"Public satisfaction" and "Party satisfaction"

     In the film *Jiao Yulu*, there's a debate about "mass satisfaction" versus "Party satisfaction." Jiao Yulu believed that if the masses were satisfied, the Party would also be satisfied; if the masses were dissatisfied, the Party wouldn't be satisfied either. Another viewpoint argued that the Party's satisfaction should come first: "It doesn't matter if a few masses starve to death,

as long as the ideological line is correct." So, while Jiao Yulu was doing his utmost to distribute relief funds and rescue the people from their suffering, another key county leader, Secretary Wu, was busy organizing a superficial exhibition, focusing on pleasing his superiors—the so-called "satisfying the Party."

    Would the Party still be "satisfied" if "a few masses starved to death"? Yet Secretary Wu managed to find a way to "satisfy the Party" (actually, to deceive certain superiors), and with this method, people like Secretary Wu could withstand numerous political struggles, remaining in power, even rising rapidly through the ranks.

    Ignoring the lives of ordinary people and relying on deception and trickery to please superiors, all while claiming it's "satisfying the Party," is a colossal joke. Yet, such examples abound in our lives.

    A newspaper report stated that Liu Shirong, the chief judge and president of the court in Zhongyuan District, embezzled over 120,000 yuan, but this corrupt official, using the same trick of "satisfying the Party," falsely received the honors of "Advanced Worker of Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, and the Nation."

    In reality, all sorts of corrupt and decadent individuals and bureaucrats, under the guise of "satisfying the Party," are actually "satisfying themselves," deceiving superiors and subordinates, suppressing dissent, and using flattery—all for the purpose of protecting their own positions.

    This leads to the thought that the standard for the correctness of any practice lies in whether it conforms to the interests of the vast majority of the people; this should be the fundamental starting point for all our work.

The Origin of Life

     Reading "The Origin of Life," a long and distant road led me into the temple of life. Though initially ignorant, I was captivated by the source of life, and unconsciously began to contemplate its origins.

    Turning a page, I recalled Pascal's words: "Man is but a reed, the most fragile thing in the world. But he has thoughts, which makes him the most powerful creature." Thus, humanity is at the pinnacle of life, and the origin of life requires us to continuously trace its path, to seek wisdom in life.

    From the legend of Nuwa creating humans from stones, from these fragmented stories, we can deduce the origin of life. From the birth of life in the world, from the evolutionary history of chimpanzees and humans, we can easily discover the source of life, tracing back through five thousand years of Chinese culture to extend the understanding of its origins.  Faced with an ever-evolving view of scientific history and a deeply rooted history of development, we can not only trace the origins of life through the lens of scientific history, but also quickly explore the essence of life , using a historical perspective of life to interpret the history of human evolution, traversing the rise and fall of ancient imperial families and the vicissitudes of historical destiny, constantly discovering our own source of life.

    However, at every stage of his life, Forrest Gump had only one goal guiding him, and he fought steadily, tirelessly, and firmly for it until that goal was achieved, or until a new goal emerged. Without simple choices, there will be no absence of distracting thoughts; and those without distracting thoughts are perhaps the ones who can handle life's burdens with ease.

    Marie Curie: Life is not easy for anyone; we must have unwavering perseverance. Most importantly, we must have confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we have the talent to accomplish everything, and that we will complete it no matter the cost. When it is over, you should be able to say with a clear conscience: I have done my best.

    Ostrovsky: The most precious thing a person has is life, and life is given to us only once. A person's life should be lived in such a way that when they look back, they will not regret wasting their years , nor be ashamed of having accomplished nothing. In this way, at the end of their life, they can say that they have dedicated their entire life and all their energy to the most magnificent cause in the world.

    Although different lives have different origins and different pursuits, when tracing the origins of life, we must firmly believe in ourselves, pursue our own life's journey, and explore our future.

    Although we cannot control the scepter of life and death, or the withering of life, we can try, experience, and trace our own life path, using our existing strength to explore the mysteries of life, allowing our short lives to burst forth with brilliant sparks and splashes of life's waves, making life more wonderful. When I learned that a friend far away was ill , I realized how short life is. Although her life was only five short years, it was enough in her eyes. Because in her eyes, she not only dared to pursue the source of life, but was also knowledgeable, living each day earnestly, fighting against illness and her own body; her groans were ever-present in her difficult life. Seeking the source of life with her pen, and enriching her desires with books, her tranquility and dedication to writing, and her calmness and detachment towards life, are all deeply moving and admirable

.     Although I cannot trace the source of life like her, I hope to be like her, possessing a strong and courageous heart, being well-read, multi-talented, and learning how to trace the source of life and how to live a more meaningful life.

    Note: Ouyang Muxue. Although we live in the same country, in different cities and different families, I still deeply admire you. Your talent, your knowledge, your ideals, and your broad-mindedness make you one of my truest friends. Although life is short and finite, I hope you recover well and sincerely wish you a speedy recovery and happiness every day. A friend from afar sends you blessings. 

You won't regret marrying whoever you choose.

     During a break from my shift, several female colleagues were chatting, discussing many issues related to marriage these days. They were all around 30 years old, and they all shared their reflections on marital relationships. Whether they were the traditional, devoted wife type, the demanding and willful type, or a combination of both, none could truly satisfy their husbands.

    In my eyes, Yun was the kind of wife every man would desire. She was capable and efficient, handling all household chores with remarkable skill, treating her husband like royalty, expecting him to do everything for her. Her children were bright, lively, healthy, and well-mannered. Both sets of parents were also very filial, and they lived in harmony. She wouldn't spend money on clothes for herself, but she never hesitated to buy fashionable outfits for her husband. She was devoted to him, constantly talking about him. She herself was healthy, rarely needing her husband's care throughout the year. Logically, her husband should have been very happy, but he actually said to her, "You're not like a woman!" It's truly baffling. In his eyes, what kind of woman qualifies as a woman?

    Kun is a strong yet gentle woman. She is kind, generous, and always has a smile on her face, giving people a refreshing feeling. Her husband is busy with work and can't take care of the family. She manages the household chores, takes care of the elderly and children, and does everything from grocery shopping and cooking to washing dishes. She's often so busy she barely has time to breathe, yet she always smiles and never complains. She is beautiful, speaks softly and steadily, and has an undeniable shyness in her smile. This strong woman, capable in both the public and domestic spheres, carries an unspeakable pain: her husband is having an affair, and it's a widely known and scandalous affair.

