Chapter 74: There are many beautiful things in the world
Chapter 74: There are many beautiful things in the world
"Every generation carries the marks of its time. Take my grandmother's generation, for example. They experienced poverty, hunger, communal meals, and being sent to the countryside. They spent their whole lives struggling, and even when they should be enjoying their retirement, they can’t seem to relax. They wake up before the sun rises every day, and if they have nothing to do, they’ll grab a broom and sweep around the front gate, almost as if they want to sweep away a layer of the road itself."
Since Jiang He arrived, Xu Qing had unknowingly turned into a chatterbox. Whenever he had free time, he would babble on, and surprisingly, Jiang He liked listening to him, almost as if she were hearing stories—everything seemed fresh to her.
"Then came my dad's generation. Life started getting better... Well, it wasn’t that good, just a lot better than the previous generation. Especially when he grew up—housing and jobs were all allocated by the state. Everything was stable. As long as you focused on your work, you’d be fine. That’s why they had a fervent desire for the iron rice bowl, and they wanted their children to also work within the system, get government paychecks, and have stability no matter what."
"And you?" Jiang He only half-understood. She vaguely knew that working in the system was equivalent to working for the authorities.
"I’m the newest generation. What we pursue is the meaning of life—the meaning of being alive."
"The meaning of life?"
"Yeah, the meaning of life. I often reflect on why we live and what we live for." Xu Qing struck a philosophical pose, pushing up his non-existent glasses with his finger.
"What’s the meaning?"