The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 818 After hearing the old man's story, Wang Xing wanted to start his own business!

Liu Mantun told Aunt Zhang and Xiao Wang that his family used to have two television sets, one in the living room and one in the bedroom.

One day, he suddenly asked his son to move the TV from the bedroom.

Liu Mantun's son was puzzled and asked him why.

Liu Mantun said, "A person's energy is limited in this lifetime."

I want to spend more of my waking, lucid time reading, chatting with you all, or simply daydreaming.

One less screen means one less distraction.

Liu Mantun's wardrobe doesn't contain many clothes, but every piece is of good quality and worn appropriately.

He never pursues brand names; he only cares about comfort and durability.

Liu Mantun eats very simply, with coarse tea and plain rice, and seasonal vegetables, but he spends a lot of time researching how to make the most ordinary ingredients healthy and delicious.

He enjoys the process, not the accumulation of results.

Liu Mantun cut these unnecessary expenses not to save money, but to achieve a kind of spiritual freedom.

When a person's desires become simple, their happiness becomes readily available.

He no longer needs to prove his worth through consumption, nor does he need to gain satisfaction from the opinions of others.

Once, a young neighbor named Xiao Sun bought a new Jingchi E-300, which was quite expensive, and drove it to Liu Mantun to show it off.

Liu Mantun just smiled, complimented the car, saying "Nice car," and then continued tending to his flowers and plants.

Xiao Sun was a little disappointed, feeling that the old man had no taste.

A few days later, Xiao Sun came to Liu Mantun again. This time, he specially wore a newly bought Swiss watch, which shone brightly in the sunlight.

Liu Mantun was pruning roses in the yard when he looked up and said gently, "Wow, you got a new watch, it matches your style." Then he lowered his head again to focus on the flower branches in his hands.

Later, when Xiao Sun was overwhelmed by car loan and high maintenance costs, he gradually came to understand the wisdom behind Liu Mantun's composure.

He turned off not just a television set, but also the door to restlessness and anxiety.

What he left behind was more time with his family and more space to focus on his inner self. This inner abundance is something that no amount of material wealth can match.

Now that he has entered his later years, Liu Mantun has not chosen to rest on his past laurels and enjoy a life of leisure.

Once material life was no longer a concern for him, he began to devote more energy to social participation and volunteer activities.

Liu Mantun has become one of the most active volunteers in the community.

Every morning, in addition to exercising in Yongding River Park, he would also check the public facilities in the streets. He would immediately write down where the streetlights were broken or where the manhole covers were loose and report it to the neighborhood committee.

He felt that Liujiazhuang was everyone's home, and everyone had a responsibility to make it better.

The Liujiazhuang West Bank District Subdistrict Office wants to organize a calligraphy and painting class for senior citizens, but lacks experienced teachers.

When Liu Mantun was young, he practiced calligraphy for several years with an old calligrapher who had been sent to the countryside in his hometown. Over the years, he has persisted in writing and is much better than the average calligraphy enthusiast. So he volunteered to become a volunteer teacher.

He was never late or left early, and he patiently guided each of the elderly students.

Under his leadership, the calligraphy and painting classes have become increasingly popular, becoming a beautiful sight at the neighborhood's senior citizens' activity center.

Watching his old friends wield their brushes on paper, their faces beaming with the joy of learning new knowledge, Liu Mantun felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

In the picturesque Liujiazhuang village, the elderly enjoy a happy and fulfilling retirement.

They not only have no worries about food and clothing, but also enjoy the happiness of being surrounded by their children and grandchildren. The community's comprehensive elderly care facilities and thoughtful medical services allow every senior citizen to enjoy their later years in peace.

However, looking across the country, not every place is as fortunate as Liujiazhuang.

Elsewhere, there are still many families struggling to make ends meet and many lonely, destitute elderly people who urgently need the care and assistance of society.

What is admirable is that the people of Liujiazhuang have always cherished a sincere heart of love over the years.

Their self-organized charitable activities have long been renowned throughout the country. From donating to education and helping the poor, from caring for left-behind children to assisting the elderly living alone, the good deeds of the people of Liujiazhuang are like a spring breeze and rain, warming countless people in need.

Over the years, not only have there been official charitable organizations, but also numerous spontaneous charitable activities in Liujiazhuang.

Liu Mantun is such a person; he often visits families in need and elderly people living alone.

Chat with them and help them solve some practical difficulties.

Liu Mantun never appeared as a benefactor, but rather like an old friend, giving them respect and warmth.

He knew that emotional comfort was sometimes more important than material assistance.

During a charity fundraising event organized by the neighborhood committee, Liu Mantun not only took the lead in donating money himself, but also used his network to contact several entrepreneur friends and raise a considerable amount of funds for the neighborhood committee's public welfare projects.

