nycdaug Chapter 1374 The Importance of Learning Chinese
Chapter 1374 The Importance of Learning Chinese
Wu Yuning and Wu Yuze were very happy to see their cousin Meilan coming over after school.
"Cousin, what brings you here?" Wu Yuning asked, shaking Liu Meilan's arm with a fawning look in her eyes.
"Tell me, what do you want?" Liu Meilan asked. Her little cousin was well-behaved and cute, and when she was particularly attentive, she must have something else in mind.
"Cousin, don't say that, I miss you." Wu Yuning hummed, but what she said next proved that Liu Meilan was right, "Cousin, I saw a comic book I liked, but Grandpa said it was about the Japanese and wouldn't let me read it. I'm so tired of memorizing those ancient poems all day long."
Liu Meilan smiled. "Why do you like it?"
"Because it's cute!" Wu Yuning replied. "Many students at our school are from Taiwan and mainland China. They like it and idolize it, so I watched it too and thought it was great. I especially like the campus scenes; the girls are all cute, the male lead is handsome, and many people like him. The way he confesses his love..."
Liu Meilan nodded, "When looking at any work, we should not only look at the superficial excitement, but also at the core message it carries."
"Huh?" Wu Yuning was taken aback. "The core it carries?"
“What you said does show that the girls are very cute, and their clothes are all very nice,” Liu Meilan explained. “But if they are so outstanding, why do they like the same man? Is it because other men are not good enough? Why do they revolve around the man in everything, assisting him in his strength, just for that one word of thanks? You should really read less of this kind of otaku-oriented comic. Reading too much of it will make you stupid.”
“This…” Wu Yuning suddenly realized that her cousin made sense. “Cousin, then I think I won’t buy it.”
"Buy it, you should buy it, but you should look at it critically." Liu Meilan laughed at herself. "A lot of things in comics are subconsciously belittling things, taking them as beautification. Of course, I'm only talking about the kind you just mentioned. In real life, if such situations existed, would you want to be one of those girls?"
Wu Yuning blinked, thought about it carefully, and then shook her head. "No, I don't want to be that kind of girl. Even if I like someone, if they don't like me back, I'll like someone else. There's no need to hang myself on one tree."
"Also, there's another old topic that might upset you," Liu Meilan chuckled. "At your age, it's the golden age for developing your brain. The more knowledge you cram into your head, the smarter you'll become. If you have too much romantic love, you won't be able to let go of knowledge. In a sense, that's being a fool."
Wu Yuning didn't believe it. "Really? I'm very smart!"
“Without a solid foundation of knowledge and sufficient social experience, all your apparent cleverness and wit are just superficial,” Liu Meilan replied. “That’s why many of us lament, ‘If you don’t work hard when you’re young, you’ll regret it when you’re old.’ Don’t underestimate me just because I have a low level of education; I’ve learned a lot. I read for at least half an hour every night. I still have a book in my bag!”
Liu Meilan took out a copy of "Western Economics" from her bag, with a bookmark in the middle to show that she was reading it.
Wu Zhenhua nodded, his impression of Liu Meilan growing better and better. "Yu Ning, your cousin Meilan is right. You're so young, you should study more."
Wu Yuning smiled and said, "I know, but I just think those things are too boring."
Liu Meilan suggested, "Uncle, you could hire a good Chinese language teacher to guide Yuning in learning traditional Chinese culture."
Wu Zhenhua thought about it and thought it was a good suggestion. "Okay, Yuze, you can study with your sister too. It's just that the teacher..."
Qin Zheng then spoke up, "I'll find a cultured language arts teacher in his thirties to come and teach some excellent classical Chinese texts. In fact, language arts without exams is the most beautiful class."
"Hehe, without exams, given the utilitarian nature of education today, how many people do you think would still study Chinese?" Liu Meilan countered. She agreed with the Chinese exam, arguing that Chinese encompasses the beauty of literature, the pulse of history, and contains the core of culture and the most fundamental code logic. "You might not understand it when you're young, but when you grow up, you'll think of going to Yangzhou in March when the flowers are in full bloom. When you arrive in Suzhou, you'll want to hear the midnight bell tolling at Hanshan Temple outside Suzhou... That's when the cultural loop is complete."
“That makes sense.” Qin Zheng thought about it and agreed. If there were no exams, he probably wouldn’t study Chinese. “Leave this to me. I guarantee I’ll find someone with a high level of education and excellent speaking skills.”
Liu Meilan cautioned, "If it's a female teacher, don't be too pretty. If it's a male teacher, don't be too handsome. You know they're still young!"
Having grown up in the West, Wu Yuze and Wu Yuning were naturally influenced by Western ideas. If a female teacher was too beautiful, Wu Yuze might be tempted to pursue her; if a male teacher was too handsome, Wu Yuning might develop feelings for him.
As for the consequences, they didn't think that far ahead.
Qin Zheng smiled. "I know."
Wu Yuze was displeased. "Cousin, do you really not trust my character?"
"Hmm!" Liu Meilan nodded. "You're very handsome and rich, and you've learned all that Western stuff, saying 'I love you' all the time, like you don't care about money or responsibility. It's hard for anyone to resist your pursuit. When the teacher gets married, has a family and children, you'll be committing a sin."
"This..." Wu Yuze was speechless. "Actually, it was just talk, it's not that serious, is it?"
Liu Meilan pointed at Qin Zheng, "Qin Zheng and I have a very good relationship. Have you ever seen me say anything ambiguous to him? Have I ever given him any ambiguous looks? We always keep a safe distance when we walk. This is being responsible for yourself and respecting others."
Qin Zheng nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Liu Meilan's words, "Yes, the national conditions are different. Don't say things like 'I love you' carelessly. Don't worry, I will definitely find them a suitable Chinese teacher."
Wu Zhenhua was pleased. "Meilan, you should come often in the future. I have the same ideas as you, but they don't listen. Maybe it's because I speak too rigidly and forcefully. What you say is simple and easy to understand, and they are willing to listen."
Liu Meilan chuckled, "Okay, I'll come more often when I have time. They can come to me too! I'll take them out to sea to experience the charm and cruelty of nature."
“Okay, I’ll go this summer.” Wu Yuze said quickly, already making holiday arrangements. “I’ll stay with my cousin for ten days, then I’ll visit my uncle’s coffee plantation, and then go to see the ancient city of Xi’an.”
Wu Yuning raised her hand, "Me too, brother. Take me with you on your trip."
"Then you should save up your allowance. Give me 10,000 yuan and I'll take you." Wu Yuze didn't want to take his sister, but he would get scolded if he refused directly.