    If we're talking about capricious and willful women, then I'm the one. I don't buy groceries, cook, or wash dishes at home; I just clean and do laundry. When I'm unhappy, I stop talking and eating, and my tears flow endlessly. When I'm happy, I cling to my husband, never leaving his side. He often says I have ADHD, that I can't keep him quiet. Whenever he's home, I constantly boss him around, asking him to do this and that. If I tell him I want braised fish for lunch, he'll pout and act like he's suffered a terrible injustice if it's not on the dinner table. My health isn't good either; I'm always in pain, and he's gotten used to it. I myself think that a woman like me easily exhausts her husband, so when he told me he wouldn't marry someone like me in his next life, but someone who could wait on him, I felt guilty.

    Is it true that the woman in a man's arms is always the one who gives him a headache? Is it always true that food from someone else's pot always tastes better than food from your own bowl? Love is fading, novelty is turning into familiarity, and signs of discord are appearing. What should we do?

    Marrying a virtuous and loving wife means enduring her nagging, because the trivialities of daily life put pressure on her. Who else can she confide her little thoughts to if not you, her closest person? If you're not wealthy, you also have to tolerate her haggard appearance, because she's busy taking care of you and the children every day; she has no energy or time to groom herself. Those romantic little gestures, like changing into a sexy outfit, exuding a subtle perfume, and giving you a dreamy look—it's not that she doesn't understand them, but she simply doesn't have the time to cultivate them. She'll have already prepared the clothes for the adults and children for tomorrow, and she'll still be thinking about tomorrow's breakfast while lying in bed. She dedicates herself wholeheartedly to this family, yet you don't appreciate it, complaining about her rough hands, the premature wrinkles around her eyes, her unfashionable hairstyle, and her clothes that never please you… Ask yourself, wouldn't you like a woman like that? Could you tolerate a spoiled and capricious one instead?

    Marrying a strong yet gentle woman means enduring her stubbornness, because she can do anything without you, so she cares about her own feelings. You also have to cater to her little temper tantrums, because although she's strong, she's also a woman made of water; she needs care. You also have to pay attention to her expressions, because sometimes she doesn't want to fully express her intentions; you have to observe carefully. Do you know why she's pouting? It's because she burned her hand and you didn't comfort her. Do you know why she's not talking? It's because she prepared your favorite food, but you only ate a tiny bit. Do you know why she turns her back to you? It's because she bought a new nightgown and you didn't give her feedback… You'll be happy with a woman like this because she has all the basic qualities a woman should have—what more could you want?

    Marrying a capricious and willful woman will bring you endless torment, constantly going back and forth between joy and sorrow. After marriage, you'll definitely feel that "love is an absurd fate, holding onto contradictory lovers." Her temper is so changeable that keeping up with her pace will be difficult. Her emotional instability is so obvious that it often leaves you dizzy. When she's in a bad mood, you should be understanding and try to cheer her up. When she's happy, you should reciprocate, otherwise she'll feel you don't care about her feelings. She's always domineering, always getting to choose the best food and fun activities first. She always places a great deal of dependence on you, making her a "sweet" burden you can't neglect... But when she smiles, she's always so captivating, infecting you with her joy. When she cries, her tears fall like raindrops, touching the softest chord in your heart. She's as innocent and kind as a child, always imagining the best in others, unaware of the harshness of human nature. If your hand is cut, she'll be so distressed she won't even dare to look. She'll surround you, praising you and encouraging you. In public, she'll always hold your hand; she's afraid of being alone and always needs your warmth... Would you marry such a woman or keep your distance?

    If you marry a virtuous and loving wife, you'll want someone who can be charming and affectionate; if you marry a capricious and willful woman, you'll want someone who is reasonable and understanding; if you marry a woman who is both strong and gentle, you'll want someone with a strong personality… How is that possible, unless monogamy is abolished?

    Before marriage, a man's eyes always see a woman's beautiful side, only to discover the flaws behind that beauty after marriage. And, day after day, those flaws gradually obscure the beauty. The husband is still the same husband, but his eyes are no longer the same. He gradually becomes reluctant to come home early, and even when he does, he doesn't want to talk much. At this point, if the woman becomes inappropriately nagging, how can annoyance not arise?

    In fact, women have souls made of water, needing warm care. If the care we deserve always comes at a price, then we should place less hope in it; placing hope in others is a painful thing. Instead of agonizing over why he's so cold towards you, choose something enjoyable for yourself—like reading, exercising, or taking care of your appearance. When you observe his behavior with a detached perspective, no longer questioning his intentions, and instead of waiting for him to take you out as a favor, and instead of asking him what hairstyle or clothes suit you, dress according to your own personality… doing these things might make him sense your independence and charm. He might become anxious and suspicious when your phone keeps ringing, and start to take you seriously.

    The modern world of relationships is complex and rife with temptations. Every individual possesses unique charm. If men and women lack principles and recklessly dabble in love, causing their partners heartache and their families scarred, it's a sign of moral deficiency. I don't want to talk about responsibility anymore, because it exhausts both men and women. If our home still holds happiness, let's work together to create a warm harbor and not linger elsewhere. Because every love story eventually fades, why strive so relentlessly?

    If you'll regret marrying anyone, then cherish the one in front of you. Since you've chosen the one you love, then love your choice wholeheartedly!

Reason versus emotion: "Taiyuan police beat woman to death while demanding unpaid wages"

     On December 13, 2014, an unnatural death occurred at a construction site in Taiyuan City. Seven days later, on December 20, a video was posted online claiming that "police beat a female migrant worker to death while demanding unpaid wages," quickly drawing public attention. On December 26, Taiyuan authorities classified the incident as an "unnatural death." Subsequently, on January 17 of this year, relevant departments in Taiyuan City released their investigation conclusions, stating that the case stemmed from a public security dispute, not from a dispute over unpaid wages. So, what is the true story behind this incident? A reporter from "Focus Interview" investigated. (People's Daily Online, January 30, 2015)

    Yesterday, "Focus Interview" reported on the "Taiyuan police beat a woman to death while demanding unpaid wages" incident. The reporter's investigation reconstructed the events at the scene. From the entire video, what was originally a simple civil dispute escalated into a police-community conflict due to the irrationality of both parties, ultimately leading to a tragedy. In recent years, similar situations have occurred frequently. What were originally minor incidents, which could have been resolved peacefully by sitting down and clarifying the matter, often escalate due to the parties involved being unwilling to back down and sticking to their own opinions. These disputes can escalate from verbal arguments to physical fights, ultimately resulting in tragic deaths.

