Meng Yan's Transformation

Zhan Mengyan and Zhan Zixun spread their empty hands to Yunqing and said in unison: "We didn't buy anything."

"Is there no English dictionary for sale in the Xinhua Bookstore in the county?" Yunqing asked.

Zhan Zixun put fifty cents into Yunqing's hand and said, "Mom, guess how much an English dictionary costs?"

Yunqing thought for a moment and replied, "I estimate it will be at least 30 cents. I'm also worried about the remaining 20 cents. Don't let you two lose it. You left in such a hurry that I forgot to give you two proper instructions."

Zhan Zixun sneered after hearing Yunqing's words and said, "Mom, you traveled from ancient times, right? An English dictionary costs three cents? How did you come up with that? My dad has made you stupid, right? You don't even know what year it is now, right?"

"You naughty boy, how dare you look down on your mother? I think having your father grab your ears is not enough. Zhan Zixun, you really deserve a beating. You speak to your elders in such a disrespectful manner. Today I have to teach you a lesson and punish you. I want you to remember this and change your bad habit of speaking in a disrespectful manner." Yun Qing said as she picked up a feather duster and was about to hit Zhan Zixun.

"Mom, why are you learning from dad to use violence to hit people? Didn't you say that when children do something wrong or say something wrong, you should mainly criticize and educate them, and use 'verbal punishment' instead of 'physical punishment'?" Zhan Zixun said hurriedly while dodging.

"Okay, Zhan Zixun, I said I want 'civil punishment' instead of 'physical punishment'. Today I will punish you with words. Where did you quote 'What year is this evening' from? Please recite the whole text." Yunqing said, putting down the feather duster.

Zhan Zixun said with a smile: "I only know that it was written by an old man named Su Shi in the Song Dynasty, "Water Melody? When will the bright moon appear?" He asked the sky with a cup of wine, "What year is it tonight?" ... ... I don't remember clearly what the moon waxes and wanes every month. Otherwise, mother, you can just hit me lightly with a feather duster and don't let me recite the whole text. It will be considered a punishment for both civil and military affairs."

"Zhan Zixun, stop smiling and being so frivolous. Since you want a literary punishment, then don't cheat. You must recite the entire text today and write it out ten times. If you want a physical punishment, that's fine too. I will beat your butt with a feather duster today. Zhan Zixun, you have three seconds to make a choice." Yun Qing said and picked up the feather duster again.

When Zhan Zixun saw Yunqing picking up the feather duster again, he recalled the time when he was a child and was beaten by his mother with a feather duster because he scribbled on the "Character" painting that his mother had spent months drawing. He was so scared that he said hurriedly: "Mom, mom, I want a 'literary punishment', I want a 'literary punishment', but can the 'literary punishment' be lighter? I will only recite half of the full text today, and I will recite the rest another day. This Song Dynasty poem is too difficult to recite."

"Zhan Zixun, don't negotiate with me. Song poetry is all about rhythm and is easy to read. How can it be tongue-twisting? Zhan Mengyan, come here and recite "Water Melody: When Will the Bright Moon Appear" to me." Yunqing said seriously.

Zhan Mengyan stepped forward and recited:

"Song of Water Melody: When Will the Bright Moon Appear"

Song Su Shi

When will the moon be? Ask the wine to Qingtian.

I don’t know what the palace is, but what year is it.

I want to return by wind, and I fear Qionglou Yuyu, the heights are too cold.

Dancing clear shadow, like in the world.

Turn Zhuge, low tenants, and sleepless.

There should be no hate, what is the long time to go to the other time?People have sorrows and joys, and the moon is cloudy and clear. This is hard to come by.

Nung, moon and new moon. "

Zhan Mengyan finished reciting and stepped aside. Yunqing looked at Zhan Mengyan with approval and said, "Zhan Zixun, you heard your sister Mengyan's recitation, right? Do you have any other conditions you want to talk about?"

Zhan Zixun felt extremely ashamed after listening to Zhan Mengyan's recitation. He lowered his head and replied, "I don't have any conditions to ask for anything. I accept my mother's 'penalty'. Mom, I promise today that I can recite the whole text fluently like sister Mengyan. But sister Mengyan's English dictionary is not available yet, what should I do? Sister Mengyan and I went to the Xinhua Bookstore in the county and looked carefully. The cheapest small mini English dictionary still costs 80 cents."

