Chapter 118: A Kindred Spirit Is Hard to Find
A clever child answered Huang Tao, “We should help others like Sima Guang and be persistent like the Foolish Old Man... persistent...”
A parent gently corrected the child who couldn’t quite find the right phrase, “It’s perseverance.”
“Yes! Perseverance! We must be persistent like the Foolish Old Man!”
All the other children nodded in agreement.
Huang Tao, however, nonchalantly licking his ice cream cone, asked everyone again, “Have you noticed a big secret?”
This time, the children were completely puzzled by Huang Tao’s question and couldn’t answer.
Old Madam Zhou smiled and asked Huang Tao, “What big secret is there?”
Finally, it was his moment to shine. Huang Tao proudly puffed out his little chest and, with great seriousness, shaped two mountains with his hands in front of him. He said, “This secret is huge! Actually, the mountains that the Foolish Old Man moved weren’t moved by him—it was Sima Guang who helped move them.”
The parents were stunned, and the children were even more confused.
“Don’t you understand? It’s simple logic. Whenever Sima Guang saw someone fall into a water jar, he would pick up a rock and smash the jar. The first day, he saw a child fall into the water jar and immediately brought a rock from the mountain to break the jar and save the child; the next day, he saw an old lady fall into the water jar and again brought a rock to break it and save her; the third day, an uncle fell in, and Sima Guang did the same without hesitation. Day after day, year after year, the Foolish Old Man made everyone in his family jump into the water jar every day, and that’s how the whole mountain was moved.”
The children were utterly baffled by Huang Tao’s story, but the adults couldn’t help but laugh, finding the boy’s imagination adorable and amusing.
On the other end of the phone, Huang Guolun felt a rising sense of dread—Huang Tao was on a roll, and who knew what he might say next!
Old Madam Zhou, seeing everyone praising Huang Tao, felt a bit proud and playfully said, “Taozi, behave yourself and tell the children another story.”
Licking the cream off his fingers, Huang Tao bargained, “Grandma, I’ll tell a story, but if I do a good job, you have to reward me with ice cream.”
Old Madam Zhou happily agreed, “Of course, you go ahead.”
Huang Guolun grumbled on the video call, “Mom, don’t spoil him so much. That kid’s just tricking you for ice cream!”
Old Madam Zhou gave him a sharp look and snapped, “What are you saying? Trick? Don’t you want to keep video chatting? Fine, I’ll hang up.”
Huang Guolun quickly said, “No, no, let’s keep watching. That kid’s definitely about to say something ridiculous.”
Old Madam Zhou, not wanting to hear Huang Guolun’s complaints, retorted, “If you say another word, I’m ending the video!”
Huang Guolun, silenced, swallowed his worries and continued watching Huang Tao’s lively antics.
Huang Tao then asked the children around him, “Do you want to hear the story of the little bear and the little white rabbit, or the story of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf?”
One child boastfully said, “I’ve heard the story of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, and I can tell it too!”
Another child agreed, “Me too.”
Huang Tao told them, “But my version is different from the one you’ve heard.”
A parent who liked Huang Tao encouraged him, “Taozi, don’t keep us in suspense. If it’s different, then tell us.”
“Alright, then I’ll tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf.”
Huang Tao finished his ice cream cone, licking the last traces from the corners of his mouth. Then, with his innocent, youthful voice, he launched into his story:
“One day, Little Red Riding Hood was on her way to her grandmother’s house. When she passed a little creek, she saw the Big Bad Wolf hiding behind a rock. She was scared but shouted at him, ‘Big Bad Wolf! I see you! You want to eat me, don’t you? I see you! Don’t hide!’
The Big Bad Wolf, seeing he was discovered, didn’t say anything. He stood up, turned around, and walked away.
Little Red Riding Hood hurried toward her grandmother’s house, passing through a forest. She saw the Big Bad Wolf crouching behind a tree stump. Again, she shouted, ‘Big Bad Wolf! I see you! Don’t hide! I see you!’
The Big Bad Wolf, frustrated to be caught again, spat and said nothing, stood up, and left once more.
As she walked on, Little Red Riding Hood came to a well and saw the Big Bad Wolf hiding behind it. She pointed and scolded, ‘Big Bad Wolf, I see you again! Go away! You can’t scare me! I see you!’
The Big Bad Wolf, constantly caught by Little Red Riding Hood, was furious but said nothing. He stood up and walked away with a gloomy face.
Finally, as Little Red Riding Hood neared her grandmother’s house, she saw the Big Bad Wolf hiding behind a big tree. This time, she was very angry and yelled, ‘Big Bad Wolf, when will you stop? You’ve followed me all this way and gotten caught every time! Have you no shame? I told you, you can’t scare me!’
The Big Bad Wolf got angry too. Pulling up his pants, he spat, ‘(Damn it) I get caught every time! Can I even take a crap in peace?!’”
