Siheyuan: Mastery started in the 50s

"You're right," Wang Qiang nodded. "Sometimes I also feel that I should slow down. Life is not just about work. There are many other beautiful things in life."

Dawei smiled: "Yes, work is for a better life. Don't you think this is good? Eat well, and you will have more energy to work tomorrow."

As the two chatted and ate, Wang Qiang felt a long-lost sense of relief. He realized that he not only needed to improve his skills, but also needed to give his mind some breathing space. Only in this way could he go further and more steadily.

Late at night, Wang Qiang and Dawei finished chatting and went back to bed to rest. Lying on the bed, Wang Qiang recalled everything that happened today and his heart gradually calmed down. He knew that he was gradually getting back to the rhythm of life, and this sense of balance made him feel at ease.

The next morning, Wang Qiang woke up feeling refreshed. He decided to spend more time outside of work to discover the little pleasures in life and stop being overwhelmed by work. This way, he could not only improve his skills, but also be spiritually satisfied.

In the following days, Wang Qiang still worked hard, but he also learned how to relax properly. He often went to the market to buy some of his favorite food, and sometimes he and Dawei would go to a nearby small restaurant to have a good meal. He found that proper relaxation not only made him more focused at work, but also made his life more colorful.

One day, Wang Qiang met an old lady selling traditional dim sum in the market. Her stall was filled with all kinds of exquisite small cakes. Wang Qiang suddenly remembered that when he was a child, Master Liu loved to eat this kind of dim sum the most. Every time during festivals, he would always buy some back to share with everyone. The light sweetness is still fresh in Wang Qiang's memory.

"Grandma, did you make these snacks yourself?" Wang Qiang asked curiously.

The old lady smiled and nodded: "Yes, young man, I made these this morning, do you want to try them?"

Wang Qiang picked out a few dim sum. As the old lady was packing the dim sum, she said, "Dim sum is all about the thought. Not only does it taste good, it also makes you feel happy."

Wang Qiang took the snack and felt warm in his heart. This reminded him of Master Liu's teachings, which were simple but always revealed a kind of simple wisdom. He picked up a piece of snack and put it in his mouth. The familiar taste made him smile.

Wang Qiang's training life in the steel mill is gradually getting on track. Every morning, he is always the first to arrive at the workshop, prepare all the tools, and wait for the masters to start the day's work. The environment of the steel mill is more tense and more complicated than his previous factory. Everything here is running efficiently and orderly. Everyone is like a gear on a precision machine, which must fit perfectly without any mistakes.

When Wang Qiang first walked into the steel rolling workshop, he was shocked by the huge roar and the hot air. He saw red-hot steel strips flying between the rollers, and each billet was rolled into shape after being hammered at high temperature. He was deeply awed by the power and speed. He also had a desire for this power in his heart. He wanted to master these behemoths and become a part of this huge machine.

Wang Qiang was assigned to learn from an experienced old worker, Master Li. Master Li was a senior employee in the factory, having worked there for decades. His eyes showed deep sophistication and extreme concentration on work. Wang Qiang was full of awe for Master Li and always followed him carefully, fearing that he would miss any details.

"Qiangzi, steel rolling is different from the locksmith work you did before. What is needed here is the perfect combination of strength and precision. You have to stay calm at all times and not let anything interfere with your judgment." Master Li said to Wang Qiang while operating the machine.

Wang Qiang listened carefully and felt nervous. This kind of work was obviously more complicated than his previous work, and each step required a high degree of concentration and accurate judgment. He knew that he had to be more cautious than before, as the slightest mistake could lead to serious consequences.

Master Li assigns Wang Qiang some basic operating tasks every day, such as controlling the speed of the rolling mill, adjusting the spacing of the rolls, and how to keep the billet stable when it enters and exits the rolls. Although these seem simple, each step is full of challenges. Wang Qiang found that he must always remain highly alert here. If he is distracted for a moment, the shape of the steel may deviate or even be directly damaged.

"Don't be impatient, keep your hands steady. You have to learn to 'talk' to the machines and understand their tempers." Master Li often reminded him.

Wang Qiang tried to make his movements more steady, but his inner anxiety and nervousness kept coming out. He often felt his palms sweating while operating, and even his heartbeat accelerated at some critical moments. He knew that he was not skilled enough, and he couldn't help feeling a little frustrated.

One day, when Wang Qiang was operating an old rolling mill, he made a slight misjudgment, causing the steel billet to deviate from the predetermined shape. Although it was only a small deviation, for the entire production line, it meant that a whole piece of steel was scrapped. Wang Qiang looked at the steel billet being sent to the scrap pile, and his heart was heavy, as if something heavy was pressing on his chest, making him breathless.

Master Li came over and patted him on the shoulder: "It's okay, making mistakes is part of learning, don't let yourself be burdened."

Wang Qiang managed to force a smile, but the self-blame in his heart could not be calmed for a long time. He knew that Master Li's words were meant to comfort him, but deep down, he was not satisfied with his performance. Whenever he returned to the dormitory and closed his eyes, the scrapped steel always appeared in his mind, like a thorn stuck there.

In order to get rid of this problem, Wang Qiang decided to practice harder. He began to come to the workshop earlier than before, and even used his lunch break to study the principles of steel rolling and the structure of the machine. Whenever his colleagues went to eat or rest, Wang Qiang would always stay in the workshop alone, silently repeating various operations. He tried over and over again to make his movements smoother and more precise.

However, this high-intensity practice did not bring immediate results. Wang Qiang's progress was still slow, and he often felt overwhelmed. He began to doubt whether he was really suitable for this job and whether he was capable of handling this demanding job. On some nights, he would even toss and turn in bed, feeling confused and uneasy.

"Am I really not capable of this?" Wang Qiang asked himself over and over again in his heart.