04 Grandma’s Stubbornness
/04 Grandma’s Stubbornness
*Xinyu lived in a small mountain village.
/*Xinyu lived in a small mountain village.
The village had old houses lined up, with rice fields and vegetable gardens spreading out.
/The village had old houses lined up, with rice fields and vegetable gardens spreading out.
*Xinyu’s house had been passed down for generations, and his grandmother grew vegetables there every day.
/*Xinyu’s house had been passed down for generations, and his grandmother grew vegetables there every day.
“This land is a place our ancestors protected.”
/“This land is a place our ancestors protected.”
Grandma often said that.
/Grandma often said that.
One day, government officials came to the village.
/One day, government officials came to the village.
They said a dam would be built to solve nearby water and electricity shortages.
/They said a dam would be built to solve nearby water and electricity shortages.
*Xinyu’s village was planned to be submerged under the dam.
/*Xinyu’s village was planned to be submerged under the dam.
“This village will soon be underwater. We will provide compensation and new housing for everyone.”
/“This village will soon be underwater. We will provide compensation and new housing for everyone.”
The official explained politely.
/The official explained politely.
The villagers were surprised but gradually accepted it.
/The villagers were surprised but gradually accepted it.
But Grandma was different.
/But Grandma was different.
“I won’t leave. This is the place of my life.”
/“I won’t leave. This is the place of my life.”
At first, *Xinyu understood Grandma’s feelings.
/*At first, *Xinyu understood Grandma’s feelings.
But after many discussions, he started to think,
/But after many discussions, he started to think,
“Is Grandma being a little selfish…?”
/“Is Grandma being a little selfish…?”
One day, a young but calm official came to *Xinyu’s house and spoke gently with Grandma.
/One day, a young but calm official came to *Xinyu’s house and spoke gently with Grandma.
“Grandma’s feelings are completely natural. We work for many people, but we must not ignore individual feelings.”
/“Grandma’s feelings are completely natural. We work for many people, but we must not ignore individual feelings.”
“But they’re giving compensation, right? Isn’t that enough?”
/“But they’re giving compensation, right? Isn’t that enough?”
*Xinyu interrupted.
/*Xinyu interrupted.
The official quietly replied,
/The official quietly replied,
“Compensation alone isn’t enough. Land where people have lived for a long time holds memories and emotional connections. Losing that isn’t easy.”
/“Compensation alone isn’t enough. Land where people have lived for a long time holds memories and emotional connections. Losing that isn’t easy.”
Grandma, with tears in her eyes, said,
/Grandma, with tears in her eyes, said,
“I was born here, raised my family here, and lived my life here. I don’t want it to end with just ‘compensation.’”
/“I was born here, raised my family here, and lived my life here. I don’t want it to end with just ‘compensation.’”
The official nodded.
/The official nodded.
“That’s why we want to find ways to ease the pain—not just ask people to leave. We can build a monument or preserve the village’s history. We might be able to honor Grandma’s feelings in a lasting way.”
/“That’s why we want to find ways to ease the pain—not just ask people to leave. We can build a monument or preserve the village’s history. We might be able to honor Grandma’s feelings in a lasting way.”
Those words made *Xinyu realize something.
/Those words made *Xinyu realize something.
“So Grandma’s ‘stubbornness’ wasn’t just being selfish.”
/“So Grandma’s ‘stubbornness’ wasn’t just being selfish.”
A few days later, Grandma joined a meeting with the other villagers.
/A few days later, Grandma joined a meeting with the other villagers.
The officials listened seriously to everyone’s voices.
/The officials listened seriously to everyone’s voices.
Then, a project to record the village’s history began, and it was decided that a monument would be built.
/Then, a project to record the village’s history began, and it was decided that a monument would be built.
Grandma quietly said,
/Grandma quietly said,
“I will leave this place, but my heart will always be here in the village.”
/“I will leave this place, but my heart will always be here in the village.”
Holding Grandma’s hand, *Xinyu thought,
/Holding Grandma’s hand, *Xinyu thought,
“A hometown isn’t just a place. It’s a precious place where people’s hearts are connected.”
/“A hometown isn’t just a place. It’s a precious place where people’s hearts are connected.”
And *Xinyu made a decision.
/And *Xinyu made a decision.
“Someday, I’ll tell others about this village. I won’t forget Grandma’s feelings.”
/“Someday, I’ll tell others about this village. I won’t forget Grandma’s feelings.”
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
Q1. Why was *Xinyu’s village going to be submerged?
/Q1. Why was *Xinyu’s village going to be submerged?
A. Damage from an earthquake
/A. Damage from an earthquake
B. Flooding due to dam construction
/B. Flooding due to dam construction
C. Land was sold
/C. Land was sold
Q2. What did the official want to value most?
/Q2. What did the official want to value most?
A. Giving compensation quickly
/A. Giving compensation quickly
B. Convincing the villagers
/B. Convincing the villagers
C. Understanding Grandma’s feelings and preserving them
/C. Understanding Grandma’s feelings and preserving them
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
① What does “hometown” mean to you? What memories or connections do you have there?
/① What does “hometown” mean to you? What memories or connections do you have there?
② When doing something for many people, sometimes someone has to make a sacrifice. How can we respect and care for that person’s feelings?
/② When doing something for many people, sometimes someone has to make a sacrifice. How can we respect and care for that person’s feelings?
