Siheyuan: Mastery started in the 50s

Wang Qiang's parents were very sympathetic to Jia Dongxu's family and often helped them, especially Wang Qiang's mother, who would always invite Jia Dongxu to her home for dinner whenever she made something delicious. But Jia Dongxu did not appreciate it, and instead mocked Wang Qiang behind his back as a nerd, saying that he only knew how to study and would end up being a worker like himself in the future, living a mediocre life.

However, fate was generous to Wang Qiang. After graduating from high school, he was admitted to a prestigious university in Beijing with excellent grades and became the pride of the whole family. However, Jia Dongxu continued to hang around in factories and on the streets. His life remained the same and even got worse. He owed a lot of debts due to gambling and had to borrow money everywhere. He even started stealing materials from the factory and lost his job after being discovered.

After losing his job, Jia Dongxu became even more depraved, drinking and making trouble outside every day, and the family had become a mess. Although Wang Qiang's parents were still supporting his family, they gradually felt powerless. When Wang Qiang occasionally returned home, he could only see Jia Dongxu wandering around in the yard, as if he had lost his life.

After graduating from university, Wang Qiang successfully got a job in a foreign company with a good income and a bright future. However, Jia Dongxu had completely become a marginalized person in society. After getting drunk, he got into a fight with someone on the street and was beaten to a bloody mess and went to the hospital. When Wang Qiang's mother learned about it, she rushed to the hospital to visit him and found that Jia Dongxu was skinny and had a hollow look in his eyes, like a walking corpse.

After Wang Qiang's mother came back, she said to Wang Qiang, "Qiangzi, you have to help Dongxu. If he continues like this, I'm afraid there's no hope for him." Although Wang Qiang was reluctant, he agreed to his mother's request out of neighborly friendship.

Wang Qiang tried to help Jia Dongxu. He found him a security job and arranged some psychological counseling. However, Jia Dongxu did not cherish this opportunity and was fired by the security company for gambling. Wang Qiang was very disappointed, but he did not give up. He decided to persuade Jia Dongxu himself.

One night, Wang Qiang came to Jia Dongxu's house and saw Jia Dongxu curled up on the bed. The room was in a mess, and the air was filled with the smell of mold and alcohol. He sat beside the bed and said softly: "Dongxu, we grew up together, and I always treat you as a brother. It's not a good idea for you to continue like this. You have to cheer up."

Jia Dongxu opened his confused eyes, looked at Wang Qiang, and laughed sarcastically: "Cheer up? This is how my life is, there is no hope. You are so kind to help me, but what's the use? I am just a waste."

Wang Qiang felt sad and didn't know how to answer. He could only say, "Dongxu, as long as you are willing to change, I will always help you. You still have a chance, don't give up on yourself."

Jia Dongxu was silent for a long time, and finally nodded, but Wang Qiang knew that there was not much sincerity behind this nod. All he could do was to continue to try his best to help Jia Dongxu.

As time went by, Wang Qiang's career flourished, he got married and had his own family. But Jia Dongxu was still struggling at the bottom of society. Every time Wang Qiang returned to the courtyard and saw Jia Dongxu, he always felt an indescribable feeling in his heart. He knew that sometimes people's fate was like this, and no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't change other people's choices.

Wang Qiang tried to find more job opportunities for Jia Dongxu, but each time Jia Dongxu couldn't stick to it for various reasons. Gambling and alcoholism were still the main part of his life. Wang Qiang's wife advised him not to waste his energy on Jia Dongxu, and Wang Qiang began to waver.

Finally one day, Wang Qiang received a call from Jia Dongxu's mother. She cried and told Wang Qiang that Jia Dongxu was severely beaten because of debt and was now lying in the hospital. Wang Qiang hung up the phone with mixed feelings in his heart. He knew that this might be the last chance.

He rushed to the hospital and saw Jia Dongxu lying on the bed, his face covered with bruises and his eyes showing deep despair. Wang Qiang held his hand and said firmly: "Dongxu, you must get better. This time, I will not let you give up on yourself again."

However, fate seemed unwilling to give Jia Dongxu more chances. The doctor told Wang Qiang that Jia Dongxu's internal organs were severely damaged and he needed a complicated operation. Even if the operation was successful, his body would be difficult to recover to its previous state.

Wang Qiang listened to the doctor's words in silence, his heart filled with helplessness and pain. He knew he had tried his best, but fate was cruel after all. He could only pray silently that Jia Dongxu could survive this, and perhaps after this disaster, he could truly start a new life.

However, Jia Dongxu did not survive. His health deteriorated and he passed away on a cold winter night. Wang Qiang stood in front of his coffin, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew that Jia Dongxu's life was a microcosm of countless lives like his, struggling at the bottom of society and being ruthlessly crushed by fate.

Wang Qiang stood in front of a stall in the market, with all kinds of fresh vegetables and ingredients in front of him. Today's task is to buy some vermicelli and bamboo shoots to make a delicious meal for his family. He likes cooking and also likes to express his love for his family in this way. However, this trip to the market made him think of Jia Dongxu unconsciously.

"Boss, give me a pound of vermicelli and some fresh bamboo shoots." Wang Qiang said to the stall owner.

While the stall owner was busy weighing, Wang Qiang's thoughts drifted back to the past. He remembered that when he was a child, his mother often took him and Jia Dongxu to the market to buy vegetables. At that time, Jia Dongxu always looked so energetic with a bright smile on his face. They went to the market and played around. Although their life was simple, it was full of happiness.

However, Jia Dongxu's smile has long become a memory. Wang Qiang couldn't help but sigh, and there was an indescribable heaviness in his heart. After returning home, he prepared dinner while thinking about Jia Dongxu's tragic fate. The feeling of powerlessness surged into his heart again, as if an invisible hand was tightly grasping his heart, making him breathless.

"Dad, what are you thinking about?" His daughter's voice brought him back from his thoughts.

Wang Qiang smiled and touched his daughter's head, saying, "Nothing, Dad is thinking about how to make vermicelli and bamboo shoots delicious."

His wife looked at him and said gently, "Don't always think about those unhappy things. Jia Dongxu is gone. You did your best."

Wang Qiang nodded, but his heart was still heavy. He always felt that if he had done something more, maybe Jia Dongxu's fate would be different.