第88节

    greatest,ifnotthe

    greateststerofeseproseinpehhua.illdonotkrue

    authorof,andillindoubtastohe

    tenare

    brothers.

    teristifthisattitudetohenovelarethebeginningandendingofthe

    redonkfouoryinscribedonahugerock,h

    heextraobehindbythelegendarygoddessntiasusing

    36,500ropian”

    giants.thisrockyfeethighandty

    feetohestoryfroheroscriptions,and

    catotsaohsiiehshafortenyearsandreviseditfive

    tis,dividingitintochapters,andheeaverseonit:

    thesepagestellofbabblingnonsense,

    astringofsadtearstheynceal.

    theyalllaughattheauthorsfolly;

    butagicappeal

    attheendofthestory,iddeeplyhundraswas

    enaonkandthesoul

    intelligendityforloveandsufferinghadretuedtotheroii

    itthousandsofyearsago,thesataoistnkreappeared.thisnkissaidtohave

    piedthestainandonedayhecatotheauthorsstudyandputthe

    nuscriptsinhiscare.tsaohstiehreplied,laughingly:”thisisonlybabbling

    nonseisgoodforkillingtihafeeraor

    plight.ifyouaskhooknoheheroof

    thestory,andallthedetails,youaretakingittooseriously.”hearinghe

    said,thenkthreanuscriptsdoableandawaylaughing,

    tossinghisheadandlingashe:”reallyitntainsonlybabblingnonsense.

    boththeauthorhielfandthen,assreaders,donotknow

    e,eohefollowingverseon

    it:

    hestoryissadandtoug,

    thensadderisitstooolery.

    butedrea

    donotsitsbuffoonery.

    butthetoooliery,sadandtougasitelygood.beh

    literatureinedby

    atrueoneyorfa.andbecauseitwas

    ostracizedliteratureinrespeles,itescapedthebanalinfluenceofall

    givihorneyorfa,the

    authorshipofanoveluldendangerascholarspersonalsafety.

    atkiangyin,thehoofshihnaiahorofallhers,thereis

    stillalegendaboutselfoutoftrouble.inthislegend,

    shihedhthegiftofforeknos.hehadtenthisnovel,

    a,havingrefusedtoservetheneingdynasty.oneday

    theeerorcaateandnoperors

    righthandn.liusaanuscriptsofthisnovelonhistable,andregnizing

    shihssuperiortalent,liuplottedforhisruin.itehesecurityofthe

    nen

    ”brotherhoodofalln,”includingtherobbers,ntaiherdangerousthoughts.

    sooneday,onthisbasis,liupetitioheeerortohaveshihsuohe

    capitalfortrial.hee,shihkneanuscriptshadbeen

    stolenandrealizedthatiteanhisdeath,soheborroads

    frofriendanandaskedthelattertokethevoyage

    assloposeda

    fantastiperorof

    hisinsanity.uhisverofinsanity,shihsavedhisownlife.

    thussurreptitiouslythenovelgreingitsglahe

    lonelypressively

    grohesurfaceofabarrenrock,itgrehoutcultivation,anditgave

    asheerinneressucha

    floinaquarterofatury,butho

    shihatblossoeetobethejustificationforitsexistehasdrais

    lifebloodandhavingblossod,theflinofallgoodtales

    andallgoodnovels.sodidcervantese,andsodidboio,outofthesheer

    delightofoneyhadnothingtodoodetis,where

    thereareroyaltiesandpyrightproteoneyispurelyanaount

    ofneyadetheindspossible,butasecurelivingnevercreatedanything.

    erioneyuldnotproducea

    davidpperfield.reatstorytellers,likedefoeandfieldingandsnaian

    andtsaohsueh,ebecausetheyhadastorytotellandbecausetheywere

    bostorytellers.natureseedtohaveplacedtsaohstiehinafabulously

    luxurioushosurroundingandthenblastedthislifeallintonothingness,sothatin

    hisoldage,asabankruptscholarandinhisdecrepithut,heuldrecallitalllikean

    aer,andhavingrelivedthatdreanhisiginatio

    pelledtoputitdo,andliterature.

    1theauthorshipofthisnovelisreally

    iregardtheredchaerdreasoheasterpiecesits

    terdraanity,itsperfeishofstyleanditsstory

    entitleittothat.itsorefaliartousthanourliving

    friends,andeachspeaksahaswe

    callagreatstory:

    afabulouslybeautifulily,hfour

    dau

    ...