This incident enhanced his prestige in the communities near the subdistrict office, but Liu Mantun himself never mentioned it.

In his view, he did these things not for fame, but to make his later years more valuable.

Through these volunteer activities, Liu Mantun met more like-minded friends, and his life became more fulfilling and joyful.

He discovered that when a person stops living only for themselves, their world becomes incredibly vast.

Liu Mantun is no longer a businessman who only cares about increasing his own wealth, but an ordinary citizen of Liujiazhuang who cares about the community and is happy to contribute.

The sense of value and happiness he gained from giving back was the highest return on all his investments.

A person's success, if not shared with family, leaves only loneliness.

Liu Mantun was well aware of this.

At every important juncture in Liu Mantun's life, whether it was the difficulty of resolutely resigning or the immense pressure of investing later, the support of his family has been his strongest backing.

Especially his wife, Gao Xiulan.

This seemingly delicate woman possesses an incredibly strong inner strength.

When Liu Mantun resigned from the machinery factory in Liujiazhuang, she was the first to oppose it, and also the first to turn around and support it.

During the most difficult days, Gao Xiulan never complained. She simply kept the household in perfect order, allowing Liu Mantun to venture out into the world without any worries.

Gao Xiulan often said, "I trust your judgment. Even if we fail, we can start over. I'll be there for you."

Liu Mantun remembered those words for the rest of his life.

Now that life is better, Liu Mantun is even more grateful and loving towards Gao Xiulan.

Just like when they were young, they would hold hands and go for walks, and sit together in the yard to watch the sunset.

They didn't exchange many words, but a single glance or gesture was enough for them to understand each other's feelings.

Decades of weathering storms together have long since bound their lives together.

Their children also inherited Liu Mantun's wisdom and character.

Liu Mantun never demands that his children become successful; he only hopes they can become upright, kind, and grateful people.

He subtly imparted his investment philosophy and life philosophy to them.

Liu Mantun told the children that the ultimate goal of financial management is not to accumulate numbers, but to have the freedom to choose and the ability to resist risks.

The family dinner every Sunday is an unwavering tradition.

The children will bring their families back to their old courtyards in the alleys of Liujiazhuang West Bank District.

Everyone sat together and shared their experiences and interesting stories from the week.

Liu Mantun listens to his children talk about their work troubles and offers them advice based on his own experience; his grandchildren gather around him and listen to him tell stories of the past.

The laughter and joy filling the courtyard are the most beautiful music in Liu Mantun's heart. Looking at the sight of his children and grandchildren, he often thinks back to his seemingly crazy decision thirty years ago.

If he hadn't chosen the more difficult path, he might have lived a stable life, but he would never have the rich and colorful life he has created with his own hands today.

His family's understanding and support gave all his struggles a warm undertone.

This loving haven is the most precious and irreplaceable part of all of Liu Mantun's wealth.

Liu Mantun knew that no matter how much wind and rain there was outside, as long as he returned here, his heart would find a place to rest.

He loves telling his grandson stories about his youth.

He never talks about his glorious successes; instead, he often talks about the mistakes he has made and the losses he has suffered.

“Failure is not terrible,” he said, patting his grandson’s head. “What is terrible is not daring to admit failure, or not learning anything from failure.”

Gao Xiulan would then be busy in the kitchen, preparing a table of home-style dishes.

She always says, "No matter how delicious the food is outside, it can't compare to a bowl of hot soup at home." When her children offer to help, she always smiles and refuses, saying, "You work so hard every day, just come home and rest."

Last winter, Liu Mantun was hospitalized due to a sudden heart attack.

After the news spread, people from the community came to visit him at the "Yanjing Medical University Affiliated Hospital".

The elderly members of the calligraphy and painting class donated a calligraphy work they had created together, which read "Blessings, Longevity, Peace, and Health"; the families in need that he had helped also sent their heartfelt gifts.

The ward was filled with flowers and fruit, and the nurses all smiled and said it was the liveliest ward in the hospital.

As Liu Mantun lay in his hospital bed, looking at these familiar faces, a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

Gao Xiulan stayed by her bedside day and night, and her children took turns taking leave to care for her.

Their eldest son, Gao Fei, is a senior executive at RT-Mart Group and is currently expanding business overseas. He specially returned from Southeast Asia, and their youngest daughter makes different kinds of soup every day.

Watching his family members busy at work, Liu Mantun suddenly felt that this illness was worthwhile—it made him see more clearly the most precious things in life.

After recovering, Liu Mantun cherishes his life even more.

He restructured his time, focusing more on spending time with his family and serving in the community.

Every morning, he would take a walk in the park with Gao Xiulan and watch the sunrise; in the afternoon, without fail, he would go to the calligraphy and painting class to instruct new students.

