Lily is a responsible and good teacher. She taught me to start with pinyin.

What are initials, what are finals, how to spell.

After teaching me a new piece of knowledge, she would also give me homework.

She said, "The content I teach is limited, you have to learn to apply it on your own."

I never knew that studying could be so difficult.

I can remember where the pigweed is freshest, and when is the best time to fertilize the corn in the field.

But when the 24 letters are combined, I just can't seem to learn them.

I recite them while washing vegetables, silently in my mind while eating, even dream about spelling while sleeping.

During the next check, if I haven't memorized the new knowledge, Lily would tap my forehead with the pen handle.

"Panpan, the teacher told us that there is no distinction in work, but do you know, the better you study, the more opportunities you have, on the contrary, those who haven't studied, mostly struggle in laborious work."

"Learning is endless, do you want to stay in this restaurant forever, making it your final destination in life?"

I didn't know how to answer Lily.

Once, I wanted to see the world beyond the mountains.

I also wanted to study, to live a good life.

I wanted to avoid being beaten, to sleep until dawn every day, to have white flour steamed buns for every meal.

Now, except for studying, all my other desires have been fulfilled at Mr. Song's restaurant.

Studying, in my opinion, has become optional.

I can earn rewards through my labor, without being beaten, without waking up before dawn.

For me, this kind of life is already paradise.

Lily looked at me very seriously and repeated that sentence, "Knowledge changes destiny."

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of August.

During this time, I not only learned pinyin, but also some simple radicals and components.

Lily was going to start high school.

On the day she left, she gave me a "Xinhua Dictionary" and a copy of "Dream of the Red Chamber."

I applied for a day off from Mr. Song.

Lily took me to the back kitchen, spent half a day teaching me how to use the dictionary,

She said, "Dream of the Red Chamber" is the most classic Chinese masterpiece, after I finish reading this book, I will know most of the characters."

For the remaining half day, Lily took me to a stationery store, bought a few 2B pencils and some notebooks.