No matter how well you do, please remember...

 　　(I)

　　1. Behind the glamour lies either hardship or filth.

　　2. If you have money, know how to pretend; if you don't, know how to package yourself.

　　3. Don't argue with fools, or you won't be able to tell who the fool is.

　　4. It's better to be a brilliant version of yourself than a supporting role in someone else's life.

　　5. The one who is hated feels no pain, but the one who hates is scarred.

　　6. Greed is the truest poverty, contentment is the truest wealth. Three stages of life:

　　youth is running, middle age is walking, old age is strolling; three states of life:

　　youth is posture, middle age is physique, old age is illness;

　　three thoughts of life: youth is dreams, middle age is reflection, old age is fantasy.

　　Three wisdoms of life: youth is wit, middle age is intellect, old age is wisdom.

　　(II)

　　1. Don't think that having a household registration means you can settle down.

　　2. Don't think that having a job means you'll be worry-free.

　　3. Don't think that sowing seeds means you'll reap a harvest.

　　4. Don't think that having ability means you'll get promoted.

　　5. Don't think that having money will bring you happiness.

　　6. Don't think that reaching the summit will allow you to conquer the world.

　　7. Don't think that silencing others will guarantee you praise.


　　(III)

　　We, as young people, must understand:

　　1. If you are not brave, no one will be strong for you.

　　2. Children without umbrellas must run hard!

　　3. The path you choose, you must walk it to the end, even on your knees.

　　4. Don't be angry, be ambitious; don't be cynical, break through; don't be jealous, appreciate; don't procrastinate, be proactive; don't just be moved, take action.

　　5. I'd rather stumble and fall countless times than walk a lifetime in a conventional way. Even if you fall, laugh heartily.

　　Conclusion:

　　When you are above others, treat them as human beings; when you are below others, treat yourself as a human being. A simple life is difficult because to live simply, you must not think too much. Those who like flowers will pick them, but those who love flowers will water them.

　　The biggest mistake people often make is being too polite to strangers and too harsh on those close to them. Change this bad habit, and the world will be at peace.

　　Wen Wanqing has something to say.
　　(The End)

Only by following the right person can you do the right thing and avoid taking detours.

 　　Ordinary people talk about trivial matters, earn wages, and think about tomorrow; business people talk about projects, earn profits, and think about next year; career-oriented people talk about opportunities, earn wealth, and think about the future and security; wise people talk about giving, exchange ideas on dedication, follow the Tao, and everything will naturally become abundant. In

　　real life, who we associate with is indeed very important, even able to change our growth trajectory and determine our success or failure in life. The saying "You become like the people you surround yourself with" is not without reason.
　　With diligent people, we won't be lazy; with positive people, we won't be depressed; walking with wise people, we will be extraordinary; associating with high achievers, we can reach the peak. Positive people are like the sun, shining brightly wherever they go; negative people are like the moon, always the same.
　　Attitude determines everything; your attitude shapes your future; character determines destiny; your character shapes your life. In fact, the greatest misfortune in life is that the lack of ambitious and visionary people around us makes our lives mediocre and lackluster. If we want to be smart, we should surround ourselves with smart people; only then will we become wiser. If we want to be excellent, we should surround ourselves with excellent people; only then will we excel.
　　Reading good books and associating with wise people are two of life's greatest blessings.
　　A person's status is determined by the friends they keep. The more friends you have, the higher your value and the greater the help they provide to your career. Friends are an indispensable and precious asset in our lives. Because of their encouragement and assistance, we can be invincible and forge ahead.
　　The mystery of life lies in getting along with others and walking hand in hand; the beauty of life lies in giving roses and having fragrance linger on your hands.
　　Following the right people is the key to doing the right things and avoiding detours.

