Quenching

Xing Songfeng was a rather unique person. He enjoyed tinkering with novel gadgets and was absolutely obsessed with video games. His cousin's wife, on the other hand, was a cheerful and fashionable woman who got along quite well with Xing Songfeng.

One day, Xing Songfeng's cousin-in-law came to visit him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Songfeng, I recently heard about a really fun video game, let's play it together," she said with a grin. Xing Songfeng immediately perked up. He was already passionate about games, and now that someone wanted to play with him, he couldn't be happier.

So the two of them plunged headlong into the world of the game. They sat in front of the computer, their fingers flying across the keyboard, their eyes glued to the screen, as if the entire world had shrunk to the game's scenes. Although the cousin-in-law wasn't very skilled at first, she learned quickly and soon she and Xing Songfeng were playing together quite well. They fought side-by-side in the game, overcoming one challenge after another, their laughter echoing throughout the room.

However, this joyful scene was witnessed by Xing Songfeng's cousin's husband, whose face was full of incomprehension and dissatisfaction. The cousin was a traditional man; in his view, video games were a waste of time, especially for someone like his wife who was already married, who should focus her energy on family and work.

"Look at you, playing these useless games with Songfeng all day long, neglecting everything at home." My cousin frowned, his tone reproachful. My cousin's wife was having a great time, and her husband's words annoyed her. She stopped what she was doing, turned around, and retorted, "I only play occasionally, what's wrong with that? It doesn't interfere with anything. Besides, playing games can be relaxing."

Seeing this, Xing Songfeng quickly tried to smooth things over: "Cousin, video games aren't the kind of frivolous thing they used to be. They're a legitimate form of entertainment, and many people even make money playing games." But his cousin scoffed: "What future can these fighting games have? They're just for kids."

Hearing her cousin's words, the cousin's wife felt even more aggrieved. She stood up and said somewhat emotionally, "You don't understand me at all. I'm busy with chores at home every day. Can't I have some time for my own entertainment? Playing games makes me happy, what's wrong with that?" The cousin also got angry. He raised his voice and said, "You've been corrupted by Songfeng. You don't have a good life, but you insist on playing these messy things."

Xing Songfeng felt uneasy watching the two argue more and more fiercely. He knew his cousin was saying these things out of a sense of responsibility to his family, but he also understood his cousin's wife's desire to pursue her hobbies. He tried to mediate again: "Cousin, your cousin's wife doesn't play every day; she just relaxes occasionally. Besides, the video game industry is developing very quickly now, with many professional competitions and teams. Maybe it can even become a profession in the future."

My cousin remained unmoved, stubbornly saying, "I don't care about any particular industry; in my eyes, this is just idleness. As your cousin, you shouldn't be leading your cousin's wife astray." Xing Songfeng sighed helplessly, knowing it would be difficult to change his cousin's mind in a short time.

After the argument, the atmosphere at home became tense. His cousin's wife no longer played games with Xing Songfeng happily as before; she always acted furtively, afraid of being discovered by her cousin. Xing Songfeng also felt guilty, as if he had caused trouble for his cousin's wife.

As the days went by, Xing Songfeng kept thinking about how to resolve the conflict between his cousin and his wife. He decided to find an opportunity to have a serious talk with his cousin and help him truly understand video games.

That day, Xing Songfeng specially invited his cousin out to a quiet coffee shop. After they sat down, Xing Songfeng patiently began to explain the current state of video game development to his cousin. He took out his phone and showed his cousin some videos of video game competitions; the players' superb skills and the tacit teamwork between them surprised his cousin.

“Cousin, look, these players perform just as well as professional athletes on the field. They put in a lot of effort and have won many honors and prize money,” Xing Songfeng said earnestly. His cousin watched the video, remained silent for a moment, and then said, “Even so, only a few people can succeed. For most people, playing games is just a waste of time.”

Xing Songfeng nodded and continued, "You're right, but for most people, playing games is more of a form of entertainment. Just like you enjoy watching sports, your sister-in-law enjoys playing games—these are perfectly normal hobbies. Moreover, playing games can improve one's reaction speed and teamwork skills."

After hearing Xing Songfeng's words, his cousin seemed a little hesitant, and his tone softened: "I know she needs to relax too, but I'm just worried that she'll get too engrossed in games and it will affect the family." Xing Songfeng smiled and said, "Cousin, don't worry, I'll talk to your wife and ask her to manage her time properly so she won't neglect the family because of games. Besides, you can also learn more about video games; maybe you'll like them too."

After this conversation, my cousin's attitude changed somewhat. He no longer strongly opposed my cousin's wife playing games as before, though he would occasionally remind her to keep track of the time. My cousin's wife was also very happy; she felt that my cousin was finally beginning to understand her.

Since then, my cousin's wife has become more mindful of her behavior when playing games. She'll take care of things at home first, and then play with Xing Songfeng for a while. Sometimes, my cousin will curiously come over to watch them play games. Although he still doesn't quite understand the fun, he's no longer as averse to it as before.

Once, Xing Songfeng participated in a small video game competition and invited his cousin and his wife to watch it together. The intense atmosphere of the competition made his cousin feel the charm of video games. The focused expressions and skillful maneuvers of the players made him cheer.

After the game, my cousin said to Xing Songfeng, "I never knew video games had such a great appeal. It seems I really misunderstood them before." Xing Songfeng smiled and said, "Yes, video games have now become a culture. They have their own rules and charm." My cousin's wife also happily said from the side, "Now you understand me, right? Playing games is really fun." My cousin nodded and said with a smile, "I won't object to you playing games anymore, but you still need to be mindful of the time."

From then on, the atmosphere at home returned to its former harmony. His wife could happily play games, and his cousin was no longer so opposed. Xing Songfeng watched all this with great joy. He knew that through his efforts, he had finally narrowed the gap in understanding between his cousin and wife. And video games were no longer the source of their family conflicts; instead, they had become a bridge to enhance mutual understanding and communication.

In this era of rapid technological advancement, the emergence of new things is always accompanied by misunderstandings and controversies. Like video games, they need time and public understanding to prove their worth. We should embrace these new things with a more open and inclusive mindset, understanding the interests and hobbies of others, so that life can become better.

Xing Songfeng also learned from this experience that understanding between people requires communication and exchange. When disagreements arise, we shouldn't stubbornly insist on our own views, but rather try to consider things from the other person's perspective. This is the only way to resolve conflicts and promote mutual understanding. Meanwhile, her cousin gradually changed his mindset and learned to respect his wife's choices. His wife, in turn, cherished this hard-won understanding even more, enjoying the game while also diligently managing her family life.

As time went on, video games gradually became more accepted in the town. Xing Songfeng would sometimes organize small gaming parties, inviting his cousin, his wife, and other neighbors to participate. Everyone laughed and chatted while playing, strengthening their bonds. His cousin, in turn, truly immersed himself in this new world of entertainment, discovering that video games could indeed be a way to improve interpersonal relationships.

Life goes on, and the story of Xing Songfeng, his cousin, and his wife has become a local legend. It tells us that no matter how times change, understanding and tolerance are always the cornerstones of family and social harmony. As long as we are willing to understand and accept new things and respect the choices of others, we can bridge the gap in perspectives and create a better life.