Twig 枝丫 Zhīyā is a fantasy series written in Simplified Chinese characters for intermediate level adult readers. The table of contents is here.
Reviewing the word list prior to reading the chapter may help with enjoyment and comprehension.
张老板的沙漏在我这里。
我这样做，是为他好。
很多人不喜欢面对事实和现实，而张老板却选择面对它们，不管他喜不喜欢。
我不满足于事实和现实，我选择真理！
张老板觉得沙漏太重要了。
他把那个沙漏当作宝贝。
树是我们的宝贝。
每一代人都重视这棵树，我们也必须重视。
我们和树是同一个身体。
树让我们安心。
树关心我们。
树帮助我们。
我们选择树，因为树带来秩序。
树给我们身份。
树告诉我们我们是谁。
树给我们清楚的规则。
没有树，生活会很乱。
有树的生活比有真实自我的生活容易多了。
服从树是对的。服从树比服从真实的自我更好。
当我们错的时候，树给我们一些痛苦，也是为我们好。两个同时都是真的。树这么关心我们，我们怎么可能不听树的话？
我是真正的树的信徒，我们都应该是树的信徒。
我们一直都是这样做的。
没有沙漏，张老板很自由。他可以让他的想法更对。
这样，张老板应该成为树的信徒。
对大家来说，这是最好的。
像树知道对我们最好一样，我知道这样对张老板最好。
Word List
面对 miànduì face, confront
事实 shìshí fact
现实 xiànshí reality
而 ér but, yet, whereas
却 què however, on the contrary
满足于 mǎnzú yú satisfied with
真 zhēn true, real, genuine (v. 假 jiǎ false)
理 lǐ principle, reason, logic
真理 zhēnlǐ truth, universal truth, true principle
宝贝 bǎobèi treasure, baby, beloved item/person
当作宝贝 dàng zuò bǎobèi treat as a treasure
视 shì to look at, to see, to regard, to treat as
重视 zhòngshì to value, to take seriously
带来 dài lái to bring, to bring about, to cause, to bestow
秩序 zhìxù order
身份 shēnfèn identity
清楚 qīngchu clear
规则 guīzé rule, regulation
服从 fúcóng obey
真实的自我 zhēnshí de zìwǒ true self
痛苦 tòngkǔ pain, suffering
正 zhèng accurate, correct
真正 zhēnzhèng true, genuine
信 xìn belief, faith, trust
徒 tú disciple, follower, apprentice
信徒 xìntú a believer, a follower, a disciple (vs. 弟 dì younger brother / 徒弟 túdì apprentice learning a skill)
真正的树的信徒 zhēnzhèng de shù de xìntú a true follower of the tree, a true believer in the tree
Notes
1. The use of 满足 was inspired by Daily Chinese Expression 290「满足 VS 满意」 Intermediate Chinese podcast -Speak Chinese with Da Peng.
满足 mǎnzú to be satisfied in terms of needs or requirements; hunger, conditions, demands met
满意 mǎnyì to be pleased or content with something
2. I do my best to “show, don’t tell” in the story. I attempt to follow the guidance of William Carlos Williams: “No ideas but in things” and William Zinnser: “Is every word doing new work?” Yet, I also seek understanding of large abstractions: reality and truth, fact and belief. I wish to be able to discuss ideas in both English and in Chinese. Here’s part of the vocabulary I am trying to learn to use with knowledge, meaning, and skill.
实 shí real, true, honest
事实 shìshí fact
现实 xiànshí reality; what exists in the real world vs. illusion or idealism
实际 shíjì actual, practical; what is practical or concrete vs. theory or speculation
真 zhēn true, real
真实 zhēnshí genuine, real; describes facts, situations, feelings; not fake
真正 zhēnzhèng true, genuine; describes people, identity values; not false
真相 zhēnxiàng the truth
信 xìn belief, trust
相信 xiāngxìn to believe something is true, to trust someone
信念 xìnniàn belief, conviction; related to motivation, persistence, moral outlook
信仰 xìnyǎng deep belief, conviction
理 lǐ reason, logic, principle
真理 zhēnlǐ truth, universal truth, higher truth
假 jiǎ false, fake
意 yì thought, idea, intention, mind
意义 yìyì meaning, significance
无意义 wúyìyì meaningless (A 是无意义的: A is meaningless)
意识 yìshí consciousness, awareness, ideology
下意识 xiàyìshí beneath notice, automatically, subconsciously
无意识 wúyìshí without awareness, unconscious
注 zhù to pour, to direct; focus, concentrate
注意 zhùyì attention; lit. direct (focus) toward the mind or intention
重视 zhòngshì to value, to take seriously
有价值 yǒu jiàzhí have value; valuable
价值观 jiàzhíguān values, value system
优先 yōuxiān priority
次序 cìxù order; sequence; the natural or existing arrangement of things in order
优先次序 yōuxiān cìxù order of priority; a predefined or official sequence determining what comes first
排序 páixù to sort; to arrange in order; the action of putting things in order
根据重要性排序 gēnjù zhòngyào xìng páixù to rank in order according to importance; describes the act of arranging based on perceived importance
更多
The table of contents for the 枝丫 series is here.
枝丫2 begins here. The complete 枝丫2 story, so far, just 汉字，is here.
Word lists for review in Hack Chinese.
微故事 Wēigùshì, a series of occasional vignettes featuring objects in the 胡同 and in the lives of 枝丫’s denizens.
Main page: Twig 枝丫: A fantasy novel