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.

Liu Na and Yuko talk about how to stay healthy. Yuko shares her habit of playing tennis and asks Liu Na for other health tips.

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刘娜: Yuko, how do you usually stay healthy?
优子: I often play tennis. It helps me stay fit.
刘娜: Playing tennis is great! How often do you play?
优子: Two or three times a week, about an hour each time.
刘娜: Nice! Besides exercise, do you pay attention to your diet?
优子: Yes, I try to eat healthy food, especially vegetables and fruits.
刘娜: Very good! You can try drinking goji berry tea. It's also good for your health.
优子: Sounds nice. I’ll give it a try next time!

陈智高 and 王明月 discuss the significance of pension increases and analyze the real challenges behind them.

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王明月: Master, the Ministry of Finance said pensions increased by 3% last year and will continue to be adjusted next year. That’s good news, right?
陈智高: Of course, when pensions increase, elderly people have a more comfortable life. But have you thought about where the money comes from?
王明月: Hmm… It comes from the social security contributions of younger workers, right?
陈智高: Yes. The problem is that as the population ages, more people are retiring while fewer people are paying into the system, which puts pressure on the pension fund.
王明月: No wonder the government is pushing for delayed retirement, so people contribute for more years and withdraw for fewer years.
陈智高: Exactly. Pensions are not just a welfare policy but a balancing tool for society. They need to ensure a good life for the elderly without overburdening the younger generation.
王明月: Is a 3% increase considered a lot?
陈智高: Compared to previous years' increases of 5% and 4.5%, it’s less. But the key is stability—raising pensions irresponsibly could strain public finances.
王明月: So, a pension increase sounds like good news, but making it sustainable is quite a challenge.
陈智高: That’s right. The pension issue can't be solved just by increasing payouts. We also need to improve the system, encourage personal pension savings, and develop the elderly care industry, so seniors not only 'have money to spend' but also 'live well.'

Teacher Liu explains to David the taboos to be aware of when giving gifts in China.

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大卫: I want to give a gift to my Chinese friend. Do you have any suggestions?
刘娜: Don’t give a clock, because 'giving a clock' sounds like 'attending a funeral' and is considered unlucky.
大卫: What else shouldn't I give?
刘娜: Don’t give an umbrella, because the word sounds like 'separation', which implies parting.
大卫: I see. So what are good gifts to give?
刘娜: Tea, books, or local specialties are all good choices.
大卫: What if it’s for an elder?
刘娜: You can give health products, good tea, or a scarf to show care.
大卫: Got it. Thanks for the advice, Teacher Liu!
刘娜: You're welcome. I hope your friend will like the gift!

黄刚 and 陈花 discuss the pros and cons of canceling early morning and evening self-study sessions, as well as issues of educational equity.

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陈花: Did you see the news? Many high schools in cities have canceled early morning and evening self-study sessions, so students can finally get more sleep!
黄刚: Yes, I saw it. But in many smaller towns, schools are still reluctant to cancel them, saying it affects college admission rates.
陈花: That’s true. City kids have more resources—they can easily find tutors or extra classes—but for kids in rural areas, self-study sessions might be their only dedicated study time.
黄刚: Exactly, and some parents are actually against canceling evening self-study because they worry their kids will just end up going to internet cafés or playing games.
陈花: But does forcing students to study longer really improve efficiency? Some research suggests that excessive studying just makes students more exhausted without necessarily improving their grades.
黄刚: That’s the ‘theater effect,’ right? If everyone stands up to see the stage, in the end, everyone is just more tired, but no one can sit down.
陈花: So what’s the solution? Completely canceling it might be unfair to students with weaker academic foundations, but maintaining high-intensity study sessions isn’t good for students’ overall development either.
黄刚: Maybe a tiered approach could work—stronger students could be given the option to study independently, while those who need more help could stay for extra tutoring. That way, it would be truly fair.
陈花: Yes, education reform isn’t just about ‘adding’ or ‘subtracting’—the key is to find a method that works best for each student.

Liu Na and Yuko talk about cooking. Yuko says she can make some simple Chinese dishes and asks Liu Na for advice.

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刘娜: Yuko, can you cook Chinese food?
优子: A little, like scrambled eggs and stir-fried vegetables.
刘娜: Not bad! Do you think Chinese food is hard to make?
优子: Some dishes are a bit difficult, like braised pork.
刘娜: Braised pork does require some skill. Do you want to learn?
优子: Yes! Can you teach me next time?
刘娜: Of course! Come to my place this weekend, and I'll teach you.
优子: Great! Thank you, Teacher Liu!