湛江晚报《父亲写给儿子的一封信 -“豆豆”永远是你的“粉丝”》

"Doudou" Will Always Be Your "Fan" —— A Letter from a Father to His Son 

(Note: “Doudou”refers to a nickname for“father.”）

Dear Yi’er,

Your birthday is approaching, and from my study in Zhanjiang, I weave tender thoughts...

Twenty-nine years ago, on the International Children’s Day (June 1st), at dawn, you were born. It was a pity that I was at school and couldn’t hold you in my arms. Your mother was weak after childbirth, and I worried constantly about your tiny body—only 5.8 jin [~2.9 kg] at birth. What I loved most was your bright eyes and chubby cheeks. No, you didn’t "sleep and wallow"; instead, you stepped into the fiery 1980s.

Do you remember? When you were little, we often walked to the Zhanjiang River railway station to watch trains depart, then strolled along the beach to play in the sand and water. Every time the siren blared, on the empty, vast sandbar, you would raise your arms and run, like a surging symphony. The sound of the tide was the unceasing battle hymn of the sea. You loved singing, reciting, dancing, and performing with enthusiasm and boldness. My "rich kid"—you were a success story from the start! In second grade, you began learning calligraphy and participated in various cultural and artistic performances; later, you were elected monitor of your class, and even hosted school events with poise and ease. After primary school, you often joined community activities, and we even took you to the Star City bar to sing and perform. These experiences gave you a wealth of "knowledge" beyond textbooks and broadened your horizons, enriching your life.

Do you remember our family’s "Golden Childhood" photo album, filled with stories of you? On the first day of kindergarten, you cried almost nonstop, yet you still mustered the courage to stand on stage and perform Wa Wa Gu ["Baby Drum"] with your peers—you were the only little boy who never cried! Your first award-winning composition was I Became a Little Teacher, and we were so excited we couldn’t sleep that night. Oh, the joy of your childhood!

Later, we studied Tang and Song poetry together, read fairy tales, watched Smart One, played badminton... In fourth grade, rain or shine, your mother and I climbed the Qingxiu Mountain with you. In junior high, you and your friend Huifeng rode bicycles to the top of the mountain, and Father was so proud! Then, you were admitted to Guangdong Ocean University, where you participated in the School of Computer Science’s electronic piano exam but caught a severe cold and fever the night before. That day, you were truly impressive, and I felt only pride in your performance—not vanity.

Your mother is an elementary school English teacher, and under her careful guidance, you fell in love with English early on. From primary school to university, your English grades consistently ranked at the top. On the basis of repeated practice and exploration, you created a "Shockwave Method" for learning English, and within a year and a half, you passed the CET-4, CET-6, and IELTS exams with outstanding scores, realizing your long-cherished dream of studying abroad. Before leaving for New Zealand, you spent more than a month writing day and night, completing an 85,000-word masterpiece Shockwave English. What a wonderful achievement! I bought you the book The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway, and your writing nourished your soul like fish in water. Your mother and I were proud beyond words, hoping you would shine on the global stage. In the postscript, you wrote: "I want to use this book to thank my parents for their cultivation and kindness." Could there be a sweeter cup of "aging water" in the world? When you returned to China for the Spring Festival two years later, we missed you so much that we published an article titled This "Shockwave" Is Not Ordinary—A Visit to Zhanjiang Leaks New Student Chen Shimo in the Zhanjiang Evening News on August 24, 2003. Your photo appeared in the newspaper, and we even held a late-night "shockwave wine tasting" with your mother and relatives. What a proud son!

Sim, "Doudou" (this is how I choose to call you) recommends a new book by Henan writer Yan Lianke: the autobiographical long prose My Father and My Generation, hailed as "the most touching book of 2009." In the book, Yan Lianke asks: "How could those born in the 1980s possibly understand the struggles of their fathers’ generation to survive?" Yes, this article begins with my own story: at 16, I went to the countryside as an educated youth, worked at Xugong Commune Farm in Xuwen County, and later transferred to the State-owned Dongfanghong Farm after five years. I didn’t return to work in Zhanjiang until 1979. Thirteen full years—my most precious youth was spent on the Leizhou Peninsula, that red earth forever etched in the hearts of educated youth. I toiled in every farm and field, tasting the full spectrum of joys and sorrows, bitterness and hardship; I witnessed the poverty and suffering of the Leizhou Peninsula’s rural communities, and the simplicity, kindness, purity, and greatness of farmers and farm workers. I experienced the warmth of human friendship and affection; I forged the steadfast, hardworking spirit of an "old ox"—resolute, persistent, and never willing to concede defeat in the face of adversity. I learned to face suffering with pragmatism, forge ahead with determination, and maintain an optimistic, upward-looking attitude. My child, you must understand that I, who have struggled for most of my life, hope to raise you into a man of ideals, ambition, and accomplishment. You must cherish the historical symbol of "Zhiqing" [educated youth] and shoulder all responsibilities to forge ahead for a better tomorrow.

Sim, remember your motto: No dream, no gain. No try, no gain. (Without dreams, there can be no harvest; without effort, there can be no gain.) Continue your diligent pursuit in New Zealand, and when you achieve success, return to China to start your career. Haven’t you always wanted to make a difference in English education? Well, "Doudou" supports you! "Doudou" will always be your "fan"! Your mother will always be your "kitchen maid"! Happy birthday, my child!

Your retired "Doudou"

Written on the eve of June 1st