During the Northern Song Dynasty, there was a famous member of the literati named Ouyang Xiu. His sublime literature won him fame and success, and he was hailed as one of the Eight Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties. When Ouyang Xiu was four years old, his father passed away. As his family was very poor, Ouyang Xiu and his mother frequently went hungry. However, Ouyang Xiu’s mother, Madam Cheng, did not give up on Ouyang Xiu’s education even though they were poor. Since she could not afford to send Ouyang Xiu to school, Madam Cheng had to think of other ways to teach her son how to read and write.

One day she told Ouyang Xiu,“Come with me, my son. I am going to teach you how to read and write.” Ouyang Xiu happily followed his mother out of the house. Seeing there was neither pen nor paper, Ouyang Xiu looked at his mother doubtfully and asked,“Mum, what are you going to teach me with?”Madam Cheng plucked a reed, and used it to trace letters in the sand. She then taught Ouyang Xiu what the letters meant. Ouyang Xiu also plucked a reed, and began to learn how to read and write. After a few years, Ouyang Xiu learned enough to read on his own. Since he could not afford to buy books, his mother took him to a neighbor’s house to borrow books to read. Sometimes, Ouyang Xiu would make a copy of the book’s contents so he would not forget.

Many years later, Ouyang Xiu grew up and took the imperial examinations. He won first place, and became a high-ranking official. After he came home, Ouyang Xiu’s mother told him,“Your father was always a law-abiding official, and never accepted bribes or took what wasn’t his. He also helped the poor and needy. I hope you will follow in your father’s footsteps, and be a good and honest official.” Hearing this, Ouyang Xiu felt touched and told his mother,“Mother, I will remember your teachings. I promise not to let you down.” This story teaches us to never give up on education, no matter how poor you are, and the greatness of a mother’s love.

　　北宋時期，有位傑出的文學家歐陽修，文章寫得十分出色，具有極高的成就，被稱為唐宋八大家之一。在歐陽修四歲的時候，父親就過世了，家裡的環境很貧窮，常常連吃飯都吃不飽。但是，歐陽修的母親鄭夫人，並沒有因為環境不好，而放棄了歐陽修的教導。可是，又沒有錢讓歐陽修去上學。
　　這天，鄭夫人想到一個方法，對著歐陽修說：「孩子，你跟我到屋子外面來，娘要教你讀書。」歐陽修高興的跟著母親走到屋外。歐陽修懷疑的看著母親說：「娘，你要怎麼教我讀書呢？」只看到，鄭夫人用一根荻草桿當筆，教歐陽修認字，歐陽修也跟著母親拿起荻草桿練習寫字。過了幾年後，長大的歐陽修，因為家裡沒有書讓他讀，母親就會帶他到鄰居家借書來讀，有時候也會把書的內容抄寫下來。
　　後來，歐陽修長大以後，參加科舉考試，得到了第一名，做了大官。這時候，歐陽修的母親對他說：「孩子，你父親做官的時候，奉公守法，不會為自己謀求財物，還會接濟貧苦的百姓，希望你也可以效法你的父親，成為一位好官員。」母親的話讓歐陽修感動的說：「娘，我一定會記住您的教誨，不讓您失望。」這個故事告訴了我們，雖然在貧困中也不能放棄讀書的希望，以及母親的偉大。