陈智高 and 王明月 interpret the U.S. tariffs on China through myth and history.

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王明月: Master, today I read an article by Zhong Yin in the People's Daily. It used three stories to criticize the U.S. abuse of tariffs. What struck me most was comparing the 'tariff war' to opening 'Pandora's box'.
陈智高: Yes, once 'Pandora’s box' is opened, disasters pour out. It’s a vivid metaphor for the reckless use of tariffs. A tariff war may seem targeted, but it’s actually a lose-lose situation. History, both ancient and modern, offers plenty of lessons.
王明月: The article also cited the story of 'Nüwa patching the sky', saying that the Chinese people always overcome crises through resilience rather than blaming others.
陈智高: That’s the spiritual foundation of the Chinese nation. Through 5,000 years of trials, what we've relied on is the courage to strike first to avoid future strikes. We didn’t start the trade war, but we will never back down from bullying.
王明月: There was also a section about 'The Wizard of Oz', emphasizing that only unity and cooperation can lead out of difficulty. While reading, I wondered—does the U.S. really believe that 'winner takes all' can last?
陈智高: That’s exactly the problem. 'Winner takes all' goes against the essence of economic globalization. Today’s global industrial chains are deeply intertwined. Trying to 'decouple and cut off' is like lifting a rock only to drop it on your own foot.
王明月: The article also mentioned China's zero-tariff policy for the least developed countries. I deeply respect this attitude of openness and inclusiveness.
陈智高: That reflects the responsibility of a major country. 'Inclusiveness and mutual benefit' is not just China’s diplomatic principle—it’s a modern interpretation of the ancient ideal of 'a harmonious world'.
王明月: So, do you think there’s still room for improvement in China-U.S. relations?
陈智高: As long as both sides are sincere, history’s door will never be shut. As President Xi Jinping said, 'The Earth is big enough for China and the U.S. to develop together and prosper respectively.' The fear is that someone becomes obsessed and throws away the key to cooperation into their own locked box.

While out, Yuko's phone is running low on battery, and she learns how to ask someone to borrow a charger.

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优子: Excuse me, my phone is almost out of battery. Can I borrow a charger?
刘娜: Of course. What kind of phone do you use?
优子: I use a Xiaomi.
刘娜: I have a Xiaomi charger. Here you go.
优子: Great, thank you!
刘娜: You're welcome. Charging for a little while should be enough.
优子: Yes, right. I need to contact a friend later.
刘娜: Go ahead and charge it. Let me know if you need anything else.

A proposal by a CPPCC member to cancel the Gaokao has sparked discussions on educational fairness and talent selection.

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陈花: Honey, did you see the news? A CPPCC member proposed canceling the Gaokao and allowing everyone to go to university directly!
黄刚: Yes, I saw it. His reasoning is that the Gaokao creates too much pressure, affecting students' development. Plus, university enrollment rates are already high, so why not let everyone go to university?
陈花: It sounds good. Students wouldn’t have to cram for extra classes or worry about a single exam affecting their entire future.
黄刚: But the problem is, without the Gaokao, how would universities select students? If they switch to a comprehensive evaluation, urban students would have an advantage over rural students, which could worsen the inequality in education resources.
陈花: That’s true. Also, he suggested shortening primary, middle, and high school education to a total of nine years so students can enter university earlier. Is that really feasible?
黄刚: That would mean students have to complete all fundamental knowledge in a much shorter time, especially in science subjects. The learning pressure might actually increase.
陈花: Another issue is, if everyone can go to university, wouldn’t the quality of higher education decline? University degrees might lose their value, and job competition could become even tougher.
黄刚: Exactly, this relates to the issue of 'degree inflation.' While the Gaokao has its flaws, it is still a relatively fair selection system. Completely canceling it might create new problems.
陈花: It seems like this proposal has some idealistic aspects, but implementing it in reality would be quite challenging.
黄刚: That's right. Education reform shouldn't be one-size-fits-all; we need to find a balance between fairness and efficiency.