My Youth Began With Him

Translator: Noodletown Translations Editor: Noodletown Translations

Glowering at Huo Mian, Song Yishi slowly asked, "What is the correct ratio between coarse and fine for the mix of edible grains?"

"1 to 2," Huo Mian replied.

"That is correct," the host announced, feeling speechless.

"Next is Mrs. Qin's turn to ask a question."

"As a tribute to the Olympics, I'll ask you something simple that's related to it. In the 2008 Olympic games, who took gold for men's singles in Ping Pong?" Huo Mian asked, smiling.

It was an easy question. Even the audience knew the answer.

Song Yishi, however, was clearly unsure…

She always talked about her patriotism, about how much she loved their country, but she was stumped by the simplest of questions.

What was even more magical was that after a couple of seconds, she replied, "Zhang Jike."

As the words left her mouth, the entire audience erupted with gasps.

No one had expected her to get such a simple question wrong.

Huo Mian smiled. "It wasn't Zhang Jike eight years ago. Ma Lin was the one that won gold in 2008."

Even the host couldn't remain silent anymore. "Miss Song, that match was between Ma Lin and Wang Hao, both exceptional professional players of our country. In the end, it was Ma Lin who won."

"I must've remembered wrong…" Song Yishi reasoned matter-of-factly.

"Next, it is Miss Song's turn…"

Song Yishi: "What year was the computer invented?"

Huo Mian: "1946."

"Correct," the host confirmed.

Huo Mian: "What was the earliest meaning of 'groom' in ancient China?"

Song Yishi: "A man entering into holy matrimony."

"Wrong, its earliest meaning was new scholars," the host corrected.

Song Yishi coughed quietly, feeling embarrassed…

The entire studio fell dead silent…

Song Yishi: "Do fish have hearts?"

Huo Mian: "Yes."

"Correct."

Huo Mian: "Do newborns cry tears?"

Song Yishi: "Yes."

"Wrong. Newborns do not shed tears when they cry."

In front of the television, Assistant Yang laughed. "I'm feeling second-hand embarrassment for Miss Song… Young Madam is truly too awesome!"

Song Yishi: "Suppose you put on a pot of water in a spaceship. How long will the water take to boil?"

Huo Mian: "It will never boil."

Huo Mian: "How many kilometers are in a light year?"

Song Yishi: "100,000 kilometers."

"Wrong, it's approximately 9.5 trillion kilometers," Huo Mian corrected Song Yishi herself this time.

"Mrs. Qin is correct." The host didn't dare to make eye contact with Song Yishi.

The audience fell dead silent once again…

With four questions asked, Song Yishi had gotten none of them correct while Huo Mian had gotten all of hers right. It was truly… embarrassing.

Song Yishi: "Who invented the first telescope?"

Huo Mian: "Galileo."

Huo Mian: "What year was penicillin invented?"

Song Yishi: "1-1966."

"Wrong, it's 1928," Huo Mian corrected.

"That doesn't count, medical knowledge is your specialty, you did that on purpose…" Song Yishi looked like she was about to burst out in tears from embarrassment.

Huo Mian, however, smiled but didn't say anything…

Song Yishi: "Which country is the famous tennis player, Schiavone, from?"

Huo Mian: "Italy."

Song Yishi was surprised…

Huo Mian immediately asked, "The four books of the Four Books and Five Classics include 'The Analects', 'The Great Learning', 'The Doctrine of the Mean', and what's the last one?"

Song Yishi looked confused…

Then, she replied "Tao Te Ching".

The scholars in the audience began to snicker…

Some even began to question Miss Song's love for classical Chinese literature. Shouldn't a master of traditional Chinese painting know more about the country's history?

"Miss Song, the correct answer is 'Mencius'," The host reminded, feeling bad for Song Yishi.

"I knew that. I just remembered wrong…" Her reason felt a little forced.

Song Yishi: "Who's the original singer of Hit Me Baby One More Time?"

Huo Mian: "Britney Spears."

Huo Mian immediately asked back, "Who received the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize?"

Song Yishi felt awkward as she was stumped again…

"That's such an easy question. Even I know the answer, how could Miss Song not know…" a girl in the audience mumbled to herself.

"Miss Song, you have a chance to seek help from the audience," The host reminded kindly.