The family gathering on the weekend was still lively, but with a new activity added – the whole family participated in community volunteer service together.

As the sun sets, golden rays bathe the entire old alleyway area of ​​Liujiazhuang.

Liu Mantun sat on a bench under the old locust tree, surrounded by several young people who looked like Xiao Wang.

After listening to Liu Mantun's story, they all showed expressions of contemplation and admiration.

Xiao Wang sighed, "Uncle Liu, I used to think that as long as I worked hard, I could live a good life."

After hearing your story, I realized that sometimes, the right choice is more important than hard work.

Liu Mantun smiled and nodded, patting him on the shoulder: "Effort is certainly important, but if you're going in the wrong direction, the harder you work, the further you may get from your goal."

In one's life, one will face countless crossroads.

That one crucial step you take determines what kind of scenery you'll see in the future.

He gazed into the distance, his eyes deep and serene, as if they had pierced through decades of time.

"I've made many choices along the way, some right and some wrong."

But the most important choice was that while everyone else was pursuing stability, I chose to pursue an uncertain life that was truly my own.

Liu Mantun told young people not to be afraid of failure, because failure is the best teacher in life. It will teach you to be respectful and humble, and make you more clear-headed when making choices next time.

Don't be blinded by immediate gains; look further ahead.

Just like when he invested in old courtyard houses in Beijing, he didn't see the current dilapidation, but the future value of the city.

"True security never comes from a stable job or a fixed pension, but from your ability to cope with life's changes and the richness of your inner world."

Liu Mantun's words were like a pebble thrown into the lake of the young man's heart, stirring up ripples.

His story spread throughout the alleys of Liujiazhuang.

Liu Mantun is no longer just a "strange" old man who lives a leisurely life without a pension, but has become a legend and a living mentor.

His experience tells everyone that life is not a script to be passively accepted, but a work that can be actively created.

Looking back, Liu Mantun has no regrets.

He used wisdom and courage to manage his life, making every choice a cornerstone of his happiness.

Everything he has now—a comfortable life, a harmonious family, and a fulfilling inner world—is the best reward for the courageous decision he made thirty years ago.

Grandpa Liu's story deeply moved Xiao Wang, a young internet professional, and stirred his restless heart that was originally unwilling to be mediocre.

Xiao Wang's real name is Wang Xing, and he is a programmer at a major internet company in Liujiazhuang High-tech Development Zone.

Wang Xing comes from a very wealthy family; his father is also a very successful businessman.

Years ago, he invested in a cement factory, which was very successful. As a result, when Wang Xing was very young, his father's net worth had already exceeded 100 million yuan.

Growing up in such a wealthy family, Wang Xing should easily have become someone who indulges in pleasure and lacks ambition. However, in addition to his privileged background, his family also had a strong academic atmosphere.

Besides his father, Wang Miao, paying close attention to his studies, his grandparents were also intellectuals. This resulted in Wang Xing not only inheriting the family's good learning genes, but also developing a particular fondness for in-depth study under their influence.

Wang Xing has loved studying radio since he was a child. He even made his own tape recorder. These small details are enough to show that Wang Xing is the typical "other people's child".

"Other people's children" seem to achieve success more easily, gradually becoming pillars of society in the eyes of others, and this also applies to Wang Xing.

Wang Xing, who excelled in both character and academics, was naturally recommended to Tsinghua University to study radio engineering, a major he had been exposed to since childhood.

After graduating from Tsinghua University, Wang Xing successfully obtained a full scholarship to the University of Delaware in America, where he began studying electrical and computer engineering.

After successfully obtaining his master's degree last year, Wang Xing returned to China to pursue his career.

These days, the best-developed computer and internet hubs in China are Yanjing Zhongguancun and Liujiazhuang High-tech Zone Information Industry Park.

So, after many twists and turns, Wang Xing ended up working in Liujiazhuang.

Actually, Wang Xing initially returned to China intending to start his own business, but lacking experience, he ended up working for an internet company.

Back in his rented courtyard house, Wang Xing lay on his bed, his heart growing increasingly restless.

He jumped up, grabbed the phone from the bedside table, and called his friend Wang Huiwen.

"Hey, Wen, where are you right now?"

Wang Huiwen, who was on the other end of the phone, was also a high-tech worker and was currently studying at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"Hehe, I'm at work right now, Young Master Wang. What are your instructions?"

"Awen, I've heard you talk about SNS social networking sites a few times. Could you come over here and we can discuss it properly?" Wang Xing's eyes were shining, and he was eager to see his friend.

Upon hearing this, Wang Huiwen's eyes lit up, and he immediately replied, "What? Young Master Wang, do you have some ideas?"

"Well, that's why I need to talk to you in person..."

"Okay, I'll go over after I get off work."

"Come quickly!"

(End of this chapter)