Technician Wang noticed this, frowned slightly, but didn't reprimand him. He simply picked up his tools silently, tidied up the areas the man had damaged, carefully straightened the broken strawberry seedlings, and covered them with loose soil: "Young man, you can't be careless with your work. These strawberry seedlings are like children; they need careful nurturing. If you're just going through the motions, you're not only wasting water, but it will also affect the growth of the strawberries, ultimately harming the food processing plant's profits and your own income."
Shen Xiaogang's face flushed slightly, but he still stubbornly insisted, "This isn't the first time I've done this, so it's inevitable that I'll make mistakes."
Technician Wang smiled but didn't say much, simply telling him to keep working. For the next few days, Shen Xiaogang continued his self-centered ways, either slacking off and smoking in a corner of the greenhouse, or doing a shoddy job. The workers, seeing this, were displeased and gossiped behind his back, calling him a spoiled brat who couldn't handle hardship.
Zhang Lan was extremely worried when she learned that her son was slacking off at the planting base. She went to the food processing workshop to find Lin Wanqiu, hoping she could find an easier job for Shen Xiaogang. However, Lin Wanqiu was adamant, telling Zhang Lan that if she wanted a change of position, she had to pass a three-month assessment. If Shen Xiaogang continued to slack off like this, he wouldn't even be qualified to stay at the food processing workshop, let alone get a change of position.
Zhang Lan was rebuffed and could only go back and give Shen Xiaogang a severe scolding. Shen Xiaogang was thoroughly berated by his mother, and although he felt resentful, he knew he was in the wrong. Looking at the workers around him, all of them working diligently with contented smiles on their faces, and thinking about Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou's success, he felt a little wavering for the first time.
That afternoon, it started snowing lightly again, and the insulation film of the greenhouse fluttered in the wind. Technician Wang asked Shen Xiaogang to join the other workers in building supports for the cherry tomatoes. Shen Xiaogang clumsily tried to build the supports with a bamboo pole, but accidentally, the pole lost its footing and fell on a worker next to him.
"What's wrong with you? Can't you be more careful when you're working?" the worker who was hit said angrily, rubbing his shoulder.
Shen Xiaogang blushed and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
"You think you can let it go just because it wasn't intentional? You've been slacking off these past few days. If it weren't for Mr. Lin and Master Wang, who would want to work with you?" another worker couldn't help but say.
The workers' whispers pierced Shen Xiaogang's heart like needles. Looking at their disapproving eyes, he felt both ashamed and guilty. He suddenly realized that if he continued like this, not only would he be looked down upon, but he would also be fired from the food workshop, losing all his dignity.
Technician Wang walked over, patted Shen Xiaogang on the shoulder, and said in a serious tone, "Xiaogang, what everyone said may be harsh, but it's all the truth. If you really don't want to do this, you can leave, but since you're here, you have to do it well. No one is born knowing how to work; everyone learns and practices gradually. Your aunt was a woman raising a child alone, with no one to rely on, and she still managed to grit her teeth and persevere. Are you, a young man, less capable than a woman?"
Technician Wang's words struck Shen Xiaogang like a hammer blow, jolting him awake. He thought of his mother's expectations, the hardships Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou had endured, and his own actions over the past few days, filling him with remorse. He took a deep breath and bowed to Technician Wang and the workers: "I'm sorry, I was wrong before. I shouldn't have been lazy and shirked my duties. From today onwards, I will definitely work hard, learn diligently from everyone, and never be perfunctory again."
After speaking, Shen Xiaogang picked up the bamboo poles and began rebuilding the scaffolding again. This time, he didn't just go through the motions; instead, he carefully observed the other workers' movements and meticulously studied the techniques. When he encountered something he didn't understand, he proactively asked Technician Wang and the workers for help. Although he developed blisters on his hands and his back was so sore he could barely straighten up, he didn't complain at all. Instead, he felt an unprecedented sense of peace and satisfaction.
Technician Wang watched the boy's transformation and a relieved smile appeared on his face. He knew that the boy wasn't inherently bad; he had simply been spoiled and lacked resilience. As long as he was willing to work hard and be diligent, he would definitely have a bright future.
In the days that followed, Shen Xiaogang seemed like a different person. He arrived at the planting base early every day, learning fruit and vegetable planting, pruning, and pest and disease control techniques from Technician Wang, seizing every opportunity to learn. Watering, loosening the soil, fertilizing, harvesting—he did every task meticulously and conscientiously. Thick calluses formed on his hands, and his cheeks were tanned dark, but he had lost his former impetuousness and rebelliousness, replaced by a look of determination and composure in his eyes.
Lin Wanqiu watched Shen Xiaogang's transformation through the surveillance cameras, and her heart was filled with joy. She knew that everyone goes through a growth process, and although Shen Xiaogang started from a low point, as long as he was willing to work hard and endure hardship, he would definitely reap the rewards. She specially instructed the kitchen to prepare a nutritious lunch for Shen Xiaogang every day to replenish his energy.
Grandma Shen often asked Sister Li to bring Shen Xiaogang some fruit and snacks. Seeing his increasingly settled demeanor, a long-lost smile appeared on her face. She knew that Lin Wanqiu's strict requirements were the best way to temper Shen Xiaogang.
That evening, Shen Xiaogang dragged his tired body home. Zhang Lan looked at her son's dark face and calloused hands, feeling both heartache and relief. She brought him a basin of hot water and told him to soak his feet, her tone tinged with pride: "Xiaogang, Mom heard you've been doing well at the food workshop lately. Master Wang and the workers all praised you."
Shen Xiaogang soaked his feet, feeling the warmth on them, and a shy smile appeared on his face: "Mom, I was ignorant before, always thinking about being lazy and shirking my responsibilities. Now I understand that only by working hard can I gain everyone's recognition and learn real skills."
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