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Updated: May 7, 2025
"He must go to Chang-ngan, and study under the wise men there, and find out what the world is thinking about." Chang-ngan was the old capital of China, a very great city indeed, and Pin-Too, the master to whom Pei-Hang was sent was the wisest man in it. And there Pei-Hang soon learned what the world was thinking about, and many things besides.
Cast one into each brook when you have crossed it on your way home, and the brook will expand into a river again." Early the next morning Pei-Hang kissed her and went on his way. He rested during the midday heat, and continued his journey when it grew cool again; and in this way, at the end of seven days, he came to the Blue River.
The huge fishes were changed into tiny creatures like tadpoles, and he hopped across the brook on one foot. Soon afterward he came to the White River, which was half a mile wide, so rapid that it was covered with foam, like new milk, and full of immense sea serpents. "I shan't be able to hop over this on one foot," thought Pei-Hang, throwing his red seed into the water.
And he ran down to the shore of the lake and gathered diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls, and sapphires, as many as he could carry. This he did again and again, emptying them into the mortar each time, until it was quite full, and held gems enough to make Pei-Hang the richest man in China.
"All the better!" he said. "Because, when you have once seen her, you will be able to think of nothing else." It was very hot weather, and Pei-Hang ought to have started early in the morning; but he sat so long over his books the night before his journey that he fell fast asleep just before sunrise, and slept all through the coolest hours of the day.
"But to reach it you must cross the Blue River, the White River, the Red River, and the Black River, which are all full of monstrous fishes. That is why my mother is sending you," sighed Yun-Ying. "She thinks you will never come back alive." "I know how to swim," said Pei-Hang, "and fishes don't frighten me." "Promise me you won't try to swim," said Yun-Ying, earnestly.
"And I will tell you mine," began Pei-Hang, but Yun-Ying stopped him, smiling. "Ah, I know yours, and all about you," she said. This surprised Pei-Hang very much; but he need not have been greatly astonished, for everyone in Chang-ngan knew that Pei-Hang was the handsomest and wisest and best loved pupil the wise Pin-Too had ever had.
The wedding had not taken place when Pei-Hang arrived; but Yun-Ying stood under the peach tree, in her wedding dress, which was of pink silk, all embroidered with silver, and when she saw Pei-Hang, she threw herself into his arms and the tears ran down her cheeks. Pei-Hang put down the pestle and mortar while he comforted her, and her mother came running out to look at it.
When Pei-Hang came to the Red River, and the White River, and the Blue River, he did the same thing; and from that day to this no one has been able to find the home of the Genii, because no one but Pei-Hang could ever cross the Blue River, much less the other three.
Pei-Hang climbed into one of the branches overhanging it, and from there he threw down among the wedding guests diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and all kinds of precious stones. And the yellow-faced mandarin was as busy picking them up as anyone. "Although he is so rich that his drinking-cups are made of gold!" cried the others, indignantly. "One can never have too much of a good thing.
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