I noticed a path leading to a cave in the cliff-side. A door curtain hanging in the entrance way showed that the cave was undoubtedly occupied by workers. Grasping branches along the steep path, I hauled myself up to the door and entered.
Strange! Seated on a small stool in the doorway was a little boy, seven or eight years old, elbows on his knees, supporting his face in his hands. His cheeks were red with cold. He had been peering at the opposite cliff-side through a rent in the curtain. He glanced at me briefly as I came in, then went back to his observation.
The cave was large, but quite warm. It had a stove and eating utensils. On the wall above a bed was a coloured New Year picture of "Chubby Children Pulling the Turnip." All the walls had been papered with old newspapers, now blackened by smoke from the stove.
"Why isn't anybody home?" I asked, shaking the snow from my coat and hat. The little boy turned his head. His eyes flashed. "Aren't I anybody, uncle?" He rose and walked towards me, his hands behind his back, his chest extended, as if to say: Not only am I somebody, I'm a very grown-up somebody!
I cupped his round little face in my hands. "You're pretty sharp, young imp!" He pushed my hands aside. Doubling up his fists, he cocked his head to one side and demanded: "Who are you calling imp! I have a name!" Pointing at the baby girl asleep on the bed, he informed me: "Her name is Pao-cheng, mine is Cheng-yu."
Question 1: How does the narrator discover the cave, and what does he observe at the entrance?
Answer: The narrator notices a path leading to a cave in the cliff-side and observes a door curtain hanging in the entrance, indicating that the cave is occupied by workers.
Question 2: Describe the little boy the narrator encounters in the cave?
Answer: The little boy, about seven or eight years old, is sitting on a small stool with his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. He has red cheeks from the cold and had been peering at the opposite cliff-side through a rent in the curtain.
Question 3: What does the narrator find inside the cave, and how does he describe its atmosphere?
Answer: Inside the cave, the narrator finds it large but warm, with a stove and eating utensils. The walls are papered with old newspapers, blackened by smoke from the stove. There is also a coloured New Year picture of "Chubby Children Pulling the Turnip" above a bed.
Question 4: Why does the narrator ask why nobody is home, and how does the little boy respond?
Answer: The narrator asks why nobody is home out of curiosity. The little boy responds with a flash in his eyes, asserting his presence and identity by stating, "Aren't I anybody, uncle?"
Question 5: How does the little boy assert his importance and identity to the narrator?
Answer: The little boy walks towards the narrator with his hands behind his back and his chest extended, indicating his importance. He then corrects the narrator by stating his name and his sister's name.
Question 6: How does the interaction between the narrator and the little boy demonstrate the boy's assertiveness and confidence?
Answer: The little boy refuses to be called an "imp" and insists on being recognized by his name. He even corrects the narrator's assumption about his identity, showcasing his assertiveness and confidence despite his young age.
