A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
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白天明住在中国的一个大学里。
Bai Tianming lives on a university campus in China.
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一天，白天明在学校大门口前边看见有人写了找猫的话：“我想找一只大白猫。
One day, in front of the school's main gate, Bai Tianming saw a notice someone had written looking for a cat: 'I'm looking for a big white cat.'
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白天明天天在学校里找大白猫。
Every day, Bai Tianming looked for the big white cat around the school.
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一天下午，白天明去三号房间看老先生。
One afternoon, Bai Tianming went to Room 3 to visit the old man.
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白天明看见老先生的家里，有一只很大很白的大猫。
Bai Tianming saw that in the old man's home there was a very big, very white cat.
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老先生对白天明说：“我八十岁了，儿子和女儿都在北京工作，我一个人住在这里。
The old man said to Bai Tianming, 'I'm eighty years old. My son and daughter both work in Beijing, and I live here alone.'
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天天在家里，很多天都没有人和我说话。
Day after day at home, I can go many days without anyone talking to me.
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白天明听了，坐在老先生前边。
After hearing this, Bai Tianming sat down in front of the old man.
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
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常大中在一个饭店里工作。
Chang Dazhong works at a restaurant.
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老先生天天都坐在七号桌子前。
The old gentleman sits at Table 7 every day.
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他一个人坐在那儿，看外边。
He sits there alone, looking outside.
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一天晚上，大中去七号桌子前。
One evening, Dazhong goes over to Table 7.
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老先生看看大中，对大中说：“五年前，我儿子也在这家饭店工作。
The old gentleman looks at Dazhong and says, 'Five years ago, my son also worked at this restaurant.'
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他天天晚上九点下班，我坐在七号桌子前看他。
He used to get off work at nine every night, and I would sit at Table 7 and watch him.
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我天天坐在这儿看外边，觉得我儿子还会回来。”
I sit here every day looking outside, feeling that my son will still come back.
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
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晚上，大中去公司前边的一个小饭店吃饭。
In the evening, Dazhong goes to a small restaurant in front of his company for dinner.
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饭店里有一个老先生。
There is an elderly man in the restaurant.
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面条里有一个鸡蛋。
There is an egg in the noodles.
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一天晚上，外边下大雨，天气非常冷。
One evening, it was raining heavily outside and the weather was very cold.
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大中到饭店前，看见老先生一个人坐在桌子前，在看外边。
When Dazhong arrived at the restaurant, he saw the elderly man sitting alone at a table, looking outside.
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今天，面条里有两个大鸡蛋。
Today, there are two big eggs in the noodles.
This heartwarming story shows how a small act of kindness can be passed on. Follow Gao Xianming as he learns an important lesson about generosity in his new city.
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高先明的手机里也没有钱。
Gao Xianming didn't have any money on his phone either.
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前边有一个卖水果的老先生。
Up ahead was an old gentleman selling fruit.
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老先生来到高先明前边，给高先明五块钱。
The old gentleman came over to Gao Xianming and gave him five yuan.
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高先明去前边，给安小语五块钱。
Gao Xianming went up to the front and gave An Xiaoyu five yuan.
Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.
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天天下午，桌子上都会多出一个很大的苹果。
Every afternoon, a very big apple would appear on the table.
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桌子上有老先生写的字：“我的朋友，你天天都好！”
On the table was a note written by the old man: "My friend, may you be well every day!"
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马家友吃了手里的苹果，觉得这个苹果真好吃！
Ma Jiayou ate the apple in his hand and thought it was really delicious!
Before you read, try clapping the rhythm. This poem introduces the days of the week and a fun secret: Chinese has two names for Sunday, but no 'Week Seven'!
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星期一后星期二。
After Monday comes Tuesday.
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星期四前星期三。
Wednesday comes before Thursday.
Welcome! This short poem helps you practice the months, weekdays, and mealtimes in Chinese. Read it aloud and notice the rhythm. You already know many of these words!
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早上吃早饭，上午喝早茶，中午吃午饭。
In the morning, I eat breakfast; in the late morning, I have morning tea; at noon, I eat lunch.
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下午下午茶，晚上吃晚饭。
In the afternoon, I have afternoon tea; in the evening, I eat dinner.
Read about a work trip to Beijing where a group of colleagues takes a very large airplane. Practice weather words and actions in a simple travel story.
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上个星期，我们公司的六个人去北京开会。
Last week, six people from our company went to Beijing for a meeting.
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
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我：“上个星期天，你说你喜欢他们的那个桌子和那个电脑椅。
Me: 'Last Sunday, you said you liked their table and that computer chair.'
This playful rhyme helps you learn family words in Chinese. Practice saying who's who with simple questions and answers!
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人人爱学习，天天去学校，上午读读书，下午写写字。
Everyone loves learning. Every day we go to school: we do some reading in the morning and some writing in the afternoon.
Read this short story about people waiting in the rain for a new phone. You will practice numbers, time, and everyday vocabulary.
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苹果商店外边人很多，一半儿是北京大学的大学生。
There were a lot of people outside the Apple Store; half of them were students from Peking University.
