This has been an incredibly busy week. At this time last week, I was packing up to move out of the Talent Apartments in Fuzhou High-Tech Zone, making trip after trip drenched in sweat, trying every possible way to cram all my belongings into my Tesla, utilizing every bit of space to the fullest. On Monday, I picked up Xiao Ma, had a simple meal at home, and made a brief farewell to my family.
Strangely, on the last night at the Talent Apartments, I almost couldn’t sleep all night. This year has been full of so many experiences; on this eve of departure, I was filled with mixed emotions. Scenes from the past year flashed before my eyes like a movie. Thinking about the reluctance to part with Mr. C and Secretary S, I couldn’t help but shed tears…
At 5:30 a.m. on October 29th, we set off from Fuzhou. In September last year, I drove over 700 kilometers from Ningbo to Fuzhou. Returning to my hometown after 25 years and being close to my loving family felt like surviving a disaster. However, despite my hard work, this year proved to be incredibly challenging. Today, I’m leaving here again, carrying all my belongings, driving 1,400 kilometers to settle down in a farther northern place, with the reluctance of myself and my loved ones.
Although it’s hard to part, the setbacks and growth over the years have taught me to accept things as they come, and I’m not as fearful anymore. I’ll play my role as life’s script directs.
On the first day, we traveled over 800 kilometers to Sanhe Ancient Town in Hefei, Anhui Province. Including three stops to recharge, with all the starts and stops, it took us a total of 13 hours. Taking turns driving wasn’t as tiring as we imagined. Xiao Ma played some nice old songs and told me some amusing stories. The weather was pleasant, and we were in good spirits throughout the journey, not feeling tired at all.
Stopping over at Sanhe Ancient Town was actually on our necessary route. From Fuzhou to Jining, we could have also gone via Nanjing—I had always wanted to visit Niushou Mountain and Qixia Temple. While planning the route, I woke up one morning and inexplicably opened a video by Zhang Xiangqian, added him on WeChat, and he instantly accepted, sending me over a dozen of his books and audio/video materials. Upon checking his address again, I found that Lujiang was a place we had to pass through. So I told Xiao Ma and decided to take the Anhui route. I planned to visit Zhang Xiangqian; whether we could indeed meet would be left to fate.
When we arrived at Sanhe Ancient Town, it was already late. The town is Hefei’s only 5A-level scenic spot, with cobblestone paths, antique buildings, ancient bridges over flowing water, and brightly flickering lanterns complementing each other. This scene completely dispelled my fatigue. I had a brief conversation with Zhang Xiangqian on WeChat and arranged to meet the next morning.
The next day, both Xiao Ma and I were greatly amazed. I will record this experience separately.
On the second day, the journey was just over 500 kilometers. Although we left Hefei after 10 a.m., we arrived at my new residence by 6:30 p.m. From the time I found the house online to paying the deposit and agency fee, it took less than 12 hours and didn’t require much effort. To my surprise, the neighborhood where the apartment is located is excellent. There are various shops nearby, and across the street is Liaohe Ancient Town. The community separates pedestrians from vehicles, with excellent landscaping, truly very convenient for living. I couldn’t help but feel extremely grateful for God’s gift to me, and sighed softly: Everything is the best arrangement.
Brother Qiu Jie, entrusted by Senior Sister and others, came all the way from Jining to Qufu to welcome us. With the help of two men, moving became much easier. They all took good care of me, hoping that I, far from home and alone, can happily and healthily start a new life. Xiao Ma told me: Actually, beneath our physical shells, we all have an interesting soul; therefore, I cannot be so tense every day, setting big and small goals for myself, and working intensively; if I do this, I will become a machine for achieving goals, and I will not be able to experience the fun of life, which is a shame for our interesting soul.
These words provoked deep reflection within me. Indeed, what is it that truly differentiates people from one another? The distinctions between men and women, tall and short, beautiful and plain, are merely surface—just a shell. The real difference lies in the soul beneath that shell. Life is nothing but a soul finding a body and going through a lifetime of practice. If a woman sees a man as a money-making machine, and a man sees a woman as a tool to please, do housework and bear children, then how boring is such a soul! Look at those ordinary people who are busy with food delivery, taxi driving, tirelessly working just to make a living. They have already lived like a money-making machine and dare not stop for a moment. Occasionally, they use their mobile phones to watch short videos to get a moment of pleasure…
I suddenly realized that the true meaning of life, in addition to having enough food and clothing, is to nourish, experience and enrich our souls. That’s why wise men say to slow down and feel with your heart. I can better understand why people with the same frequency tend to have similar interests. The highest form of connection is to find a soul mate. Will I, too, have such a day?