    In these conflicts between officials and the public, most netizens believe that police officers, urban management officers, and civil servants, as public officials and representatives of the government, are embodiments of power. They are portrayed as arrogant and domineering during law enforcement, beating street vendors and kicking the elderly – practically ruthless bullies. Undeniably, there are indeed some bad apples among public officials who are of low quality and use excessive force, creating a negative impact on the public. However, the majority of public officials are actually upright and conduct themselves civilly. Yet, the media, in order to attract attention, often reports with biased and inaccurate information, highlighting the various "ugly" aspects of public officials, which is regrettable. Over time, the image of public officials deteriorates, and they gradually find themselves in a vulnerable position. This not only weakens law enforcement but also fosters widespread resentment among public officials.

    A hallmark of a mature society is a rational approach to social events. Regarding the incident of "Taiyuan police beating a woman to death while demanding unpaid wages," the media's one-sided and inaccurate reporting not only failed to reveal the truth and inform the public but also exacerbated the conflict. The parties involved, especially the deceased's side, were fundamentally wrong to attempt to resist law enforcement with violence. We now strive to build a country ruled by law. If everyone merely pays lip service without genuine cooperation in practice, it will all amount to nothing. Of course, police abuse of power during law enforcement and interrogation resulting in death must also be dealt with seriously. Violent resistance to law enforcement and abuse of power should not be confused; the deceased's resistance should not be ignored simply because the police caused death. Only by viewing this issue rationally and conducting in-depth analysis can we prevent similar tragedies from recurring. Only when individuals, society, and the media all adopt a rational perspective on every event and every issue will our society and our country truly mature.

Take good care of yourself.

     Almost a month has passed since the New Year's Eve stampede on the Bund in Shanghai. The deceased have been taken care of, the injured are being discharged from the hospital, and those responsible in the area have been punished accordingly. Articles reflecting on the lessons learned are everywhere in the newspapers. Here, I want to focus on a different issue: everyone must pay attention to improving their self-protection awareness and taking care of themselves.

    "Pay attention to protecting yourself" may seem redundant, but like certain laws, policies, and even common sense, knowing and understanding doesn't guarantee action, consistent behavior, or long-term vigilance.

    Regarding the Bund stampede, I think: if, anticipating a large crowd on the Bund that night, one had chosen another place to stroll or stayed home watching TV; if, upon entering the Bund and seeing the massive crowds, one had changed direction and gone elsewhere; if, seeing the steps on the uphill slope crowded, one had remained steady and tried to retreat; if those standing on the steps had been able to maintain their footing, remain calm and composed, and support each other… the stampede might have been avoided. Everyone taking control of themselves and remaining calm ensures the stability of the group and the safety of everyone.

    The incident is over. The lessons are multifaceted. But for each of us as individuals, I believe the most basic thing is to constantly remind and warn ourselves: avoid going to crowded places unless absolutely necessary, and definitely don't squeeze into them; always avoid peak hours and never intentionally cause congestion; calmly analyze and analyze any inflammatory advertisements or promotions to avoid following the crowd or acting impulsively; if you find yourself in a crowded area, don't panic or become anxious; stay calm and try to help others disperse and persuade others. Our public opinion should provide more rational guidance on these issues. Before holidays or events, we should offer reminders and education on relevant knowledge. Schools, factories, and mines should educate and remind students and employees on this topic, and those with the resources should conduct drills regularly. Elderly people and adults should also advise their children and younger generations, offering reminders and dissuading them beforehand. Try to

    avoid traveling during long holidays; avoid peak seasons and popular tourist attractions; to avoid return travel peaks, try to go home a few days earlier. Money can't be earned indefinitely; as long as there's life, there's always hope. Avoid crowded places; if you can't experience beautiful scenery in person, appreciate it. During the New Year, set off fewer firecrackers, drive slower, and drink less alcohol. Don't be competitive or eager to compare yourself to others. Even if you can't buy the finest crabs, you can still enjoy fish, shrimp, chicken, and duck for the New Year. As long as you're alive, that's better than anything else.

Who is the person I care about most?

     A psychological experiment showed that if you were shown a group of photos, and you were among a group of people, you would undoubtedly see yourself first. This is called self-awareness, or narcissism. People care most about themselves.

    If you happen to see an acquaintance looking in a mirror, you'll notice that their reflection is drastically different from their usual appearance—both soft and artificial, reflecting their own preferred expression and angle.

    That's why some retail store owners install mirrors around their shops—a clever trick; the employees' expressions and gestures are visible to themselves, preventing them from looking too bad, which would frighten customers.

    There was a handsome young man who always noticed his reflection in shop windows. He even applied to a broadcasting college and almost got accepted. Once, outside a karaoke bar, he got into an argument with someone over a girl, resulting in a death.

    In court, he insisted that he didn't intend to kill, but rather that he lost control and it was an accidental killing.

    The prosecutor asked, "Where did the knife come from? How many times did you stab him? Did you continue stabbing him after he fell to the ground?"

    He replied, "The knife was with me. I was confused at the time and can't remember how many times I stabbed him."

    The prosecutor showed him the large screen.

    In the surveillance video, he forcefully stabbed the man in the back several times. After the man fell to the ground, he continued to stab him, his face contorted in rage…

    The young man, contrary to his previous attempts to plead for leniency, turned pale, sweating profusely, and lowered his head, unable to look at himself any longer, only able to choke back tears as he confessed. He, who once cared

    so much about his appearance, could no longer bear to see himself like this. Heaven sees what people do. In fact, if a person can see themselves clearly, their expression will be much more serene, and their actions much more virtuous.

    Continuing the previous topic, in a group of people in a photograph, the first person you see is yourself. However, this result was obtained by psychological researchers in Europe and America. An experiment by Chinese scholars overturned this result. They added the head of the experimenter's boss to a group of portraits, and a strange phenomenon occurred: in the experiment, recognizing the boss from a group of portraits took an average of only 2 seconds, while recognizing oneself took an average of 19 seconds.

    When similar tests were conducted on Americans, they were completely unaffected. They didn't care about their bosses or God; their "narcissism" remained unwavering.

    Is it possible that the Chinese care most about their bosses? Not surprisingly. Caring about the boss actually means caring about one's own salary increase, promotion, and career prospects; ultimately, what they care about most is themselves.

Repair your attention

     Let's take a closer look at our day:

    Reluctantly dragging yourself out of bed in the morning, completing a series of chores, and starting class or work.

