Siheyuan: Sizhu starts blindly and takes a new path

Banggeng started working at the waste recycling station. In the first few days, he was very motivated and came to the station early every day to help sort out the waste, sort and pack it. The employees at the recycling station praised him for his hard work and cleverness, saying he was a good candidate.

"Banggeng, you're a really good kid. You work efficiently and are not afraid of getting dirty or tired." Old Wang at the recycling station patted Banggeng's shoulder and said with a smile.

Banggeng scratched his head, a little embarrassed: "Uncle Wang, you are too kind. I just want to work hard and live up to Grandpa Ouyang's expectations."

Lao Wang nodded, with some approval in his eyes: "Good boy, it's good to have this intention. Although our work is a bit tiring, if we do it well, we can support ourselves, which is better than hanging around outside."

Bang Geng felt a little proud after hearing this. He felt that he had finally found the right path and no longer had to live in fear like before.

However, as the days passed, Banggeng's enthusiasm gradually faded. The work at the recycling station was dirty and tiring. Every day he had to deal with piles of waste newspapers, broken notebooks, and toothpaste tubes. It was boring and there was no fun at all. Banggeng's heart began to fly outside the recycling station. His mind kept thinking about the days when he used to play outside, skate and shoot birds.

"Oh, this job is so boring..." Banggeng muttered to himself while sorting out the waste.

He recalled the days when he and Liu Chong and Wu Dacheng ran wildly in the alleys. When they were thirsty, they drank soda. When they were hungry, there seemed to be nothing to eat, but they were free and could do whatever they wanted. Especially now in winter, it was the time for ice skating, and the wind blew on his face. The refreshing feeling made him feel itchy.

"Banggeng, what are you daydreaming about? Get to work!" Lao Wang's voice came from the side, interrupting Banggeng's thoughts.

Banggeng came to his senses and quickly lowered his head to continue working, but he was becoming more and more irritated. He began to wonder if he had chosen the wrong path. Was this boring life really suitable for him?

After get off work, Bang Geng was walking home alone, feeling depressed. When he passed the entrance of the alley, he saw Liu Chong and Wu Dacheng holding skateboards, talking and laughing as if they had just come back from playing, and their voices could be heard from far away.

"Brother Dao, where have you been recently? Why don't I see you so often? Let's go together!" Liu Chong saw Bang Geng and called out loudly.

Banggeng stopped and was a little shaken. He looked at the work clothes in his hand, then at Liu Chong and the others, and finally shook his head: "I didn't go anywhere, I just helped my relatives."

Liu Chong curled his lips and said with some disdain: "Hey, Brother Dao, you are helping others? You don't want to play with us, do you?"

After hearing this, Banggeng felt a little uncomfortable, but he didn't say anything and turned away.

After returning home, Banggeng lay on the bed, his mind full of Liu Chong and his friends' skating scenes. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he felt. He thought to himself, "Am I going to spend the whole winter vacation at the waste recycling station dealing with waste newspapers? They can have fun even if they don't make any money."

At this moment, Qin Huairu pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing Banggeng lying on the bed in a daze, she asked worriedly, "Banggeng, what's wrong with you? Is the work at the scrap yard too tiring?"

Banggeng sat up, lowered his head and said, "Mom, I...I don't want to work in the recycling station anymore."

Qin Huairu's face changed when she heard this: "Bang Geng, why don't you want to do it? Isn't this the job you begged Old Man Ouyang to find for you? How can you just say you don't want to do it?"

Banggeng raised his head with a bit of grievance in his eyes: "Mom, that job is too boring. I just sort out waste all day long. It's not interesting at all. I want to go out and play, like before..."

Qin Huairu was angry and anxious after hearing this: "Bang Geng, why are you still so ignorant? How can you just say you don't want to do it? You know the current situation at home. You are not young anymore, and you have entered a work-study school. It will be difficult to find a job in the future. If you get familiar with the scrap yard now, it will be a way out in the future. Do you want to just mess around in the future? That won't do!"

Banggeng didn't say anything, but just lowered his head, but he was becoming more and more annoyed.

The next day, when Banggeng went to the recycling station, he looked listless and didn't have the same enthusiasm for work as before. Seeing this, Lao Wang asked in surprise, "Banggeng, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"

Bang Geng shook his head and forced a smile: "Uncle Wang, I'm fine, just a little tired."

Lao Wang patted him on the shoulder and said in a gentle tone: "Good job, it is tiring to work, but our work is also meaningful. You see, these waste products can be recycled and reused, saving a lot of materials for the country, how great."

Banggeng was not moved at all after hearing this. He knew that Lao Wang was right, but the dull feeling was becoming more and more unbearable.

After get off work, Bang Geng sat alone at the door of the recycling station, staring at the sky in the distance. He felt like a bird in a cage, safe but without freedom.

"Banggeng, why are you still here?" Professor Ouyang's voice suddenly came from behind.

Bang Geng turned around and saw that it was Professor Ouyang. He quickly stood up and said, "Grandpa Ouyang, you are here."

Old Master Ouyang put down the waste bag in his hand, smiled, and walked over to sit next to Bang Geng: "You seem unhappy, what's on your mind?"

Banggeng lowered his head and said a little embarrassedly: "Grandpa, I...I think this job is too boring and I don't feel interested in doing it."

After hearing this, Mr. Ouyang did not rush to criticize him, but said gently: "Bang Geng, do you know why I want to introduce you to work here?"

Bang Geng shook his head: "I don't know."

Old man Ouyang sighed and said in a deep voice: "Banggeng, you are still young and have a long way to go in the future. Although the work at the scrap recycling station is hard, it can teach you to be down-to-earth and learn to support yourself through your own labor. Although the outside world is wonderful, if you don't have a skill, you will always be just a street urchin and a hooligan, and you will never have a future."

Bang Geng was touched when he heard this, but he was still a little unconvinced: "Grandpa, but I think this job is too boring. It's not interesting for me to do it."

Professor Ouyang smiled and said, "That's great. Life is plain. It's impossible for every day to be as exciting as you imagine. But as long as you are willing to work hard, one day you will find that you have reached a new height and seen a different scenery."

Banggeng lowered his head, was silent for a while, and finally nodded: "Grandpa, I understand. I will continue to do it."

Professor Ouyang patted his shoulder with relief and said, "Okay, Banggeng, I believe you can do it."

From that day on, Banggeng began to adjust his mentality and tried to adapt himself to the work at the recycling station. Although he was still a little unwilling, he knew that he could no longer be as willful as before.