Chapter 10 Chapter 1 The Goddess Who Made Me Talk

In 1993, I learned about debates and competitions for the first time, and also experienced the power of so-called idols for the first time. In that debate competition, I met the most important idol in my life—Jiang Feng.She was the female debater of that Fudan University team and the first debater of the debate team. The 1993 International Collegiate Debating Competition was held in the Lion City of Singapore. Among the judges at that time, Mr. Cha Liangyong, the publisher of "Ming Pao", was on the list. He also has a more famous name-Jin Yong. The debate competition has set off a climax in the ratings in Chinese-speaking regions around the world, just like we are watching "The Voice of China" now.Jiang Feng back then, like Li Yuchun now, became famous in one battle.She and her teammates overcame five challenges and won the championship of the first international junior college debate competition for China.

Since then, Jiang Feng has become my idol.The charm and wisdom reflected in her sharp tongue and tit for tat impressed me every game; the meticulous logic of her coming and going with her teammates and opponents touched me deeply. Needless to say, my father must have noticed the scene where I sat in front of the TV and stared straight at the screen.He encouraged my hobby very much, and bought me a copy of "Talk of the Lion City" after the debate.I still clearly remember the appearance of that book: the white cover is printed with the stone lion logo of Singapore, and the title of the book is a refreshing four characters - Lion City Tongue War.

That book was an absolute bedside book for me at the time.I read it over and over again, wishing to engrave every detail into my mind, and then slowly try to imitate it personally.To this day, it is still carefully kept in the bookcase by me, and I have read "Lover's Holiday Hotel" published by Jiang Feng later. In 1995, the Second International College Debating Competition came to China, when I was in the fifth and sixth grades of primary school.Naturally, I never let a game go, watching it in front of the TV with relish and fascination. In addition to watching college debate competitions as learning to speak, I was not very interested in learning when I was in primary school and middle school. Although I took classes seriously every day, I didn't seem to be very enlightened.

Without the "cruel" requirements of parents on academic performance, compared with many peers, I was much freer when I was a child, at least I didn't have to be exhausted all day by the so-called specialty classes and Mathematical Olympiad classes.Of course, my family was not rich. When the children around me were worrying about whether to learn the accordion or the electronic organ, my father never said a word in front of me.I don't mind his avoidance, and I even secretly laughed. In this way, the time in elementary school passed away quietly. Although I had some exchanges with teachers and classmates in terms of speaking, I was still afraid of speaking, and I was still silent in my own little world.

However, that trip during the primary school graduation holiday made me open my heart and "speak", which became a milestone turning point in my life.It may sound like an exaggeration to my friends, but it is true. Zhuhai is where my mother works all the year round. The trip to Zhuhai was my first time traveling far and taking a plane.When I came to a completely unfamiliar city, it was inevitable to be uneasy and novelty, but my mother was so busy every day, I suddenly became a free-range child. Without my mother's constant care, I was introverted, so I had to stay in the house all day, bored.At the beginning, in order to relieve boredom, I talked to myself. Later, I learned Cantonese from TV programs. After a long time, I still felt bored and eager to communicate with others.

Later, as long as there were uncles and aunts visiting the house, I would take the initiative to chat with them.Not only that, but gradually I also found that as long as I "coax" them like "Uncle" and "Auntie", they will take me to eat delicious food and buy fun things.I suddenly realized that being able to speak can have so many benefits. Back in Hangzhou, in early autumn and September, school started and entered junior high school.Due to the impact of this long trip and the college debate competition, I changed from my inner show in elementary school and became much more active.Especially the enthusiasm for the debate competition, which is even worse than before, so that in the first year of junior high school, I couldn't wait to organize a small debate competition.

I can't remember the topic of the debate at that time, but I still remember the last sentence I quoted: "The night gave me black eyes, but I used them to find light." What I saw in "Battle of the City Tongue", at that time I seemed to understand but half understood, and I couldn't fully understand its meaning, but it was often mentioned by me and became a mantra.Thinking about it now, what a grand proposition it is to find the light, it was completely beyond my comprehension at the time.Anyway, my little dream is on its way.