小学英语英语故事名人故事AProdigysEarlyYears.docVIP

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A?Prodigys?Early?Years

AsaboygrowingupinShenyang,China,Ipracticedthepianosixhoursaday.Ilovedtheinstrument.Mymother,Xiu-lanZhou,taughtmetoreadnotes,andmyfather,Guo-renLang,?concertmaster（首席小提琴手）?ofalocalfolk?orchestra（管弦乐队）,?showedmehowtocontrolthekeys.AtfirstIplayedon?clunky（难听的）?Chinesekeyboards--cheap,butthebestwecouldafford.LatermyparentsboughtmeaSwedishpiano,butIbrokehalfthestringsonitplaying?Tchaikovsky（柴可夫斯基）.?ThatswhenmyparentsandmyteacherdecidedIwastoomuchforsuchaninstrument--andforourhometown.Tobeaseriousmusician,IwouldhavetomovetoBeijing,oneofourculturalcapitals.Iwasjusteightyearsold.

Myfather,whoplayedtheerhu,atwo-stringedinstrument,knewthatlifewouldntbeeasy.MillionsofpianistsinChinawere?vying（竞争）?forfame.Youneedfortune,myfathersaid.Ifyoudontwork,nofortunecomes.Butmusicisstillmusic,headded,anditexiststomakeushappy.

TorelocatetoBeijingwithme,hemadeagreatsacrifice.Hequithisconcertmastersjob,whichheloved,andmymotherstayedbehindinShenyangtokeepworkingatherjobatthescienceinstitutetosupportus.Theybothwarnedme,Beingapianistishard.Canyoulivewithoutyourmother?Isaid,Iwantmymother!ButIknewIneededtobeinBeijing.InAmerica,peopleoftenmoveandstartover.ButnotinChina,notinthosedays.

SuddenlymyfatherandIwerenewcomers--outsiders.Totheothersaroundus,wespokewithfunnynorthernaccents.Theonlyapartmentwecouldfindforthemoneywehadwasinanunheatedbuilding,withfivefamiliessharingonebathroom.Myfathercooked,cleanedandlookedafterme.Hebecameahousewife,basically.

Welivedfarfrommyschool,andsincethebuswastooexpensive,myfatherwoulddrivemeonhisbicycleeveryday.Itwasanhour-and-a-halftripeachway,andIwasaheavyboy,muchheavierthan