经典英文绘本 episodes:

• February 24, 2026包法利夫人｜Madame Bovary

  原著作者｜居斯塔夫·福楼拜

  • She married twice
  • had affairs with two men
  • and died from arsenic
  • You must think she's a shameless woman
  • But Flaubert says no
  • this is a story about romance
  • 
    
  • Emma was born into a wealthy farming family in rural France
  • Her father was a farmer
  • but he dreamed of making his daughter a noble
  • He sent Emma to a convent
  • At the convent
  • Emma read countless romance novels
  • Her head was full of handsome viscounts
  • passionate knights
  • noble ladies crying under the moonlight
  • She dreamed of living in an ancient manor
  • waiting for her white knight
  • 
    
  • But reality gave her a heavy blow
  • She married Charles Bovary
  • a country doctor
  • Charles was ordinary
  • simple
  • and had no charm
  • The wedding Emma expected was a mysterious torchlight procession at night
  • Reality
  • was a long banquet with only country relatives
  • full of crude jokes
  • Marriage was even more of a shock
  • She wanted to talk about poetry
  • about the sea
  • about passionate storms
  • Charles could only talk about patients' corns
  • and planting potatoes
  • 
    
  • In fact
  • their names hinted at the ending long ago
  • Emma
  • the name sounds romantic
  • But Bovary
  • in French
  • has roots connected to cow
  • A soul chasing romance
  • trapped in a reality as slow and heavy as a cow
  • 
    
  • One ball changed everything
  • The marquis invited them to his estate
  • That night of glittering splendor
  • Emma finally touched the world she had read about in books
  • She saw massive crystal chandeliers
  • smelled perfume mixed with desire on noble ladies
  • Even a real viscount asked her to dance
  • For a moment
  • she felt she was finally alive
  • 
    
  • But every ball must end
  • They rode in a broken carriage back to their leaky old home
  • Emma's heart shattered
  • Like someone who has seen the light
  • can never endure darkness again
  • 
    
  • She bought a map of Paris
  • and wandered over it every day
  • She kept the cigar box she picked up at the ball
  • treating it like a holy object
  • Charles saw Emma getting thinner and paler
  • thought the place had bad feng shui
  • So they moved to a larger town called Yonville
  • He thought it was the start of a new life
  • What he didn't know
  • this town would become the birthplace of his cuckoldom
  • 
    
  • In Yonville
  • Emma met her first man
  • Leon
  • A young intern
  • who understood music and loved literature
  • They talked about mountains and lakes
  • about melancholy poetry
  • It was a spiritual romance
  • Although nothing physical happened
  • this flirtation made Emma drunk
  • But Leon was young
  • He left for Paris to pursue his career
  • The romance ended
  • 
    
  • The second man was Rodolphe
  • An experienced womanizer with an estate and wealth
  • He saw through Emma at one glance
  • a beautiful woman hungry for love
  • who despised her husband
  • A few clichéd sweet words were enough to charm her
  • I finally have a lover
  • Madame Bovary felt victorious
  • She wanted to kick her husband aside
  • and run away with her lover
  • 
    
  • But Rodolphe was just playing from the start
  • On the day they planned to elope
  • Emma packed her luggage
  • her heart in her throat
  • What awaited her
  • was a basket of apricots
  • Under the apricots
  • a letter saying goodbye
  • The letter even had drops of water on it
  • pretending to be tears
  • Emma was heartbroken
  • and fell seriously ill
  • 
    
  • After recovering
  • she met Leon again at the opera in Rouen
  • Leon was no longer the shy young man
  • He had seen the world in Paris
  • and become a womanizer
  • They rekindled their old romance
  • This time
  • Emma abandoned all modesty
  • She hired a carriage
  • drove wildly through the streets of Rouen
  • The most exciting scene in the book
  • a carriage tryst
  • A white hand reached out from the carriage window
  • throwing away shredded letters
  • 
    
