As I remember, my father slapped me in the face only twice.

If it had not been for my father’s two slaps, what would I be like now? I would probably become a gambler, a robber, even a prisoner.

The first time my father hit me in the face was in 1983, when I was a junior middle school student. For a time, I lost interest in study and hated going to school.

One winter’s afternoon, I joined two other boys and began to play a game.

Each of us took out a five fen coin and carefully piled them on a large brick. Then each took his turn to strike at the coins with a copper coin. Whoever knocked the coins off the brick onto the ground would own them.

I was lucky enough to win five jiao, a large sum of money to a youngster in those days. How I enioyed myself picking up the coins!

But my joy was short lived. Father caught me and gave me a slap. I was more frightened than hurt. Tears rolled down my face. From then on, I picke up my books and studied harder.

Ten years later, I became a teacher in a country school.

When money became a religion for many people, I got into the bad habit of playing mahjong.I used to spend whole afternoons and nights gambling. My work and students suffered.

One night, at about midnight my father stormed into my dormitory. It was a dirty room full of smoke. Four of us teachers were busy playing mahjong. Father came towards me, his eyes and mouth wide open. He ordered me out of the room. Then he gave me a hard slap.

Still trembling, he turned and left. I was dumbfounded, embarrassed and shamfaced. Though I didn’t cry, I couldn’t sleep for the next few days.

The slap made me realize that my gambling had ruined my work. And it also harmed my morals and health. It not only cost money, but time as well.

I was startled when I learned of George Washington’s letter to his nephew. The great US president said:”Gambling is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, and the father of mischief. It has been the ruin of many worthy families, the loss of many a man’s honour, and the cause of suicide.

In a word, few gain by this abominable practice, while thousands are injured.”

Thanks to my father’s two slaps. I have never gambled since---and I never will in future.