The fair green tree in the yard is dense with
blossoms.

庭中有奇樹，緑葉發華滋。I pull down and break off a twig with flowers
for presenting to the man I’m missing.

攀條折其榮，將以遺所思。
Even the front of my clothes and sleeves carry
the fragrance of flowers. However, I can hardly send it to my love for the long
distance.

馨香盈懷袖，路逺莫致之。The flowers are not worth prizing. I just intend
to express my yearning toward him after the long separation.

此物何足貴，但感别經時。

Some nymph-like beauties are dancing in the central
room. Their jade-like bodies are
giving off a pleasant smell through the smog-like dresses. The guests are offered fur-lined jackets for keeping warm. The
orchestra is playing solemn and elegant music.

中堂舞神仙，煙霧散玉質。

煖客貂鼠裘，悲管逐清瑟。

Suddenly fell ill. Had no appetite at
lunch. Ate no supper. Lay on the kang covered with the thick quilt but still
felt cold. Thought I must have caught cold. Couldn’t continue to sort out the
clutter in the yard. Only drank hot water without taking any medicine. To my
great relief the fever got over towards dusk. Forced myself to light the stove
and heat the supper for mother. Early in the evening felt uncomfortable in the
stomach and it seemed a terrible stomachache was approaching. Found out the Oral
Liquid of Agastache for Dispelling Turbidity purchased before and took a tube
of it.

Cheating is rather commonplace, which finds
its way in all aspects of life. The application of new and high technologies to
cheating makes people hard guard against it. Almost everyone has ever been
deceived. We should earn our living by honest labor rather than deceit. The swindlers
can only succeed for some time but not forever. Sooner or later these criminals
will be caught red-handed and punished somehow. At first the tricksters seem
intelligent and dominate the situation. Their endless avarice will betray them
one day when they behave as foolishly as victims of their hoaxing. It’s unreasonable to take
revenge on the cheater at the cost of life.

As an incapable person, with whom can I compete？

平庸無能，與誰爭鋒？

Having enough to eat and wear, what can I complain
about?

旣得温飽，云胡不平？

Now that we have been predestined, it is best
to be satisfied with our current state and keep a peaceful mind.

造化之道，守拙是寜。

How can we ignore our physical and mental health
when absorbed in seeking external wealth?

身之與物，孰重孰輕？

In the chilly weather, it feels warmer in the flat than in the bungalow when both without heating. The flat is not only flanked by other apartments but there are rooms above and under it to keep the cold out. But the bungalow is solitary and detached from other houses. The warmth within can easily dissipate. Therefore people prefer the flat to the bungalow in winter. Moreover, living in the flat can keep people from dampness in the wet season. However, in the hot summer the bungalow is cooler than the flat. And in the days before and after the heating period, the bungalow with a warm kang is tempting to the flat dwellers.

A well disciplined class can keep good order even in the absence of its adviser or any other teacher. The monitor and head of each group will take charge of the class for its adviser. No student dare challenge the authority of these classmates of his because they are the academic elite. Sometimes they share the teaching task and allot study assignments to the students and correct the papers later. Grade Three is such a class in our school, which gives all us teachers a good impression. We should owe this achievement to Ms B, a capable class adviser. It is her who has successfully trained these helpful assistants in work and study.

Not
only I but also all my teaching counterparts are derelict in duty and run
irrelevant business.

我是一个‘不务正业’的老师，不只我，全天下老师都是！

What is a teacher’s proper duty?

教师的正业是什么？

Presumably imparting knowledge and
educating people is what many people might say. Indeed, our annotation of teacher is a professional in charge
of teaching.

想必很多人会说是“教书育人”，确实我们对教师的诠释就是“担任教学工作的专业人员”！But actually teachers can’t attend to their proper duties because
too much of their time has been spent doing many other things, which include busily preparing for all kinds of inspections, filling in various forms and carrying out different activities, so ultimately only less than one third of the working
time has been left for teaching. 可实际上，老师们却“不务正业”的花费大量的时间去做着其他事情！

忙于应付各种检查、填写各种表格、开展各种活动，真正用于教学的时间三分之一都不到！

The moonlit night was just as bright as in
broad day. The dream in my long sleep seemed to be true.

月朙夜如昼，眠久夢似真。I envied the luminous full moon in vain. It’s
a futile hope to reunite with all my family members on this occasion.

徒羡銀光满，妄期家眷全。

The long stored flour and rice have been
full of worms. Several times I tried to remove them with a sieve and a winnowing fan but
failed.

經年未食米生虫，幾番篩簸難除凈。How would I have endured these parasites sharing my food like this in the past hard times?

若昔飢膓囊空日，豈容群豸分我羹。