  • She made excuses to go to the city for piano lessons
  • but actually to meet her lover
  • She wanted the best rooms
  • the most expensive dresses
  • the finest champagne
  • She thought only this matched her love
  • 
    
  • The merchant Lheureux had been watching the vain Emma for a long time
  • He always appeared at the right moment
  • with fine fabric or expensive scarves
  • Madam
  • you are so beautiful
  • these are made for you
  • No money
  • no problem
  • just take them
  • sign here
  • Loans
  • debts
  • bills
  • robbing Peter to pay Paul
  • She thought she was in control
  • But she had already sold her body
  • and her soul
  • 
    
  • Finally
  • the death sentence came
  • The court demanded she pay eight thousand francs by dawn
  • Eight thousand francs
  • equivalent to millions today
  • This was what Charles couldn't save in years of hard work
  • 
    
  • Emma begged everywhere
  • She went to Leon first
  • The man who enjoyed her countless times
  • hemmed and hawed
  • said he had no way
  • Then she went to Rodolphe
  • the wealthy ex-lover
  • She even lowered her dignity
  • hinting she could trade her body for money
  • Rodolphe shrugged
  • I don't have money either
  • 
    
  • At that moment
  • Emma finally woke up
  • She thought she was the heroine of a novel
  • But in these men's eyes
  • she was just a trouble
  • So-called romantic love
  • cheaper than grass
  • 
    
  • She slipped into the pharmacist's storage room
  • grabbed some arsenic
  • swallowed it big mouthfuls
  • And died
  • 
    
  • The poor husband who loved her
  • found the love letters in the drawer
  • He learned the truth
  • In the end
  • he also died
  • He died at Emma's grave
  • Their daughter was sent to an orphanage
  • 
    
  • This is the story of a farm girl who dreamed a noble dream
  • In the dream
  • she rode a white horse
  • When she woke up
  • she was stuck in a broken house
  • In the end
  • she gave up even her life

  ...more

  

