Siheyuan: Mastery started in the 50s

Wang Qiang dug out some old books. He used to love reading, but in the busy life, this habit was gradually forgotten. Turning the pages, the familiar smell of paper hit him again, which moved his heart. He suddenly realized that maybe he could open up more possibilities for himself through learning, instead of just being trapped in this small courtyard.

Wang Qiang has been feeling empty lately, as if something important is missing. He lies on his bed, his eyes wandering on the ceiling, and hears familiar sounds from the courtyard - someone in the distance is calling the children home for dinner, the neighbors nearby are busy in the kitchen, and the clatter of pots and pans is particularly clear at night. However, these sounds that once made him feel at ease are now like an invisible hand, gently tearing at the peace in his heart.

"I can't go on like this." Wang Qiang whispered in his heart. This day-to-day repetition made him feel bored and even a little panicked. He needed some changes and needed to find something to do to enrich himself, otherwise this state of doing nothing would slowly make him fall into the same situation as Jia Dongxu.

The next morning, Wang Qiang got up early and stood in front of the window, watching the yard gradually awaken. The sun had just risen, and the yard was shrouded in a thin layer of morning mist. A few sparrows jumped between the branches, chirping. Wang Qiang suddenly felt that he could no longer wait passively for changes in his life. He had to take the initiative to do something, even if it started with some simple things.

He decided to go out for a walk to see if he could find something to keep him busy. Wang Qiang changed into clean clothes and walked out the door with a hint of anticipation in his heart. Although he was not sure what he wanted to do, at least the feeling of taking the initiative made him feel much better.

People were coming and going on the street, and the vendors had already started their day's business. Wang Qiang was walking aimlessly, and when he passed a familiar grocery store, he suddenly remembered that the table at home was a little loose, and maybe it could be repaired. This thought flashed through his mind, and Wang Qiang immediately decided to buy some tools and go back to repair it.

"Lao Zhang, how is business today?" Wang Qiang stood in front of the grocery store and greeted the boss with a smile.

"It's okay, Qiangzi, what are you doing coming out so early today?" Lao Zhang is a talkative man. He looked up and saw the smile on Wang Qiang's face, and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Buy some tools. The table at home is a bit loose and I want to fix it." Wang Qiang replied, suddenly feeling a little excited. This small repair task might allow him to temporarily forget the emptiness in his heart.

"Oh, then you have to buy some good tools." Lao Zhang immediately took out a few tools he thought were good from under the counter and handed them to Wang Qiang, saying, "This hammer is sturdy and durable, and this screwdriver is also good. The key is that you have to be in a good mood to fix it!"

Wang Qiang took the tools and nodded gratefully, "Thank you, Lao Zhang. With these tools, I will be able to fix the table properly."

Lao Zhang laughed, "Young people are good at hands-on work and can solve any problem. If you need any help, feel free to come to me."

Wang Qiang left the grocery store with a sense of security. He carried his tool bag and walked home, thinking about how to repair the table. Perhaps it was not a very important thing, but for Wang Qiang, the process of solving problems by himself was a sense of control over his life.

Back home, Wang Qiang couldn't wait to put the tool bag on the table and started to check the condition of the table. One of the legs of the table was a little loose. Wang Qiang took a closer look and found that the screws were loose. He picked up the screwdriver and tightened the screws carefully. Although it was just a small thing, Wang Qiang felt a long-lost concentration and satisfaction while doing it.

He suddenly realized that perhaps the meaning of life is not always in those grand goals, but sometimes in these daily trivialities. Repairing the table, cleaning the room, cooking a meal, these seemingly insignificant things can make people feel that they are still in control of their lives, rather than passively accepting them.

"This table looks much better." Wang Qiang patted the table with satisfaction and stood up. He felt that his mood had become more stable along with the repaired table. He thought of Jia Dongxu. If he had tried to take the initiative to do something like he did now, instead of just being immersed in loss and complaints, perhaps his ending would be different.

Wang Qiang decided to find something to do and not let himself fall into the state of doing nothing again. He looked around and his eyes stopped at the pot of flowers by the window. It was a pot of flowers that he had carefully taken care of, but now it had withered and the soil in the pot looked dry.

"Maybe I should go buy some new flowers and plants." Wang Qiang thought to himself, feeling a new excitement. He remembered that when he was a child, he also liked to play with these flowers and plants. At that time, he always dreamed of having a small yard full of green. But as he grew older, this interest was gradually overwhelmed by the trivialities of life.

Wang Qiang decided to find this long-lost joy again. He changed his shoes and went out again. This time, he went straight to the flower stall in the market. He knew that there was no lack of hope and beauty in life, but he just needed a pair of eyes that were good at discovering.

"Brother Wang, are you here to buy things again?" The owner of the flower stall recognized Wang Qiang and greeted him with a smile.

"Well, I want to buy some potted flowers. The ones at home have withered, and I want to replace them with new ones to take care of." Wang Qiang answered with a sense of ease in his tone.

The lady boss immediately and enthusiastically recommended several hardy flowers and plants, "These are easy to grow and don't require much care. Placing them in your home can add a lot of vitality."

Wang Qiang picked a few pots of green plants and bought some fertilizer and soil. He paid and carried the heavy bag home. Along the way, he was full of expectations, as if these small plants could bring a new green to his boring life.

After returning home, Wang Qiang carefully arranged the plants one by one, replaced the soil for them, and watered them. Looking at the fresh green leaves, Wang Qiang's mood also became brighter. Although these plants are small, they are full of vitality, as if telling him that as long as he has a positive heart, life will be full of hope.

After a few days, Wang Qiang found that he had gotten used to taking care of these plants every day. Every time he got up, the first thing he did was to go to the window to check on the growth of these flowers and plants, water them, loosen the soil, and fertilize them. This kind of life gave him a long-lost sense of peace and satisfaction.