Firewood

The young man sleeping on the kang bed had his second brother Han Zhu beside him, snoring at varying volumes. Not far from the bed was a yellow mud wall, aged with time, with several fine cracks through which the complaints of Han's mother and the sound of his father smoking a dry tobacco pipe could be heard. The young man slowly closed his sore eyes, hoping to fall asleep soon. He knew he had to wake up early tomorrow to go to the mountains with his friends to collect firewood. This young man was named Han Li. Although his name sounded quite proper, it was actually given by Old Uncle Zhang at the cost of two steamed buns from his father. Old Uncle Zhang was the only literate person in the village, and he had named many of the children. Han Li was nicknamed "Dummy," but he wasn't stupid at all. In fact, he was the smartest child in the village. He longed to escape this small village and see the outside world. But he didn't dare share this thought with others, as it would be surprising for a child to have such ideas. Han Li had two older…