During the Song Dynasty, there were two brothers named Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi. Both were well-read and highly knowledgeable scholars whose reputations attracted countless admirers and students from afar every day.At that time, there was a man named Yang Shi who was exceptionally intelligent and studious from childhood. He began studying at age four, could write poetry and paint by seven, and compose lyrics and essays by eight. Known as a child prodigy, he was famous far and wide.

In the early 4th century AD, under the dual blows of internal rebellions and external invasions, the Western Jin dynasty's rule became precarious. Its capital was temporarily moved from Luoyang to Chang'an. However, this relocation could not save it from its destined collapse. In 316 AD, the Xiongnu leader Liu Cong led his troops to capture Chang'an, taking Emperor Min of Jin, Sima Ye, captive, thus declaring the end of the Western Jin dynasty.

During the Western Jin dynasty, apart from powerful officials like Wang Kai and Shi Chong, who lived in extravagant luxury, there was another group of aristocratic officials. These men, after filling their bellies, would gather in groups of three or five to engage in idle boasting, spouting nothing but absurd and fantastical nonsense disconnected from reality.

Downstream of the Yellow River, there was a tribe called Shang. Legend says that Xie (pronounced "xiè"), the ancestor of the Shang people, lived during the time of Emperors Yao and Shun and worked alongside Yu to control floods, earning great merit. Later, due to rapid development in animal husbandry, by the end of the Xia dynasty, when Tang became its leader, the Shang tribe had grown into a powerful force.

Legend says that Gulaogang in Yicheng, Hubei, was once the Goulou Street of the ancient capital of the State of Chu. It was here that King Ping of Chu, upon ascending the throne, executed Wu Zixu's entire family. Later, Wu Zixu escaped to the State of Wu. Anticipating that Wu Zixu would surely return for revenge one day, King Ping took precautions early. He summoned a thousand skilled craftsmen from across the kingdom to construct an underwater palace beneath a lake for him.

While the eunuch faction led by Wei Zhongxian was throwing the Ming court into chaos, the Khan of Later Jin, Nurhaci, was continuously attacking Ming forces in Liaodong. After the Battle of Sarhu, the Ming dynasty sent an experienced general, Xiong Tingbi, beyond the pass to command military affairs in Liaodong. Xiong Tingbi was a highly capable commander, but Wang Huazhen, the provincial governor of Guangning (present-day Beizhen, Liaoning), felt that Xiong’s presence would undermine his own authority and thus did everything possible to obstruct Xiong Tingbi’s command.

It is said that one day Zheng Banqiao was visiting a friend deep in the mountains. As he passed by an ancient temple, he saw a single couplet written on the wall:

"I'm so hungry!" Rabbit Three mumbled."Me too," Rabbit Two chimed in."I'm even hungrier!" the tall Rabbit One also shouted. "We don't have a single carrot left. We have to go to the vegetable patch and pull some back," the smallest little rabbit reminded everyone."I'll go," said Rabbit Three, jumping up first and heading for the vegetable patch.

Long ago, by the Daqing Stream in Taiwan, lived a young couple. The man was named Dajianya (Big Sharp Tooth), and the woman was called Shuishejie (Sister Shuishe). They made a living by fishing, and their simple life was sweet and happy.One noon, suddenly there was a tremendous boom; the sun vanished, and the Daqing Stream turned muddy. That evening, another loud crash echoed, and the moon disappeared too. From then on, day and night by the Daqing Stream were pitch black.

It is said that Lu Ban was the wisest and most skillful craftsman in ancient China. His original name was Gongshu Ban, but because he was from the State of Lu during the late Spring and Autumn period, "Lu Ban" became the name by which later generations came to know him.