Pipilù Defends the Rebels

Author: Zheng Yuanjie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Zheng Yuanjie, a legendary figure in Chinese literature, is renowned as the "King of Fairy Tales." His characters, such as Pipo Liu, Luxi, Luo Ke, Shuke, and Beta, have influenced two generations of Chinese children. Among Zheng Yuanjie's fairy tales, Pipo Liu is the most iconic male protagonist. Pipo Liu: The Ultimate Collection is the first time his Pipo Liu stories are compiled, with the Pipo Liu character serving as a thread to connect other most popular stories in Zheng Yuanjie's fairy tales, truly a "masterpiece of Zheng Yuanjie's fairy tales." This series maintains Zheng Yuanjie's consistent writing style, with light, humorous, and witty language, yet it is not lacking in depth. The sparks of profound thoughts still flicker between the lines. Each book adopts a mixed-illustration format, enhancing the fun of the works. This book is part of Pipo Liu: The Ultimate Collection - Orange Yellow Series. Kids, come and challenge the limits of your imagination with Pipo Liu!
Aliens send four spies to Earth. When they order these spies to return to their planet, they are refused. They have grown accustomed to human life and have formed various emotional bonds with humans. They are unwilling to leave Earth, and humans decide to defend these four rebels. This book also includes other exciting stories such as The Thinking Hand, A Cloud in the Sky, The Story of Four Mice and One Cat, and Life in Reverse.
Pike, on his 60th birthday, which is also his fifth year of the Chinese zodiac, looked at his descendants, the fine wine and food, the flowers, and the music, yet felt like crying. He didn’t know how he had suddenly turned 60. He always felt like he had just graduated from high school yesterday. His half-century of life could be summarized in one word—longing.
In primary school, he longed for middle school; in middle school, he longed for high school; in high school, he longed for college; after college, he longed for a job; after getting a job, he longed for marriage; after marriage, he longed for children; after having children, he longed for them to grow up quickly; and after they grew up, he longed for grandchildren.
Pike’s life was spent in longing. When everything he longed for finally came true, the happiness he expected did not arrive. Instead, a sense of loss and melancholy hung over his heart. At his 60th birthday banquet, the 60 flickering candles on the cake made him realize that he had never truly enjoyed life. Every day of his 60 years had been lived for tomorrow, not for today.
“I propose a toast to Dad’s 60th birthday!” The eldest son stood up with a bright smile and delivered the toast. All his descendants stood up at once, their glasses turning the ceiling light into dozens of lights, dazzling to the eyes.
Pike finished his drink. Everyone seated at the table were his direct descendants—his (heartblood), his (masterpiece). But suddenly, he felt they were very strange. When he raised his children, he discovered that he had lost them.
Pike’s children were filial. They gathered their families to visit their father every weekend, and they had never forgotten a single one of his birthdays. Yet, Pike always felt that these visits were mere rituals, tasks that his children had to fulfill. He longed for his children to come alone, without their spouses or children, to sit with him for an hour—even if it was only once a year.
When they were young, Pike often spent time alone with them. But as they grew up, they always came in groups to meet him. Pike yearned for at least one of his children to come alone, without any excuses or companions, just to sit with him for a while, so he could truly enjoy the warmth of family and the joy of success. At 60, he had yet to see this day.
Ritual. Tour group. Children’s playground. Whenever Pike saw his descendants coming in groups on weekends or holidays, these were the three words that filled his mind.
“I propose a toast to Dad’s longevity!” The second son raised his glass with a cheerful smile. Everyone cheered and drank it down.
Pike remembered how his parents celebrated his sixth birthday. The six candles had turned into 60, and he couldn’t tell if his life’s light was growing stronger or weaker.
Time is indeed a magician. It can turn sacred teachings into absurd nonsense, and nonsense into science. It can turn truth into falsehood and falsehood into truth. It can turn hatred into friendship and friendship into hatred. It can turn enemies into friends and friends into enemies. It can turn achievements into crimes and crimes into achievements. It can turn heroes into criminals and criminals into heroes.
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