The Lesson of the Snowman (Part One)
Yafu bowed gracefully and began, “Snowflakes used to fall like flowers, now flowers fall like snow.” Li Qin followed, “The cloud of hair wishes to cross the snowy cheeks.” His words clearly expressed his admiration for Yafu, which displeased the Emperor. Mr. Liu, quick to react, suggested, “Reciting poetry isn’t particularly novel. I have an interesting idea, would His Majesty like to hear it?” The Emperor, known for his good reputation and his disinterest in matters of romance, had initially praised Li Qin for not being superficial, appreciating only the external beauty of women. But now, seeing Li Qin’s reaction to Yafu, the Emperor felt annoyed. Mr. Liu, sensing the Emperor’s mood, changed the subject, “Please proceed, Mr. Liu.” Mr. Liu bowed and said, “Let them build snowmen.”
The Emperor frowned slightly, showing his displeasure, “What kind of idea is this?” Mr. Liu explained, “Building snowmen isn’t an exciting idea in itself, but its significance is.” Seeing the Emperor’s interest, he continued, “The Crown Prince, Lin Gongzi, and the two young ladies have been reading and writing since childhood, full of knowledge. If they recite poetry, we might not have a winner by tomorrow.” Li Qin said, “Building a snowman can be done quickly, but how do we decide the winner?” Mr. Liu replied, “All of you will contribute to the country in the future, especially the Crown Prince and Lin Gongzi. Governing a country isn’t just about studying; you must also understand the hardships of the people.”
The Lesson of the Snowman (Part Two)
Although none of them, except Qingqing, had ever touched cold water, building a snowman was something anyone who had seen snow could do. Li Qin clapped off the snow from his hands and laughed, “So, how will Mr. Liu judge?” Mr. Liu, now holding three long, thin iron wires, measured each snowman. He inserted a wire into each, then said, “Each of you choose the snowman you think is the best, and then we’ll know the result.” They all stepped forward to examine the snowmen. The wire in the first snowman was inserted through the left ear, exiting the right; in the second, it went from the heart into the belly; and the third snowman’s wire was simply placed on the ground. Mr. Liu asked, “Which one is good?”