“...Haha! Hahaha!”
Huang Tao mimicked the Big Bad Wolf’s angry expression vividly, making the children and adults around burst into laughter.
Many adults marveled, “Teacher Zhou’s grandson is just too fun! So adorable! What a clever little rascal!”
Feeling proud from all the laughter and praise, Huang Tao confidently turned to Old Madam Zhou, demanding his reward—another ice cream cone.
Meanwhile, Huang Guolun on the other end of the line broke out in a cold sweat.
Fortunately, Huang Tao was telling the Little Red Riding Hood story, which wasn’t too outrageous.
But if he started on the little bear and little white rabbit story, it would surely frighten the other children.
Huang Guolun wasn’t sure if the little bear and little white rabbit story Huang Tao planned to tell was the one he had heard before.
Once, when Huang Tao was on the toilet, he told Huang Guolun a very short story about a little bear and a little white rabbit.
The story went: a little bear met a little white rabbit and asked, “Do you shed fur?”
The little white rabbit said, “No, I don’t!”
The little bear asked again, “Are you really sure you don’t shed fur?”
The little white rabbit said, “I really don’t!”
Then the little bear used the little white rabbit to wipe his bottom… wipe his bottom… wipe… bottom!
Huang Guolun shuddered to imagine Huang Tao telling such a story in front of so many people. How humiliating it would be!
He hurriedly said to Old Madam Zhou, “Mom, don’t let him tell stories anymore. His tongue is loose again; who knows what nonsense he’ll say next. Let him lead the kids in singing instead.”
Old Madam Zhou thought that was a good idea!
Huang Tao’s singing skills were just as impressive as his storytelling.
She once again used the lure of an ice cream cone to coax Huang Tao into singing for the children.
“Grandma, how about you give me two ice cream cones? I can play the keyboard and sing at the same time,” Huang Tao bargained with her.
A parent nearby praised, “Wow, Taozi, you can even play the keyboard?”
Huang Tao proudly tilted his head back and boasted, “I’m a black belt in keyboard! A champion-level strongman, a tenth-degree master!”
A younger parent complimented Old Madam Zhou, “Aunt Zhou, your grandson is truly multi-talented.”
Old Madam Zhou took the praise gracefully, “His dad is a music teacher; he’s taught him a lot.”
Huang Tao immediately grumbled, “No way, my dad’s music skills are awful. I didn’t learn from him; I learned from TV shows.”
Huang Guolun could only smile bitterly. Huang Tao was right. Although he did teach him some instruments and life lessons, most of what Huang Tao had picked up was from television. The things Huang Tao said and did mostly weren’t from his teaching. For example, this ‘champion-level strongman’—Huang Guolun had no idea what that meant. He was helpless about it.
Old Madam Zhou smiled at Huang Tao, “Don’t get cocky. Now sing a song for the uncles, aunts, and children. If you sing well, I’ll reward you with ice cream.”
“Yay! Grandma, you’re the best!”
Excited, Huang Tao pumped his little fists and ran over to the keyboard, sitting down properly. He switched the keyboard to manual playing mode, ready to perform.
Huang Guolun quickly switched the video call to recording mode, preparing to capture Huang Tao’s performance.
Huang Tao placed his ten chubby fingers on the black and white keys and played a very pleasant and smooth melody.
The melody wasn’t a children’s song intro but a slightly romantic prelude.
Watching Huang Tao play, Huang Guolun was secretly amazed. How had his progress been so rapid? He used to fumble on the piano, but now he played such a fluid melody as if it were a game.
If Bai Yao’s musical progress could be compared to a sponge absorbing water, Huang Tao’s was like a comet smashing through tofu—an overwhelming leap forward!
Huang Guolun had never seen anyone learn music so quickly.
Indeed, like father, like son!
He was a musical prodigy himself, and Huang Tao might well be an even greater, super-duper musical genius!
Just as he was excited, Huang Guolun suddenly sensed something was off.
Right before Huang Tao began to sing, Huang Guolun finally realized what was wrong!
The melody Huang Tao was about to sing to was Gala’s “Parting Song.”
Also known as “Hard to Find a Kindred Spirit,” a duet by Shao Yibei and Gala.
If Huang Tao was going to sing “Parting Song,” that would be fine—even if he didn’t grasp the song’s deep meaning of life’s hardships, at least it wouldn’t be awkward.
But if he was going to sing “Hard to Find a Kindred Spirit,” the scene would be very embarrassing!
Huang Guolun’s worst fears were coming true.
There was no way Huang Tao would just sing Gala’s “Parting Song.”
Since he played that melody, he was definitely about to sing Shao Yibei’s “Hard to Find a Kindred Spirit,” which he adored!
With a deliberately lowered childish voice, Huang Tao began: “Although, although I love you so much / I have to castrate you / Or else someone else will steal you away / Leaving no trace…”