    You open your phone or computer, and as a responsible person, check your emails first, looking for new tasks or responsibilities.

    After checking your emails, you're suddenly drawn to a coat ad on your inbox. A quick click takes you to Taobao.

    Then you remember a friend wearing the coat and uploading a picture, so you decide to check it out on social media.

    Next, you start browsing Weibo, logging into Renren and WeChat, and are again drawn to something, continuing to browse.

    While navigating the online world, you glance at the time; it's almost noon.

    You silently berate yourself, vowing to work or study hard in the afternoon.

    Finally, you can start working in the afternoon, but you know you can't calm down.

    There's a constant urge to go online for entertainment, but you're trying your best to resist.

    In this torment, finally, it's time to leave class or work.

    A sense of relief washes over you, but a deep weariness creeps in. Looking at the tasks yet to be completed, they remain unfinished.

    You feel the world will never be the same again.

    Sound familiar? For many, this is the norm.

    The little person in the dark room—

    undoubtedly, in today's rapidly developing internet age, we are enjoying its convenience. We can visit relatives and friends without traversing mountains, find our desired goods without shopping malls, learn about world events instantly without reading books or newspapers, and find the books we want without browsing library shelves. All of this often requires only a click. Socializing, shopping, and accessing information are so easy; the world is exhilarating.

    As a result, you have an exceptionally busy and tired brain. This fatigue largely stems from the constant shifting of attention. Imagine your brain is a dark room, the outside world is warm sunlight, and your attention is the only window. A little person inside is manipulating this window. When we concentrate, the little figure clings to the window, almost motionless, basking in the sunlight; when we need to shift our attention, the little figure picks up the window and moves to another part of the room, waiting for the sunlight to arrive. In the past, the little figure lived a carefree life because he hardly moved. But in the internet age, can you imagine how miserable his life is? He's constantly moving the window, sometimes even sprinting like a 100-meter dash, running and running until his hands ache and his legs go numb, only to find that not much sunlight is actually coming in, and the room is still dark and damp.

    Tired? Of course.

    Attention is an absolutely neglected and abused resource. Yes, attention is a precious resource, the gateway for the external environment to enter our consciousness. What enters largely determines who we are and our future development, but few people realize this. We spend so much effort managing our money, time, and relationships, yet we remain blind to this hidden resource of our attention. It's time to truly understand attention.

    The 40-minute theory states

    that human attention is limited. Studies show that people's attention and cognitive abilities have certain limits, much like a computer's processor. If too many tasks are running simultaneously, the speed will slow down or even crash. Even when focusing on one thing, adults can only concentrate for about 40 minutes, and children's attention span is relatively shorter.

    Neil Postman, a world-renowned media culture researcher and critic, argued in *Amusing Ourselves to Death* that with the development of new media, the information explosion has greatly increased people's opportunities for distraction, thus shortening their attention span. In 2012, online writer "He Caitou" announced his temporary withdrawal from Weibo, writing in his blog: "The world is now basically a large display screen made up of fragmented information; complete information is very rare." He must have realized the fragmentation of attention brought about by fragmented information, and the decline in concentration made him anxious. Without focus, what tasks can people accomplish?

    The Cocktail Effect:

    Regarding attention, many people wonder: why do we notice some things and ignore others? Don't rush to find the answer. Now imagine you are walking through a friend's party, and people around you are whispering. Suddenly you think you hear someone say your name, but you can't quite make out what they're saying. This is a classic example of "selective attention." Why are you so sensitive to your own name? First, your name is extremely familiar, and attention tends to capture information we are familiar with. Second, influenced by egocentrism, people are more sensitive to information related to themselves. When you hear your own name, you unconsciously think, "What are those two people saying? Are they talking badly about me?" This is the famous "cocktail party effect" in psychology.

    Psychologists have conducted many experiments on the selectivity of attention. One classic experiment is called "binaural hearing." Psychologists had subjects wear headphones, with different content (words) played on the left and right sides. They then checked the subjects' memory of the words. The results showed that both ears could hear some content, but one ear was more dominant. In other words, attention does indeed have a certain degree of selectivity.

    Where there is selection, there is competition. You may not realize that attention has become a valuable resource that needs to be fought over. For example, negative news about a celebrity suddenly breaks out online, or news about a celebrity's private life. The appearance of such news often signifies the recent release of a new movie starring this celebrity or the release of a new song. This is a well-known form of commercial hype. Some might ask, if it's publicity, why is it mostly negative? Won't this cause people to dislike the movie or song? Of course, this is a valid concern, but businesses are more focused on attracting your attention and grabbing your eyeballs. They want you to remember the event, and the public's penchant for gossip is undoubtedly a key factor in capturing attention. Furthermore, because violent and pornographic content is more likely to attract attention, many businesses exploit this human weakness for hype, targeting your attention and money. People's attention is like a naive child, constantly attracted and controlled by various stimuli, especially evident in the age of information overload. If we indulge our attention, letting it wander among different stimuli without spending time thinking and learning, we become exhausted and even dull.

    Attention repair theory

    suggests that 6% to 7% of people in life want to concentrate but cannot. They are easily distracted, jumping from one task to another; they can't sit still and have difficulty concentrating. This is more common in children, especially boys, who are often a headache for parents and teachers. This problem isn't limited to children; many adults also suffer from an inability to control their attention, a problem often overlooked. Interestingly, research has found that people with attention deficit disorder enjoy watching television. Studies on the relationship between attention deficit disorder and internet addiction have found a significant positive correlation: those with poor attention management skills are more prone to internet addiction. Reflecting on these findings, it's easy to see that new media like television and the internet provide opportunities for distraction, posing a significant threat to people's attention span.

    Distractibility not only affects our efficiency in doing things but also our mental health. Once we realize that attention is a precious resource, we must learn to manage it well. Environmental psychologists Rachel and Stephen Kaplan proposed the "Attention Restoration Theory" in 1980, arguing that mental fatigue often manifests as a lack of concentration, therefore restoring attention should be a key focus of stress reduction. Their research suggests that to restore and even improve attention, one should go to nature.

    Besides going to nature, in this information-saturated, easily distracted era, we should learn to be masters of our own lives. Regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the internet, some scholars say: the internet makes smart people smarter and stupid people stupider.

How does WeChat lower the overall IQ of society?