  ---

• February 22, 2026颜真卿传｜Yan Zhenqing

  ｜历史人物传记

  • In the year 709 a baby boy was born in Chang'an city
  • His father gave him the name Zhenqing hoping he would become an upright gentleman
  • No one knew that this child would become a calligraphic master revered for a thousand years
  • Even fewer knew he would become the most steadfast loyalist of the Tang Dynasty
  • At the age of three his father suddenly passed away
  • A widowed mother and her orphan son left without means of support
  • Mother Yin took on the heavy burden of raising her son alone
  • In the daytime she washed clothes and cooked for others to earn a living
  • At night she sat by the oil lamp teaching her son to read and write
  • Young Zhenqing was exceptionally diligent despite his tender age
  • He read the same books over and over again wrote page after page of characters
  • The neighbors often said this child would surely amount to something
  • At fourteen Yan Zhenqing was already writing excellent calligraphy
  • He heard that the renowned minister Zhang Xu was the greatest calligrapher in the land so he traveled far to seek his teaching
  • Zhang Xu looked at his characters in silence for a long time
  • Then he said something that Zhenqing would never forget
  • Calligraphy reflects the man a steady heart creates steady brushstrokes
  • Yan Zhenqing knelt before his teacher and bowed three times
  • From then on he practiced calligraphy in the day and studied the classics at night
  • Through summer heat and winter cold he never stopped
  • At twenty-two Yan Zhenqing passed the imperial examination
  • When the news arrived his mother wept with joy
  • She had waited for this day
  • The court appointed him as Liquan Sheriff and later promoted him to Censor
  • He traveled to Hehan and exposed injustices
  • On his first day in office heavy rain suddenly fell upon the land
  • The people said it was because Master Yan had arrived and the injustices were finally righted even Heaven was moved
  • This became known as the Censor's Rain
  • Later he was transferred to be the prefect of Pingyuan present-day Dezhou in Shandong
  • Shortly after taking office Yan Zhenqing discovered a terrifying secret
  • The military governor An Lushan in Fanyang was secretly building up his forces
  • On the surface An Lushan seemed simple but in reality he was extremely ambitious
  • The entire court was fooled by his act
  • Only Yan Zhenqing saw through his disguise
  • He began making secret preparations
  • Repairing the city walls deepening the moat recruiting strong men
  • In the daytime he would drink and make merry with guests as usual
  • At night he secretly trained soldiers and stored grain
  • When An Lushan heard that Yan Zhenqing was just a weak scholar he laughed aloud
  • He thought there was nothing to worry about
  • In the year 755 An Lushan finally rose in rebellion
  • A hundred and fifty thousand troops marched southward
  • The Tang armies were defeated again and again
  • Seventeen commanderies in Hebei fell completely
  • Families fled with their belongings everywhere was chaos
  • The entire north was shrouded in war and fire
  • Only Pingyuan city still flew its flag
  • Yan Zhenqing stood on the city tower gazing at the distant smoke of battle
  • He knew very well he only had slightly over ten thousand militiamen
  • While the rebels had a hundred and fifty thousand
  • The odds of victory were virtually nonexistent
  • But he could not retreat
  • Behind him lay the lives of hundreds of thousands of common people
  • He gathered all the soldiers and citizens in the city and spoke with passionate conviction
  • An Lushan is a traitor how can citizens of Tang submit to him
  • Those willing to defend the city with me follow me
  • The moment his voice fell the crowd below knelt in unison
  • We are willing to fight to the death with you
  • Yan Zhenqing's eyes grew moist
  • He made a decision
  • He brought his entire family of forty-six people to the battlefield
  • Wives children nephews servants
  • He told his family this battle is not for titles or fame
  • It is for a clear conscience
  • The battle began
  • The rebels attacked fiercely arrows fell like rain
  • Yan Zhenqing personally stood on the most dangerous northern wall
  • A stray arrow struck his arm
  • Blood soaked through his sleeve
  • He bandaged the wound and continued directing the defense
  • The soldiers were inspired by his courage fighting more and more fiercely
  • In the daytime Yan Zhenqing had soldiers beat drums and gongs on the tower bluffing and creating a show of force
  • At night he sent men to dig tunnels and set traps
  • The rebels were completely confused
  • They could not understand how a scholar could be so difficult to defeat
  • The war continued for months

  ...more

  

