I. The central question

This chapter is about the growth enviorment of Su Tungpo. Lin Yutang used several paragraphes to describe the geographical location that has vital influence on the Sus family. Su Tungpo's father had great hopes for him before he was born. As the eldly child in his family, Su Tungpo's personality and character were both affected by his grandfather and father. What's more, the historical tradition of Szechuen was part of Su Tungpo's article style. From this chapter, we can have a closer look at what  Su Tungpo's life was like and what made him a great genius. 

II. The sentences

1. The Min River, coming down from the northwestern mountains of the western aborigines, rushes down in a big and deep torrent and, joining another river coming down from the Omei, makes a straight dash for the Giant Stone Buddha of Loshan, where the river then turns gradually southeast and then east to flow directly into the China Sea.

很长的句子，动词的运用十分巧妙，coming down， rushes down， joining， makes a straight dash 详细的勾勒了岷江沿岸的地理环境

2. The cultivation of the lotus flower had grown into an industry, for dealers form the neighboring cities obtained their lotus flowers from this place.

grow into an industry  兴旺发展，发展成为产业化

3. It was a fairly well-to-do family, owning lands and perhaps richer than the average middle-class family.

a fairly well-to-do family  “小康之家”，这一处的翻译非常恰到好处

III. Thoughts

本章节讲述了苏轼成长的环境，正所谓知人论世，了解苏轼自然要从他的家乡与家人入手。这一章中的内容十分详尽，其目的是照顾到外国读者对中国历史文化不够熟悉的情况。比如，在谈到苏轼的出生时间时，提到了他是天蝎座，十分有趣，迎合了西方读者的趣味。不过也不够准确，毕竟从专业的星相学来说，若要探究苏轼的出生时间对人生的影响，仅仅是太阳落在天蝎座显然是不够的。另外，林语堂先生并非是一味的做科普，其中也包含了详细的考证，比如避讳问题对苏轼创作的影响，四川的历史传统对文风的影响。

此外，文中提到在苏轼出生百年之前四川有两位著名女诗人，因为好奇去考证了一下，应当是薛涛（768-832）与五代十国时期后蜀孟昶的妃子花蕊夫人。