Siheyuan: Mastery started in the 50s

Wang Qiang was always curious about Master Liu's work. He always felt that the iron blocks in Master Liu's hands seemed to have life, allowing him to shape them at will. So, after school, he often ran to Master Liu's workbench, stood aside and watched silently, and felt itchy in his heart, wanting to give it a try.

One day, Master Liu discovered Wang Qiang's interest. He put down his work, smiled and said to Wang Qiang: "Boy, do you want to learn?" Wang Qiang nodded quickly. Master Liu looked at him, then looked at his greasy hands, and said: "Sure, learning to be a fitter is not an easy thing. You have to endure hardships and be patient." Wang Qiang answered without hesitation: "I am not afraid of hardships!"

So, Master Liu started to teach Wang Qiang some basic skills of locksmithing from that day on. He started with the simplest method of using pliers, teaching him how to hold the pliers, how to apply force, and how to fix a piece of iron to prevent it from moving. At the beginning, Wang Qiang was always in a mess, unable to hold the pliers properly, and unable to clamp the iron tightly, either dropping it on the ground or slipping around. Every time he sweated profusely, Master Liu did not get angry, but just patted him on the shoulder and asked him to start over.

Slowly, Wang Qiang began to master some skills, and his hands gradually became steady. Master Liu saw this and began to teach him some more difficult things, such as how to cut iron blocks, how to punch holes in iron blocks, and how to change the shape of iron blocks with different tools. These are all delicate jobs that require great patience and perseverance. Sometimes, a small error will cause the entire workpiece to be scrapped. Master Liu often warned Wang Qiang that the most important thing for benchwork is to be careful and focused, and there can be no carelessness.

As time went by, Wang Qiang's skills continued to improve. Master Liu saw this and was very pleased. The neighbors in the courtyard also began to notice the changes in Wang Qiang. They all said that this child had a promising future and would definitely become a great man. Wang Qiang himself also felt a sense of accomplishment. Whenever he successfully completed a work, he would excitedly show it to Master Liu. Master Liu would always stroke his beard and smile, "Not bad, it's about right."

However, the real test was yet to come. Once, a neighbor in the courtyard had a broken door lock and needed a new key. This job was not difficult for most people, but for Wang Qiang, it was a huge challenge. Master Liu decided to let Wang Qiang complete the task alone, saying, "It's time to test your skills."

Wang Qiang took over the task, feeling nervous and excited. He carefully observed the structure of the door lock, measured the size of the lock core, and then began to grind the key blank with a file. This process was extremely difficult, and the slightest mistake would result in the key not being able to open the lock properly. Wang Qiang worked with full concentration, and time passed unnoticed. Blisters gradually formed on his hands, but he did not stop and persisted with gritted teeth.

Finally, after a night of hard work, Wang Qiang finished making the key. He took the key and walked to the door of his neighbor's house with a beating heart. He tried to insert the key into the keyhole and turned it slowly. With a "click", the door lock opened smoothly. At that moment, Wang Qiang felt a sense of satisfaction he had never felt before, as if the whole world was cheering for him.

Master Liu stood aside, smiling at Wang Qiang, without saying anything, but just nodded. This was his greatest affirmation of Wang Qiang. The neighbors in the courtyard also praised Wang Qiang, saying that he had already become a master. Wang Qiang knew that he still had a lot to learn, but he was full of confidence. He decided to practice harder in the future and become a master fitter like Master Liu.

From that day on, Wang Qiang began to practice more diligently, coming to Master Liu's workbench early every day to learn new techniques and methods. His love for benchwork grew deeper and deeper, and he even began to design some small workpieces by himself. Master Liu watched Wang Qiang's growth with both joy and emotion. He knew that Wang Qiang was no longer a beginner apprentice, but a real benchworker.

Life in the courtyard was as peaceful as ever, but in Wang Qiang's world, his dream of becoming a fitter was quietly unfolding. As time went by, Wang Qiang's reputation gradually spread, and even some people outside the courtyard began to ask him for help in repairing various ironware. Whenever someone praised him, Wang Qiang always said modestly: "This is all thanks to Master Liu's good teaching." However, he knew in his heart that his own efforts and persistence were equally indispensable.

Wang Qiang's life became more and more fulfilling. He worked during the day and continued to work on new skills at night. He gradually mastered more complex techniques such as lathes and welding, and began to try to make some mechanical parts. Master Liu was getting older and gradually retired behind the scenes, but he still paid attention to Wang Qiang's every progress. Wang Qiang would always ask Master Liu for advice when he encountered a problem, and the friendship between the two of them became increasingly deep.

Life in the courtyard slowly changed, and some young people began to move out of the hutong to pursue a new life in the city. However, Wang Qiang stayed, as he felt that this courtyard was not only his home, but also the place where his dream began. Master Liu's health gradually deteriorated, but he still insisted on sitting in the yard every afternoon, watching Wang Qiang work, and sometimes giving some advice. Wang Qiang respected Master Liu and took care of him like his own family.

As Wang Qiang's skills matured, his reputation grew. One day, Wang Qiang received an order from another place, and the other party wanted him to make a set of precision mechanical parts, which put forward higher requirements for his skills. Wang Qiang knew that this was a rare opportunity and a test of his years of practice. He did not hesitate and resolutely accepted the challenge.

Wang Qiang spent three full months working on this project without sleep or food. He consulted various materials, kept experimenting, and even found inspiration in failure. The lights in his workshop were often on all night long, and the neighbors in the courtyard admired his hard work. Finally, Wang Qiang successfully completed this set of mechanical parts and received high praise from customers.

This success not only made Wang Qiang famous, but also made him more determined to continue on the path of locksmithing. He knew that his journey had just begun, and there were countless challenges and unknowns waiting for him. However, he no longer felt confused or afraid, because he had found his own direction and meaning.

Wang Qiang's life continued in the courtyard. As his skills continued to improve, greater ambitions and desires began to sprout in his heart.