     In reality, there is indeed a correlation between the internet and the overall intelligence of society. The real problem lies in the abundance of false propositions, false topics, false viewpoints, false summaries, and false headlines that flood the internet, attracting attention, wasting time, and faking judgment. Both the providers and consumers of this pseudo-content are immersed in it, finding it mostly plausible, irrelevant, and meaningless information. If people are constantly bombarded with such information, their intelligence will indeed be affected.

    A recent article titled "WeChat is Lowering the Overall Intelligence of Chinese Society" has gone viral. In fact, several years ago, Japanese author Kenichi Ohmae wrote a book called "Low-IQ Society," expressing concern about the following behaviors among young Japanese people: only caring about things within their own three-meter radius; being able to talk endlessly online but unable to open up to others face-to-face in real life; lacking ambition for success, having poor learning abilities but being indifferent to it; impulsively buying things after seeing TV commercials; officials who shamelessly mispronounce words; giving up immediately when faced with difficulties without thinking; blindly following the crowd and doing whatever the herd…

    History always has a tendency towards "reaction," and whenever something becomes particularly popular, voices of opposition follow. Recently, two things have become particularly popular: Alibaba's IPO, making Jack Ma the richest man in China—this is the overt popularity; there is also a covert popularity: WeChat has subtly permeated and influenced people's daily lives. According to Tencent's recent financial report, WeChat has reached 438 million active users both domestically and internationally. Jack Ma's popularity was dampened by an article claiming that "Taobao is a cancer on China's future economy"; WeChat's popularity has been accused of lowering the overall intelligence of society. Interestingly, this article was widely circulated on WeChat. The success of Alibaba and Tencent is met with both fervent praise and scathing criticism, which precisely illustrates that WeChat provides a platform for different viewpoints. In this respect, WeChat doesn't lower intelligence; rather, it offers a greater possibility for raising the overall intelligence of society. WeChat differs from traditional mass communication;

    it facilitates the interaction and dissemination of personal information within a friend's circle, while also allowing interaction and connection between circles. Information filtered through friend circles can even generate spillover effects. All of this aligns with the openness of the internet. Therefore, if the assertion that WeChat lowers the overall intelligence of society is true, then saying that the internet lowers human intelligence is also not wrong.

    There's a phenomenon in psychology where people typically only see what they want to see, ignoring other content even when it's right in front of them—the saying goes, "The lewd see lewdness, the wise see wisdom." The internet, including WeChat, is a vast repository of diverse content, of varying quality. The key is not what it provides, but what you want to see. Like the core question of existentialism, the most important thing is how you choose. In a sense, the internet can be a powerful tool for people with high IQs, potentially enhancing their intelligence. However, for those with low IQs, the internet's low-level information can sway them, accelerating their intellectual decline.

    In reality, there is indeed a correlation between the internet and the overall intelligence of society. The real problem lies in the abundance of pseudo-propositions, pseudo-topics, pseudo-opinions, pseudo-summaries, and pseudo-headlines that flood the internet, attracting attention, wasting time, and eroding the judgment of the less intelligent. Both the providers and consumers of this pseudo-content are immersed in it, finding it mostly plausible, irrelevant, and meaningless. If people are constantly exposed to such information, their IQ will indeed be affected.

    Research shows that computer and mobile phone screens, besides severely damaging eyesight, also seriously impair a person's inner imagination and conceptualization abilities. This is easy to understand; for example, when reading a moving passage, one can calmly reflect and imagine, but when viewing content on a mobile phone, this inner activity is difficult to activate, and the mind easily becomes sluggish. This clearly also affects a person's intelligence and health. In short, WeChat is a tool. Using it without becoming addicted is a good tool; becoming addicted and lazy to think will backfire.

    Why has WeChat reading become a form of psychological comfort?

    Reading WeChat Moments has become a habitual way of reading for many people. The author distributed 246 questionnaires to a university in Beijing to study the content read on WeChat, why people read this content, and the advantages and disadvantages of WeChat reading. The statistics show that people spend too much time on WeChat and read it too frequently.

    The survey results show that the most frequently read content is, in order: life tips (185), funny jokes (176), life insights (165), workplace experience (145), inspirational stories (142), and health tips (129), accounting for 75.2%, 71.5%, 67.1%, 58.9%, 57.7%, and 52.4% of the total sample, respectively. Other content includes workplace motivation (105), romantic relationships (99), academic topics (92), rumors (78), real-life archive revelations (54), and other (26). The term "other" refers to content read beyond what was listed in the questionnaire, including news and friends' updates.

    The survey found that young people "read" WeChat for several reasons: first, to kill time – whether commuting on the subway or shopping, long waiting times make reading short anecdotes on WeChat seem to pass faster; second, to relieve frustration – venting on WeChat Moments provides relief; and third, to quickly understand the rapidly changing world and what others are focusing on. However, frequent WeChat use stems from boredom, anxiety, and restlessness, reflecting a need for security and belonging, and a desire for attention, self-worth, and achievement.

    WeChat reading has become an addiction, a behavioral dependence. On a superficial level, it suggests a sense of importance, prompting frequent WeChat checks. But in reality, no one is that important; the world keeps turning regardless. At a deeper level, it reflects idleness, anxiety, fear, insecurity, and a lack of self-confidence – a behavioral dependence. In other words, the underlying reason for excessive and frequent WeChat use is people's need for security, including a desire for a safe material and emotional environment. Most people fear and often abhor loneliness, feeling insecure when alone or by themselves. Repeatedly scrolling through WeChat is a way to see what their "friends" are doing, immersing themselves in the WeChat environment to alleviate loneliness and satisfying their need for security.

    Currently, a societal tendency towards restlessness and short-sightedness is pervasive, even in holiday greetings. For example, in the Year of the Horse, blessings almost universally include "May you immediately have X" (house, car, money, health, promotion, partner, happiness), a phrase so overused it fosters a yearning for "everything at once." This reflects, to some extent, the prevailing mentality in today's society—a get-rich-quick mentality. This mentality stems from a reluctance to put in hard work, a restless attitude, and an unwillingness to settle down and cultivate a grounded approach, always seeking to skip steps and achieve instant success.

    Surveys show that the most read content on WeChat consists of everyday life tips, humorous anecdotes, and life reflections. Serious academic content ranks fourth from the bottom, only surpassed by rumors, factual exposés, and other categories. People can't settle down to read classics; instead, they're keen on light reading. Doesn't this perfectly illustrate the current trend of restlessness and short-sightedness?

