A classic novel by Lao She, telling the legendary life of an abandoned baby discovered by a peanut vendor and adopted by the Niu couple. With delicate brushstrokes, it portrays the social landscape of the Republic of China era, revealing warmth and resilience in ordinary stories.
Choosing to learn Chinese through the words of Lao She is itself an act of courage and wisdom. The improvement of language ability, just like the growth of Niu Tianci in the book—from being abandoned to being adopted, from innocence to resilience—every step stems from real experiences and patient accumulation. Please believe that every reading you do now is nourishing the tree of your Chinese language skills.
Don't rush to look at the text first. Click on the audio next to the chapter title, close your eyes and listen to the first time, feeling the tone and rhythm. Then, use the method of "listen a sentence - pause - repeat - check the original text" for intensive listening. For example, when you hear the sentence "Old Hu was hawking peanuts on the street corner," try to imitate the tone of the vendor in Lao She's writing, then compare it with the audio of the highlighted word "hawking," paying attention to its intonation and rhythm. In this way, your ears will become increasingly familiar with the cadence of Chinese.
First, skim quickly to grasp the main storyline: Who discovered Niu Tianci? Why did the Niu couple adopt him? During the second round of careful reading, focus on the highlighted vocabulary. For example, the word "abandoned"—click on it to see the pinyin, native language explanation, and example sentences, then understand its emotional tone in context. Don’t overlook the non-highlighted basic words either; click on the links to look them up in the dictionary. For instance, how is "peanut" explained in the Russian dictionary? This way, your vocabulary network will become denser and denser.
Copy a sentence you like, such as "Tianci turned over on the kang, like a little kitten." First, follow the audio to imitate the pronunciation, then write a similar sentence about an "action": "The little kitten stretched lazily in the sunlight." Next, retell the content of this chapter in your own words and record it. When replaying, pay attention to whether the pronunciation of the highlighted words (such as "resilience") is accurate. Stick with it for a week, and you’ll find your expression becoming more natural.
Classify the highlighted words in each chapter by theme, such as "Emotions" (resilience, warmth), "Actions" (hawking, abandoned). Use spaced repetition: remember them today, review them tomorrow, and revisit after three days. Memorize at least one example sentence for each word, such as "Old Hu's kindness is touching." This way, the vocabulary comes alive.
Finally, remember the belief that Lao She conveys in the book: Progress lies in daily persistence. Even if you only read one page today or learn only three words, you are getting closer to that more confident version of yourself. Keep going—I’m proud of you!