When you see your classmates later, we don’t need to show off to them, but if anyone asks if you’ve ever been on a train, you just tell them that not only have you been on one, but you also know what can be seen along the way."
The purpose of Kang Li saying this was nothing more than to help the little one regain his face and to practice his language expression skills.
"If you can describe the scenery you see along the way with lively and interesting language, I believe your classmates will definitely admire you."
"Why would they admire me?"
"Because through your lively and interesting language, you make them feel as if they are right there, like they’ve gone on an interesting long journey themselves. Do you think our Hanhan can do it?"
"...I will try my best!"
Ming Han thought about it seriously for a while, his eyes firm, as he responded to Kang Li.
"Great, mom believes in you, keep it up!"
Kang Li raised her right hand, made a fist to encourage the little one.
Unexpectedly, Ming Han felt a bit shy: "Mom..."
"Hmm?"
Kang Li looked on inquiringly.
Ming Han: "What kind of language is considered lively and interesting?"
Kang Li: "For example, it’s snowing outside the window. How would you describe what you see now?"
Ming Han: "The snow is a bit heavy."
Kang Li smiled and asked, "That’s it?"
Ming Han: "The snow is very white."
Kang Li: "Go on."
Ming Han racked his brains thinking and thinking. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he grinned, "The snowflakes are like goose feathers, falling piece by piece from the sky."
Kang Li encouraged with her eyes, "What else?"
Ming Han: "When it falls to the ground, it’s a vast expanse of white."
Kang Li gave the little one a thumbs up, "Our Hanhan is amazing. Do you notice the difference between what you said in the beginning and what you just said?"
"Yes."
Ming Han nodded.
Kang Li smiled, "You started by saying the snow is heavy, then said the snow is white. Doesn’t that sound quite plain?"
Ming Han: "Yes."
Kang Li: "Later, you said the snowflakes are like goose feathers falling piece by piece from the sky and that it’s a vast expanse of white when it lands on the ground. Doesn’t that give a special feeling?"
Ming Han’s eyes twinkled like stars, and he nodded heavily.
Kang Li asked, "Do you know why?"
Ming Han shook his head.
Kang Li laughed, "Because you expressed your feelings and used a metaphor..."
With a gentle tone, Kang Li spoke slowly, "Do you understand what kind of language is considered lively and interesting now?"
"Yes."
Ming Han’s black eyes bent into a smile, and he nodded, "I know, our teacher taught us similes and personifications, saying that using them makes spoken and written sentences beautiful, pleasant, and vivid."
Kang Li: "Your teacher is right."
Ming Han: "Then I’ll look out the train window and observe more, come up with more beautiful sentences, and tell my classmates what I saw along the way."
Kang Li: "Go ahead, but don’t look for too long, it’s bad for your eyes."
Ming Han: "Is looking at snow for a long time bad for the eyes?"
Kang Li nodded and said, "Yes, it’s a vast expanse of white, looking at it for too long can strain your eyes, it means your eyes will hurt."
"I know, I won’t keep staring at the snow. I’ll just glance at the outside and see what’s there, only for a little while." Ming Han promised.
Hearing this, Kang Li said nothing more.
"Mom, I also scored a hundred in Chinese."
Vivi suddenly spoke up.
Kang Li was momentarily taken aback, then understood why the little girl said this, and smiled warmly, "Our Vivi is as smart as your brother. Mom knows that!"