The Road Not Taken: The Growing Up Story of Zheng Yaqi
“童话大王”儿子的另类成长故事
Zheng Yaqi, son of Zheng Yuanjie, the “King of Children's Tales,” looks like his peers in appearance, but his experience of growing up was different from others.
Homeschooling Right after he finished his middle school entrance exam, Zheng Yaqi dropped out of school forever. After that, his father turned a spare room into a classroom and taught him at home.
His father wrote some interesting textbooks for him, like rearranging1 the 419 crimes in Chinese Criminal Law into 419 fairy tales. They had three classes every afternoon. At dusk, his father always took him for a walk along the riverbank, and discussed with him various topics from TV or books.
Zheng Yaqi finished the six-year middle school education in three years, and graduated from this special “school.”
“Black hole” in communication His father once worried that, he might not be able to get along well with his peers. But at a cyber acquaintances'2 gathering, his father became confident of his social ability.
“The first gathering with cyber acquaintances happened a half year after I left school, and it was fantastic. They were all men, and a lot older than me. We talked about computers and discussed designing a website together. They pointed at me, saying that when I was 18, we would establish a company together, and I could be the boss.”Recalling things that happened, Zheng Yaqi can't help being excited, “That's more fun than staying with peers.” Cyber acquaintances are the most important tie between him and the outside world, so 80% of his contacts listed in his address book are cyber acquaintances.
Grown up When he was 16, his father “warned” him by saying, “I'll give you whatever you want before you turn 18. But after, I won't care much about you, and by contrast, you should give me whatever I want.” When his 18th birthday was approaching, he began thinking about applying for a job. Therefore, he sent resumes to many posts he favored via the Internet. “But, most got no reply,” he said. “Maybe they were surprised about my elementary school education.” By chance, one of his friends was looking for someone, who could work as an egg porter at the supermarket, for 0.5 yuan per box. Facing lots of difficulties in job hunting, Zheng Yaqi said, “I'll take this job. At least I can earn some for my petrol.” Then every day, he drove his Audi A6—his 18th birthday gift—to work in the supermarket. He did that for three months.
Later, he heard that, a newspaper was looking for a network technician3, so he applied for it. But they were also worried about his elementary education. He practiced his technique right in front of the computer, and showed the employers web pages he had designed. He promised to make a website for the newspaper for free. He started work the next day, and was promoted to the director of network department in less than a year.
But now, 23-year-old Zheng Yaqi is a boss. In January 2005, he made an investment4 with his savings, and launched Pi Pilu, with himself as the editor in chief. And the only writer—his father, Zheng Yuanjie.
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