Siheyuan: Mastery started in the 50s

Chapter 409 There is a rule

After he tidied up the kitchen and put down the last dish, he leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. He felt a little depressed. Although he knew that he had put in a lot of effort during this period, for some reason, he did not feel as happy as he had imagined.

He sat down on the sofa, picked up the phone on the table, and browsed some messages and Moments on social media. He saw his friends' life updates and food sharing, and he couldn't help but feel a little envious and inferior. They seemed to be living a smooth life, full of ease and happiness, but he himself felt a kind of heaviness that he couldn't let go.

"Maybe I care too much about other people's comments." Wang Qiang muttered to himself, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes. Although He Yuzhu's comments on his dishes were just a personal opinion, for him, it seemed to have become a blow to his self-confidence. He has been striving for perfection, but every time he feels further and further away from the goal, this feeling makes him feel tired and lost.

At this moment, the phone rang again. Wang Qiang picked up the phone and it was his good friend Liu Na calling.

"Hello, Wang Qiang, how are you today?" Liu Na's voice came through the phone with some concern.

"Hi, Liu Na. Not bad, just a little tired." There was a hint of lowness in Wang Qiang's voice.

"What's wrong? There's something wrong with your voice." Liu Na keenly noticed Wang Qiang's emotional changes.

Wang Qiang was silent for a while, then sighed: "Actually, I've been trying to make some new dishes recently, hoping to improve myself, but I always feel a little overwhelmed. Especially in the last few times I cooked, I felt like nothing I did was good enough, and I felt a little uncomfortable."

Liu Na's voice was gentle and comforting: "Don't be too hard on yourself. Cooking is something that takes time and experience. It's impossible to be perfect from the beginning. Everyone has their own growth process. The effort and passion you put in are already amazing."

Wang Qiang's mood gradually eased after hearing Liu Na's words. He knew that although Liu Na's words were simple, they were sincere care and support. She has always been an important friend in his life, and often gave him comfort and encouragement when he felt lost.

"Thank you, Liu Na. Actually, I know you are right, but sometimes it is hard to let it go." Wang Qiang said with emotion.

Liu Na smiled softly: "I understand how you feel. After all, everyone will encounter setbacks and challenges. However, remember to give yourself some time and space. There are too many things in life that are worth cherishing. Don't let a momentary loss affect your love for life."

After hanging up the phone, Wang Qiang seemed to be comforted. He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the street and the night. The tranquility of the night and the beauty of the starry sky gradually calmed him down. Although he still felt a little uncomfortable, he knew that these emotions were only temporary, and the beauty and warmth of life would always accompany him.

Wang Qiang decided to give himself some time to digest these complicated emotions. He took out a book and opened the first few pages, trying to find some spiritual comfort in reading. Whenever he read those profound sentences and beautiful words, his heart would become calmer.

The sound of pages turning, accompanied by soft background music, filled the room with a peaceful atmosphere. Wang Qiang's thoughts gradually relaxed as the words flowed, and he began to reflect on his efforts and dedication. Although he is not perfect now, he believes that he can gradually overcome these difficulties through continuous efforts.

As time went by, Wang Qiang gradually regained his peace of mind. He knew that no matter how many challenges and troubles he encountered in life, he could find solutions through continuous efforts and persistence. His eyes became firm again, and he was full of hope for the future.

Wang Qiang closed the book, stood up, walked to the kitchen, and decided to make himself a cup of hot tea. He sat at the kitchen table, took a sip of tea, and felt the warmth of the tea. At this moment, his heart became calm and peaceful, and he was full of new expectations and confidence for the challenges and opportunities in the future.

He has been doing business outside these years and has rarely come back. Now that his business has picked up, he decided to return to the city and take care of this old house again. Several houses in the yard have been rented to several families. He wants to renovate the yard and arrange better tenants.

However, life in the courtyard was not as simple as he imagined. He had just returned a few days ago when he found that the courtyard was in chaos. Jia Zhang, who lived in the east wing, was an old lady in her sixties. She had a bad temper and quarreled with people at every turn. Her son Jia Cheng was an unemployed vagrant who did not do any work but only knew how to eat, drink and have fun. Jia Zhang was a sarcastic person, and the neighbors had long complained about her. As soon as Wang Qiang came back, she started to find all kinds of faults. Today she complained that this place was not clean, and tomorrow she complained that that place was not comfortable. In short, the courtyard was not peaceful because of her.

Wang Qiang was too lazy to argue with her. He came back to live a quiet life, but after a few days, he found that if he didn't solve Jia Zhang's problem, he couldn't even live in peace. So he decided to find an opportunity to talk to Jia Zhang.

One evening, the sun was setting, and the whole courtyard was dyed golden by the afterglow. Wang Qiang walked to Jia Zhang's door and knocked gently. The door creaked open, and Jia Zhang poked her head out. Seeing that it was Wang Qiang, her eyes immediately became alert.

"Wang Qiang, is there anything wrong?" Her voice was sharp and hoarse.

"Aunt Jia, I want to talk to you about something." Wang Qiang said with a smile.

Jia Zhang snorted and turned to go into the house. Wang Qiang followed her into a dim room. The room was full of clutter and the air was filled with a stale smell. Jia Zhang sat on a chair by the window and stared at Wang Qiang with her sharp eyes.

"If you have something to say, say it now. If you have to fart, fart now," she said impatiently.

Wang Qiang was not angry. He understood Jia Zhang's temper and knew that confronting her head-on would not solve the problem. He smiled, walked to the chair opposite her and sat down, and said straight to the point: "Aunt Jia, I know you have some conflicts with other residents. I came back just to sort out the things in the yard. We all live here together, so there must be some rules, don't you think?"

Jia Zhang sneered, "Humph, this courtyard is yours, but we don't live here for free. We've lived here for so many years, we've already treated it as our own. You come back and want to impose rules, but it's not that easy."