Many regions have introduced parental leave policies, but men often face rejection or are even marked as absent without leave when they apply.

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黄刚: Hua, did you notice the recent news? Many places now have parental leave policies, but people say it's hard to actually take the leave.
陈花: I saw that, especially for men — some companies treat paternity leave as absenteeism and may even fire employees for it.
黄刚: Yeah, the government created parental leave so both parents could take care of their children, but many workplaces only recognize the mother’s leave.
陈花: That’s because of traditional views. Many people still think that taking care of children is the mother’s job, so they don’t understand when fathers take leave.
黄刚: But experts say that if only mothers bear the responsibility, it increases pressure on women in the workplace. Encouraging fathers to take leave creates real equality.
陈花: I think companies are mostly worried about the cost. If they have to pay full salaries during leave, they’re reluctant to approve it.
黄刚: Exactly. That’s why some suggest that maternity insurance funds, or even the government and individuals, share the costs — then companies have no excuse.
陈花: Yes, for the policy to truly work, we need both institutional guarantees and changes in social attitudes. Otherwise, parental leave remains just a ‘paper benefit’.

At 59, Li Ruotong was mistaken by Thai customs for having a fake passport because she looked so young.

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优子: Liu, did you hear? The actress Li Ruotong went to Thailand and was suspected by customs of having a fake passport.
刘娜: I heard! She’s 59 this year but looks like she’s 30, no wonder they misunderstood.
优子: That’s amazing! I know her from TV dramas — her skin is really beautiful.
刘娜: She said her secret is keeping up exercise for thirty years. She runs and does strength training every day, even turns her living room into a gym.
优子: Wow, I couldn’t do that. I always give up after a few days.
刘娜: Consistency is the most important thing. She also said, ‘Age is just a number, your state is the real answer.’
优子: I love that saying! I want to start exercising from today too.

Exploring the geographic and historical roots of the Chinese saying 'sweet in the south, salty in the north; spicy in the east, sour in the west.'

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小潘: After coming to Beijing, I noticed something interesting. The cafeteria dishes are quite salty, but when I went to Shanghai, the food was a bit sweet. Is that just a coincidence?
刘娜: It’s not a coincidence! There’s an old saying in China: 'sweet in the south, salty in the north; spicy in the east, sour in the west.' It perfectly sums up regional tastes. You’ve observed very carefully.
小潘: So there’s a pattern! Why did these differences form? Is it due to geography?
刘娜: Yes! The south produces a lot of sugarcane and fruit, so sugar is more available, and southern cuisine values fresh, delicate flavors—adding sugar softens the taste. In the north, fresh vegetables were scarce in winter in the past, so people relied on salty pickles to get through the season and got used to saltier flavors.
小潘: What about 'spicy east, sour west'? I know Sichuan food is spicy, but why do western regions like sour flavors?
刘娜: Sichuan and Hunan are humid, and eating spicy food helps dispel dampness. In the west, like Shanxi, the soil and water are more alkaline, so sourness helps neutralize it. Shanxi’s aged vinegar is very famous—they love adding vinegar to many dishes.
小潘: How interesting! Food culture is so closely linked to geography.
刘娜: Exactly! Even though transportation is well-developed now and you can eat cuisines from all over, these traditional tastes still influence eating habits. Understanding this helps you better grasp local cultures across China.

Fake tickets and forced entry incidents occurred at Jay Chou’s concert, leading to police involvement.

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优子: Teacher Liu, I saw the news! At Jay Chou’s concert, someone was taken away by the police for using a fake ticket. Is that true?
刘娜: It’s true. At the Shanghai concert, some scalpers sold fake tickets, and someone even tried to force their way in. They were detained.
优子: That’s so scary! I’ve also bought concert tickets online before, now I feel a bit worried.
刘娜: That’s why the police remind everyone of the ‘three no’s principle’: don’t trust unofficial sources, don’t pay deposits, and don’t ask others to buy tickets for you.
优子: I understand. From now on, I’ll only buy tickets from official platforms, even if they’re more expensive, it’s safer.
刘娜: Yes, safety is the most important thing. True fans shouldn’t be cheated by scalpers, nor should they let madness overshadow their love for music.

China is attracting large numbers of Russian tourists with its prices and culture, promoting exchange.

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小宝: Brother, did you know? Recently, a lot of Russians have come to travel in China!
小刚: I saw it on the news too—this summer, nearly 900,000 people have come. They stay in China for about nine days on average, much more than before.
小宝: Why don’t they go to other places?
小刚: Plane tickets to China are cheaper than to other countries, and there are lots of things to eat and do. Plus, China-Russia relations are really good now, so everyone wants to see the real China.
小宝: What do Russians like about China?
小刚: Some like the Great Wall in Beijing, some want to eat hot pot, and some want to buy Chinese souvenirs. Others say Chinese people are very warm and friendly, which makes them feel welcomed.
小宝: Wow, so in the future we can be friends with Russian kids too, right?
小刚: That’s right! 'Isn’t it a joy to have friends coming from afar?' The more we interact, the more everyone learns new things!

小美 is a detective, and 小宝 claims to have an alibi, but 小美 uncovers the truth.

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小美: 小宝, who ate this chocolate?
小宝: It wasn’t me, I have an alibi.
小美: Where do you say you were?
小宝: I was in the living room watching TV.
小美: But there are chocolate fingerprints on the TV.
小宝: Huh? Really?
小美: Yes, and there’s also your cup on the table.
小宝: Uh… that’s where I put it when I drank water.
小美: So you were actually next to the chocolate, right?
小宝: Sorry, I really couldn’t resist eating a little.
小美: Next time remember to tell the truth, detectives always find out!

Chinese rookie Yang Hansen drew attention with an impressive performance in the NBA preseason.

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小宝: Brother, did you watch the basketball game yesterday? I heard from Dad that there was a Chinese player who played really well!
小刚: Of course I watched! His name is Yang Hansen, and he’s a new player in the NBA. Yesterday he scored sixteen points in just seventeen minutes on the court.
小宝: Wow, that’s amazing! There are so many foreigners in the NBA—wasn’t he scared?
小刚: He’s very brave and calm. Even NBA commissioner Adam Silver praised him and said he has a bright future.
小宝: Do you think he’ll become as famous as Yao Ming?
小刚: It’s possible! But he still needs to practice a lot and play more games to become even stronger.
小宝: I want to learn basketball too—one day I want to join the NBA like him!
小刚: Great! Let’s start by practicing shooting for ten minutes every day, starting with the basics.

In Nanchang, a woman named her mixed-heritage daughter “武雪丽莎芭蕊,” a longer-than-usual name that sparked debate.

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小潘: Teacher Liu, I saw in the news that a little girl is named “武雪丽莎芭蕊.” Her name has six characters—so unique!
刘娜: Yes. Her mother is Chinese and her father is Israeli, so they chose a name that blends Chinese and foreign elements.
小潘: I see. I thought Chinese names are usually short.
刘娜: Generally they are, but the law doesn’t set a limit on character count. As long as it doesn’t violate public order and good customs, it can be registered.
小潘: Then why did her mother choose such a long name?
刘娜: She said “雪丽” was chosen by the father, meaning “gift,” and “莎芭蕊” is a transliteration of the father’s surname. Also, since this year is the Year of the Snake, she used three characters with the grass radical.
小潘: Oh, I get it. A name isn’t just a label; it can reflect culture and a family’s story.