Zhanjiang Evening: A Letter from father to son - "Doudou" will always be your "fan"

2009年5月27日，《湛江晚报》的银发族专栏以 “父亲给儿子的一封信” 为副标题，刊登了《“豆豆”永远是你的"粉丝"》一文。 

整整13年，我最美好的青春在雷州半岛度过，那是一片知青心中难忘的红土地！我干过农场所有的重活、累活、苦活；我见证了雷州半岛农村的贫穷与苦难， 见证了农民和农场职工的卑微、善良、纯朴与伟大，体会了人间的友谊和亲情；我锻炼了脚踏实地、刻苦耐劳的“老黄牛”性格，坚忍执着、永远不言放弃的昂扬斗 志，面对苦难、开拓进取、逆难而行、乐观向上的精神。孩子，你要读懂已经奋斗了大半生的老爸，做一个有理想、有志气、有作为的男人。 

毅儿： 

你的生日就要到了，我的笔管里溢出绵绵的思绪…… 29年前的“六一”国际儿童节，当早晨的太阳刚升起的时候，你呱呱诞生了。遗憾的是，当时我在学校上课，未能守候在你妈妈身旁。你妈妈那时的身体较单踵， 我曾担心你的体重不够斤两，还好，5.8斤。你最让人喜爱的是稚气明辙的双眸、红扑扑的脸蛋。嗨，你“醉意”蹒跚，走进了火热的八十年代。 

还记得么？你小时候我常带你到铁路东站看火车启动，到港三区码头观轮船离岸，到调顺海滩玩沙、戏水、听涛……每逢涨潮，涛声骤起，在空旷绵长的沙滩上起伏不断，宛如一支激越的交响曲口涛声，是大海日夜吟唱的奋斗不息的歌，她嘲笑狭隘、浅懑、懦弱，她讴歌顽强、勇敢、拼搏……我的“寓教于乐”是成功的，从二年级起你开始学电子琴，曾多次参加过各种文艺演出活动；后来你又自学钢琴，虽无大作为，但自娱自乐、修身养性足矣；出国后，你常参加社团活动，偶尔也应聘到星级酒店作钢琴伴奏。噢，音乐，让你结识了很多“知音"朋友，开阔了你的视 野，培养了你的潜质，丰富了你的人生。 

还记得么？我们家的《金色童年》相册，里面有许多关于你的细节：第一天上幼儿园你几乎哭了一天，我和你妈妈虽然心疼但却“置之不理”;第一次上台表演歌舞《娃哈哈》,你“一枝独秀”，是唯一的小男孩；你的第一篇获奖作文是《我当上了小老师》，我和你妈妈高兴得合不拢嘴……嘿，教师之家后继有人了！ 

后来我们一起背唐诗宋词、读安徒生童话、看《聪明的一休》、学打乒乓球、 羽毛球……四年级的时候，你和妈妈风雨无阻勇敢地爬上了黄山；读初二那年，我和你意气风发骄傲地登上了长城，父子过一把“好汉”瘾，但倒霉的是你却在中央音乐学院参加电子琴考级面试时由于感冒发烧考砸了。那天，你真的很伤心，但在我和辅导老师黎勇的宽慰下你释然开怀。哦，志在参与，享受过程，不虚此行。 

你妈妈是小学英语教师，在妈妈的悉心栽培下，电子琴和英语成了你的至爱。从小学到大学，你的英语成绩在班上一直名列前茅。你在反复实践的基础上，探索出一条以“神击法”为原则的英语学习之道，并于大二一年内通过了大学英语四、六级考试和IELTS出国英语考试，实现了盼望已久的自费出国留学梦想。在即将踏上留学之旅时，你用一周多的时间日夜赶写，完成了85000多字的《冲击波英语》一书。那段日子的感觉真好！我买来了附带上网卡的《英语沙龙》有声杂志，令你的写作查索工作如鱼得水；你妈妈每天都给你炖营养品，让你在“产房”大显身手。为 此，你在“编后语”中写道：“我想以此书感谢他们对我的栽培和养育之恩，不知它能否算得上是“杯水车薪”。你去新西兰一年后回湛度假，记者到我们家采访你，并在2003年吕月24日的《湛江晚报》头版头条发表了《这股“神击破”不寻常——访湛江籍留新学生杨斯毅》一文，我和你妈妈与你视频相会通话的照片也有幸上了晚报“潇洒走一回”。哈哈，有毅儿真好！ 

