Chapter 208 The Year I Became an Apprentice

When Xu Que was nineteen, he dreamed of becoming a famous chef one day, but he never expected that he would be stabbed on his first day in the kitchen.

It was his first day at work, and he held his mentor in high esteem, hoping for guidance and instruction. His mentor tossed a piece of meat onto the cutting board and shouted, "Cut this meat!" Unaware of the proper cutting techniques, he picked up the piece of meat, bewildered, and asked, "But how do I cut it?"

The master chef was inexplicably furious: "You can't even slice meat properly, yet you dare to come to a restaurant as an apprentice?" As he spoke, he shoved the piece of meat into the man's hand, grabbed his right hand holding the knife, and sliced ​​it hard.

Caught off guard, he felt a sharp pain in his palm, and blood oozed from the flesh! Instantly, his face changed drastically, and his whole body trembled. The knife had actually sliced ​​into his hand.

The master panicked, not knowing how he had managed to slash the man. He saw the man holding the knife, glaring at him with a pained and angry expression, his face turning pale and then red.

Seeing his master like this, Xu Que quickly regained his composure, suppressed his anger, threw down his knife, and left without looking back.

He wasn't one to give up easily, and soon he found another job at a restaurant. Whenever he had a spare moment, he couldn't help but stare at the scars on his hands. The more he looked, the more his jaw would clench in pain and he would feel intense resentment. As if venting his anger, he would run into the kitchen and practice his knife skills. In his spare time, he gave up all the entertainment and socializing that young people enjoy, staying alone in the kitchen to practice his knife skills diligently.

Many well-meaning people advised him, "Practicing knife skills is not as good as mastering cooking techniques. Making famous dishes can make you a renowned chef, which has a better future." However, he often stroked the scar on his tiger's mouth, reminding himself not to waver in the solemn vow he had made: He must succeed and show that person! He would then thoroughly humiliate him.

Years later, he finally achieved mastery of knife skills.

In reality, people are fickle. Don't think you're so clever that you can easily see through other people's thoughts. Some people just want to show you the side of themselves that you want to see, but no one knows their true nature.

People are multifaceted. One second they might be chatting and laughing with you, and the next they might treat you like a stranger. Life is so long, and you'll meet so many people, all sorts of strange and wonderful individuals. Some might become important people in your life, while others might just be a fleeting glimpse, ultimately becoming passersby.

Of all the people in the world, some are worth cherishing and investing in, while others are simply meant to be known.

Some people appear so sincere and kind on the surface, yet behind their backs are such petty and cold-hearted individuals. When you value them highly, they often inflict the deepest pain. You treat them as friends, but they treat you as enemies; you think they're good people, but their actions behind your back are so despicable—they're scum. Not only do your efforts go unrewarded, but you often receive only harm and pain in return. At that point, you'll realize how unpredictable and complex human nature is, and you can only blame yourself for misjudging people and having your sincerity trampled upon.

The Zerg hive chimed in, not to be outdone: "Sometimes, the friends or besties you think you are often the ones who hurt you the most. I personally witnessed such a story, and I never imagined that this wasn't just a plot from a novel or TV drama; it actually exists in reality. It turns out that everything comes from life. Xiao Ran and Xiao Luo were very good friends. One was introverted, the other extroverted; one was carefree, the other meticulous—their personalities were completely opposite, yet fate brought them together. They had known each other since junior high, were in the same class in junior high, and in the same class in high school. They even went to the same university, but their majors were different. Their relationship was very strong, but because of someone in university, their friendship changed."

The boy was a year ahead of them. Actually, Xiao Ran probably knew him because she was outgoing and sociable, and had made friends with many people. They were in the same club, which is how they met. Over time, Xiao Ran fell for him. He always shared his worries with Xiao Luo, and he told her about this incident. However, he didn't know that Xiao Luo also liked him. He often told Xiao Luo about their little moments together. Perhaps out of jealousy, Xiao Luo changed. He became moody and often spoke coldly to Xiao Ran. At first, Xiao Ran just thought he was in a bad mood and didn't take it too seriously. But later, when she heard rumors about herself, she realized everything had changed. They could never go back to the way things were. Someone told her that Xiao Luo was talking badly about her, saying she was a jerk and hooking up with various boys behind her back—things that weren't true. Xiao Ran realized she had never truly understood him. Because of jealousy, he treated her friend like this. Later, they became strangers, and their eight-year friendship was gone.

It turns out that long acquaintances don't guarantee lasting friendship, and not everyone will stay with you until the end. Those who, because of your excellence and what you possess that they lack, are ultimately not on the same path. We will eventually drift apart from these people. It's best to keep them at a distance; too much interaction will only hurt you and destroy your perception of their kindness. They hurt us out of jealousy; they flattered us because they wanted something from us; they treated us like slaves after achieving success, expecting us to obey their every command; and when we fell on hard times, they ignored us. Just let these people go, let them fade with time. Don't force it, because they weren't truly sincere towards you.

Those who truly care for us won't ignore us when we're in trouble, nor will they stab us in the back. They'll make us laugh and bring us joy when we're sad; they'll give us a hug or companionship when we're lonely; they'll share our successes; and they'll encourage and give us confidence when we fail. These are the people we should cherish. We should hold onto these people, because it's through them that our lives become rich and fulfilling.

Human hearts are unpredictable; some people are worth cherishing, while others are best left as acquaintances.

Slowly, I've learned to bear the wind alone, no longer expecting anyone's help. The world is unpredictable, and people's hearts are hard to fathom. If you can bear it yourself, then bear it. Don't make a fuss. Your grievances may just seem funny and pretentious to others.

People with principles are respected by everyone. Times have changed; the "nice guy" isn't popular anymore. Having a temper is also a sign of true character. Swallowing back what's on the tip of your tongue may indicate maturity, but speaking up when necessary shows responsibility.

The person you'll spend your life with in the future is, at the same time as you, enduring the same loneliness. That person must also be filled with anticipation and possess a surge of courage, traversing the vast sea of ​​people to come and meet you.

You must have had moments like this, wanting to confide in someone, only to find no one around. So, you got used to loneliness and learned to be strong.

Don't speak too intimately with casual acquaintances. Some excitement will eventually fade away. There's no need to say too much to people you don't truly respect.

The four great tragedies of life are: being too poor to do bad things, being too familiar with someone to be lovers, being too hungry to know what to eat, and being too tired to fall asleep!

Time is the biggest liar, but it also teaches you that nothing in this world is irreplaceable. Cherish what you have, and what you can't get is not important.

The gap between ideal and reality is like picking up a piece of meat and thinking it's meat, only to find out it's ginger when you bite into it.

All the things I did in an attempt to move you only ended up moving myself.

Happiness is something to be felt, not compared. Life is something to be lived, not something to be calculated. Happiness is like drinking water; only you know whether it's hot or cold. Your happiness isn't in the eyes of others, but in your own heart.

Don't inquire about the scenery you've already passed by. Once you've chosen a path, the scenery along the other path becomes irrelevant to you.