Page 416 - updated on July

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

The dormitory was a place for pleasure. Before bed

time, it would be noisy. So I decided to avoid it. My

office was the best place for me to enjoy my privacy.

I wanted to implement my reading plan. I found it

interesting to read. I kept it as my hobby.

It was December. Winter in the Northeast was

very cold. People would have a large stove in the

room to warm themselves. So in every office, there

was a stove. I would make the stove burn briskly. I

usually began to read at ten past 5pm when all the

teachers in my office had left. One hour later or, by

6pm to be exact, the wolf in my stomach would howl.

By that time, I would put down my books and begin

to prepare my supper. I often brought my supper with

me. I would heat it on the stove. My supper was

bought from the canteen of the mine when I finished

lunch. (The canteen was not far from our school.

Many teachers of our school ate lunch there.) My

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