Siheyuan: Mastery started in the 50s

"Maybe life is like this, it doesn't need too many waves, as long as you can find fun in daily life, that's enough." Wang Qiang said to himself. He knew that he didn't need to do anything earth-shattering, as long as he could find his own meaning in ordinary days, life would not be so heavy.

However, deep down, Wang Qiang also understands that although these little things can temporarily fill the emptiness in his heart, they cannot completely eliminate his worries about the future. He is still young and has a long way to go in the future. He must find something that can really make him passionate and purposeful, rather than just relying on these temporary busyness to fill the void in his heart.

He decided to give himself some more time to think and not rush to make a decision. Wang Qiang knew that it was not easy to find the direction of life, but he believed that as long as he did not give up, he would always find his own way.

One night, Wang Qiang sat by the bed, holding a book in his hand, and the light shone softly on him. It had been a long time since he had calmed down to read like this, and the content of the book made him forget the dullness of the courtyard and the daily troubles. He seemed to have found a new world between the pages of the book, a world full of possibilities and unknowns.

Just then, there was a light knock on the door. Wang Qiang looked up, a little confused. Who could it be at this late hour? He put down his book, walked to the door and opened it.

Wang Qiang sat on a chair, staring blankly at the old clock on the wall, the second hand ticking, going round and round. Time seemed to slow down, and every second dragged on long and boring. An indescribable feeling of boredom surged in his heart, as if he was trapped in an invisible cage, and everything around him became dull and tasteless.

He tried to distract himself, picked up a book on the table and flipped through a few pages, but the words were like a bunch of messy symbols, swaying in front of his eyes but unable to enter his mind. The content of the book seemed to have lost its appeal to him and could no longer immerse him in it. Wang Qiang sighed, closed the book, and threw it aside.

"What on earth am I doing?" Wang Qiang muttered to himself. During this period of time, he always felt like he was trapped in an invisible cycle, repeating a meaningless routine with no way out. Those little things that used to make him feel calm now became boring. He began to get tired of this trivial life and this aimless state.

He stood up and paced back and forth in the room, trying to sort out his thoughts. But the more he thought, the more irritated he felt. The anxiety in his heart seemed to be activated, gradually spreading, making him feel stuffy in his chest, as if a mountain was pressing on his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe.

"I have to find something to do." Wang Qiang suddenly stopped, and a strong urge surged in his heart. He couldn't stay at home like this anymore, and this feeling of emptiness almost made him collapse. He needed to do something, even if it was the most ordinary little thing, it would be better than suffering in this small space.

He decided to go out for a walk and breathe some fresh air, maybe this would help him relax. Wang Qiang put on his coat, opened the door, and walked out of the courtyard.

The night air was a little chilly, and the alley outside the courtyard was quiet, with only the dim light from the street lamps illuminating the silent streets. Wang Qiang walked aimlessly, his mind in a mess. He didn't know where to go, he just wanted to walk around and feel the outside world, maybe this would make him feel better.

As he walked, he unknowingly came to the snack street he used to frequent. The street was still bustling at night, with vendors busy serving customers and the aroma of barbecue filling the air, which aroused Wang Qiang's appetite. He stopped and stared at a barbecue stall, wondering whether to order something to eat.

"Brother Wang, why haven't you eaten yet so late?" The owner of the barbecue stall greeted Wang Qiang warmly when he saw him. Wang Qiang had known the owner for many years and he was a warm-hearted person. The skewers he grilled were always his favorite.

"Yeah, I came out for a walk. I'm a little hungry." Wang Qiangqiang forced a smile, but he didn't have much appetite. He ordered a few skewers of meat, took a bottle of beer, sat on the plastic stool in front of the stall, and waited quietly.

The night breeze blew gently, and the aroma of barbecue filled his nose, but Wang Qiang still felt a little depressed. He picked up the beer bottle and took a sip. The cold liquid slid down his throat, but it didn't bring much pleasure. People around the barbecue stall were chatting and laughing, but he felt like he was isolated in another world and couldn't fit in.

"You seem to be worried lately, Brother Wang." The owner of the barbecue stall handed the grilled skewers to Wang Qiang and said with a smile, "Is there something bothering you at work?"

Wang Qiang took the skewers and shook his head. "Nothing. I just feel a little empty recently. I don't have much to do. I always feel that life is boring."

The boss nodded, sat opposite him, picked up a skewer and started eating, "I've had this feeling before. In the past, I always felt that life was boring and meaningless. Later, I found something to do, and slowly I felt better. Don't suppress yourself too much, just do whatever you want to do, and don't worry too much."

Wang Qiang was touched when he heard his boss's words. He knew what his boss said made sense, but he still didn't know what he should do. The feeling of emptiness was like an invisible shackle that bound him tightly and prevented him from finding his true goal.

"Thank you, Lao Liu." Wang Qiang said in a low voice. He took a bite of the skewer. Although it still tasted delicious, it could not make him feel truly satisfied.

Lao Liu waved his hand and said, "Brother, life is like this, it's no big deal. Sometimes, we have to force ourselves to go out and not stay in one place all the time. You are so young, you should go out and see more of the world."

Wang Qiang nodded, but he still felt confused. He didn't know where to go, as if all the roads led to the same confused destination. He thought of Jia Dongxu, who was also confused and finally defeated by life. Wang Qiang was afraid that he would go down the same path, but he didn't know how to avoid it.

After eating the barbecue, Wang Qiang returned home, but his mood still did not improve much. He lay on the bed, looking at the ceiling, thinking over and over again about the conversation during the day and the silence at night.

“Maybe I should find a new job or learn a new skill.” Wang Qiang thought to himself, but he felt that his idea was not firm enough. He was worried that he did not have the courage to face new challenges and accept possible failures.