Old Uncle Bo’s eyebrows rose, giving her a look that said, “I knew you wouldn’t know.” “In ancient times, a giant named Xing Tian fought with the Yellow Emperor for the throne. Later, the Yellow Emperor beheaded him and buried his head at Changyang Mountain. Unexpectedly, this giant was not dead-hearted; he used his nipples as eyes and his navel as a mouth, wielding weapons in an endless dance, and people thereafter called this giant Xing Tian.”
Xu Xianen was left dumbfounded, holding her fork.
“Well… what a bloody ‘Shan Hai Jing’…” She squinted at Old Uncle Bo. “Uncle, I didn’t know you had such… unusual tastes.”
Old Uncle Bo, holding his book, wore an expression of great pain.
Could this little girl not feel the unyielding spirit of Xing Tian? That… even if he lost his life, he would still fight on… She completely missed that?
“Uncle, are you okay?” she asked worriedly. “Is it because you’ve read too many scary things, so you’re feeling uncomfortable?”
This girl… completely missed the imagination and beauty of ancient myths, even calling the ‘Shan Hai Jing’ “scary things.” Old Uncle Bo shook his head again.
“I’m fine…”
“Really? Then I can rest easy.” Xu Xianen smiled and continued to attack her pudding after finishing her egg tart.
Old Uncle Bo stared blankly at her wolfing down her food, then sighed and shook his head again, “Ah, right.”
“Huh?” Xu Xianen looked at him with her big, round eyes, puzzled.
“Prepare more dried noodles, there have been frequent earthquakes lately, who knows when they might come in handy.” With his eyebrows raised, Old Uncle Bo licked his lips twice and turned another page.
“Is it that scary?” She dug into another spoonful of pudding.
“Young girls just don’t understand the importance of being prepared. When an earthquake comes, anything can happen…” Old Uncle Bo hinted meaningfully at her.
“Alright… I’ll remember to prepare.” She nodded reluctantly.
“That’s the spirit, the more prepared, the safer.” Old Uncle Bo approved with a smile. “Also, take this ‘Shan Hai Jing’ home to read, memorize it, and return it to me. I’ll have a test for you next time.”