    Furthermore, the excessive sharing of "classics" and "life philosophies" by WeChat addicts has become a bit excessive. Classics are constantly on people's lips, so they cease to be classics. Many "classics," due to the excessive sharing by some WeChat addicts, have not only lost their enlightening value but have also become superficial and vulgarized. Because people's ability to process information is limited, they always try to conserve cognitive energy and seek shortcuts in the cognitive process. That is, they reduce their cognitive burden by ignoring or blocking some information. In other words, the excessive, over-interpretation, and indiscriminate forwarding of classics on WeChat has led people to develop a sense of blocking, aversion, and even resistance towards classics.

    WeChat Moments is a social platform, one-on-one, where you could say there's no single protagonist, or you could say everyone is a protagonist—everyone is equal. Various "shows" or "posts" on WeChat satisfy the needs of ordinary people and grassroots individuals for attention, their desire for fame, and their need for self-expression. If you're rich, you can post pictures of your car or house; if you're not, you can post pictures of the vegetarian dumplings you ate that day or a photo of yourself. Everyone can post what they consider important, unique, or something they're proud of. Everyone craves attention and believes their existence is significant. Therefore, anything can be "posted," and once you post it, your friends in the circle immediately receive it and pay attention, which implicitly proves your importance.

Where has the time gone?

Delicious food without lust

     There's a restaurant in Vancouver called "Fat Tony's Pizza," a popular spot for locals to relax and socialize. Just after 6 p.m. on Monday, a large black bear came down from the mountain, stormed into the restaurant's parking lot, and ransacked the trash cans.

    Two young women were working at the shop. One of them saw the black bear and quickly ran over to try and close the door. But how could a young girl stop a bear determined to be a robber? The bear pushed the door open with one paw and rushed into the pizza shop. For a moment, all the customers in the shop were stunned and didn't know how to react.

    The robber didn't even glance at the customers. He walked straight to the counter, placed his two front paws on it, grabbed a slice of pizza from the glass display case, and wolfed it down. The two little girls were already paralyzed with fear, completely at the mercy of the black bear.

    Gradually, the customers in the store came to their senses and hid to the side, while someone took out their phone and recorded the robber, which was later uploaded to a website. The video shows the black bear seemingly enjoying a beef and blue cheese pizza, devouring it while licking its lips. In the background, customers can be heard laughing, with a caption: "Hey buddy, don't forget to leave a big tip!"

    As the bear reaches out its paw for another slice of pizza, a voiceover says, "Looks like this guy's a master pizza thief!"

    The bear calmly devoured the entire pizza in one go, completely ignoring the two girls' constant screams.

    One of the customers, a Chinese man, remarked, "This robber really has a code of honor; he's more manly than most people. Aside from the trash cans outside, he didn't damage anything else inside the store, and he certainly didn't harm the two girls!"

Delicious food without lust

There's a restaurant in Vancouver called "Fat Tony's Pizza," a popular spot for locals to relax and socialize. Just after 6 p.m. on Monday, a large black bear came down from the mountain, stormed into the restaurant's parking lot, and ransacked the trash cans.
Two young women were working at the shop. One of them saw the black bear and quickly ran over to try and close the door. But how could a young girl stop a bear determined to be a robber? The bear pushed the door open with one paw and rushed into the pizza shop. For a moment, all the customers in the shop were stunned and didn't know how to react.
The robber didn't even glance at the customers. He walked straight to the counter, placed his two front paws on it, grabbed a slice of pizza from the glass display case, and wolfed it down. The two little girls were already paralyzed with fear, completely at the mercy of the black bear.
Gradually, the customers in the store came to their senses and hid to the side, while someone took out their phone and recorded the robber, which was later uploaded to a website. The video shows the black bear seemingly enjoying a beef and blue cheese pizza, devouring it while licking its lips. In the background, customers can be heard laughing, with a caption: "Hey buddy, don't forget to leave a big tip!"
As the bear reaches out its paw for another slice of pizza, a voiceover says, "Looks like this guy's a master pizza thief!"
The bear calmly devoured the entire pizza in one go, completely ignoring the two girls' constant screams.
One of the customers, a Chinese man, remarked, "This robber really has a code of honor; he's more manly than most people. Aside from the trash cans outside, he didn't damage anything else inside the store, and he certainly didn't harm the two girls!"

Cherry Blossoms (End)

 August.

Gu Yingqi's little cold drink shop opened.
In a strange little town far from Yanhai City, on a beach drowned in laughter.
He spent a lot of money renting a small tin shack, and even erected a huge awning outside the shop, so that his grandmother could lie in the old recliner under the awning, fanning herself with a palm leaf fan and listening to Kunqu Opera.
He still used the cell phone Zheng Jiujiu gave him, but changed the number.
His skin was tanned dark, and he patiently recommended his self-invented soft drink to each customer—Yingqi is a cold drink.
Occasionally, when he had free time, he would sit under the awning and recall the night he and his grandmother "escaped" from Yanhai City.
At that time, he left a letter in the old house.
He believed that Han Dong, who came to call him to go to work the next day, would hand that letter to Zheng Jiujiu.
Actually, it wasn't really a letter.
On the letter paper with his and his grandmother's fingerprints, there was only a house gift contract.
The old house and the house in the military compound were to be given to the Zheng family together. Gu Yingqi had carefully calculated the value when she checked the house sale information, and the combined value of the two houses should be enough to pay off one million.
Since her father never thought of any repayment when he made that decision, she decided to forget about the compensation.

Cherry Blossoms for a Long Time (Part 9)

 The following April, Mr. Zheng prepared a grand welcome-home banquet for Gu Yingqi.