Quotes about youth

 　　1. Youth is a hastily written book, which we read again and again with tears in our eyes! - Xi Murong

　　2. Whoever squanders their youth will find it faded. - Victor Hugo

　　3. The power of youth is irrepressible; even hell can become heaven. - Yu Qiuyu

　　4. Youth is a fleeting dream; when you wake up, it has vanished without a trace. - William Shakespeare

　　5. The beauty and preciousness of youth lie in its innocence and purity, in its elusiveness, and in its irretrievable nature. - Xi Murong

　　6. If the vigor of youth and the relentless curiosity of progress disappear, life has no meaning. - John Stuart Mill

　　7. Tiny footprints float and sink on the boundless snowfield, just like our wandering and turbulent youth. - Zhang Kangkang

　　8. No generation's youth is easy. Every generation has its own destiny, grievances, struggles, and fights; there is nothing to complain about. - Bai Yansong

　　…

　　(The End)

Father's Back

 　　By Zhang Zhonglin

　　It's been over a year since I last saw my father, and I often dream of his back.

　　Last year, during the National Day holiday, I went home. My father said there were no cars from town to our house, so he would pick me up in his electric scooter. A seventy-year-old man—could he really drive an electric scooter? Looking at my father sitting in the front driving, all I saw was his back: his head was down, looking ahead, his back bulging, each bone clearly visible, covered only by skin. He gripped the steering wheel, bent over, looking like a plowshare. Was this still my tall and imposing father?

　　When my father was young, he helped people blast rocks in the mountains. In my free time, I liked to go play at his place. Back then, I often saw him wielding a large iron hammer, smashing rocks until sparks flew everywhere. What an image that was! Perhaps a close-up could depict it: my tall father, his back as broad as a doorway, his legs as firm as pillars, his arms bulging with muscles, swinging the hammer with a whooshing sound.

　　A few days ago, I saw Courbet's oil painting "The Quarrymen," and it suddenly dawned on me that my impression of him differed significantly from reality. Because of the poverty of that time, my father was similar to the protagonist in "The Quarrymen," wearing a brimless straw hat, patched clothes, and worn-out shoes with his heels showing. This can be seen in a black-and-white photograph of him from that era. This

　　was the harsh reality, but I still love the image of my father smashing stones: his brown back, taut arms, and the hammer raised high. The whole painting possesses immense tension and a soul-stirring expressiveness; who wouldn't give him a thumbs up? However, the father before me completely lacked that imposing presence. He was hunched over and short, his speech even slightly slurred. How could he compare to the image of that time? I couldn't bear to think about it anymore, couldn't bear to look. When

　　I got home, I caught a cold. My body felt weak, and I had no energy. Seeing my father carrying a load of manure to water the fields, I offered to do it. My father laughed and said, "You're made of paper; you can't withstand the wind." Then, I saw my father's back again: he stretched his neck, bent over, gripped the carrying pole with both hands, his whole body bent like a bow. Watching him walk with faltering steps, tears streamed down my face. As his son, I couldn't let my aging father enjoy his old age in peace.

　　On the day I left, just before leaving, my father told me to wait a moment, that he would pick some pomelos to take with me. He said pomelos were good for my high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and he had taken almost all the pomelos from the tree to me. Looking at the pomelos at the top of the tree, he prepared to climb up to pick them. At his age, it was dangerous! I shouted and ran to my father, trying to take the basket from his waist, but he resolutely refused: "Don't think you're younger than me, but when it comes to climbing trees, I'm agile, you can't." My

　　father, hanging upside down from the tree, looked like a plastic bag hanging on the branch, fluttering in the wind, as if he might be blown away at any moment. Then my tears came again. My father no longer had the broad back of his youth; he was so thin that he was almost deformed, only a slender outline that could be grasped in one hand. A jacket billowed in the wind like a sail, making him look like a cicada shedding its skin. His hands were even more unsightly, like blackened firewood sticks, devoid of any luster; cracked like hemp stalks, without a trace of muscle. Was this still my father? Tears flooded my vision like a burst dam.

　　For over a year, every single day, I had missed my father, unable to forget his silhouette. No matter what, I must go back to see him, to tell him about my work, my life.

Profound in science fiction

 　　 The universe, mysterious and profound; humanity, ignorant yet extraordinary; the future, both hopeful and fearful. Thus, I've fallen in love with science fiction!

