双语阅读｜这就是我努力的理由

I was born in a poor family, 8 siblings, and life was 'hand-to-mouth'. If I recall my family experience, I would say each day was a challenge to keep our stomachs filled.

我出生在一个贫穷的家庭，有8个兄弟姐妹，生活“勉强糊口”。如果让我回忆童年经历，我觉得每一天都是一个挑战，而我们仅能勉强糊口。

At 18, I gave up a chance to study at a local university. I started working as a salesman because I knew it paid high returns for if I could work harder. I worked for Olivetti selling manual and electric typewriters, themes-copiers and calculators.

我18岁时，放弃了在本地大学学习的机会。我开始做推销员的工作，因为我知道只有努力工作，才会有可观的回报。我曾供职于奥利维蒂公司，销售手动和电动的打字机、复印机和计算器。

I put in a lot if time and efforts to learn the products so that I could demonstrate better. Every morning I carried a manual typewriter and shouldered an electric one, from the office to my 'discreet' about 2 miles away. I have to carry them because it took very long to arrange a demo unit thru the office protocol, and I was motivated to sell with my sweat and tears.

我投入了大量的时间和精力去了解产品，这样我就能更好地展示自己。每天早上，我提着一台手动打字机，扛着一台电动打字机，从办公室走到大约两英里外我那“不起眼的”办公室。但我必须带着它们，因为首先通过办公室协议安排一个演示单元花了很长时间，而且我被激励着用我的汗水和眼泪去销售。

The next 20 years I worked harder than graduate workers because jobs for non-graduates were scarce and low with pays.

在接下来的20年里，我比研究生更努力地工作，因为非研究生的工作不仅工种少而且工资偏低。

I understand the reasons I have to work this hard for extra miles. But no regret, and I cannot let this problem to happen to my children. I must ensure they get to pass the tertiary education and at least reach the fundamental standards in their career. I then paid for their education fees, even to the way to downgrade my property from larger to smaller unit; spending less, and taking reading in the libraries as hobby versus others which may cost more.

后来我明白了为什么我要比别人付出更多的努力去工作。 为了不留遗憾，为了不让同样的问题发生在我的孩子身上。我必须让他们接受高等教育，至少通过他们想要从事的工作的门槛。为了付学费，我甚至把大房子换成了小房子；为了不花冤枉钱，我们选择了在图书馆读书作为业余爱好，这样既花费较低，又能提升阅读。

My children understood and saw the simple lifestyle that my wife and myself are having. They say they will repay after they step into employment. They made their grades one by one, and all are working now.

我的孩子们目睹着，也理解我和妻子这种简单的生活方式。他们说，他们将会在找到工作有能力时回报我们。现在他们一个个取得了成绩，也都有了工作。

I told my children my past and let them know I gave them wings, but they must know the root!

我跟孩子们讲我的过去，让他们知道我给了他们能够展翅高飞翅膀，但同时他们必须知道根在哪！

I hope this conscious education essential trait will pass through the generations!

我希望这种教育意识能够代代相传！