"What 'thousand miles, seas and rivers'?" Lady Zhang turned her head and asked Lian Manman.
"It simply means to accumulate a little into a lot," Lian Manman said, "as it's written in the book."
"Mom, this is from 'Xunzi's Encouraging Learning'," Xiao Qi interjected, "and it speaks of such good principles. I can recite the whole piece, let me recite it for you."
As he said this, Xiao Qi clasped his hands behind his back, wobbling his head as he began reciting earnestly.
"The gentleman said: Learning should never cease. Blue is extracted from indigo, yet is bluer than indigo; ice is made from water, yet is colder than water. Wood..."
These simple yet philosophically rich words, spoken in a child's innocent voice, made Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang smile contentedly, even becoming intoxicated by the sound of Xiao Qi's recitation. Even if they couldn't fully grasp the underlying lessons, they simply loved to listen.
