Colorful years

Once a choice is made, it may mean losing other things, even the future. Therefore, making a choice is not easy.

For example, when you choose the woman in front of you as your partner, it is equivalent to giving up the opportunity to meet and pursue other women; similarly, when you decide to take this job, you have to give up the experiences and achievements that another job might bring.

Especially in situations where choices do not involve morality or ethics, or are not based on judgment criteria, it is difficult to definitively define what is right or wrong, or which is better or worse, because they will each lead to completely different outcomes.

After all, any choice is essentially a trade-off between cause and effect; what kind of cause you sow will determine what kind of result you reap.

And so, Zhang Cong's thoughts raced like a wild horse on his journey, a constant stream of wonderful ideas surfacing in his mind. Time slipped away quietly in this reverie, and before he knew it, more than an hour had passed.

Suddenly, the bus emitted a piercing hiss and slowly came to a stop. Zhang Cong, as if waking from a dream, abruptly raised his head and casually looked around.

They were astonished to find that they had arrived at Pushi Wharf. Before them stretched the mighty Yuan River, its waters surging ceaselessly, resembling a giant dragon stretching across the river. Buses were patiently lined up, waiting to board the ferry to Taoyuan on the other side.

Looking at the magnificent Yuanjiang River and the ancient and mysterious Pushi, the image of Mr. Shen Congwen first came to Zhang Cong's mind.

It's important to know that the Yuanjiang River is one of the four most famous river systems in Hunan Province! With its long history, it has nurtured countless lives and stories. And Pushi, on the other hand, is one of the four renowned ancient towns in western Hunan, carrying a rich history and profound cultural heritage.

Mr. Shen Congwen once lived on this land and left behind a wealth of rich and colorful writings.

Whether it's the gripping plots of his novels or the delicate, poetic essays, his works vividly record what he saw and heard in Yuanjiang and Pushi, as well as his deepest thoughts and feelings. These works are like windows, allowing people to glimpse the features of that era and the real living conditions of its people.

In the beautiful Yuanjiang River basin, Shen Congwen meticulously depicted the unique natural scenery, long-standing cultural customs, and rich and colorful life of the local people with his poetic and picturesque writing.

In his captivating works, the Yuanjiang River seems to be enchanted, possessing a transcendent beauty that stems not only from the magnificence of nature but also from a rich cultural heritage.

For example, in his popular novels, the Yuanjiang River is like a mysterious and unpredictable mirror, deep and blue yet brimming with vitality and life; while the scenery along the river is like a painting exuding a strong local flavor, with every detail vividly portrayed, making the reader feel as if they are there.

When Shen Congwen turned his attention to Pushi, he focused more on the local social landscape and human relationships. With his keen insight and delicate sensitivity, he deeply depicted every aspect of Pushi's social life, thus unveiling the philosophy of life hidden behind this land and showcasing the simple and kind-hearted beauty of the local people.

At the same time, his descriptions of the natural scenery of Pushi are meticulous and detailed, making the town a fairyland full of poetic charm.

If you wish to appreciate the boundless charm of these beautiful and simple words, you can open the classic works "Xiangxi: Yuanshui Collection" or "Xiangxi Miscellany" and immerse yourself in them, savoring their beauty. I believe that between the lines, you will surely feel Mr. Shen Congwen's passionate heart and his deep affection for this magical land.

Zhang Cong's feelings for Pushi are particularly special, not only because he was deeply influenced by Shen Congwen's writings, but also because of a little-known and touching special experience.

The story begins in the sweltering summer of 1985, when the sun blazed down and the heat was intense. Zhang Cong, carrying an important interview mission, arrived at the Pushi Chemical Plant. Accompanying him was Xiang Guosheng, a news officer from the Luxi County Publicity Department.

As a county-level state-owned chemical enterprise directly under the jurisdiction of the state government, Pushi Chemical Plant is large in scale and plays a pivotal role.

This factory mainly produces phosphate fertilizer, and has more than 1200 workers working hard on the front line.

With such a large workforce and considerable production scale, it has become one of the largest and medium-sized enterprises in the autonomous prefecture.

Initially, according to the established plan, Zhang Cong intended to delve into the series of effective measures the factory had taken to promote increased agricultural production and income, such as how to strengthen internal management mechanisms, ensure excellent and stable product quality, and motivate workers to work overtime tirelessly to successfully complete various production tasks, and to widely disseminate these successful experiences through positive publicity and reporting. However, just as he was carrying out his work step by step, an unexpected situation occurred.

Several employees who had suffered from the suppression and retaliation of the factory director Zou Weihan took advantage of the fact that no one was around and quietly sneaked into the guesthouse room where Zhang Cong was.

Their faces were streaked with tears, their eyes revealing endless grievances and anger as they tearfully recounted to Zhang Cong the various injustices they had suffered. Faced with the tragic experiences of these employees, Zhang Cong's righteous heart was deeply moved.

After careful consideration, he resolutely changed the original direction and focus of his interview. At this moment, he was determined to stand up for these suffering employees, speak out for justice, plead for their grievances, and thoroughly investigate Zou Weihan's heinous acts that violated laws and regulations.