Introduction#
A friend who is still studying medicine on weekends came to Chengdu to attend a conference. Taking advantage of the busy schedule, we arranged to meet at Tie Xiang Temple for tea. There was a sign at the place where we drank tea at Tie Xiang Temple, which said, "Why panic? Life is long."
Drinking Tea#
Chengdu has finally succeeded in entering summer. Previously, there were several consecutive days of rain and the temperature was only around ten degrees. I once doubted if this year's summer would be like this. Fortunately, the weather cleared up on the weekend, with clear skies and a cool breeze in the morning and evening.
On such a day, there are many people drinking tea at Tie Xiang Temple. We went to find a seat at two o'clock in the afternoon, and by then it was already crowded. At times like this, you have to keep moving, watching in all directions and listening attentively, ready to leave when someone else finishes their tea, and then quickly occupy the seat.
The tables are square wooden tables for four people, and the chairs are old bamboo chairs that creak when you sit on them. The noon sun is still quite scorching, but the tea-drinking area is shaded by the branches and leaves of three or four large trees. It's quite interesting to drink tea under the shade of the trees. There are many people coming and going, including tourists, tea drinkers, and mostly spectators.
If you are an inexperienced tea drinker, you can order a cup of tea from the shop here, and the cost is calculated per person. One cup of tea can last the whole day, and water is provided for free. Experienced tea drinkers bring their own tea leaves and only need to order a cup of hot water here, which saves on the cost of tea and allows them to enjoy their own good tea.
Since it was our first time here, we ordered tea from the shop. The average cost per person is around 30 yuan, which is still reasonable.
The phrase "having nothing to do" is easy to say, but it's not easy to truly have nothing to do. Faced with this year's economic downturn, how many people have scratched their heads for a living, and how many can remain calm? Living in the midst of this turbulent economic event, no one can escape unscathed. I once saw a response on Zhihu that roughly said, when dealing with things, don't be impatient, take it slowly, and don't compare yourself to others in terms of speed. Because by taking things slowly and doing them well, you will be much faster than most people.
Chatting#
The story of my doctor friend is quite inspiring. After graduating from university for five years and failing the postgraduate entrance examination, he returned to work at the county hospital in our hometown. He passed the civil service examination after less than a year of work, and then used the time after work every night to review the courses. He took the postgraduate entrance examination four times in total and finally succeeded in 2021.
The last time we met was when I returned to China to prepare for work. At that time, he hadn't quit his job in the county yet, and in the second half of the year, he would continue his student life. It has been two years now, and he is currently in his second year of postgraduate studies. In his speech, he has already completed the transformation of his perspective. I often think of the conversation we had in a milk tea shop in the county, where he talked about his experience of preparing for the postgraduate entrance examination. He said, "If everyone else can do it, why can't I?" He persisted for four years and completed his transformation.
This time, he told me that after attending the conference, he wants to continue his doctoral studies at Peking University. I think he can do it.
I am very fortunate to know such a group of people who have their own place in various fields. They often give me the motivation to live and are also a compass in life, allowing me to lift my head and look at the moon, and then look at the sixpence on the road ahead in the midst of a busy life.
So, my friend, live seriously for what you want.