"Oh, so that's how it is. English dictionaries are so expensive nowadays. It seems that I am really ignorant." Yunqing muttered to herself thoughtfully after listening to Zhan Zixun's words.

"Mom, I have an idea. Do you think it's feasible?" Zhan Zixun said.

"Hurry up and tell me! If it's a crooked way, don't tell me." Yunqing said.

"It's not a crooked way. It's a roundabout way to help my sister prepare for the English competition." Zhan Zixun said mysteriously.

"Brother Zixun, stop keeping us in suspense and tell us now!" Zhan Mengyan said anxiously.

"Erpang's sister has a damaged English dictionary, and her father bought her a new English dictionary. I will go and talk to Erpang's sister. We can buy it at a low price. See if we can buy Erpang's sister's old damaged English dictionary for fifty cents. Anyway, she has a new English dictionary, and the old damaged dictionary is of no use. I think I can buy Erpang's old English dictionary. After we buy it, we can use Erpang's sister's new English dictionary to complete the damaged and missing pages by hand." Zhan Zixun said proudly while looking at Yunqing and Zhan Mengyan.

"Brother Zixun, you are so smart and awesome. This is such a great idea." Zhan Mengyan clapped excitedly.

Yunqing thought for a while and said, "Books can be new or old, but knowledge cannot be new or old. Zhan Zixun's idea is indeed a good one. If we ask your father for another three cents, I feel like 'the road to Shu is difficult, harder than ascending to heaven'. But it is not appropriate to let Zhan Zixun go to Erpang sister to buy the old English dictionary. If Erpang's father and mother knew about it, they would feel that we parents are secretly instructing our children to take advantage of their children, which is not fair enough. And what if Erpang sister regrets selling the old English dictionary and asks us for it again? I think, as a parent, I should discuss it with Erpang's father and mother, and only with Erpang sister's consent can we buy Erpang sister's old English dictionary."

"Mom, it would be great if you could come forward and help us buy an English dictionary. Let's go to Erpang's house now." Zhan Mengyan said happily.

Yunqing took Zhan Mengyan to Erpang's house, and asked Zhan Zixun to recite and write out "Water Melody: When Will the Bright Moon Appear" at home. Yunqing would come back to check it.

Yunqing explained her purpose to Erpang's father and mother, and discussed it with Erpang's sister. Erpang's sister liked Zhan Mengyan very much, and the two sisters had a very happy chat. Finally, Erpang's father, mother and Erpang's sister decided to give the old broken English dictionary to Zhan Mengyan.

"Brother Zhiyuan, sister-in-law, if you don't charge us today, we won't take the English dictionary no matter what. You also know Zhan Yu's temper. If you knew that I took your English dictionary for free without paying, you would definitely beat and scold Mengyan." Yunqing said to Erpang's father and mother.

Finally, Zhan Mengyan bought Erpang's old English dictionary for 50 cents and borrowed Erpang's new English dictionary, preparing to go home and complete the missing pages of the old English dictionary.

Zhan Mengyan returned home with Yunqing, who was very satisfied with the English dictionary. Zhan Zixun had finished the "literary punishment" of dictation, and Yunqing checked his recitation again.

When Zhan Yu returned home, he found Zhan Mengyan filling in the missing pages of the old English dictionary, so he asked, "Why do you have two English dictionaries? Fifty cents can buy two English dictionaries, one new and one old. Give the new one to your brother, and keep the old one for yourself."

Yunqing pulled Zhan Yu aside, afraid that he would disturb Zhan Mengyan from memorizing English words, and quietly told Zhan Yu how Zhan Mengyan and Zhan Zixun bought the English dictionary.

Zhan Yu said nothing after hearing this. He looked at Zhan Mengyan and Zhan Zixun who were concentrating on studying, and then went to work in the fields silently.

Just as Zhan Yu left, someone from the neighboring village drove a horse-drawn carriage to Zhan Yu's house. In the carriage was a sick woman lying, groaning in pain.

Yunqing hurriedly found Zhan Yu who was working in the field and treated the woman. It turned out that the woman had a stomachache, so Zhan Yu hurriedly gave her acupuncture. After a few needles, the woman's stomachache was relieved.