Chapter 818: Heart-to-Heart Talk with Shi Jinhe

"Brother, hearing you say that, I'm a bit stirred."

"Honestly, sometimes I even look down on myself. I don't have much education and have always been working out in the fields."

"Even though I've earned some money, people still look down on me."

"I know others are more cultured and know more than I do."

"So when my son fills in my occupation at school, I'm embarrassed to say it."

"Truly feeling inferior."

"Today, after you spoke, I felt a bit proud."

"Compared with those princes and beauties, emperors and generals, I'm no less at all."

"I have something I'm good at,"

"I can build the best houses,"

"I earn my living with my own craftsmanship."

"You just mentioned Gucheng Qiang; look at those structures that have endured thousands of years, braving countless winds and rains,"

"even earthquakes and wars, yet they still stand firm."

"The people who built these walls may all be nameless heroes."

"But they should be proud, for the walls they erected can survive for millennia."

"When we grow old, or even die,"

"as long as these ancient cities do not disappear,"

"then we will have left something behind."

"Later, people will come here and, as soon as they see these things,"

"they'll say, 'Look at the houses they built—so solid, so good.'"

"They'll believe that we even shed tears underground."

"I'm so proud. Brother, I'll never feel inferior again," Shi Jinhe said excitedly.

"You should know that Shi Jinhe doesn't talk much usually."

"Unlike Shi Yong, who is a chatterbox."

"Who says ordinary people have no ideals? A few words of mine ignited Shi Jinhe's aspirations."

"What I want to say here is that ordinary people must never feel inferior."

"Perhaps our background or self‑related reasons dictate that we can only do ordinary jobs."

"But in every one of the 360 trades, there are top scholars who excel."

"Why? Because they have ideals. Their work is their ideal."

"We must do the best, and never feel inferior because of our occupation."

"Give yourself a thumbs‑up. Believe in yourself."

"After hearing Shi Jinhe finish, I couldn't help but clap."

"Shi Jinhe felt a bit embarrassed,"

"'Brother, I've said too much.'"

"'Not too much, Jinghe, what you said is right. Who says ordinary people can't have ideals.'"

"Some say poetry and distant places are a life enjoyed by the rich and idle."

"In fact, that's not true; we also have our own poetry and horizons."

"Our poetry is our work,"

"Our distant goal is the road beneath our feet, walking steadily."

"Jinghe, today I'm here to have a heart‑to‑heart talk with you."

"Recently, I've been busy with Wen Han's affairs and have had no mood."

"After Xixi took the design drawings, I looked at them and was very dissatisfied."

"But I couldn't put it into words—what exactly was unsatisfactory?"

"So I brought you here to Gucheng Qiang to take a look."

"Only by seeing it on site can we locate the unsatisfactory parts in our hearts."

"That means we must walk our own path."

"Just as you said, everything imitates ancient architecture,"

"Why can't we build houses that stand out from the crowd?"

"Of course, this is time‑ and money‑consuming."

"Jinghe, I'm giving you a task: you must create a boutique project,"

"this so‑called boutique project,"

"which means building the ancient structures we both envision."

"Don't fear failure, nor care about what others say."

"I want to use architecture to shape our history, to try to recreate the ages our ancestors walked through," I sighed.

"Jinghe silently smoked beside me, gazing into the distance without a word."

"After a while,"

"Shi Jinhe finally said, 'Brother, with your support, rest assured, I'll throw myself into it.'"

"We're not ordinary craftsmen, but visionary foremen; is that right?'"

"'Hehe, a foreman with ideals. Honestly, Jinghe, our whole lives have been worth it.'"

"The experiences we were meant to have have come; it's the fastest‑developing era of our nation, allowing us to catch up."

We have earned money,

We have a prosperous life,

Of course, we have suffered a lot, but compared to the people of the previous generation, our bitterness is nothing.

Now we have time and opportunity, so we have ideas to leave something for the future.

Of course, many people will say, what can we leave behind?

A bunch of country bumpkins.

Actually, not so.

Look at the loess, this thing is not just soil,

But the city walls built from it can last a thousand years.

We will leave something behind.

Look at our footprints we have walked,

Clearly imprinted on the earth, maybe these footprints can be left behind.

Jinghe,

I sometimes think,

Our generation will eventually die.

When we are about to die, pointing at these houses and saying, look, those houses were built by my father,

Then breathe my last, it would be worth it." I said this and burst out laughing.

"Brother, you spoke of death, I also thought about it.

If we brothers could die together, that would be best; if we cannot die together, we would try to be buried together, and once underground, we would not be lonely.

"What do you say, brother?" Shi Jinhe asked.

"Okay, your suggestion is good. I will go back and find Mr. He to have him help us look at a plot of land.

We will be buried together in the future; this matter must not be spoken of. By then, wives and children will be angry.

"You brothers bury yourselves together, what will they do?" I laughed.

"Yes, once married and having a wife, things are different. Brother, do you remember when we were at Niushiling? We brothers took on contracts and worked together, exerting effort together,

That was truly brotherly camaraderie.

But we didn't expect Song Erguang to go first.

Then the eldest, Li Jiayou, also left, leaving only us three brothers. I am over forty now; by rights I shouldn't be thinking about these things.

But we will eventually grow old.

You just mentioned finding Mr. He; I support that. I believe Shi Yong also supports.

We three brothers will not separate; wives who want to follow can follow, those who don't can just be left.

While we are still able to decide now, don't wait until we are seventy or eighty, with crooked mouths and eyes, when our words won't count.

Then it would be useless." Shi Jinghe sighed.

I didn't speak; just now when Shi Jinghe mentioned Song Erguang, I raised my head to look into the distance at Xiao Shitou waiting for us in the car.

Shi Jinghe also glanced at Xiao Shitou, wanting to say something but held back.

As for me, I have never considered life and death. Perhaps I haven't had time to consider it; these past few years, there have been too many worries every day.

Now I can finally rest.

It seems Shi Jinghe was moved by my earlier words.

I will turn back and talk to Shi Yong about this.

We really should go see Mr. He.

I nodded at Shi Jinghe.

"Jinghe, okay. I will keep this matter in mind."

As for the design drawings, you go back and reconnect with the Design Institute; I won't inquire further.

In short, we need to work slowly to produce fine work. What we do is not to restore history, but to rebuild history.

Don't be too anxious.

"Brother, I understand. Tomorrow I will communicate with Xixi, and then I want to go to Zao Chengshi University to find a history professor to have him explain history to me.

After all, I have read few books." Shi Jinghe said.

I patted Shi Jinghe on the shoulder.

"Brother, that's right; we need to study more, just having ideals is not enough.

We also need actual knowledge to support.

Why do some people live so exhaustedly?

Besides lacking ideals, they are unwilling to study.

Don't fear what you don't understand; we will just study.

As Confucius said, among three people walking, there must be my teacher.

Not ashamed to ask questions.

Seek advice often. If the professors in Zaocheng are not adequate, we can go to the province, or even to Sijiucheng.

We should take the strengths of all schools.

Don't live within your own limitations; find ways to break through yourself.

Upon hearing my encouragement, Shi Jinghe was very happy.

"Brother, you are right.

I cannot always be just guessing by myself.

"We must consult an expert."

"Alright, Jinghe, it's getting late, let's go back."

"I still need to meet Cui Xian and ask how he's handling this land acquisition."