  ---

• February 21, 2026飘｜Gone with the Wind

  原著作者｜玛格丽特·米切尔

  • In the spring of 1861 at Tara plantation in Georgia the American South camellias were in full bloom
  • Seventeen year old Scarlett stood on the porch with her gray green eyes as cunning as a cat
  • Her waist measured only seventeen inches she was the slimmest girl in the county
  • Her father Ocrsley was an upstart who had won the plantation through gambling
  • Her mother Ellen was of French noble descent every movement elegant
  • Scarlett believed she should be the center of every ball every man in the world should fall at her feet
  • Then came the day of the Twelve Oaks barbecue
  • Scarlett dressed carefully she was going to confess her love to Ashley
  • Ashley had golden hair and blue eyes the most gentle and graceful gentleman in the county
  • He accepted Scarlett's embrace in the hallway but when he spoke he said I will marry Melanie
  • Scarlett could not believe her ears
  • She dragged Ashley into the study demanding why he did not love her
  • Ashley said I am attracted by your vitality but I love Melanie
  • Scarlett grabbed a vase in anger and threw it at the wall
  • At that moment a laugh came from behind the sofa
  • Rhett Butler stepped out of the shadows a rogue expelled from West Point
  • He had witnessed the entire confession thinking this girl was fascinating
  • At least she was not hypocritical
  • Before the party ended cannons thundered war between North and South had begun
  • Men were wild with excitement to join the army only Rhett sneered the South will lose
  • Two months later Scarlett married Charles Melanie's brother
  • Newlyweds Charles went to war and died
  • Seventeen year old Scarlett became a widow
  • She moved to Atlanta to live with Melanie
  • At a charity ball for the army Scarlett met Rhett again
  • Rhett bid one hundred and fifty dollars to dance with her
  • According to custom a widow could not dance
  • Scarlett hesitated a second then reached out her hand to Rhett
  • She twirled in the dance floor her skirts flying up
  • In that moment she declared war on the entire old world
  • The flames drew closer Atlanta was surrounded by Union troops
  • Melanie was about to give birth all doctors were taken to care for the wounded
  • Scarlett was terrified she wanted to return to Tara to find her mother
  • But she could not abandon Melanie
  • The girl who once complained that a handkerchief was too heavy mustered courage to deliver Melanie's baby
  • A baby's cry pierced the night sky
  • Scarlett got a broken carriage from Rhett and fled through the burning city
  • Halfway Rhett decided to join the army
  • He left Scarlett alone on the road
  • Scarlett braved the artillery fire to rush back to Tara what awaited her was hell on earth
  • Her mother had just died of typhoid
  • Her father had gone insane from grief
  • Her two sisters were sick in bed
  • Only three old servants remained all the slaves had run away
  • The once wealthy plantation had been looted clean not a grain of food left
  • Scarlett looked at the ruins Irish blood ran through her veins
  • She took off her velvet dress put on coarse homespun
  • At nineteen she became the sole pillar of the family
  • She picked cotton grew vegetables milked cows
  • A Yankee deserter broke into the house to steal
  • Scarlett grabbed a gun shot him dead
  • She calmly looted the body for money
  • That delicate Southern belle was dead
  • What survived was a tough woman who would do anything to survive
  • The war ended the South lost
  • The old social order collapsed the rich became poor
  • Tara faced massive taxes unable to pay the plantation would be auctioned
  • Scarlett went to find Rhett in prison but Rhett was also locked up
  • On the road she met Frank her sister's fiancé
  • Frank had just opened a store he had some money
  • Scarlett without hesitation launched her plan B
  • She lied that her sister had lost interest then used her charm to steal Frank away
  • She traded marriage for money paid the taxes saved Tara
  • After marrying Frank Scarlett started doing business
  • She found the lumber business profitable
  • She hired convict labor to cut costs did business with Yankees
  • She drove her carriage through dangerous slums alone
  • All of Atlanta high society despised her
  • A woman doing business in that era was scandalous
  • But Scarlett knew clearly the old world was dead
  • To survive she must adapt to this new world
  • And Ashley the man she loved had become completely useless after the war
  • Except for reading poetry and reminiscing he could do nothing
  • Scarlett often wondered what had she loved all her life
  • Then tragedy struck
  • Scarlett was attacked while driving through a black neighborhood alone
  • Frank joined a cleanup gang to avenge her and was killed
  • Scarlett became a widow for the third time
  • Then Rhett finally appeared
  • He had made a fortune from the war he proposed to Scarlett
  • He said we are the same kind of people cold greedy and ruthless
  • Only I see your true self and still love you
  • Scarlett accepted his proposal
  • Their marriage was luxurious and sweet
  • Rhett bought Scarlett a big house and the most expensive jewelry
  • Their daughter Bonnie was born
  • Rhett began doing charity to help Bonnie enter high society
  • He started pleasing the old aristocrats he had once despised
  • But in Scarlett's heart Ashley always lived
  • 
    

  ...more

  

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• February 19, 2026Tian Ji's Horse Racing｜田忌赛马

  出自｜史记·孙子吴起列传

  • During the Warring States period there was a general in the state of Qi named Tian Ji
  • He had a hobby horse racing
  • Every time he raced he bet a fortune
  • But every time he lost everything
  • 
    
  • His opponent was King Wei of Qi
  • The ruler of the state
  • Tian Ji's horses were divided into three classes upper middle and lower
  • King Wei's horses were also divided into three classes upper middle and lower
  • But in the same class Tian Ji's horses were always a little slower
  • 
    