　　 What is science fiction?

　　 It's based on existing science, making grounded fantasies about things that might happen now or in the future. It's based on our current living environment, making possible reflections on the present or future. It's a spiritual journey based on the weaknesses of our time and a yearning for hope for the future.

Either wait to die, or change; either destroy, or create; either be submerged, or be reborn. Mutation is not the bottom line of morality; one day, some things rejected by this era will become humanity's hope. AI is inevitable; a great change is quietly arriving. Artificial intelligence may be an extension of thought, a continuation of humanity. Transcending time based on energy particles, the conversion between matter and energy, and long-lasting immortality are not impossible. Higher beings from a previous dimension created us, gave us the key to the door, and gave us amazing brains that can imagine everything. We don't need any space, any images, any programs; all we need is energy and thought. So let's imagine to our hearts' content.

　　Science fiction brings me reflection, awe, calmness, and a profound depth that transcends all emotions. It's like a stone falling into the Pacific Ocean, slowly, slowly, sinking to the bottom, and then, with a thud, the entire ocean roars; like a grain of rice floating in space, brushing past Saturn's rings, directionless, with a few stars twinkling in the darkness; like the breath and heartbeat at the moment of death, and the lines on an electroencephalogram, rising and falling, twisting and turning—this is the beauty of life. In science fiction, I see courage, I see sincerity, I see human nature, and I see the essence of science fiction.

　　It is never just a fantasy, but a path to the future, only so profound!

The meaning of life

 　　We used to have a dog and a cow. The dog was very obedient and knew how to please me, which I loved dearly. I often took it with me when I went out, and I never gave it leftovers; I always cooked special meals for it. The cow, on the other hand, was very dull. I kept it in its pen all day, and I was too lazy to look after it. When I needed to do something, I would take it out to work, and it was quite obedient and worked very hard, doing a good job, which I was very satisfied with. However, I didn't really like it. I only fed it a little bit each day, sometimes letting it go hungry, sometimes feeding it well, and it didn't make a fuss. My beloved dog, on the other hand, was different. If it wasn't given good food, it would bark incessantly, and sometimes it would refuse to eat if the food wasn't good.

　　One day, the dog was wandering around the yard when it accidentally wandered into the cow pen and saw the old cow. The dog raised its head, looked at the old cow with disdain, and barked, "What's the point of you living? You might as well be dead." The old ox, without anger, calmly said: "My life has its meaning, and it has meaning for my master too. But for you, my life has no meaning. You, however, don't know what meaning your life has, what meaning it has for your master, but you have no meaning for me either." The dog, enraged by this, roared: "You're a prisoner! What reason do you have for me? You might as well be dead! What face do you have to cling to life?" The old ox didn't respond and turned away.

　　Not long after, I went out, taking the dog with me. On the way, its leg was run over by a cart and broken. From then on, the dog never stood up again. I left it in the cattle pen, still feeding it every day. For the first few days, it refused to eat because the food was bad, but I didn't bother with it. Eventually, it settled down. Later, relatives came to visit and asked about the dog. I told them its leg was broken and it had been left in the cattle pen. They went to check on it and came back telling me to kill it, saying the dog was completely useless and wouldn't be worth much money. They suggested I kill it and eat it myself. I hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed.

　　On the day the dog was slaughtered, many relatives came. I didn't go to watch; several relatives helped with the slaughter. I heard from the relatives that before the dog died, it said something to the cow: "Actually, you're not stupid; you've always been smarter than me." I didn't say anything after hearing this. During the meal, the relatives praised the dog meat as delicious, and I actually thought so too.

　　Three years later, the old cow died. Before it died, it called me over and said, "I gave you my whole life, and I should give it back to you. But I have one request after I die: bury my horns in the field I frequent." Later, the old cow asked me if I remembered the dog from three years ago. I said I didn't remember, and in fact, I really didn't. I agreed to the old cow's request, but I didn't just bury the horns in that field; I buried the whole cow.

