During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, there lived a renowned literary figure named Kong Rong, a descendant of Confucius who was exceptionally bright from childhood.
At age ten, Kong Rong accompanied his father to the capital Luoyang, where Li Ying served as an imperial inspector and was widely respected as Governor Li. Li Ying's reputation drew many visitors, but his gatekeeper only announced those who were relatives or renowned figures. Eager to meet this celebrity, young Kong Rong decided to test the system. Arriving at Li Ying's gate, he told the gatekeeper, "I am a relative of Governor Li." The gatekeeper announced him, and Li Ying received the boy with curiosity. "What relation are you to me?" Li Ying asked. Kong Rong replied, "My ancestor Confucius was a teacher to your ancestor Laozi, so we have been friends for generations." Impressed by the quick wit, Li Ying remarked, "I see you have a sharp mind." Another guest, Chen Wei, scoffed, "Being clever as a child doesn't guarantee brilliance as an adult." Without missing a beat, Kong Rong shot back, "Then you must have been very clever as a child." The room burst into laughter, and Li Ying declared, "This boy will surely become a great talent." Source: *A New Account of the Tales of the World*, Chapter "Words and Speech".
One day, Kong Rong arrived at Li's residence and said to the gatekeeper, "I am a relative of Lord Li. Please announce my arrival."
The gatekeeper, his expression a mix of doubt and suspicion, dared not refuse, so he went in to announce the visitor.
Li Ying saw that the visitor was a child he did not recognize and found it very strange. After Kong Rong sat down, Li Ying asked him, "What relation are you to me?"
Kong Rong replied without hesitation, "My surname is Kong, and I am a descendant of Zhongni (Confucius). My ancestor Zhongni and your ancestor Boyang (Laozi) were teacher and friend. In those days, my forebear Zhongni once consulted Boyang on the ritual systems of the Zhou dynasty, so our two families have long been on friendly terms."
Li Ying was delighted, and the guests were equally astonished—none had expected such a young child to articulate such profound reasoning. Everyone smiled and looked at him with admiration.
A moment later, Grand Master Chen Wei arrived. Someone told him what Kong Rong had said. Chen Wei glanced at Kong Rong and said contemptuously, "Don't be fooled by his cleverness as a child—when he grows up, he may not amount to much."
Kong Rong immediately retorted to Chen Wei, "It seems you must have been quite clever as a child."
Chen Wei was left speechless, looking utterly embarrassed. He had intended to mock Kong Rong, but instead ended up being ridiculed by him. The guests present couldn't help but burst into laughter. Li Ying laughed heartily and praised Kong Rong, saying, "This child will surely become an extraordinary talent in the future!"
Later, the idiom "Xiaoshi Liaoliao" came to be used to praise children for their exceptional talent.
Source: *A New Account of the Tales of the World*, Chapter "Speech and Conversation"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "小时了了" came to describe how children are praised for their exceptional talent.