  • In the first race Tian Ji sent his upper-class horse against the king's upper-class horse
  • He lost
  • In the second race middle-class against middle-class
  • He lost again
  • In the third race lower-class against lower-class
  • He still lost
  • 
    
  • Three to zero Tian Ji lost everything
  • He walked out of the arena with his head down
  • Behind him came the king's triumphant laughter
  • 
    
  • Tian Ji had a good friend named Sun Bin
  • A famous military strategist
  • He had watched the entire race
  • He walked up to Tian Ji and said
  • General in the next race do you dare to bet a fortune again
  • Tian Ji smiled bitterly and said
  • I'm about to go bankrupt from losing
  • Sun Bin smiled slightly
  • I have a plan that guarantees your victory
  • 
    
  • Tian Ji was half convinced
  • But he still bet his entire fortune
  • On the day of the race the crowd filled the arena
  • Everyone thought Tian Ji was sure to lose this time
  • 
    
  • The first round began
  • Tian Ji sent out his lower-class horse
  • King Wei smiled with disdain and sent out his upper-class horse
  • The result was no surprise Tian Ji lost
  • The crowd laughed at him
  • Wasn't this just asking for death
  • 
    
  • But on Sun Bin's face there was not a trace of panic
  • 
    
  • In the second round Tian Ji sent out his upper-class horse
  • King Wei sent out his middle-class horse
  • Tian Ji's upper-class horse shot forward like an arrow
  • He won
  • The crowd began to stir
  • 
    
  • The third round the deciding round
  • Tian Ji sent out his middle-class horse
  • King Wei sent out his lower-class horse
  • Tian Ji's horse crossed the finish line first again
  • 
    
  • Two to one Tian Ji won
  • The whole arena was in an uproar
  • King Wei stared with wide eyes
  • He couldn't believe he had lost
  • 
    
  • Tian Ji excitedly grasped Sun Bin's hand
  • Asking him how he came up with this plan
  • Sun Bin said calmly
  • Your horses though a little slower in each class
  • But your upper-class horse is faster than his middle-class horse
  • Your middle-class horse is faster than his lower-class horse
  • As long as you change the order
  • Lose one race and you can win two
  • 
    
  • King Wei listened and was filled with admiration
  • He was not angry at all
  • Instead he appointed Sun Bin as the military advisor of Qi
  • 
    
  • This story tells us
  • Sometimes losing is not because you lack strength
  • But because your method is wrong
  • Know yourself and your opponent play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses
  • Only then can you remain undefeated in competition

  ...more

  

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• February 18, 2026Mending the Fold After Losing Sheep｜亡羊补牢

  原著出处｜战国策·楚策

  • Have you ever regretted something
  • Thinking if you had made a different choice would the result be different
  • 
    
  • Once there was a shepherd
  • He raised a flock of white and plump sheep
  • Every day he drove the flock to the hillside to graze
  • In the evening he drove them back to the sheepfold
  • 
    
  • One morning he found a hole in the sheepfold
  • A neighbor saw it and said
  • Fix the hole quickly Otherwise the wolf will get in and take the sheep
  • 
    
  • The shepherd looked at the hole
  • He thought the hole was so small how could a wolf get in
  • So he waved his hand and said
  • The sheep are all fine Why fix the hole It's a waste of time
  • 
    
  • The next morning the shepherd came to the sheepfold
  • He found one sheep missing
  • There were wolf footprints on the ground
  • The hole had been torn wider
  • 
    
  • The neighbor sighed and said
  • I told you to fix it yesterday You didn't listen Now you regret it don't you
  • 
    
  • The shepherd hung his head
  • He felt sad and regretful
  • He thought is it still useful to fix it now The sheep is already gone
  • 
    
  • But then he thought if I don't fix it the remaining sheep will be taken by the wolf too
  • 
    
  • So he picked up wood and rope
  • He firmly patched the hole in the sheepfold
  • He even strengthened the whole sheepfold
  • 
    