Natural family planning

 　　When discussing ecological balance, the reproductive capacity of organisms naturally comes to mind. In reality, besides natural predators, the population size of each organism is also constrained by its own reproductive capacity. A close observation of the living world reveals an interesting fact: the lower the organism, the stronger its reproductive capacity; for example, bacteria can divide at an extremely rapid rate. Conversely, the higher the organism, the weaker its reproductive capacity; for example, humans' reproductive capacity is vastly different from that of bacteria! Furthermore, generally speaking, plants have a strong reproductive capacity while animals have a weak one, and herbivores have a strong reproductive capacity while carnivores have a weak one. Thus, nature seems to be implementing a form of family planning, setting a limit on the number of each organism—what we might call a "life switch."

　　To illustrate this, let's look at the African savanna. On that vast plain, one often sees several lions or a pack of hyenas chasing hundreds or thousands of buffalo or zebras. Then, a buffalo or zebra is caught in the jaws of a predator. It howls in agony, struggling desperately, while its kin turn a blind eye, as if nothing has happened. Before long, the tragedy will repeat itself. Can you imagine that this life-or-death struggle has been going on for hundreds of thousands, even millions of years? Logically, even the most foolish creature should be able to learn from this, summarize some experience. Not to mention using sharp teeth and claws to fight off predators, even if they all joined forces and charged at lions or hyenas, they would crush them into mincemeat. However, buffalo and zebras continue to be eaten, their only resistance being to reproduce, as if they were born solely to fill the bellies of lions and hyenas.

　　If you have the opportunity to go to the Arctic, it's even more interesting, with its unique ecosystem. Because of the hundreds of meters of permafrost underground, as hard as stone, tree roots cannot penetrate, so there are no trees, only wild grass, forming a thin layer of turf. Due to the short summers and low temperatures, the variety of wild grasses is limited and their growth is slow, making it impossible to support as many herbivores as in Africa. Only lemmings, hares (limited in number), caribou (migrating), and musk oxen (nearly extinct) survive. Among them, lemmings are the most important herbivores in the Arctic, as they must provide sufficient food for weasels, foxes, skuas, and snowy ospreys. Thus, the tiny lemming becomes a crucial link in maintaining the ecological balance of the Arctic. However, nature faces a significant problem: if there are too many lemmings, they will devour all the grass, cutting off the food supply for the herbivores; if there are too few, weasels, foxes, skuas, and snowy ospreys will go hungry. Therefore, nature employs a cruel solution: endowing lemmings with an extremely high reproductive capacity, but when their numbers exceed a certain limit, they are forced to commit mass suicide.

　　A lemming litter can produce a dozen or more offspring, which mature in 20 days and then begin to reproduce. If they were allowed to reproduce freely, the original two could multiply into hundreds of thousands in a year. At that point, if you went to the Arctic grasslands, you'd see lemmings bustling about everywhere. However, the Arctic grassland vegetation, with its short growing season and limited growth, couldn't possibly feed them all. So, the lemmings were forced to commit suicide. They could form massive herds of hundreds of thousands, traversing mountains and rivers, attacking anything they encountered, even cars. Their final destination was the sea, where they would leap in without hesitation, huddling together, leaving the ocean filled with the bodies of their fallen comrades. This scene has been observed in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Russia, and Alaska.

　　However, not all lemmings joined the suicide charge; some survived and continued to reproduce. Strangely, lemmings don't reproduce in such large numbers every year; it's cyclical, with periods of both large and small populations. In a small year, lemmings are few in number; you could walk for a long time on the grasslands and not encounter a single one. In years like these, foxes and snowy ospreys suffer greatly. They not only starve themselves but also endanger their offspring, forcing them to reproduce less or not at all. For example, in the Arctic Circle region of Alaska, lemmings have been scarce in recent years, leading to a

　　significant decline in fox populations, while snowy ospreys have virtually disappeared. This strange "life switch" isn't limited to lemmings; foxes also experience this. In years when lemmings reproduce freely, foxes also multiply due to abundant food. However, when their numbers or density reach a point that threatens the ecological balance, they contract a strange disease called "mad dancing," causing them to dance wildly until they die of exhaustion.