Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 1078 Thanking Teacher for His Instructions
Monday, September 7th
Wang Zhan got up very early, went to check on his sister's room, covered her with a blanket, and then tiptoed out of the house. The yard was quiet, with only a few fallen leaves scattered on the ground, probably blown there by the wind. Wang Zhan picked up a broom and started sweeping.

After sweeping the backyard, Wang Zhan went straight to the front yard. Jinbao was lying lazily in its bed, not moving at all. It seemed that it didn't want to wake up yet.

After cleaning the yard, Wang Zhan looked back at the vehicles and reminded himself that he should take some time to clean up or get rid of them during his break next week. He definitely couldn't keep the old bicycle. He had only used the handcart once. He would see if Grandpa Yang next door wanted it. If he didn't want it either, he would send it to the recycling station. He would keep the tricycle and the Forever bicycle.

After washing up, Wang Zhan started making breakfast. Breakfast was simple: millet porridge, steamed buns, two boiled eggs, and pickles—a truly delicious meal.

After the steamed buns were steamed, Wang Zhan returned to the main room to wake Wang Li. Wang Li dawdled, and it wasn't until breakfast was served in the main room that she came out of her bedroom, still looking groggy.

Wang Zhan reminded her, saying, "Little sister, you need to wake up. You have to go to school today. If you don't hurry, we'll both be late."

Wang Li glanced at the clock and instantly snapped awake. She ran to wash up, came back, grabbed a steamed bun, and started eating. Halfway through, she yelled, "Oh no! I haven't packed my schoolbag yet!"

Wang Zhan said, "Let's finish eating first and get going. I can just ride faster if necessary."

It was a chaotic morning, and Wang Zhan only breathed a sigh of relief when Wang Li skipped and hopped into the school with her schoolbag on her back. Then he rode his bike straight to his own school.

Just then, Wang Zhan entered the campus, and the bell rang. Wang Zhan hurriedly went into the classroom, only to be stunned when he looked up. Only half of the students in the classroom were tidying up their desks. Class monitor Li Weiqi walked over and said, "Don't just stand there, tidy up your desks. Those who didn't come should go back to the dormitory to pack their luggage. Once everyone is packed, Teacher Ren will come to announce the internship units."

Wang Zhan knew that his campus life was coming to an end. This should be his last day at school. After his internship, his internship company would give him an evaluation, and then the school would issue him his graduation certificate, which would mark his graduation from vocational school.

Wang Zhan returned to his seat and tidied his desk. Actually, there wasn't much to tidy up. Before the holiday, he had taken everything he could home with him. Now, there were only two books left on his desk. Oh, and there was also a lunchbox and a teacup in the cafeteria.

"Who is Wang Zhan? Is Wang Zhan here?" a student shouted at the door.

Wang Zhan quickly stood up and said, "I'm here. My name is Wang Zhan."

"Professor Xie told you to pack your things and go directly to his office. I've passed on his message." After saying that, the student turned and left.

Wang Zhan took two books and walked straight out of the classroom. When he reached the door, he turned back to look at his classmates. After all, they had been classmates for two years, and he had some contact with each of them. Wang Zhan just wanted to see them one last time. Maybe after leaving the classroom this time, he would never see these classmates again.

Wang Zhan went to the cafeteria to get his lunchbox and teacup, carried them in a net bag, and headed towards Professor Xie Yun's office.

Wang Zhan gently knocked on the door, and Professor Xie's voice came from inside, "Come in!" Wang Zhan pushed the door open and entered. Inside the office, Xie Yun was holding her teacup and standing by the window, seemingly looking out the window.

Professor Xie saw that it was Wang Zhan who came in, so he pointed to the sofa opposite the desk and said, "Sit down, I'll get you some water."

"No, teacher, how could I let you pour me water? I can do it myself, I know this place well." Wang Zhan said and walked towards the tea table by the door. Xie Yun smiled and sat down on the sofa. Wang Zhan poured himself a glass of water and then refilled Professor Xie's teacup. At this moment, Wang Zhan noticed an ashtray on the table, along with an unopened box of Peony cigarettes and a kerosene lighter.

Professor Xie said, "This is for you. Actually, I've been wanting to find time to have a deep talk with you, but I haven't had the time. Today is your last day, and I've already spoken to your teacher. We're not going anywhere today; we'll just have a good chat in this office."

Wang Zhan put the thermos back on the tea table, and only then did he realize that there were four thermos flasks on the tea table, whereas Professor Xie's office usually only had one.

Wang Zhan sat down on one side of the sofa, and Professor Xie said, "Don't be shy. You know me. I don't smoke or drink. I know you smoke, so go ahead and smoke."

Wang Zhan immediately relaxed, took a sip of water, and then asked, "Teacher, I'm just going there for an internship, not leaving this place. What's going on?"

Professor Xie Yun didn't answer Wang Zhan's question. He suddenly closed his eyes and leaned back on the sofa. After a while, Professor Xie opened his eyes, looked at Wang Zhan and asked, "Xiao Zhan, you are the smartest student I've ever met, and you learn things the fastest. You've always respected me, I know. But teacher, I have a question for you today: Are you happy with your life?"

When faced with Professor Xie's question, Wang Zhan's mind suddenly went blank. He didn't know how to answer. To put it another way, Wang Zhan had never thought about this question, nor did he know whether he was happy or not. Wang Zhan fell into deep thought for a moment.

Professor Xie closed his eyes again, not wanting to disturb Wang Zhan's thoughts, and leaned back on the sofa, saying, "No need to rush. Think carefully about the past and consider whether you were truly happy or not."

Wang Zhan thought for a while but still couldn't come up with a solution. If he wanted to talk about happiness, it was when he was alone with his sister, when he felt relaxed and laughed a lot. He was also happy when he was with his close friends. The rest of the time, he was busy and didn't really have any feelings of happiness or unhappiness.

Wang Zhan looked up at his teacher and asked, "Teacher, why are you asking me this question?"

Professor Xie opened his eyes, looked at Wang Zhan, and said, "Xiao Zhan, I don't know what you've been through, but in the past two years of getting to know you, I've noticed that you have a lot of problems with your personality. Have you realized it yourself?"

Wang Zhan thought for a moment, shook his head, and said, "Teacher, you're right, I really don't know."

Professor Xie Yun straightened up, sat up, took a sip of tea, and looked at Wang Zhan, saying, "Xiao Zhan, you are smart, quick to learn, like to think, and are very focused. However, have you noticed that you have too strong a sense of self-protection? It's difficult for most people to get close to you. Take your classmates, for example. Do you have any close friends? And the masters at the Northern Machinery Factory, apart from work-related matters, have you had any private interactions with them? Xiao Zhan, it's okay to be self-protective when communicating with people, but that doesn't mean keeping them at arm's length. When interacting with people, you need to be sincere to receive sincerity in return. If you're always on guard, others will also sense your rejection, so it's difficult for you to make friends."

Wang Zhan listened attentively. He thought about it carefully and it seemed that what Teacher Xie Yun said made some sense, but he still disagreed a little. He felt that if he hadn't been on guard, he would have been eaten alive long ago.

At this moment, Wang Zhan subconsciously picked up a cigarette from the table. After lighting it, he realized that he was smoking in Professor Xie's office and looked at Professor Xie awkwardly.

Professor Xie looked at Wang Zhan, who had a cigarette between his fingers, with great interest and said, "It's alright, you can have yours. I'd also like to hear your story."

Wang Zhan was suddenly lost in memories, slowly starting from when he could remember things, telling Teacher Xie about his experiences. It was a recollection, and it also seemed like the first time he had opened his heart to someone.

(End of this chapter)