  • From then on his sheep were never lost again
  • 
    
  • Later people used mending the fold after losing sheep to mean fixing a problem in time is not too late
  • 
    
  • The sheep is already gone
  • But if you fix it in time the remaining sheep can still be saved
  • 
    
  • Life is the same way
  • Making mistakes is not terrible
  • What's terrible is knowing you're wrong but not correcting it

  ...more

  

  ---

• February 17, 2026Instant Success｜马到成功

  民间故事

  • In 221 BC Emperor Qin unified the six states
  • He founded China's first unified dynasty
  • But the northern border was not at peace
  • 
    
  • The Xiongnu cavalry came and went like the wind
  • They stole treasures
  • They captured the people
  • Villages cried in the flames
  • 
    
  • In 215 BC Emperor Qin made a decision
  • To end the northern threat once and for all
  • 
    
  • He appointed General Meng Tian as commander
  • To lead an army of three hundred thousand
  • Against the Xiongnu
  • 
    
  • Meng Tian knew well
  • The Xiongnu cavalry was fast and mobile
  • To defeat them
  • He had to be even faster
  • 
    
  • On the day of departure
  • Meng Tian mounted his warhorse
  • And raised the command flag high
  • 
    
  • Three hundred thousand soldiers marched north
  • Warhorses galloped
  • Dust filled the air
  • Their spirit like a rainbow
  • 
    
  • The cavalry rode day and night
  • With the speed of lightning
  • They raided the Xiongnu camp
  • 
    
  • Before the Xiongnu could react
  • The Qin cavalry was already upon them
  • 
    
  • In this battle
  • Meng Tian recaptured the Hetao region
  • The Xiongnu fled north in panic
  • And dared not return for decades
  • 
    
  • Later generations used four words to describe this battle
  • Ma Dao Cheng Gong Instant Success
  • 
    
  • The warhorse arrives
  • And victory follows
  • 
    
  • Today
  • These four words have become the finest blessing
  • For everyone about to begin their journey

  ...more

  

  ---

• February 16, 2026The Fox and the Tiger｜狐假虎威

  出自｜战国策·楚策

  • There was a tiger in the forest
  • He was the king of all beasts
  • Every animal ran away when they saw him
  • 
    
  • One day the tiger was hungry
  • He searched everywhere for prey in the forest
  • A fox jumped out from the bushes
  • The tiger pounced forward
  • And pinned the fox down with one paw
  • 
    
  • The fox was terrified
  • But he quickly calmed down
  • His eyes darted around and he thought of a plan
  • 
    
  • The fox lifted his head and said loudly
  • How dare you eat me
  • I was sent by the Emperor of Heaven to rule over all beasts
  • If you eat me you will be defying the will of Heaven
  • 
    
  • The tiger froze
  • He looked at the fox half believing and half doubting
  • 
    
  • The fox said
  • You don't believe me
  • Then follow me for a walk
  • And see if all the animals in the forest are afraid of me
  • 
    
  • The tiger thought for a moment and agreed
  • 
    
  • The fox walked in front
  • Head high chest out strutting proudly
  • The tiger followed behind
  • Step by step watching closely
  • 
    
  • They walked deep into the forest
  • A wild rabbit saw them and ran away as fast as it could
  • A young deer saw them and turned to flee
  • A wild boar saw them and dived into the bushes
  • A monkey saw them and scrambled up the tree
  • 
    
  • The tiger was stunned by what he saw
  • He thought to himself this fox is truly powerful
  • All the animals are afraid of him
  • 
    
  • The fox turned around and said with a smile
  • Now do you believe me
  • I am the king of all beasts
  • 
    
  • The tiger nodded and let the fox go
  • The fox proudly slipped into the bushes
  • 
    
  • But the tiger didn't know
  • Those animals weren't afraid of the fox
  • They were afraid of the tiger following behind him
  • 
    

  ...more

  

