Explore Chapter 21 of "牛天赐传" with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
Tianci and Sihu were playing happily when he suddenly heard Nanny Ji calling him. He answered and walked reluctantly into the yard. Nanny Ji said, "There's someone looking for you outside-a plump fellow who looks like a merchant." Tianci's heart stirred. He ran out and saw it was Teacher Wang Baozhai. Teacher Wang wore a new blue cotton gown and looked plumper than before, his face glowing. He carried a bundle in his hand. Seeing Tianci, he smiled and said, "Hey, Fuguan, you've grown so tall!" Tianci rushed over, grabbed his hand, and refused to let go, asking repeatedly, "Teacher, where have you been? Why haven't I seen you for so long?" Teacher Wang chuckled. "I've opened a small shop selling fruit. Come, take a look at my place." Tianci turned back and shouted, "Sihu, I'm going with my teacher!" Without waiting for an answer, he tugged Teacher Wang away.
Teacher Wang's shop was small, located on South Street, with several baskets of peaches, pears, and apples set out in front. Inside, it was clean, stocked with cigarettes, matches, and candies. Tianci looked around, finding everything novel. Teacher Wang opened the bundle and took out a few large red peaches. "Have a taste-these are Feicheng peaches from our Shandong. Very sweet." Tianci took a bite; juice trickled from the corner of his mouth. He smacked his lips vigorously: "So sweet! So sweet!" Teacher Wang smiled and said, "If you like them, come often. I have plenty here." Tianci ate the peach and asked, "Teacher, why don't you run a school to teach anymore?" Teacher Wang sighed. "Teaching doesn't earn enough to support a family. Doing business is more flexible and free. But, Tianci, don't forget what I taught you-about Yantai apples and Mount Tai and all that." Tianci nodded repeatedly: "I remember it all!"
From then on, Tianci ran to Teacher Wang's shop whenever he had free time. Teacher Wang told him about doing business-how to buy goods, how to talk to customers, how to read the market. Tianci listened with relish, finding it far more interesting than school lessons. Sometimes, Teacher Wang asked him to watch the stall, and Tianci would stand solemnly at the entrance, imitating Teacher Wang's tone to greet passersby: "Come, buy some peaches-sweet and crisp!" His crisp, clear voice made people laugh. Teacher Wang thought to himself, This boy has potential-he'll make a good merchant someday.
But the good times didn't last. After autumn set in, Teacher Wang's health suddenly failed. First he coughed, then there was blood in his phlegm. When Tianci visited, he often saw Teacher Wang lying on a bamboo bed in the back room, his face sallow, his voice weak. Tianci felt terrible. He asked Sihu quietly, "What's wrong with Teacher?" Sihu shook his head. "It might be consumption-a hard disease to cure." Tianci was frantic. "Then we must call a doctor!" Sihu said, "We did, but the doctor says he needs rest, and it might be..." Tianci's tears fell. He ran to Teacher Wang's bedside and grabbed his hand: "Teacher, don't die!" Teacher Wang forced a smile. "Silly child, everyone dies. I've experienced all there is in this life. I have no regrets-except for you. You're smart; don't go astray. Study hard and become a useful person." Tianci nodded through his tears.
A few days later, Teacher Wang's condition worsened. After school, Tianci rushed over, but the shop was already closed. A neighbor said, "Manager Wang went back to his hometown in Shandong yesterday-I'm afraid..." Tianci stood frozen in front of the shop, staring at the two nails where the signboard had been taken down. He remembered the words Teacher Wang had taught him, remembered the Yantai apples, remembered the flowers that "stretched as far as the eye could see." His heart felt empty, as if something precious had been lost. Later, he heard from his father that Teacher Wang's brother had taken him away, and he died less than half a month later. Tianci cried the whole night.
After Teacher Wang's death, Tianci didn't go to South Street for a long time. Schoolwork continued as usual, but he felt listless. His mother said he seemed like he had lost his soul. Even when Sihu invited him to go out, he didn't feel like it. It wasn't until just before the New Year that he slowly became lively again. One day, he wandered to South Street and saw Teacher Wang's shop had a new owner, now selling steamed buns. He stood for a while, sighed, then turned and walked away. He thought to himself, What is a person's life really about? But soon he remembered Teacher Wang's words: Study hard and become a useful person. He gritted his teeth and decided to stop brooding and live well.
During winter break, Tianci visited a few temple fairs with his father and played with Sihu, gradually feeling better. But every time he ate a peach, he thought of Teacher Wang, and his heart ached. He knew he would never see that plump Shandong teacher again.