The Little Red Carp saw that Zhao Xiaohai was quite clever, but at nearly ten years old, he was still illiterate. She found it a pity, as he would only grow up to be an uneducated man. She tried to persuade him, saying, "Xiao Hai, the world outside is amazing. You've never left Nianqiao Village, so you don't understand. You have to study hard and make something of yourself so you can leave this small mountain village."
"Study?" Zhao Xiaohai scratched his head, not quite understanding. "But the school isn't open. I don't know who to learn from."
The Little Red Carp frowned, then her eyes suddenly lit up. "You're so silly! There are so many literate people in the village; you can go learn from them. You might be shy at first, but to gain knowledge, you have to be bold and take that step. The world outside is truly wonderful. There are so many things you've never seen and so much delicious food you've never eaten."
