第十一章：生态友好的
Wang Xuemei imagines telling her son, Xiaoxiao Li, about her work.
Twig 枝丫 Zhīyā is a serialized fantasy novel written in Simplified Chinese characters for intermediate level Mandarin Chinese readers.
上海很热。王雪梅拉上了办公室白色的窗帘，这样她就可以更清楚地看到她的电脑屏幕了。
在王雪梅看来，她的工作有两个目的。第一个是将锂释放。第二个是用生态友好的办法。
她低下头，仔细地看着她的屏幕。关于她的两个目的，她想过很多次，也尝试了很多方法。她错过了什么细节？太复杂了！
也许她可以假装和小小李说话，如果她解释得很简单，她会发现一个新方法吗？
她在脑子里开始想：
公司开采了有锂的石头和土，叫粘土矿。公司用酸、高温和别的办法提取锂。用过的酸剩下了。不像剩菜剩饭一样，剩下的酸有毒，不能用了！
突然，王雪梅想起了她的妈妈做饭。当她和父母一起住在家乡时，在做饭之前，为了把硬肉变成软肉，妈妈用了小苏打。就像小苏打可以把硬肉变成软肉一样，强酸也可以被变成软的、中性的物质吗？
王雪梅想起了丈夫。小李告诉她，他的爸爸，老李，在自己的手指上划了一个口子，拿起夹子，开始拔一根枝丫。她恐惧得发抖。老李说他想要释放真实的自我。
他真实的自我会释放吗？ 锂会释放吗？
她体内的树在颤抖。
麻烦，麻烦，王雪梅想。她回去工作了。
Word List
态 tài state, form, condition
生态友好的 shēngtài yǒu hǎo de eco-friendly / safe for the environment
屏幕 píngmù screen
将 jiāng to, will; can indicate an upcoming action or a sense of "taking" or "moving" something
锂 lǐ lithium
释放 shìfàng to release, to free
仔 zǐ young, small
细 xì fine, thin, detailed, slender, delicate
仔细 zǐxì careful, attentive
细节 xì jié details, particulars
锂 lǐ lithium
释放 shìfàng something within freed or released [vs. 解放 jiěfàng freed, released from control, which is used in Chapter 1: 老李用刚解放出来的手摸了摸孙子明亮的脸。]
假装 jiǎzhuāng pretend
解释 jiěshì explain
开采 kāicǎi to mine
粘土矿 niántǔ kuàng clay minerals
酸 suān acid
强酸 qiángsuān strong acid
提取 tíqǔ extract
剩 shèng to remain, to be left, to have as a remainder
剩菜剩饭 shèng cài shèng fàn leftover food
毒药 dúyào poison
预先 yùxiān beforehand, in advance
小苏打 xiǎo sūdǎ baking soda; NaHCO3, sodium bicarbonate, an alkaline substance used to neutralize acid solutions
发抖 fā dǒu to tremble; to shake; to shiver, to tremble with fear; experienced within a person; caused by cold, fear, excitement; an involuntary response
颤抖 chàn dǒu to shudder; to shiver; to shake; to tremble; physically observable from the outside
恐惧 kǒngjù fear, dread
The inspiration for using the electric vehicle industry for the characters' occupations in 枝丫 was inspired by Andrew Methven, founder of RealTime Mandarin, who covers the electric vehicle industry in China. Here's one of his recent posts. For consultation about lithium, I am grateful to friend and scholar Tian Gan, Ph.D.
Resources
Chapter 11 PPT slide with a highlighted grammar point, related vocabulary, example sentences, and AI-generated images to study on your own or to discuss
The story so far, just 汉字, no pinyin or word lists.
Google Translate English version, first few chapters.
More learning materials
Links to all PPT slides are on the table of contents.
Word lists are available for review in Hack Chinese.
More resources are on the for students page.
More about the story
Table of contents includes links to chapters, audio recordings, and PPT slides.
Main page: Twig 枝丫: A fantasy novel