He invited almost everyone Gu Yingqi knew.
But Yingqi didn't attend.
He even asked Han Dong to tell Yingqi that he had enrolled her in an MBA (Master of Business Administration) program, taught by renowned professors and entrepreneurs from Yanhai City. He was certain that the intelligent Yingqi would soon become one of his most capable assistants. Yingqi, however,
was engrossed in fiddling with the latest phone Zheng Jiujiu had given her the day before. The meticulous girl had already saved many people's numbers in her contacts. Her name saved in the phone was—"Sakura no Jiujiu."
Cherry blossoms only bloom, never bear fruit.
It's said they fall from the branch at a speed of seven centimeters per second.
Therefore, some beautiful things are destined to be short-lived.
That's why, when Zheng Jiujiu came to deliver the phone, he recklessly blocked her from entering the courtyard. With her back firmly against the gate, Yingqi heard Zheng Jiujiu's cries, but could only look up at the towering wisteria blossoms. In the end, Zheng Jiujiu could only leave her phone on the steps outside the door and silently leave. Before she left, she had confidently told him, "Gu Yingqi, everything will be alright..."
Three days after being discharged from the hospital, Gu Yingqi reported to the company under the guise of a junior manager in the personnel department and stormed straight into the chairman's office.
He was wearing shorts and sneakers, a toothpick dangling from his mouth, and the ugly, long scar on his face frightened the secretary who tried to stop him.
This sleazy look was something he had racked his brains over all night, combining various outrageous movies.
He used his father's sacrifice as leverage, demanding one million. If Zheng Beichen had been just a little braver back then, his father might have successfully jumped out of the driver's seat, right?
He knew that one million was nothing to Zheng Beichen.
Although Zheng's father looked guilty and disappointed, he ultimately signed the check.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say a few words to Gu Yingqi, but was rudely interrupted by her: "Don't worry, I won't bother you again."
As Gu Yingqi swaggered out of the office, he could still hear Zheng's father shouting at him, "Yingqi, that's not what I wanted to say!"
He stopped, took a deep breath, and coldly retorted, "Then don't say anything!"
In the lobby on the first floor, he even grabbed a chair and smashed the huge dressing mirror.
He thought, that way, the Zheng family wouldn't feel they owed him anything anymore, right?
He looked at the flimsy check in his hand, raised the corners of his mouth, gave a bitter smile, but his eyes reddened.
When spring arrives, there are always many, many flowers in this world vying to bloom.
When spring arrives, there are also always many flowers that bloom even knowing they won't bear fruit.

Cherry Blossoms for a Long Time (Part 8)

 A two-week hospital stay wasn't long for Yingqi, yet it felt like an eternity. During this time, he smashed three mirrors in the hospital restroom, and Mr. Zheng silently paid for them all.

Gu Yingqi would always remember that late autumn afternoon when Mr. Zheng brought his daughter to visit him.
Because that day, Mr. Zheng told him a story, and at that moment, he kept his back to the Zheng family, pretending to be fast asleep.
He told Gu Yingqi that many years ago, when he was still a company commander in the army, Yanhai City encountered a once-in-a-century flood. To prevent the seawall from breaching, two people had to drive two trucks loaded with earth and rocks towards the breach and then jump out in time. That day, when he and Mr. Zheng, who was the political instructor, drove the two trucks one after the other towards the breach, they hesitated when they saw the raging flood in front of them. He slammed on the brakes a second before the trucks plunged into the breach and jumped out of the driver's seat, trembling. Blocked by the truck in front, Mr. Gu finally roared, slammed on the gas, and rammed the stopped truck into the breach. The severely deformed cab trapped his left leg,
and Mr. Gu, along with the entire truckload of earth and rocks, sank to the bottom of the sea and never resurfaced.
Gu Yingqi guessed that Zheng Jiujiu must have heard this story, which was why her attitude towards her changed so drastically.
Mr. Zheng's sobs echoed the autumn rain outside the window behind him. Filled with remorse, he told Gu Yingqi that he had never dared to mention what happened back then. After being discharged from the military, he worked desperately and bought an apartment in the military compound with his own money, asking Grandpa Zheng to use his connections to allocate it to the Gu family under the military's name. During this time, he never dared to visit the Gu family's old house.
It wasn't until later, when he went to great lengths to recruit Gu Yingqi into his company, that he realized how much she resembled the fearless instructor from back then. He said that for over a decade, he would dream of the events of that year, always suddenly sitting up in bed in the early hours of the morning, locking himself in his room, and sobbing like a child.
He, Grandpa Zheng, and Grandma Gu had agreed not to tell Gu Yingqi the truth for the time being, because they were afraid that Gu Yingqi, who was quite "hooligan" at the time, would take advantage of his father's kindness to their family and completely turn into a shameless scoundrel who only knew how to ask for money. You see, back then, Gu Yingqi wouldn't even spare the photographer taking pictures under the cherry blossom trees. This was also why Grandpa Zheng wanted Yingqi to join the army so much; he hoped the military could reform him properly.
Standing beside her father, Zheng Jiujiu's eyes reddened. She looked at Gu Yingqi's back, hesitated for a long time, but only said one sentence: "Gu Yingqi, I'll wait for you to get better!"
Gu Yingqi, with reddened eyes, still didn't turn around.
He heard the sound of the ward door closing softly, slammed his fist heavily against the white wall, and whispered "Goodbye" to the emptiness behind him.

Cherry Blossoms for a Long Time (Part 7)

 Zheng Jiujiu and Gu Yingqi became friends.

This was about the same probability as Han Dong, who bought a lottery ticket every afternoon after work, finally winning ten yuan.
Therefore, Gu Yingqi couldn't quite tell whether Han Dong was just unlucky or he was just incredibly lucky.
In any case, he ultimately attributed it all to—having used up all his bad luck before the age of twenty, leaving only good fortune.
When he would unconsciously whistle on his bike ride home from work every day, and when he would suddenly burst into silly laughter while eating in the company cafeteria, Han Dong felt he was somewhat dangerous.
Although Gu Yingqi was already working and Zheng Jiujiu was a university student, both long past the age of youthful naiveté, it seemed Gu Yingqi had forgotten that in the profound Chinese language, besides "youthful naiveté," there was another idiom: "overestimating one's abilities."
Otherwise, how could he have so readily agreed when Zheng Jiujiu invited him to her solo piano recital at the university under the guise of friendship?
"Fine, go ahead, but why get into a fight in the small auditorium?
And of course, why pick on a PE student?
Even if that PE student's demand for a bear hug after jumping onto the stage to give Zheng Jiujiu flowers was excessive, and even if Gu Yingqi, sitting in the front row, could clearly see Zheng Jiujiu's disgust and her pushing the boy, didn't he, a "street thug" since childhood, know how to consider the difference in strength?
So, when he rushed forward and shoved the PE student away, he was indeed knocked out.
In the dimly lit auditorium filled with cheers and whistles, the spotlight shone directly on Gu Yingqi, who was struggling to defend himself. Although Zheng Jiujiu kept shouting "Stop fighting!", that despicable guy still kicked Yingqi in the butt twice in front of hundreds of people to humiliate him."
As the PE student walked off the stage, he shamelessly raised his arm, begging for applause like a victorious gladiator in a movie.
This enraged Gu Yingqi. He struggled to his feet from under the spotlight, roared, and charged at the PE student, pulling him off the stage with him.
The stage was actually less than a meter high.
But the boy he pulled off the stage had his left leg strike the sharp corner of one of the spotlights. Blood gushed out instantly. By the time people calmed down and called the police and emergency services, it was too late. The boy, curled up and groaning on the ground, could no longer get up.
When Zheng Jiujiu arrived and saw the long trail of blood covering Yingqi's face, she burst into tears.
As Gu Yingqi and the PE student were taken away by the doctor, he said his only words, his last, to the tearful Zheng Jiujiu: "Don't tell my grandma. Just say your dad sent me on a business trip."
No further words were needed; Grandpa Zheng would take care of Grandma.
The flashing lights of the ambulance illuminated Zheng Jiujiu's face. She repeatedly apologized to Gu Yingqi, saying that if she hadn't invited him, none of this would have happened.
However, Gu Yingqi, lying on his back on the stretcher, only smiled.
Actually, when the doctor shoved him into the ambulance, he reached out his hand, but unfortunately, he didn't touch Zheng Jiujiu's fingertips.
He struggled to lift his head and saw through the rear window that Zheng Jiujiu was chasing after the ambulance, stopping under a banyan tree at an intersection, stomping her foot angrily, squatting down, and crying. The closed car door separated the two of them into two different worlds.
That day, what saddened Gu Yingqi the most was that Zheng Jiujiu played so many beautiful pieces at the concert, but he couldn't name a single one of them.

