Diao Wanzhong: That most habitual habit

Home is where everyone starts, and where every miracle begins. Family values are the soul of a home, the bond that connects each generation, and the treasure accumulated over the years of a family. It can be a proverb renowned throughout the ages, or the gentle rain of an ordinary family. This intangible treasure is the accumulation of thousands of years of Chinese civilization, carrying each family's pursuit and yearning for good moral character.

Family values reflect a family's values. Good family values cultivate children's good moral character, shaping their correct outlook on life and values, benefiting both the family and society. Conversely, bad family values often distort children's moral character, which is detrimental to both family and society. Throughout history, family values have been the unshakeable foundation of every family. It does not vary in value due to social status, economic background, or educational level. Although there are countless differences, its core has never deviated from the character "virtue".

Family values don't have to be famous sayings or proverbs; they can be the most ordinary snapshots of life, revealed in the little things. My grandmother was an ordinary rural woman. She hadn't seen much of the world, had little education, couldn't read, and couldn't even understand what seemed to us simple sentences. That was my impression of her as a child, but as I grew older, I gradually realized how extraordinary she was. My grandfather passed away when my father was in elementary school, causing the family's pillar to collapse and dealing a fatal blow to our already impoverished family. The burden of supporting a family of four fell heavily on my grandmother's shoulders. Whenever she talks about this, she becomes tearful and choked with emotion. Despite the hardships, she managed to support my father and uncle until they graduated from junior high school. When we children showed signs of disliking school, she would tell us about those difficult days, how she managed to scrape together the money to send my father and uncle to junior high school, how she sent them on a two-day journey to another county to attend school, and how my father and uncle went to the mountains to chop wood to earn their living expenses. ... When recalling these scenes, a determined look always appears in my grandmother's deep eyes. Perhaps she felt this was her proudest achievement.

My grandmother always told us, "Study hard so you won't have to suffer like we did." Today, her simple idea may not be entirely accurate, but in those difficult times, my illiterate grandmother devoted herself to her children's education. Her belief in education supported her determination to send her children to school. This simple faith subtly influenced our generation. Although our parents didn't constantly preach to us, we still felt their emphasis on education in our daily lives. This has become a relatively natural family mission or habit, an indispensable family tradition.

【Eight Ministries / Diao Wanzhong】