marvelous ink wash painting.

Qinghai Lake was anciently known as "West Lake," and in Tibetan, it is called "Cuo Wenbo," meaning "blue lake." The lake is oval-shaped, slightly longer east to west, with a circumference of over 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 varies. In spring and summer, the mountains are green and the water is beautiful, and birds compete in singing; in midwinter, it is covered in white snow, and the lake is frozen; on sunny days, the turquoise sky is like a mirror, with water and sky in one color; on cloudy days, the sea of clouds is vast, and the waves sound. Looking at Qinghai Lake from afar, it shines like a giant sapphire; looking closely, it is like an endless ocean. In the morning, Qinghai Lake is shrouded in white fog, merging with the sky, making it impossible to distinguish which is sky and which is water; in the evening, the sunset glow casts onto the lake, reflecting the layered ripples, like a painter unfolding a gorgeous ink painting before you; at night, the moon spills its bright light onto the calm lake, the surface shimmering, the stars reflected in the water—truly, there is a sky in the lake, and the sky is in the lake. 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 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, showing the preciousness of the naked carp. 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 colts," so it is also called Dragon Colt Island. The island has craggy rocks and overgrown weeds. In midsummer, it is covered in red and green, with birds singing and flowers fragrant; in midwinter, the icy rocks are precipitous, and the scenery is very beautiful. Bird Island is located near the Buha River mouth on the west side of Qinghai Lake; the area of Bird Island is only 0.4 square kilometers. Because the air on the island is fresh, food is sufficient, 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, known as the "Kingdom of Birds." When you step into the Kingdom of Birds, birds fly in surprise, and their sounds can be heard for miles. Sometimes endangered birds fly onto the island. The state has set up a special agency here to be responsible for the breeding and research of birds.

Standing by the East Lake, looking out into the distance, one cannot see the edge of the lake. The cool, mint-like breeze blowing toward you makes one feel refreshed and clear-headed. Listening to the tinkling sound of the lake water is like a musician plucking wonderful strings; one seems to see the lively, jumping shadow of the lake water, leading to a feeling of joy. Looking at this green lake water, it is lush and green—green but not wild, green but not turbid, delicate and gentle. I couldn't help but bend down and scoop up a handful of water, thinking it would surely dye my hand green, but it was just colorless and clear, dripping from between my fingers into the lake, as crisp as ice hitting a jade plate, and immediately it returned to its original color, crystalline, soft, and murmuring as it flowed into the distance.

To the north of the town, across the highway, are the towering mountains, and in the gorge is the Tongshanyuan Reservoir. The reservoir is surrounded by mountains, with lush trees on the mountains and fruits hanging on the branches: crystal-like grapes, golden oranges, and sweet, red persimmons... Looking at it, it looks like a giant jade plate. There are many boats on the water surface: small wooden boats, motorboats, steamboats... The dam is as high as a twenty-story building, like a giant gate blocking the rushing water. At the foot of 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-Linked Pools are like five lotus flowers on the same stalk; the pool surface reflects the blue sky, like five mirrors for a fairy to dress up; or like five crystal fire pearls inlaid in the emerald plains and at the foot of the lush green mountains. Dotted fishing sails drift on the surface of the pools, and bursts of cool breeze send melodic and melodious fishing songs from the surface. The oars break the blue fairy mirror, stirring up charming waves of light... Suddenly, with a "pop" of a gunshot, the overflow time arrives. I saw the high sluice gate slowly rise, and suddenly a clear, smooth stream gently poked its head out, as bright and clear as soft gauze, with a bit of a graceful maiden's posture. The gate opened higher and higher, and the water flow grew larger and larger. It did not flow as gently as before, but became angry: it surged, roared, and violently rushed toward the first flood-control dam. The dam attempted to block its path, but the torrent leaped up and crossed the dam. The waves were like the smiling faces of victors, held high. White waves rolled, unstoppable. Some described it as a flock of sheep suddenly emerging from the grass, and others described it as white clouds rushing rapidly in the blue sky. No, it was 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 thousands of splashes stirred up, turning into water mist more than a zhang high, under the sunlight, 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 that blocked its advance. The torrent jumped off the dam and became wide, but still maintained the momentum of surging forward. The flood water in the dam churned, and the torrent in the stream surged. The momentum of the rushing water was heart-stirring, making one's spirit feel invigorated.

