Page 411 - updated on July
P. 411

Yu Jihui: “A Stinking Old Ninth – A Tale of the Coal Capital” (updated on July 2020)


                       “I went  to school at  the age  of  6.” Xi Si


               answered calmly.



                       To go to school at six was rare in the Northeast


               but could be found. It seemed normal.



                       “In that  case, how did you obtain  a master’s


               degree at 24?”



                       Xi Si only smiled but didn’t reply. The women


               teachers went on asking and pressed her hard. But Xi



               Si still smiled and didn’t reply. The women teachers



               felt satisfied, thinking  that their question had


               stumped Xi Si. How could a person obtain a master’s


               degree at 24? It  must be  a lie! Just  as they were



               feeling triumphant, Xi Si said, “I was an accelerated



               student. I jumped two years ahead in middle school. I


               entered university at 16.”



                       She had been forced  to tell  the truth. The


               teachers were rendered speechless.  They never had



               heard of such a story. They were so amazed that they





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