Night Talks of the Five Babies

When moonlight spills beside the pillow like silver foil, the five red-lacquered, gold-trimmed nesting dolls quietly awaken in the darkness. They are five sisters who have come from the depths of history: the eldest, from the Tang Dynasty, is as gentle as honey; the second, from the Song Dynasty, as serene as a stream; the third, from the Yuan Dynasty, as bold as a copper bell; the fourth, from the Ming Dynasty, clever and witty; and the youngest, from the Qing Dynasty, lively and innocent. On every moonlit night, they tell a little girl named Xiaoyue stories that have traveled across a thousand years. On those quiet nights, the rhythms of Tang poetry brush over her like a spring breeze, the delicate beauty of Song lyrics nourishes her like gentle rain, the boldness of Yuan opera sweeps like a wind across the grasslands, the Ming novels thrill with the joys and vendettas of the martial world, and the Qing novels are as tender as morning light filtering through a lattice window. Through these stories, Xiaoyue feels the unique charm of literature from five dynasties. Warm ripples stir in her heart, and she seems to transmigrate through time to admire the rivers and mountains alongside great poets, lyricists, opera writers, and novelists. This is more than a story about literature. It is also a warm journey of companionship and growth. Through their tales, the five sisters kindle a light of literature in Xiaoyue’s heart. Nurtured by classical literature, she learns to write, understand emotions, and cherish the passing down of tradition. Years later, when Xiaoyue becomes a literature teacher, those conversations from long-ago nights still shine in her heart like lanterns, becoming the most precious treasure of her life. Beneath the witness of the moonlight, the five sisters sow the seeds of Chinese civilization in Xiaoyue’s heart through their stories, so that beautiful verses and moving tales may accompany her throughout her life.