![]() The priests are delighted, and even the taciturn Wang Lun has to admit that his son is a Lad of Courage. It bears 99 grains of rice! Mission accomplished. ![]() It's not long before Li Lun is down to a single rice plant, which he watches with the intensity of a day trader monitoring his portfolio. Anybody who can watch rice grow for months at a time in less-than-optimal Alpine conditions has a future in temple rituals. Li Lun may be a feckless kid with a moron for a father, but the island's many priests take a shine to the kid. You've heard of things being as dull as watching paint dry this book is as dull as watching rice grow. The days settle into a highly uninteresting routine of trying to keep gulls and rats away from the rice patch. ![]() Li Lun is supposed to parlay the seven grains into 49 before he climbs back down. He has to be talked out of bringing along his pet duck. Li Lun trudges to the top of the mountain carrying several months worth of provisions and seven grains of rice. That, or the old man is as dumb as he's mean. What point is there to growing rice on top of a mountain? It must be Symbolic. If the kid won't go off in a boat, he will just have to climb to the top of Lao Shan, the island's mountain, and grow some rice. ![]() Imagine growing up on an island where there's nothing to do but sail in pursuit of fish – and you're afraid of the water! Wang Lun is disgusted by his son's wimpy behavior. Li Lun Lad of Courage begins his story as a coward. ![]() Lection home authors titles dates links about ![]()
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