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said, irritated. “You’re not going to laugh anyway.”
    “All right,” Rendi said.
Why not?
he thought.
    Madame Chang smiled. Unexpectedly, she turned her head and looked at Master Chao. He had been pretending that their conversation was unworthy of his attention, but it was plain to see that he had been listening closely. He quickly looked away and pushed the beads on his abacus, as if he were deep in calculation. Madame Chang’s smile grew larger, and she began the story.
T HE S TORY OF THE O LD S AGE
    O nce there was an old man who lived on a mountaintop. Some thought he was a crazy old man. Others thought he was the Mountain Spirit or even an immortal. But most believed he was a sage of great wisdom.
    Many sought him—some for answers, some foradvice, and some to be his students. The old man answered all the questions and solved all the problems, but he shooed away all the hopeful students. However, one student named Tiwu refused to give up. He returned over and over again, begging and pleading, until finally the sage agreed to teach him.
    Tiwu was an eager pupil. At the sun’s first light, the sage would share the old stories and teachings, and they would spend the rest of the day in deep contemplation. But at night, when the moon climbed into the sky, the old man ignored his student and, instead, read to himself from a large book.
    Tiwu wondered about this. It was obvious to him that there was great wisdom in the book that only the sage read. What special knowledge was in it? He yearned to know. But the sage never offered him even a glance at one of the pages.
    However, Tiwu was a reasonable fellow.
He will allow me to read the book
, he thought,
when I have mastered everything else he has taught me.
So he set his mind on his lessons, learning in earnest.
    And with such effort, his progress was quiteconsiderable. Soon, when people came to the old sage for answers, Tiwu was able to give them. Before long, Tiwu also began to gain the reputation of being a wise man.
    Encouraged by this, Tiwu finally gathered the courage to ask the sage about the book. One night, as the old man read silently, Tiwu asked, “Master, what are you reading in that book?”
    “The page I am reading right now,” the old man said without looking up, “is about the secret to attaining peace.”
    The secret to peace! Tiwu was in awe. Only the wisest and greatest of sages would know that. The book was full of wonderful secrets! What other extraordinary answers were in that book?
    “Master,” Tiwu said, “may I read the secret to peace too?”
    The old man looked at him. “Do you really wish to know the secret to peace?” he asked. “Or do you simply wish to read the Book of Fortune?”
    Tiwu thought carefully and then said honestly, “Both.”
    The sage said nothing, stroking his beard in thought. Tiwu could sense his doubt. Finally, the sage said, “Do you really believe you are ready?”
    “Yes,” Tiwu said confidently. In his mind, the only thing that kept him and the sage from being equals was the knowledge in the book.
    “I am not sure,” the old man said.
    “I am!” Tiwu said. “Please, how can I prove it to you?”
    The sage sat thoughtfully for a moment and then said, “At the bottom of this mountain, you will see a tall tree overlooking a lake. Climb the tree to the highest branch and sit there in contemplation for ninety-nine days and nights. If you are able to do that, you may read the Book of Fortune and the secret to achieving peace.”
    Immediately, Tiwu traveled down the mountain, and he found the tall tree overlooking the lake. The tree was smooth and straight, like a giant paintbrush, and seemed almost as tall as the mountain he had just left. With great difficulty, Tiwu wrapped a rope around the trunk of the tree and made his way up to the highest branch.
    At the top, he sat in complete confidence. He was sure he could meet his master’s requirements and return to learn the great secret. The sun rose and