Chapter 3: Borrowing Rice

''s life was incredibly difficult. The children represented the only hope for the family.

孩子虽然苦，不，是这整个家都非常的苦，可是孩子是这个家唯一的希望。

At that time, I resented that relative, for if they had lent my father rice, this situation might have been avoided.

当时的我很怨那个亲戚，如果当时他借了米给我父亲，就不会出现这样的事情了。

It was indeed by sheer luck that we managed to grow up.

我们能够长大，真的是靠运气。

Perhaps we were fortunate that all four siblings reached adulthood unscathed. As I grew older, I began selling items and doing small businesses to support the family.

可能真的是很幸运，我们都长大了，我们四兄妹都平安地长大了，后来我年龄大了点，就开始了卖东西，做点小生意养家糊口。

At age twelve, I started selling candied hawthorns and traveled from place to place, peddling them.

十二岁的时候我就贩卖糖葫芦，四处去卖。

Eventually, our family was able to put enough food on the table.

家里终于开始可以吃饱饭了。

In this manner, regardless of whether it was spring, summer, autumn, or winter, I sold various foods and went from house to house to do business.

就这样，不管春夏秋冬我都贩卖着各种食品，到各家各户去吆喝着，做着买卖。

I would wake up at four or five in the morning and leave, only returning home when darkness fell.

每天四五点钟起床就要出发，天很黑了才能回家。