Chapter 24: Holding Fast to His Original Intention and Focusing on Work
Chapter 24: Holding Fast to His Original Intention and Focusing on Work
Time: The following week, during workdays
Location: The Market Department office and external research sites
The first light of dawn stretched lazily over the city, as though the streets were still half in slumber, groggily dragging their feet. Zhang Liang, however, had already become a warrior infused with energy, striding purposefully toward the office. The streets were eerily quiet, the dim glow of streetlights barely lifting the gloom, with not a soul in sight. It felt as if the world consisted solely of him, relentlessly pressing forward in pursuit of his dream.
He marched into the office, and the oppressive atmosphere greeted him like the stench of a foul summer's day, stagnant and heavy, smothering the air. Yet, Zhang Liang seemed oblivious, striding toward his workstation with a determined air, as though this space were his battleground, and he, the general come to conquer. He sat down with a sharp thud, and as he powered up his computer, his eyes gleamed with focus. In that moment, everything around him seemed to fade into insignificance, leaving only the reports and plans before him.
The system's voice buzzed in his mind, breaking his concentration: "Zhang Liang, Laozi says, 'To achieve utmost emptiness and maintain stillness, all things work together, and I observe their return.' What does this mean? It means, even with the rumors raging like a storm, your heart must remain as calm as a still lake. Only then will you possess the sharpness of a sage, able to perceive the changes in the market with clarity." Zhang Liang nodded fervently, as though the words were his lifeline, a quiet mantra he repeated in his mind for strength.
His eyes were fixed on the market trend reports, his gaze intense, almost as if he could extract secrets from the pages. The data before him seemed to bounce like mischievous sprites, shifting and changing. He frowned, furrowing his brows in concentration, muttering to himself, "What's going on with this data? It's completely off from the trends we've seen before... Is something fishy going on here?" Suddenly, his eyes lit up, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as though he had discovered a new world. His fingers flew across the keyboard with a rhythm that echoed like a drumbeat, each keystroke an urgent call to action.
"Ah, this data is strange... Has someone new entered the market, muddying the waters?" Zhang Liang mumbled, his voice low, almost as if trying not to disturb the "sleeping rumors" that surrounded him. He enlarged the charts on his screen, leaning closer, examining them like a treasure hunter uncovering hidden gems. With his pen in hand, he quickly jotted down notes, the speed of his writing resembling a race against time.
At that moment, a colleague walked past his desk, clearing their throat loudly, deliberately, as if trying to draw the attention of the entire room. There was an unmistakable tone of mockery in the sound, as if saying, "Heh, look at the plagiarist pretending to be busy." Zhang Liang briefly raised his eyes, giving the colleague a glance that betrayed no anger, just the weariness of someone who had no time to waste on small-minded individuals. His gaze was filled with a sense of resignation and distance, like a man looking past a child throwing tantrums. "Why waste my energy on those blinded by rumors? Better to focus on doing something real," he thought to himself.
After lunch, the bright sun poured through the window, casting dappled patches of light across the desk. Zhang Liang stretched lazily, his bones creaking like an old, rusted machine. He thought to himself, "Staying cooped up in this office all day isn't the answer. I need to get out and see what secrets the world might be hiding." With that thought, he grabbed his bag and strode out of the office like a hero embarking on a grand adventure.
As he entered the bustling commercial district, the streets were packed with people, jostling each other like sardines. Zhang Liang weaved through the crowd, agile as an eel, moving from shop to shop. When talking to shop owners and customers, his smile was bright as a blooming flower, and his words as sweet as honey, leaving people unable to refuse him.
In an electronics store, he spotted a new product from a competitor flying off the shelves. His eyes widened with curiosity, flipping the product over and over, muttering, "This looks impressive... How's it selling these days?" The store clerk, caught up in his enthusiasm, smiled and replied, "This product has taken off like wildfire since its launch. So many customers are obsessed with its new features." Zhang Liang's mind raced with ideas, like an abacus calculating new possibilities.
He continued his exploration of the commercial area, sweat pouring down like a waterfall, his clothes soaked through, clinging to him like a drowned rat. Yet he didn't care, his eyes filled with an unshakable determination, like a monk on a pilgrimage searching for water in the desert, refusing to give up until he found it.
By the time he returned to the office, the sky had darkened, the city now as black as the bottom of a pot. The office was quiet, the lights flickering weakly, like torches on the verge of burning out. Zhang Liang plopped into his chair, sorting through the day's research. Though exhaustion marked his face, like a marathoner at the finish line, a deeper satisfaction lay within him, as though he could already see the victory on the horizon.
The system's voice emerged once again: "Zhang Liang, 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' Do not underestimate today's efforts. This is like laying the foundation of a house, the groundwork for your future success. No matter how long the road, if you keep taking one step at a time, never cutting corners or giving up, you will eventually reach the end." Zhang Liang took a deep breath, a surge of energy flooding through him. He knew this was just the beginning, and the road ahead was long, but as long as he kept his purpose in mind, those rumors would soon be trampled beneath his feet.
"To achieve utmost emptiness and maintain stillness, all things work together, and I observe their return." This phrase calls for a clarity of mind so deep, so still, that it mirrors the vastness of an ancient well. In a world that is ever-changing and tumultuous, only in such stillness can one perceive the true nature of things and the subtle patterns of change. Surrounded by gossip and malicious whispers, Zhang Liang knew that if he acted impulsively or allowed his emotions to flare, he would achieve nothing. So he heeded the system's advice, keeping his mind as calm as a mirror, unaffected by the chaos around him, analyzing data with focus and finding clarity amid the noise. This was his practice of "remaining centered," patiently waiting for the right moment to confront the rumors with undeniable action.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." No matter how steep the mountain of rumors ahead, Zhang Liang was not deterred. He focused on the small, seemingly insignificant tasks—each piece of market research, every conversation, every detail. Like each small step up a mountain, these efforts would one day culminate in overcoming the obstacle. With persistence, the rumors would eventually be defeated, and his good name restored in the workplace.
Summary: In this chapter, Zhang Liang perseveres under the shadow of rumors, holding fast to his principles and focusing on his work and research. Following the wisdom of Laozi's "To achieve utmost emptiness and maintain stillness," he remains calm and observes market trends, applying "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" as he methodically tackles the challenges before him. In the next chapter, how will Zhang Liang's work come to fruition, and how will he handle the next wave of challenges? Stay tuned for the developments ahead.