Dialogue with Zhong Fangrong, a freshman in the Department of Archaeology, Peking University: It only took a few minutes to choose a major, but I will stick to it for a long time

  On September 1, the undergraduate freshmen of Peking University will report to the school. Zhong Fangrong, from Tongren Village, Yuqing Street, Leiyang City, Hunan Province, is about to start her university life at the School of Archaeology, Culture and Museum of Peking University.

  This past summer vacation was extremely lively for Zhong Fangrong. Since the release of Hunan Provincial College Entrance Examination results at the end of July, there has been an uninterrupted discussion on Zhong Fangrong's "high score of 676", "Fourth Place in Hunan Provincial College Entrance Examination for Liberal Arts", and "left-behind girls applying for the Department of Archaeology of Peking University". Zhong Fangrong himself rarely appeared in the media. What does this summer vacation mean to her family? What has her family experienced in the past few years? This week, the reporter of "Face to Face" came to Leiyang, Hunan and met Zhong Fangrong and her parents.

If you want a nap, don’t rush to check the score. "The one who wants to come out will always come out."

  On August 27, the reporter of "Face to Face" witnessed the whole process of Zhong Fangrong receiving the admission notice from Peking University at Zhengyuan School. The younger brothers and sisters applauded Zhong Fangrong, but she herself was very calm. This kind of calmness is no stranger. As early as a month ago, when the Hunan college entrance examination results were released on July 23, Zhong Fangrong showed her calmness when everyone was vying to check the score.

Reporter: You don't check the points when you say you want to check the points. You said I still want to take a nap?

Zhong Fangrong: Yes.

Reporter: Really, why don't you care about scores so much?

Zhong Fangrong: No hurry.

Reporter: Why not hurry?

Zhong Fangrong: If you want to come out, you will always come out.

Reporter: Are you sure of the high scores?

Zhong Fangrong: Not sure.

Reporter: Are you still in a hurry?

Zhong Fangrong: No hurry, I think there should be one more book.

Reporter: After you finished the exam, what did you think of yourself as the worst?

Zhong Fangrong: I didn't have the answer, I felt that the performance was a bit bad. The Chinese test was quite flustered at the time. There were many alterations in the composition, and some paragraphs were written incorrectly. My intuition would probably be over 600 points.

Mother: The daughter finally has a good life. Her child will not become a left-behind child.

  During the college entrance examination, Zhong Fangrong's parents worked outside. The first to know Zhong Fangrong's score, and the 676 points were determined to be the fourth place in the liberal arts of Hunan Province, her principal and teacher. Later, mother Liu Xiaoyi learned of the news through the parent group.

  Different from Zhong Fangrong's calmness, her parents immediately asked her boss for leave and rushed back to her hometown after learning of her college entrance examination score.

Reporter: What was your state of mind when you knew that your daughter did so well in the exam?

Zhong Fangrong's mother Liu Xiaoyi: I feel as if I am dreaming and I am very happy. When I was with my colleague, I shared it with her and jumped up happily.

Reporter: What did you immediately think of at that time?

Zhong Fangrong's mother Liu Xiaoyi: My daughter is finally promising and can change her destiny.

Reporter: What does it mean to change your own destiny?

Zhong Fangrong’s mother Liu Xiaoyi: A good life is better than ours.

Reporter: What do you understand about a good life?

Zhong Fangrong's mother Liu Xiaoyi: I understand that a good life is to worry about food and clothing. She will not need to be like me in the future. It is said online that she is a left-behind child, and her child will not become a left-behind child in the future, and they can be together happily as a family.

Growing up in hope of their parents "They really came back, but I am ashamed to call them"

  "Stay behind" is a topic Zhong Fangrong cannot avoid. Her hometown, Tongren Village, Yuqing Subdistrict, Leiyang City, Hunan Province, is located in the mountainous area of ​​southern Hunan Province. Because of the shortage of land resources, since the late 1980s, working outside has become the only way for the villagers to get rich.

  Zhong Fangrong's father, Zhong Yuan, was 13 years old. He dropped out of school when he was in the sixth grade of elementary school and went home. He first worked in farming for two years and then went to work in Guangdong. In Guangdong, Zhong Yuanwei met and married Liu Xiaoyi, who worked in a garment factory in Zhongshan City. Zhong Fangrong was born in March 2002. A few months later, in order to make a living, Zhong Fangrong's parents set foot on the road of migrant workers one after another.

  Like other parents who go to work in other places, they return to their hometown once a year during the Spring Festival. After a short stay, they return to the other places to continue working. The cycle repeats, Zhong Fangrong grew up with his grandparents.

Zhong Fangrong: They were looking forward to it before they came back. We would wait on the road next to home every time they came back, but when they came, we were a little bit embarrassed and would not call them.

Reporter: Why not call it?

Zhong Fangrong: I haven't seen each other for a long time. I see it once a year. I feel a bit unfamiliar, because many of the parents of the children around are not at home, so I am used to it.