Cherry Blossoms for a Long Time (Part 6)

 In fact, Grandpa Zheng had already applied for a public housing unit for Yingqi's family in the military compound.

However, Grandma Gu refused to move out of the old house, so Grandpa Zheng had to rent it out and give the rent to Yingqi every month to help with household expenses.
He told Yingqi that it was what she deserved, something her father had earned with his life.
When the great flood struck, if it weren't for Gu Yingqi's father driving a truck loaded with earth and stones into the breach without hesitation, a third of the residents of Yanhai City would have been affected and left homeless.
Gu Yingqi felt no pride in her father for this; instead, she felt he was somewhat selfish, since it was his choice that led to her becoming a posthumous child. If she could choose now, she would hope that the flood would have destroyed the entire city of Yanhai. At least then, she, still in her womb, could have been submerged with her family forever, never to be separated. Perhaps, they could have become three free fish, living together day and night in the rivers and seas.
He lacked his father's awareness; he had endured nearly twenty years of injustice and contempt as an orphan.
In the air-conditioned office, Han Dong across from him was playing games again, while Gu Yingqi was using the internet to gather various materials for the company. He didn't want to owe the company too much.
After all, the Zheng family had done so much for his family. Even if what they did was, as Han Dong said, merely a small favor, it was still a tremendous kindness to Yingqi.
These kindnesses filled Yingqi with a strange anxiety.
Many nights, he even decided to accept Grandpa Zheng's request to join the army and leave Yanhai far away. But the next day, when he saw his grandmother's frail appearance, he abandoned the idea.
He could only work desperately to minimize his debt to the Zheng family.
However, the Zheng family's kindness seemed impossible to repay.
Shortly after the rainy season, Grandpa Zheng, having learned about the condition of Yingqi's old house from his granddaughter, actually hired a construction team, with Zheng Jiujiu supervising, to renovate their house while Yingqi was at work.
That evening, when Yingqi and Han Dong returned to the old town by bicycle, the old houses had been fitted with new tiles, and even the path from the house to the courtyard had been paved with brand-new tiles. What was Zheng Jiujiu doing at that moment? Wearing a yellow hard hat, she was standing on the high scaffolding, re-dragging the wisteria that had fallen to the side during the construction back onto the roof.
Han Dong beside her rang the bell and whistled at Zheng Jiujiu high up. Sunlight shone on Zheng Jiujiu's fair face, and the way she squinted as she looked in their direction made Yingqi unable to look directly at her. Yingqi parked her bicycle, and Zheng Jiujiu, having finished tidying up the wisteria, was happily climbing down the scaffolding, ready to show off to Yingqi, when she suddenly lost her footing, screamed, and fell from the scaffolding.
That time, Yingqi, instinctively rushing forward to catch Zheng Jiujiu, made a mistake; he shouldn't have hugged her head-on. Otherwise, how could saving someone result in a resounding slap on the left cheek?
Gu Yingqi, standing there covering his face, saw Han Dong beside him doubled over with laughter, while Zheng Jiujiu's retreating figure, disappearing around the street corner, was filled with rage.
He was even a little worried that Grandpa Zheng would soon send a whole company of guards to arrest him.
Fortunately, the "offended" Zheng Jiujiu didn't seem to report to the "commander."
Two days later, she even personally attended the inspection of the Gu family's old house renovation project. At that time, she was wearing denim shorts, her legs long and beautiful, and her high ponytail swayed from side to side with every step, making her look even more playful and cute.
After everything was settled, she stood before Gu Yingqi with her hands on her hips, and said to him with a sense of accomplishment, "How about that? When the rainy season comes again, you and Grandma won't be scrambling around anymore."
Her tone clearly showed she had already forgotten the "offense" she had suffered two days prior. She even lightly tapped Gu Yingqi's shoulder with her fingertips, smiling reassuringly at his apologetic expression: "No need to say 'thank you,' Gu Yingqi. Remember, you deserve all of this."
She spoke as if she were an angel Yingqi had waited so long to finally descend to earth, like starlight finally appearing in a long, dark night, like the only sweet lemon in the world.
Gu Yingqi looked at the newly renovated old house. On the side of the house, the huge osmanthus tree was covered in tiny yellow blossoms, their fragrance permeating half the city.
Opposite, in a recliner, Grandma, fanning herself with a palm leaf fan, was humming Kunqu opera along with the radio.
After a long pause, he finally mustered the courage to ask, "Zheng Jiujiu, didn't you used to dislike me?"
Zheng Jiujiu was taken aback by the question, tilting her head to look at him, a smile gradually spreading from the dimples at the corners of her mouth: "I suddenly realized that you're not so bad after all. We can still be friends, okay?"
She didn't give Gu Yingqi a chance to ask again. As she spoke, she turned around and walked towards Grandpa Zheng, who had somehow appeared at the front door.
Grandpa Zheng, with his hands behind his back, seemed quite satisfied with the project his granddaughter had overseen, smiling as he patted Zheng Jiujiu's head: "You did a good job on the task. Verbal praise!"