Old Li
The Mad Scholar's Invincible Sword
Contents
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Old Li (老李) 1 |
| Alias(es) | Grandpa Li — Chen Xun’s form of address 5 |
| Species/Race | Human; mortal townsman 2 4 |
| Gender | Male 2 |
| Age | Elderly; exact age unspecified 1 4 |
| Affiliation | Li household, Little River Town 2 |
| Occupation/Role | Gathers firewood and earns a living at the market; Li Yuan’s grandfather and Chen Xun’s host 2 4 5 |
| Residence | A house with a small courtyard in western Little River Town 2 |
| Status | Alive at his last documented appearance 13 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 1 1 |
Background / History
Household and Livelihood
Old Li lives with his granddaughter, Li Yuan, in an out-of-the-way part of Little River Town. Their household has enough food and clothing, but its finances are below average for the town. Li Yuan left school after two years to help support them through needlework. Her parents and grandmother had died of starvation during a drought 2 5 11.
Taking in Chen Xun
Old Li initially avoids Chen Xun, the town’s mad scholar. Their first direct encounter begins when Chen Xun grabs him and demands an explanation for his growling stomach. Unable to get away, Old Li takes him to Happiness Noodle Shop and pays thirty-three copper coins for eleven bowls of noodles, despite needing money for his granddaughter’s hairpin 1.
When Chen Xun asks to accompany him home, Old Li flees, only to be chased to his courtyard. He confronts Chen Xun with a hoe but agrees to leave him alone after Li Yuan intervenes. The following morning, he checks whether Chen Xun has survived the cold and brings him congee 2 3.
At Li Yuan’s request, Old Li reluctantly lets Chen Xun stay, worrying about his enormous appetite and inability to work. He clears out a storage room and provides a wooden bed he made himself. Over the following months, the household grows accustomed to Chen Xun’s behavior as his more disruptive antics diminish 3 4.
The Black Tiger Encounter
While gathering firewood on Little River Peak, Old Li and Chen Xun encounter a black tiger. Though terrified, Old Li tells Chen Xun to run and prepares to defend him with his billhook. When Chen Xun instead crouches in front of him and growls at the tiger, Old Li is deeply moved; his lingering resentment over supporting the scholar disappears 4.
Old Li then steps forward again to shield Chen Xun, but the tiger retreats. He does not recognize that Chen Xun frightened it away. After returning home, he keeps the incident from Li Yuan to spare her worry and never takes Chen Xun along on subsequent firewood trips 5.
Recovery and the Tiger Sale
After roughly six months in the household, Chen Xun regains his lucidity. Old Li celebrates with an unusually lavish lunch and shares wine with him. Although he asks about Chen Xun’s future, he also offers to let him stay for the rest of his life 5 6.
Chen Xun later brings back the same black tiger’s carcass, intending to earn money for the family. Old Li and Li Yuan anxiously attend the theft hearing brought against him and are relieved when the accusation collapses. Before leaving town, Chen Xun privately obtains Town Lord Ji Bochang’s promise to protect their household 6 7 9 10.
Farewell and the Hundred Gold Coins
Chen Xun offers Old Li the proceeds from the tiger sale. Old Li initially refuses, insisting that neither he nor Li Yuan wants Chen Xun’s money. He eventually accepts the pouch only as savings held on Chen Xun’s behalf, without realizing it contains one hundred gold coins 11.
At their farewell, Old Li hides the pouch in a bag of flatbread for Chen Xun’s journey. Chen Xun discovers it, presses it back into his hand, and leaves before he can refuse again. After opening the pouch at home, Old Li rushes after him but finds no trace of him. Exhausted and tearful, he protests that he cannot accept such a large gift 13.
Personality
Old Li is easily flustered by Chen Xun’s unpredictable behavior and worries about both his dignity and household expenses. His grumbling masks genuine compassion: even when threatening to report Chen Xun, he considers him pitiful and would involve the authorities only as a last resort 1 2 3.
He is protective of Li Yuan and willing to risk himself for Chen Xun despite his fear of the black tiger. By the time Chen Xun leaves, Old Li regards him as family. His refusal to claim the tiger money—and his attempt to return it secretly—shows that his hospitality was not motivated by financial reward 4 5 11 13.
Abilities & Skills
Woodworking
Firewood Gathering
- Cuts, bundles, and carries firewood using a billhook and hemp rope 4 5.
- Usually stays near the foot of Little River Peak rather than entering its more dangerous depths 4.
- His age limits his stamina; he needs a rest after the walk to the mountain 4.
Equipment / Items
- Tobacco pipe — Smokes it while relaxing in the courtyard and carries it at Chen Xun’s farewell 3 13.
- Hoe — Raises it defensively when Chen Xun follows him home 2.
- Billhook — Used to cut firewood and held against the black tiger 4 5.
- Hemp rope — Used to tie bundles of firewood 4.
Relationships
- Li Yuan — Granddaughter and household companion. He protects her, plans to buy her a hairpin, and yields to her plea to shelter Chen Xun 1 2 3.
- Chen Xun — Initially an unwanted follower, later a guest whom Old Li regards as family. Chen Xun calls him “Grandpa Li” and leaves him the tiger-sale proceeds 1 5 11 13.
- Ji Bochang — Town lord whom Old Li treats deferentially. Ji Bochang agrees to protect Old Li’s family at Chen Xun’s request 10 12.
Notable Quotes
“Good child, it wasn't worth this... your Grandpa Li can't accept these hundred gold coins.” 13