  In 2006, Zhong Fangrong's younger brother was born, and both siblings were taken care of by grandparents. In villages, this situation is common, and the couple in Guangdong rarely communicate with their growing daughter.

Zhong Fangrong’s father Zhong Yuanwei: It’s going to be the sixth grade after finishing fifth grade. The teacher told our parents that your granddaughter is so good at school, don’t read here. If you can’t read here, he said he would go to the city better. She may be able to go to school.

"They ask me to do their best"

  Zhong Yuanwei and his wife only have elementary and junior high school education. Because they don't have much culture, they have suffered a lot during the years outside. The couple hope that their children can change their destiny through knowledge.

  In 2012, Zhong Yuanwei sent Zhong Fangrong to Zhengyuan School in Leiyang City. Zhengyuan School is an all-boarding private school, you can read from the first grade of junior high to the third grade. In order to make up for the regret of not being with his children, Zhong Yuanwei continued to work in Guangdong this time, while his wife Liu Xiaoyi stayed in his hometown, working in a garment factory nearby, and accompanied his children.

  Later, Zhong Yuanwei transferred his son to Zhengyuan School. Studying in a private school means expensive tuition. The cost of the two children's studies forced Liu Xiaoyi to leave home again and go to Guangdong to earn a higher income.

Reporter: Can you understand why your parents are not with you?

Zhong Fangrong: I understand very well. My family is in a rural area. If my grandparents don’t have much money for farming, it may be a problem for me to go to school. They can make more money by working outside. I have been to their factories and I have seen that they are actually very hard working.

Reporter: Can you understand them?

Zhong Fangrong: Yes , because my parents are not around, my grandparents will take me. I think I have to rely on myself for everything and I will be more independent.

  Living alone for a long time, Zhong Fangrong formed an independent character. Although they cannot accompany their children, nor can they provide academic counseling, the Zhong Yuanwei couple, who are far away in Guangdong, still silently support their daughter in their own way.

Zhong Fangrong: After high school, I paid more attention to grades. My parents also value my grades very much. In general, they will add everything to the class and then pay attention to my grades. Sometimes I don’t do well in the exams and encourage me.

Reporter: How to encourage?

Zhong Fangrong: Just say "just do your best", and their requirement of me is "just do your best". I will feel less stressed when I see the simple words.

It only took a few minutes to choose archaeology. "I like every excavation to find and surprise."

  With clear goals, sober self-control, and the school's meticulous management with the college entrance examination as the goal, Zhong Fangrong's results have always been among the best. On July 23, the college entrance examination results were released. Zhong Fangrong scored 676 points, ranking fourth in the liberal arts of Hunan Province. The principal drove from Leiyang City to Tongren Village overnight to set off fireworks for Zhong Fangrong's achievements; Zhong Yuanwei and his wife also rushed home from Guangdong as soon as possible. While they are still immersed in the joy of their grades, Zhong Fangrong has already made the decision to apply for the archaeology major of Peking University.

Reporter: Like it?

Zhong Fangrong: Yes, I like it.

Reporter: Since when did you like it?

Zhong Fangrong: If I don't remember, I feel that I have always been interested in history when I was young.

Reporter: The master of such a big thing?

Zhong Fangrong: Yes.

Reporter: How long did it take to make this decision?

Zhong Fangrong: A few minutes.

Reporter: Do you think you can stick to it?

Zhong Fangrong: I think so. Even if I don't like something, I can continue to do it. If I like it, I will stick to it longer. I think every time I dig is a discovery and a surprise.

Zhong Fangrong’s mother Liu Xiaoyi: We don’t know what the Archaeology Department will do, and we don’t know what profession to make money. We can only respect her choice, she has the right to choose what she likes. She is a person with dreams, and she wants to realize her dreams.

"I was pleasantly surprised when I received the gift. I am very grateful that I am just an ordinary student in the Department of Archaeology"

  Zhong Fangrong’s decision to apply for the Department of Archaeology at Peking University was reported by the media and quickly aroused heated discussions. Some people did not understand her choice and believed that the major of archaeology was too unpopular and had no future; some people felt that children from poor backgrounds who chose archaeology would lose their gains. Opportunities for high income; people in the archaeological world rushed to express their support for her. Many museums even directly sent gifts to Zhong Fangrong. The gifts totaled 50 kilograms. The video of her unpacking packages was also widely spread on the Internet. Zhong Fangrong Therefore, it is called "archaeological circle pet".

Reporter: There are many professionals in the archaeological world, museums, and research institutions who send you gifts and support you.

Zhong Fangrong: I am very surprised and grateful. We have never seen each other. I am just an ordinary student in the Department of Archaeology. They gave me so many gifts.

  Producer丨Zhang Shifeng

  Reporter丨Dong Qian

  Planning丨Zhang Hongfei

  Director丨Wang Huidong

  Editor丨Zhang Hongfei

  Camera 丨 Yang Fan Zhang Yawei