My name is Fu Panpan, formerly known as Fu Pandi, and I am the third granddaughter of the Fu family.
I have an older sister and younger brothers and sisters. I haven't received much attention, but I haven't been treated any more harshly either.
Since I can remember, my sister has done all the housework, and I just need to follow her around. My parents rarely beat or scold me.
In my naive mind, I thought it would continue like this until I could work like my sister, and then my mother would remember to scold and beat me.
But I was lucky. My sister and I were kicked out, and from then on we had to live with my poor grandparents and my little sister, Xiaobaoer. I was only three years old at that time, and I didn’t understand what it meant to divide the family or sever ties. I only knew that I could eat my fill, wear new clothes, and sleep as late as I wanted every day.
I really want to thank my mother for this wonderful day.
When I grew up, I would often run into my mother and my second aunt's wife in the village. They were really annoying. They always pulled me around and said that my grandparents were partial, loving the older sister or the younger sister but not me who was in the middle.
He also said that I am not as pretty as Zhaozhao and not as smart as Baoer.
My mother pointed at my clothes and asked me if these were the ones Zhao Zhao had left behind. I said yes, these were too small for my sister and the clothes were not torn yet. What's wrong with letting me wear them? My mother didn't think she wanted to steal them.
I quickly covered my buttons.
But my mother didn't come to grab them. Instead, she laughed at me and said that I was unfit to pick up other people's leftover clothes. She also asked me to look at why Baoer and Zhaozhao never wore old clothes.
I lowered my head and thought for a while, then ignored my mother and walked away clutching my clothes.
Behind me came the quacking laughter of my mother and second aunt, like two big ducks.
I'm too lazy to explain. I have the most clothes in the family. Apart from the new clothes my aunt made for me, I can also wear my sister's. I really don't know what's so funny about this. Besides, what if I say I still have a lot of new clothes that I haven't worn, and they come to grab them?
Grandma said that money cannot be leaked, and of course clothes cannot be leaked either.
I went home and told my grandma about this. She was so angry that she picked up a broom and was about to hit the people. But my aunt stopped her and said there was no need to pay attention to those two people. My aunt was right. If you live a good life with the people you hate, you can make them mad to death.
To comfort me, my aunt made me a new set of clothes.
You see, I don’t feel that they are partial to us at home at all. My grandparents treat everyone equally. My aunt loves us like her own children, of course she doesn’t have any children.
My mother and the others are just trying to sow discord. That's right, they are gossips, so annoying.
But I really don’t have much presence at home. I don’t like to talk or make noise. I just like to eat and drink. My sister Baoer has a lot of delicious food that I have never seen. Her pocket is like a treasure bag, and she can always take out all kinds of snacks.
So until I entered junior high school, I was a little fat girl and was fed by my sister.
I always thought that I would be a chef when I grew up. After all, it really suits me. But then a grandfather and grandson came to the village, and from them, I discovered another strength of mine.
There was a time when I went to deliver food to Grandpa Shen. As I quietly walked to the door, I heard Grandpa Shen say something. I didn’t understand it, but it was definitely not our Chinese language.
Could it be their local dialect? That's so strange.
I knocked on the door and Grandpa Shen welcomed me in warmly. I held my face and asked Grandpa Shen what family meant.
Grandpa Shen almost spit out a mouthful of rice and looked at me in surprise, so I repeated it again. I just heard them talking, but I only remembered this one word.
Grandpa Shen said that I have a talent for languages. I have never been exposed to a foreign language, but I can remember a word and pronounce it so standardly.
It turns out that this is what foreigners say.
From that day on, I came to learn foreign languages from Grandpa Shen every day. He spoke so nicely and was very patient. He was the most elegant and gentle grandfather I had ever met.
He was surprised at my learning speed, and I admired his extensive knowledge. Grandpa Shen was amazing and could speak several languages. I heard Shen Sui say that his grandfather used to be the president of the Chamber of Commerce, which was amazing.
I'm so envious. When can I go abroad? It's not that I like foreign countries, but I want to know their culture, their life, and learn their skills. I vaguely feel that I seem to have a new goal.
In this way, I learned foreign languages with Grandpa Shen for many years until they left Qingshan Village.
When the exam was approaching, Grandpa Shen called me and asked me with a smile what major I was studying.
I said I didn't know and I didn't seem to have any hobbies. Grandpa Shen laughed and asked me to learn a foreign language. I said I could already talk to you fluently, so why did I need to learn?
Grandpa Shen smiled even more happily and said that I would know after I applied. I unconditionally trusted my enlightenment teacher, so I applied directly to Capital University of Foreign Studies.
After entering university, I always ranked first in my grades. To be honest, my classmates had very poor foundations. They all asked me why I spoke so well. They also said that I must not be from the countryside, and that I was the eldest daughter of a local family.
I told them the truth, but they still didn't believe it. Well, people always believe what they want to believe.
I didn't want to associate with them, so I chose many other language courses on my own. When I graduate, I can proudly say that I can speak four foreign languages.
Grandpa Shen called me again and asked if I would like to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He would arrange it for me, and I said yes. The school asked me to stay on as a teacher, but I didn't want to. So I just listened to Grandpa Shen and went out to gain some experience.
I didn't expect that this choice would determine my life.
I started as a note-taker beside my leader, then became a junior translator, and later became a diplomat. Only I know the bitterness along the way.
Countless nights, I lay in a hotel in a foreign country, missing home so much, missing my grandparents, my aunt, my sisters, and Grandpa Shen. Alas, this road is so difficult to walk.
But I enjoy it.
When I stood on the stage, my hands were shaking. I was panicking. I was going to bring shame to the country. It didn’t matter what happened to me, but the country’s reputation had to be there. I silently encouraged myself.
When I looked up at the flashing lights in the audience, I suddenly thought of the first time I learned a foreign language with Grandpa Shen. I was inferior and I didn’t dare to read. The dialect of our hometown was too heavy and I was afraid of losing face.
Grandpa Shen said to me, you treat me as a cob in the cornfield, are you still nervous?
I said I wasn't nervous anymore, and later I often went to the fields to read English to the corn and wheat. Once, I even scared a pair of brothers and sisters who were dating.
I suddenly wasn't nervous anymore, because the audience was like a bunch of corn.
Afterwards I saw my photo in the newspaper and I was so confident and generous.
Since then, I have never been nervous again, and I can handle any difficult situation with ease.
Well, my name is Fu Panpan. I am a diplomat and a free soul. I hope I can always be free.
You too.
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