Sim, 你越洋苦读四年，终于在2007年拿到了双学士学位。凝望着、摩挈着你的毕业证书和毕业照片，我不禁感慨万千、泪湿衣襟——你知道老爸当年曾因家庭成分问题“政审通不过”而两次痛失上大学的机会吗?你了解我和你妈妈节衣缩食，举债供你自费留学的艰难吗？我想你是理解的，那几年你边求学、边打工，也是“痛苦并快乐着”。在新西兰工作一年多后，你申请了“绿卡”，今年春节回湛长休几个月。还有十几天，你又要飞新西兰———这应了那句话“父母是山，儿女是水， 绕着山脚转一些时日，水还是会流走的。” 好在现代社会资讯发达，我们可以打手机、发短信、上QQ、视频通话，你不会寂寞的。孩子, 你的根在中国，你的亲人在湛江，你的家永远是温暖的，电子琴在静候你再次弹奏《致爱丽丝》…… 

Sim, “豆豆”（你一向这样称呼我）向你推荐祖籍河南的作家阎连科的新书：自传体长篇散文《我与父辈》，这是一本被称为，2009年最感人的大书”。作家阎连 科在书中发出了“那些出生在上世纪80年代的一辈人，将无法明白他的父辈们，是如何为了生存而奋斗”这样的感慨。是的，文革开始那年，我才16岁就上山下乡当知青，到徐闻县下桥公社农场务农了，五年后又转调到国营东方红农场，直到1979年才回湛江工作。整整13年，我最美好的青春在雷州半岛度过，那是一片知青心中难忘的红土地！我干过农场所有的重活、累活、苦活；我见证了雷州半岛农村的贫 穷与苦难，见证了农民和农场职工的卑微、善良、纯朴与伟大，体会了人间的友谊和亲情；我锻炼了脚踏实地、刻苦耐劳的“老黄牛”性格，坚忍执着、永远不言放弃的昂扬斗志，面时苦难、开拓进取、逆难而行、乐观向上的精神。孩子，你要读懂已经奋斗了大半生的老爸，做一个有理想、有志气、有作为的男人；你要读懂“知青”这个历史符号，扛起所有应负的责任，为了明天更好地前行。 

Sim, 记住你的座右铭：No dream no gain. No try, no gain.（没有梦想，没有尝试，就不会有收获）。飞新西兰后继续你的硕士梦，拿到硕士后再回国创业，你不是一直都想在英语教育事业上有一番作为吗？好！ “豆豆” 支持你，“豆豆” 永远是你的 “粉丝”！妈妈永远是你的厨娘”！祝你生日快乐，我的孩子！ 

你的快退休的“豆豆”于六一前夕

..........................................................................................................

On May 27, 2009, the "Zhanjiang Evening News" published an article titled "Doudou Will Forever Be Your Fan," under the subtitle "A Letter from Father to Son" in the senior citizens' column. 

Thirteen years have passed, and my most cherished youth was spent on the Leizhou Peninsula, a piece of red soil that will forever be etched in the hearts of educated youth! I undertook the most strenuous, tiring, and laborious tasks on the farm. I witnessed the poverty and hardships in the rural areas of Leizhou Peninsula, the humility, kindness, simplicity, and greatness of the farmers and farm workers. I experienced human friendship and family bonds. I developed the character of a hardworking "old yellow ox" who remains down-to-earth and tirelessly perseveres. I cultivated an unyielding spirit that never gives up in the face of hardship, embraces challenges, and remains optimistic and upward-looking. Son, you should understand your old man, who has struggled for half a lifetime. Be a man with ideals, ambition, and accomplishments. 

My dear Yi'er, 

Your birthday is approaching, and my thoughts overflow in my pen... Twenty-nine years ago, on International Children's Day, as the morning sun had just risen, you were born. Unfortunately, I was in school at the time and couldn't be by your mother's side. Your mother was relatively weak at that time, and I worried that you might not weigh enough, but luckily, you weighed 5.8 pounds. Your most endearing features were your innocent and bright eyes and rosy cheeks. Hi, you took your first wobbly steps and entered the vibrant 1980s. 

