Read Online Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin - Free Book Online Page B

unexpectedly eager. He was pleased with himself. Tomorrow he would leave. But today he would do as he said he would and tell a story. It was better, anyway, Rendi thought. He wouldn’t want to walk at night with the wind crying and moaning above him.
    “Hmm,” Peiyi said, looking at him from the corner ofher eyes. “Rendi, it almost seems like you want to tell a story.”
    Rendi looked away as if he’d been caught stealing. He quickly sipped his empty teacup, trying to look nonchalant.
    “If you are ready,” Madame Chang said, smiling, “we are willing to listen.”
    Mr. Shan and the toad seemed to nod in unison, and even Master Chao, giving up on his feigned indifference, looked up with interest. Rendi put down his cup and smiled in spite of himself. Then he took a deep breath and began his story.
T HE S TORY OF THE T HREE Q UESTIONS
    D uke Zhe did as he promised. He spoke of Magistrate Tiger to the imperial family with glowing words, and before long, Magistrate Tiger’s dreams began to come true. As the summerwas ending, he received an invitation that was awe-inspiring. It was from the Imperial Palace and invited him to come to the emperor’s Mid-Autumn Moon Festivities.
    From that moment, Magistrate Tiger’s home became a hectic typhoon. Magistrate Tiger’s demanding roars echoed without stop as a new green robe was made and embroidered; costly gifts, sculptures of jade and gold, were inspected; and fine horses were groomed. Everyone and everything was so full of activity that it was with great surprise to the children when one day their father called them.
    “Children are supposed to be good at riddles,” he said as they bowed at his feet. “If you have any intelligence at all, you will know the answers to these.”
    The children stared silently at their father and gulped. Magistrate Tiger looked at their fearful faces and made an expression of disdain, as if he had just eaten an unripe plum.
    “Here is the first question,” Magistrate Tiger said. “A thief steals a purse and a man chases and catches him. However, when the authorities arrive, both menaccuse the other of being the thief. Both men are of the same build and height, and bystanders cannot say for certain which is the thief and which is the pursuer. How can you tell?”
    After a moment, just as Magistrate Tiger was about to sigh with impatience, the boy stepped forward.
    “I would have the two men race,” the boy said, trying to keep his voice from quavering, “and the loser is the thief. For if the pursuer was able to catch the thief, he must be the faster runner of the two.”
    Magistrate Tiger looked at his son keenly and then nodded. “Good,” he said, and before the children could feel relief or pride, he continued.
    “This is the second question,” Magistrate Tiger said. “A single almond is given to a family of ninety-nine members. How can you share the almond evenly?”
    The boy gave his sister a furtive glance, but she was already stepping forward with bright eyes.
    “I would boil the almond in water and make it into almond tea,” she said, “and then all can have a cup.”
    Magistrate Tiger sniffed in a satisfied manner. “The last question,” he announced. “A pestilence of snailshas come to a village. One man decides that the best way to get rid of the snails in his garden is to throw the snails into his neighbor’s garden. Unfortunately, the neighbor has had the same idea, and snails begin to multiply in both gardens. Before long, the two families are fighting. How do you settle the dispute fairly?”
    There was a long silence. Both children looked helplessly at each other. Neither had any idea of an answer. Finally, their father looked at them with disgust. “I see you are as feebleminded as I feared,” he said with a scorn that stung more than a blow. His voice began to rise as his customary roar emerged. He threw up his arms, the green silk of his sleeves whipping at them. “You are a disgrace to our ancestry!