Standing at the North Pole
Author: Zhu Anfeng. Originally published on QQ Zone on June 26, 2009.
Another weekend afternoon.
Perhaps because a few drops of rain had fallen in the morning, the sky looked especially clear. Sitting in the office, I could see the observatory on Purple Mountain distinctly. It felt as close as Zishan looked when I played football at Jingde Middle School.
Time slips away just like that, quietly, and before you know it nearly half a year has passed since the Spring Festival. At work, these months seem to have produced almost nothing. A few days ago, one of our partners said our performance looked very "dry." It was such an apt word that I had to admire it. What I really felt, though, was that work had become like standing at the North Pole. Everywhere I looked was north, and that meant I could no longer find where north was.
Fortunately, life still gives me plenty of things to do. I had a physical examination today, and I joked that it was fine and there was no need to be nervous. In truth, inside I was silently asking for blessings from all possible higher powers, including but not limited to God and the Buddhas. These days, almost no one goes for a medical checkup without a little fear. Hospitals always feel more suitable for horror films. Everyone seems to be held by the throat by some invisible hand. Maybe one day our great country will give us better medical insurance. Who knows? I certainly do not.
Summer has arrived. Unfortunately, I have not had a real summer vacation for many years now. I also do not know whether the people who have appeared, or will appear, in my football series are now, like me, the kind of people who sometimes enjoy a little beer when happy. Suddenly I thought of a grand scene that might whet everyone's appetite. Haha:
Caption A: A true master of the drinking table should have this kind of aura: finish one cup in a single swallow, left hand on the waist, right hand holding the empty cup flat, face expressionless. If another master beside him rests a hand on his shoulder, and the two look like heroes recognizing one another, then that would be perfect. Without question, Anzi has exactly this aura. Could he be the one-in-ten-thousand master?
Caption B: The most obvious difference between a legendary drinking-table master and everyone else is that one type only drinks without speaking, another only speaks without drinking, but the highest masters can drink and speak at the same time. Like our chairman, who spent the entire evening drinking... speaking... speaking... drinking... and enjoying himself endlessly.
To all friends, slim or heavy, who have read this post: may you all find your north, and stay healthy.