  ---

• February 15, 2026孟母三迁｜Mencius' Mother Moves Three Times

  民间故事

  • More than two thousand three hundred years ago after the Shang and Zhou dynasties before Qin unified the six states
  • The land of China experienced over five hundred years of war
  • The first three hundred years was called the Spring and Autumn Period
  • The last two hundred years was called the Warring States Period
  • 
    
  • In the middle of the Warring States Period there was a boy named Meng Ke
  • He was born in the State of Zou
  • Which is today's Zoucheng in Shandong Province
  • 
    
  • When he was three years old his father passed away
  • His mother raised him alone
  • The family was poor with only a few acres of land
  • 
    
  • They lived next to a cemetery
  • Every morning funeral processions passed by their door
  • Meng Ke leaned by the window watching people in mourning clothes
  • He imitated them kneeling on the ground
  • Hands clasped together crying loudly
  • He grabbed a handful of earth learning to scatter it into the sky
  • 
    
  • When his mother returned from the fields she saw this
  • The basket in her hand fell to the ground
  • She ran over and held Meng Ke tightly in her arms
  • She thought to herself if this goes on what will my child become
  • 
    
  • The next day his mother packed their few clothes
  • Holding Meng Ke's small hand she left this home
  • 
    
  • They moved next to a busy market
  • Every day the market was filled with noise
  • Butchers waved their knives and shouted
  • Merchants boasted about their goods at the top of their lungs
  • Meng Ke imitated the butchers waving a small twig
  • He mimicked the merchants' tone bargaining with the air
  • 
    
  • His mother heard this from inside her brow furrowing deeper
  • At night she watched Meng Ke sleeping
  • She sighed softly
  • She thought to herself this place is not suitable for a child to grow up either
  • 
    
  • Before dawn his mother packed their bags again
  • Holding Meng Ke's small hand she set off once more
  • 
    
  • This time they moved next to a school palace
  • A school palace was an ancient school
  • There students learned the Six Arts rites music archery charioteering calligraphy and mathematics
  • 
    
  • Every morning the sound of reading came from the school palace
  • Meng Ke stood outside the wall standing on tiptoe
  • He saw a group of students in long robes
  • Following their teacher bowing saluting and reading
  • 
    
  • He imitated their movements
  • Hands clasped bowing respectfully
  • Mumbling words he didn't understand
  • His eyes shining with light
  • 
    
  • His mother stood at the door watching all this
  • The corners of her mouth slowly rose
  • She knew this time she had found the right place
  • 
    
  • Mencius' mother moved three times not for her child to become an official or get rich
  • But hoping he would become a person of virtue
  • Environment shapes a person this was her simplest belief
  • 
    
  • Later people wrote this story into books
  • The Three Character Classic says
  • In ancient times Mencius' mother chose the right neighborhood
  • If the child didn't study she cut the loom
  • 
    
  • When Meng Ke grew up he became one of the greatest thinkers in Chinese history
  • People honored him as Mencius
  • He inherited and developed Confucius' thoughts
  • He was called the Second Sage second only to Confucius
  • 
    
  • He proposed the theory of original goodness believing human nature is inherently good
  • He advocated benevolent governance saying the people are most important the state is second the ruler is least important
  • His thoughts were compiled into the book Mencius
  • Becoming one of the Four Books of Confucian classics
  • 
    
  • He once wrote
  • Without compass and square one cannot make circles and squares
  • 
    
  • And the one who set the first rule for him
  • Was precisely that mother who moved three times

  ...more

  

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• February 14, 2026Kong Rong Sharing Pears｜孔融让梨

  原著作者｜刘义庆《世说新语》

  • In the late Eastern Han Dynasty
  • an autumn afternoon
  • Sunlight filtered through the courtyard paulownia trees
  • casting dappled shadows on the stone pavement
  • 
    
  • Four year old Kong Rong
  • sat reading under the corridor
  • He wore simple clean clothes
  • His eyes showed a calmness beyond his age
  • 
    