Climbing up the lake embankment, I saw the water and sky in one color, the waves shimmering. Through the clear lake water, one can see the water weeds at the bottom, green like a carpet. The water caltrops floating on the surface and the graceful lotus leaves are like flowers on that green carpet! With the singing of the girls, a lotus-picking boat slid out from the reeds, plowing the calm lake surface. Fish jumped and leaped, not knowing whether it was the sound of the small oars that startled them or the girls' singing that attracted them. I sat by the railing, stretched my bare feet into the lake water. The cool and soft water licked my feet, and a feeling of having merged 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 green. I really wanted 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 comfortable.

At sunset, the blood-red glow dyes half the sky, and the lake blushes like the face of a shy young girl. The lake surface, covered by green trees, is clearly divided into blue and green. Blue makes you think of the blue sky; green reminds you of the grassland. Everything around is strangely quiet; the green goes from light to deep, from deep to light. Pale gray mist gauze covers Thousand Island Lake, making it unfathomable, yet the bright and clear lake is so frank. I saw the charm of green here—it turns out to be so majestic. Before you even react, it has already surged into your eyes like a breached 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, meaning the lake of wishes. It is located between the mountains connecting the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture and the Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, and is a famous alpine lake in China. The lake area is 120 square kilometers, much larger than Yining City! The deepest part of the lake is over 90 meters, and there are undulating mountains at the bottom. The lake water is clear and sweet, and because it contains two-thousandths of salt minerals, drinking a small amount can refresh the heart and spirit, clear away internal heat, and facilitate the bowels. Do you know? Sayram Lake is constantly changing. According to the research and investigation of physical meteorologist Zhu Kezhen, 700 years ago, it was still a piece of ice peak. Today, the beautiful Sayram Lake is surrounded by endless grasslands. However, according to the rate of water increase over the past few years, perhaps in another 700 years, this place will become a vast ocean again.

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

2. "Reading is like 'visiting' stealthily," Yang Jiang said so. Reading did indeed lead me to the homes of many people. I shook hands with Yue Fei and shouted the heroic words together: "With lofty aspirations, I hunger for the flesh of the barbarians; laughing and talking, I thirst for the blood of the Xiongnu." I patted the heartbroken Liu Yong and walked through the "willow bank, dawn wind, and waning moon" with him. I had just witnessed the "grape wine and luminous cups" on the frontier of the Western Regions, and then smiled and bought pear blossom wine under the green flag. I talked about my heart with friends from all over the world, raising glasses and laughing together. Gradually, I became drunk in the mountains of poetry and rivers of words, beginning to slowly merge with books, truly drunk and not knowing the way home.

3. Since I don't know the way home, there is no need to go back; exploring in reading has a unique flavor. Sinbad led me to visit Solomon's temple, bypassed the valley where giant pythons coiled, and passed 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 soft waves of Cambridge, I saw the melancholy little prince asking questions desperately. I walked under the crotches of countless giants, and countless little people walked under my crotch. 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 will also tilt, and undefeated steel will also 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, even light cannot run faster than it; but reading and books are like the most perfect black hole, always able to lead thinking to it, accumulating in it, preparing for the most magnificent explosion. The eight thousand miles of clouds and moon all entered the depths of my soul in reading.

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

6. In my spare time, I make a pot of tea, pick up 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 indeed so.

7. Reading is an art of enjoying life. Mr. Wuliu "loves reading, does not seek to understand it thoroughly, and whenever he has an understanding, he is happily forgetful of food." 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 golden house in the book, and there is a face like jade in the book."

8. Reading is an art of self-improvement. "If jade is not carved, it will not become a tool; if a person does not learn, he will not know the truth." Reading is a learning process. A book has a story, a story narrates a life, 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 to prick the thigh," "firefly window reflecting snow"—since ancient times, studying hard and improving oneself has been everyone'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 empty. Books are the greatest wealth in life. Jews let children kiss books smeared with honey to make them remember: books are sweet, and to let sweetness fill life, one must read. Reading is the rarest passbook in life. Accumulate bit by bit, and you will find that you are the richest person in the world.

10. Reading is an art of realizing life. Reading Du Fu's poems makes people realize the bitterness of life; reading Li Bai's poems makes people understand the corruption of officialdom; reading Lu Xun's articles makes people recognize the darkness of society; reading Ba Jin's articles makes people feel the hope of the future. Every book is a friend who teaches us how to look at life. Reading is an indispensable lesson in life. Reading books and realizing life helps us take 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. That was a charming afternoon, you were sitting by the window reading a thick old book, afternoon black tea exuded a rich sweetness, the old dog you raised was lazily lying at your feet, the sun tanned your outline into golden yellow, mixed with this lazy time, brewed into memory.

