It was the winter I learned to cook hearts. Back then, my apartment was small, and the was heavy. I had and warnings of , so every cent counted. Still, there was a certain pleasure in slicing artichokes, basting them in oil on a low flame, and waiting for their to with garlic. Some evenings, I wrapped small jars as for friends—small tokens, really—while I listened to my roommate explain how believed in learning through observation, not just books.
那是我学会做朝鲜蓟心菜的那个冬天。 那时，我的公寓很小，开销却很大。 我拖欠房租，还收到了驱逐警告，所以每一分钱都很重要。 尽管如此，切朝鲜蓟、用小火在油里慢炖，并等待它们的香味与大蒜一同焦糖化，还是有一种特别的乐趣。 有些晚上，我会把小罐子包装成送给朋友的礼物——说实话，只是些小玩意儿——同时听我的室友解释培根是如何相信通过观察学习，而不仅仅是读书的。
During those evenings, I started to understand , not only in the kitchen but with money. I opened a for my future on a home, and set aside a modest sum for my . My friend suggested and even a , saying was the real secret, like mixing different herbs. She explained that a or an could sometimes better results than chasing the next or hoping the bank would my savings account rate.
那些晚上，我开始理解自律，不仅是在厨房里，也包括在金钱方面。 我为将来买房的首付款存了一笔定期存款，并为我的退休基金留出了一笔不小的数额。 我的朋友建议我考虑公积金甚至共同基金，说多元化才是真正的秘诀，就像混合不同的香草一样。 她解释说，国债或指数基金有时能带来比追逐下一轮融资或希望银行匹配我储蓄账户利率更好的回报。
Now, years later, the lessons have stuck with me the same way the aroma of caramelised garlic clings to old cookbooks. Although my overhead has changed—now including a rather than rent—I still prepare for each with care. and other supports have helped here and there, but in the end, it's the and steady discipline that have grown my savings, the same way slow cooking brings depth to even the simplest meal.
如今，多年过去了，这些教训依然伴随着我，就像焦糖化大蒜的香味附着在旧食谱上一样。 虽然我的开销变了——现在包括抵押贷款而不是房租——但我仍然认真准备每年的税务申报。 住房补贴和其他支持在各方面都提供了帮助，但最终，是复利和稳定的自律让我的储蓄不断增长，就像慢炖能为最简单的餐点带来深度一样。