  • Just then
  • Father brought a plate of fresh pears
  • The golden pears still glistened with water droplets
  • shining brightly in the autumn sun
  • 
    
  • The brothers immediately gathered around
  • The eldest brother reached for the biggest one
  • The second brother wouldn't be outdone
  • Everyone wanted to pick a plump sweet pear
  • 
    
  • Little Kong Rong stood outside the crowd
  • He didn't push
  • He didn't grab
  • He just watched quietly
  • 
    
  • When the commotion died down
  • only large and small pears remained on the plate
  • He slowly stepped forward
  • 
    
  • His small hand
  • gently picked up the smallest one
  • Then silently retreated to the side
  • 
    
  • Father saw this
  • and felt a trace of confusion in his heart
  • He put down the fruit plate
  • knelt down beside Kong Rong
  • 
    
  • My child
  • why didn't you choose a big one
  • 
    
  • Little Kong Rong looked up
  • his eyes as clear as an autumn lake
  • He said earnestly
  • 
    
  • I am the youngest
  • so I should eat the smallest pear
  • My brothers are older than me
  • so they should enjoy the big ones
  • 
    
  • Father was slightly stunned
  • then asked again
  • 
    
  • But
  • your little brother is even younger than you
  • why didn't you give it to him
  • 
    
  • Kong Rong lowered his head
  • looked at the small pear in his hand
  • then raised his head again
  • his gaze firm
  • 
    
  • Precisely because I am the older brother
  • I should understand humility even more
  • My little brother is young
  • and needs to be cared for more
  • 
    
  • At that moment
  • the autumn wind in the courtyard seemed to stand still
  • Father looked at this four year old child before him
  • his eyes slightly moist
  • 
    
  • He reached out
  • gently stroked Kong Rong's head
  • A smile of satisfaction spread across his face
  • 
    
  • In that smile
  • there was pride
  • there was warmth
  • and wonder at the great wisdom
  • hidden in such a small child
  • 
    
  • This story of an autumn afternoon
  • has traveled through a thousand years
  • still warming everyone who hears it
  • 
    

  ...more

  

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• February 13, 2026Sima Guang Breaking the Vat｜司马光砸缸

  原著出处｜《宋史·司马光传》

  • In the Northern Song Dynasty seven year old Sima Guang was playing in the courtyard
  • The sun was shining several children were chasing and laughing around the rockery
  • A butterfly flew by the children ran after it smiling
  • 
    
  • In a corner of the courtyard there stood a large water vat
  • It was filled with water the surface reflecting the blue sky
  • 
    
  • One child climbed onto the edge of the vat
  • He wanted to see farther but his foot slipped
  • He fell right into the water
  • 
    
  • Water splashed everywhere the child was struggling
  • His small hands beat desperately at the surface
  • His head rose then sank again
  • 
    
  • The other children turned pale with fright
  • They screamed and ran in all directions to find adults for help
  • 
    
  • Only Sima Guang did not run
  • He stood there his mind racing
  • The vat was too tall he couldn't reach
  • The water was too deep jumping in wouldn't help
  • 
    
  • He saw a stone on the ground
  • A large blue stone beside the rockery
  • He rushed over and lifted it with both hands
  • 
    
  • The stone was heavy his face turned red
  • He moved step by step to the vat
  • Raised the stone and used all his strength
  • 
    
  • He smashed it down
  • 
    
  • With a loud crash the vat broke
  • Water gushed out
  • The child rolled out with the current onto the ground
  • 
    
  • He lay there gasping for air
  • Soaked through but alive
  • 
    
  • When the adults arrived they saw the broken vat
  • And Sima Guang standing nearby catching his breath
  • 
    
  • This child would later become
  • one of the greatest historians in Chinese history
  • He led the compilation of the Zizhi Tongjian
  • 
    
  • But on that sunny afternoon he was just a seven year old boy
  • Who used a stone to save a life

  ...more

  

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