Meng Yan's Transformation

In order to pass the preliminary examination of the English competition, Zhan Mengyan wanted to memorize more English words. A large English vocabulary will be of great help in English reading and writing.

"Dad, can you give me a few cents? I want to buy an English dictionary. I have signed up for an English competition exam. An English dictionary will help memorize English words." Zhan Mengyan said timidly to Zhan Yu.

When Zhan Yu heard that Zhan Mengyan wanted to buy an English dictionary, he said angrily, "It's my fault that I drank too much and promised Teacher Zhao Jinglei to let you go back to school. Drinking really ruined things. If you dropped out of school and stayed at home, you could help with housework, and I wouldn't have to pay your tuition. No one would ask me for money to buy an English dictionary today. Mengyan, it's good enough that you can go to school, why are you participating in an English competition? Can you be more obedient and save me the trouble?"

"Dad, let Mengyan take part in the English competition exam. I heard that there is only one spot for each class. To be able to sign up you need to be recommended by the teacher and have good grades. It's not easy. It's such an honor to represent the school in the county English competition!" Zhan Zixun said enviously when he heard that Zhan Mengyan was going to take part in the English competition.

"Zhan Zixun, you speak so well, why don't you participate in the English competition?" Zhan Yu asked.

"I want to go. I have to be selected. Our class's quota for the English competition has been taken by Wang Dali. His English grades are better than mine, so the English teacher recommended him to represent our class in the preliminary round of the English competition. If he is selected in the preliminary round, he will represent the school in the county-wide English competition. He is the pride of our class!" Zhan Zixun said with longing.

"Zhan Zixun, you are such a loser. One moment you envy your sister for participating in an English competition, and the next moment you admire Wang Dali for participating in an English competition. Can't you live up to your reputation and not envy others by participating in an English competition yourself, so that others will envy you too?" Zhan Yu glared at Zhan Zixun, looking disappointed in him.

"Dad, our Mengyan worked hard to participate in the English competition, but you didn't want her to participate. I was not selected to participate in the English competition, and you think I have no future. What does Dad mean? You have confused me." Zhan Zixun said unconvinced.

Zhan Yu got even angrier when he heard what Zhan Zixun said, and said angrily: "Zhan Zixun, you bastard, you don't live up to expectations, but you dare to talk back to me. Zhan Mengyan is a girl. There is an old saying: A woman without talent is virtuous. It means that girls don't need to read so many books, it's very good. Zhan Zixun, you are a boy. In ancient times, men had to pass the imperial examinations to bring honor to their ancestors. Boys can only have the hope of passing the imperial examinations if they read more. So I hope it is you, Zhan Zixun, who can participate in the English competition instead of Zhan Mengyan. It's really pitiful for the parents in the world, Zhan Zixun, I really hope you can realize your own disappointment and you can take action to change it. Although I am a little disappointed with your current situation, I still have great hopes for you. I hope you can make positive adjustments, become diligent and perseverant, realize your brother Zi'an's unrealized college dream, and bring honor to our old Zhan family."

"Dad, I will work hard, please believe me. Although I cannot guarantee that I will be admitted to a prestigious university, I will work hard for this goal. I hope I can achieve this goal in the future. However, I do not agree with what Dad said that only boys can bring honor to the family. The idea that men are superior to women is a feudal thought. It should have been eliminated long ago." Zhan Zixun said eloquently.

"Zhan Zixun, you little bastard, not only do you talk back, but you also dare to teach me a lesson." Zhan Yu said as he lifted Zhan Zixun's ear.

Zhan Zixun was being carried so hard that he cried out in pain: "Dad, please let go, it hurts so much, can't I just stop talking?"

Zhan Yu loosened his hand and said, "It's ok as long as you know it hurts. Zhan Zixun, if you keep talking to me disrespectfully, next time I won't just pull your ears."

Yunqing saw that Zhan Mengyan was still waiting for Zhan Yu to give her money to buy an English dictionary, so she said, "Zhan Yu, just give Mengyan a few cents to buy an English dictionary. After she finishes her English competition, give the English dictionary to Zhan Zixun so that he can prepare for the next English competition."

Zhan Yu looked at Zhan Mengyan's eager eyes and said, "Zhan Mengyan, I'll give you fifty cents to buy an English dictionary, but the dictionary is for your brother Zixun. You have to use it first, and you can use it when he doesn't need it."

Zhan Mengyan happily took the fifty cents from Zhan Yu and said happily, "Thank you, Dad. I understand. I will definitely use the English dictionary when Brother Zixun doesn't need it anymore."

On Sunday, when Zhan Mengyan was resting, she and Zhan Zixun went to Xinhua Bookstore in the county town. The cheapest English dictionary, a mini English dictionary, cost only 80 cents. "One cent can make a hero stumble" - 30 cents made Zhan Mengyan and Zhan Zixun even more stumped. They returned home disappointed.

"Mengyan, let mom see the new English dictionary you bought." Yunqing said happily when she saw Zhan Mengyan and Zhan Zixun coming back.