13. This is a memory that belongs to you alone, like a dewdrop attached to your fingertips in the early morning, you smell its fragrance, but you can't grasp it, and you can't describe it. Look, reading is just like that. It's 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, like a seasoned wandering poet, watching everything happen before your eyes. The story begins, rises and falls, turns, and finally falls. You collect them and write them into songs that are either brisk or sad, singing them carefully. Reading and reading, you read about life, read a taste, read a realm. At that time, you are like an open-minded old man, calmly looking at the expressions of life's joys and sorrows. Perhaps life is just a waning moon in the quiet night, seemingly cold and incomplete, but 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 love, we need hate, and no one can be exempt from vulgarity. You read attentively, so nervous that you almost forget to breathe—isn't this the excitement of life, dragging you to run wildly? You are led by a mood, running blindly forward, the wind whistling in your ears, this moment drowns reason, and you cast aside the mask of life. Like a child, you shout, collide, and have no scruples. You are even brave enough to blame the unfairness of fate, scolding the darkness, obscurity, bitterness, and weakness of this society.

15. At that moment you cried forgetfully, tears wet the book pages, and you discovered that you were just reading someone else's story. But why did you see your own figure there, feeling that you lived so vividly and so truly? 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 might have forgotten why you were so moved.

17. This is reading; you have never utilitarianly thought about getting anything from it, no conspiracy, no pressure, you are just vaguely tasting 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, catalyzed 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, 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 first, then characters, then articles, and finally books—whenever I think of this long process, I can't help but feel a kind of thrilling feeling, 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 is high and low, and opinions vary.

21. One realm is to seek fame for exams. This kind of reading is "low-grade" in my opinion because it can no longer be regarded as true knowledge, and of course, there is no real happiness to speak of. When fame and fortune are always shining in the eyes of the reader, any knowledge has to be reduced to a "stepping stone"; once the door to fame is knocked open, it is inevitably abandoned. Can this not be regarded as a blasphemy against knowledge? This kind of reading is evidenced by the imperial examination scholars in the past, and by the people who have succeeded each other in participating in various exams—college entrance exams, postgraduate entrance exams, certificate exams, civil servant exams—today. Do you not see the various examinees sitting or standing, frowning and studying hard outside the examination room with "true scriptures" in their hands before each exam? This kind of reading is more like a nightmare in the reader's life experience, with only pain and no happiness. However, there are few people in the world who can be exempted from this "painful reading," which has to be said to be a kind of alienation.

22. Another realm of reading is to exhaust knowledge and truth. This kind of reading can be classified as "high-grade" because it has broken away from one's own fame and fortune and originates from the great curiosity of mankind. How many giants of science, ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign, have spent their whole lives exploring a certain problem, diligent and tireless; 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, independent, and conscious "reading." On the road to exhausting knowledge and truth, they are brave travelers and explorers, and we have no reason not to express deep respect for them. I even want to say that those who can enter this realm have already obtained the blessing of life.

23. However, Zhuangzi once said: "Life is limited, and knowledge is unlimited. Using the limited to follow the unlimited is dangerous." This is not a "partial truth." Therefore, in my eyes, although the second realm mentioned above can be considered "high-grade," it cannot reach the "top-grade" realm. The reading that can be called "top-grade" is reading without seeking or desiring; 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 have the impulse to extract moral proverbs from books to help the world and save the world. He sees kindness and beauty in books; he is moved by the brilliance of books and cries for the happiness in books. He always needs to read, but has no requirements for "reading," only because reading makes him full and quiet. "Reading" gives him 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," "top-grade," in the minds of different people, the order may be just the opposite...

25. Listen to nature: the soughing of pines is the rhythm of the pine forest; the chirping like a complaint is the private whispering of autumn insects; the clear sound like a grudge is the complaint of the cuckoo...

26. Listen to the soul: gentle, it is a piece of tenderness; fierce like a torch, it is a piece of enthusiasm; kind greeting, it is a piece of ice heart.

27. Listen to the language of books: there are the subtle words of Qu, Tao, Li, and Du, fresh and bright; there are the literary talents of Zhimo and Eileen, soft as a dream; there are the flying personalities and insights into human nature of Hanhan and Annie...