Do you remember? When you were young, I often took you to the East Railway Station to watch trains depart, to the Port Third District wharf to watch ships set sail, and to Tiaoshun Beach to play in the sand, swim, and listen to the waves. Every time the tide rose, the sound of waves surged and ebbed on the long and spacious beach, like an impassioned symphony. It was the song of the sea, singing day and night, tirelessly, mocking narrowness, shallowness, and cowardice, and praising resilience, bravery, and striving. My "learning through joy" was a success. Starting from the second grade, you began learning the electronic organ and participated in various artistic performances. Later, you taught yourself to play the piano. Although you didn't achieve great success, it was enough for self-enjoyment and self-cultivation. After going abroad, you frequently participated in club activities and occasionally worked as a piano accompanist in five-star hotels. Oh, music allowed you to make many "kindred spirit" friends, broaden your horizons, nurture your potential, and enrich your life. 

Do you remember? Our family's "Golden Childhood" photo album contains many details about you: on your first day of kindergarten, you cried almost the entire day, and although your mother and I felt sorry for you, we "ignored" you. During your first stage performance of the song and dance "Wahaha," you were the only little boy and "shone brightly." Your first award-winning essay was titled "I Became a Little Teacher," and your mother and I were overjoyed. Hey, the teacher's family has a successor! 

Later, we recited Tang and Song poems together, read Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, watched "Clever One Yuk," learned to play table tennis and badminton, and in the fourth grade, you and your mother bravely climbed Huangshan Mountain despite wind and rain. When you were in the second year of junior high, I proudly took you to the Great Wall. Father and son experienced a taste of being "heroes," but unfortunately, you failed your electronic organ test at the Central Conservatory of Music due to a cold and fever. That day, you were truly sad, but you found comfort and laughter with my encouragement and the support of your tutor, Li Yong. Oh, aspire to participate, enjoy the process, and never regret the journey. 

Your mother is an elementary school English teacher, and under her careful guidance, the electronic organ and English became your favorites. From elementary school to university, your English scores consistently ranked at the top of your class. Based on repeated practice, you explored a way of learning English with the principle of "divine attack," and within a year during your sophomore year, you passed the College English Test Band 4 and Band 6 exams as well as the IELTS exam for studying abroad, realizing your long-held dream of studying abroad at your own expense. Before embarking on your journey abroad, you spent a little over a week writing day and night to complete the book "English Shockwave," with over 85,000 words. Those days felt wonderful! I bought the "English Salon" audio magazine with an attached internet card, which made your writing and research work a breeze. Your mother made nutritious meals for you, allowing you to shine in the "delivery room." For this, you wrote in the "Afterword," "I want to thank them for their cultivation and nurturing, but I don't know if this book can be considered a 'drop in the bucket.' After you went to New Zealand for a year, reporters came to our house to interview you, and on February 24, 2003, the front page headline of the "Zhanjiang Evening News" featured an article titled "This 'Divine Attack' is Unusual: Interview with Zhanjiang Native Student Yang Siyi Studying in New Zealand." Photos of my video call with you and your mother were also featured in the Evening News. Haha, it's great to have a son like you! 

Sim, as "Doudou" (you've always called me), I recommend a new book by writer Yan Lianke from Henan, his autobiographical collection of long essays, "Myself and My Ancestors." This book has been called "the most touching book of 2009." In the book, Yan Lianke expresses his feelings like this: "Those of us born in the 1980s cannot understand how our ancestors struggled for survival." Yes, the Cultural Revolution began that year, and I was only 16 years old when I went to the countryside as an educated youth. I worked on a commune in Xuwencounty for five years, and then transferred to the state-owned Dongfanghong Farm, where I worked until 1979 before returning to Zhanjiang. Thirteen whole years, and my most beautiful youth was spent on the Leizhou Peninsula, a place that will forever remain unforgettable in the hearts of educated youth! I did all the heavy, tiring, and laborious work on the farm. I witnessed the poverty and hardships in the rural areas of Leizhou Peninsula, the humility, kindness, simplicity, and greatness of the farmers and farm workers. I experienced human friendship and family bonds. I developed the character of a hardworking "old yellow ox" who remains down-to-earth and tirelessly perseveres. I cultivated an unyielding spirit that never gives up in the face of hardship, embraces challenges, and remains optimistic and upward-looking. Son, you should understand your old man, who has struggled for half a lifetime. Be a man with ideals, ambition, and accomplishments. 

Sim, remember your motto: "No dream, no gain. No try, no gain." After you fly to New Zealand, continue pursuing your master's degree, and after obtaining it, return to China to embark on your entrepreneurial journey. Haven't you always wanted to make a mark in the field of English education? Well, “Doudou” supports you, and "Doudou" will always be your "fan"! Mom will always be your "chef"! Wishing you a happy birthday, my child! 

Your soon-to-retire "Doudou," on the eve of International Children's Day.