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"Hello everyone, I'm so happy to meet you again!" The class leader, Zhang Lilang, smiled and opened his arms and warmly hugged every student present.
"yes, I haven't seen you for a long time, you can count all the people in our class!" Li Ming waved at me from afar, smiling.
I stepped forward and gave him a big hug: "Okay, Li Ming, how have you been doing all these years? I heard that you have become the boss?"
"Haha, it's okay, it's just a little harder. Li Ming smiled shyly, "What about you? How do I remember that you seemed to be working back then? Are you still in the old unit?"
"Well, it's always been there, so-so. I nodded, but I suddenly felt an indescribable sense of loss in my heart.
At this time, the squad leader had already summoned everyone to the dining table, picked up the wine glasses and knocked on the table: "Okay, everyone sit down! We have been waiting for this party for several years, so let's catch up happily today, have a few drinks, and eat something good!"
Everyone picked up their wine glasses and shouted in unison: "Happy!"
Looking at the familiar faces, my heart is mixed. Some students have made a fortune and are full of energy; Some are still running around for life and are slightly tired; There are also people like me, who live an ordinary and stable life.
We used to be carefree students with a lot of hope for the future. But time flies, and now everyone's experiences are worlds apart. Before we knew it, we were all middle-aged, and our shoulders were starting to weigh down.
"Haha, when it comes to pensions, I have to boast about myself!" Li Ming suddenly slapped the table and said with a smile, "You all know that I am a big boss now, and my pension is naturally high, more than 20,000 yuan a month!"
"20,000? Someone exclaimed.
"That's a fortune!" Another classmate sighed, "My retirement salary is only in the early 5,000s, and it seems that it is time to find another job." "
"Hey, you're all small money!" A person next to him suddenly became interested, "I sold the real estate company a while ago, and the pension alone is 500,000 yuan, do you envy it?"
Everyone let out envious tsks when they heard this, but I was the only one who was silent.
What can I say? My pitiful pension is not enough to show off. In fact, I myself am ashamed and frustrated by this number.
After graduating from secondary school, I chose to work in a state-owned enterprise. Although the job is mediocre, the income is also enough to eat. But just a few years ago, there was a major layoff in the unit, and I lost my job in this turmoil.
Although I found a temporary job, the salary was meagre and I couldn't prepare for my retirement. The current pension is only enough for me to live the most basic life, let alone enjoy my old age.
I lowered my head and hid the loneliness in my eyes. The chatter and laughter of my classmates buzzed in my ears, but I couldn't join in.
At this time, the class leader's voice pulled me back to reality: "Hey, our old classmate, why don't you say a word?
When everyone heard this, they all turned their eyes to me, full of anticipation. I raised my head stiffly and forced a smile: "How can I be, I am an ordinary family, how can I have any private money?"
"And how much is your pension?
I took a deep breath and tried to make my tone as relaxed as possible: "My pension? "
As soon as the words fell, the whole box fell silent. Everyone looked at each other, as if they couldn't believe their ears.
"What?! 9000 pieces?!" Finally, someone scolded, "What are you kidding? That's not as good as our current living expenses!"
"That's it, that's it!" Another chimed in, "Either you're being humble, or you're kidding us, aren't you?"
I smiled wryly and shook my head: "I'm telling the truth, that's the number. "
I had expected such a reaction. The pension of 9,000 yuan is simply a joke in the eyes of these wealthy classmates.
However, this is all my current income, and it is also the result of my years of hard work. I used to think about getting rich, but opportunities often passed me by. Now, I can barely survive on this pitiful pension.
To be honest, when I said that number, my heart was also filled with shame and low self-esteem. But at the same time, I felt that I had nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone's circumstances are different, and there is no shame in poverty, but the important thing is to live a solid and dignified life.
I looked up and looked calmly into the skeptical gaze. I don't have anything to hide, and I don't feel ashamed of my situation.
"That's the number I am, what's wrong?" I looked the man in the eye and said firmly, "I've always lived a very down-to-earth life, although I'm not rich or rich, but at least I haven't done anything unseemly with a bad conscience." "
The man was a little hairy from my gaze, and muttered, "That's too little." He lowered his head and said no more.
Seeing this, the other students also looked away, some looking at me sympathetically, while others were full of disdain. Only the squad leader sighed on the side, obviously not expecting such a result.
"That's right, don't talk about those who don't have it today. The other chimed in, "Let's drink and chat, and it's only right to catch up on the old days!"
Everyone, you and I gradually led the topic away from the topic of pensions. But I know that they must still be thinking about my poor 9,000 pension.
Xiao Wang, we have been friends since the time of secondary school. He has always been a very humble man, calm and sophisticated. Later, he joined a large company, and relied on his own skills step by step, and now he has a family business.
But, though he is in much better off than I am now, he has never put on a rich man's show against me. On the contrary, he has always been a humble and courteous man. Looking at his blessed face, I suddenly felt the urge to confide in everything.
I took Xiao Wang's arm, dragged him to the corner, and then lowered my voice and said, "Prince, let me be honest with you, I am so pensioned." "
Xiao Wang showed a look of surprise, but quickly calmed down and nodded.
As I spoke, my eyes became a little moist. Xiao Wang reached out and patted me on the shoulder, not saying any words of comfort, but I could see sympathy and understanding in his eyes.
"Are you doing now?" After a long time, Xiao Wang finally asked.
I nodded and wiped the corners of my eyes: "It's okay, although the pension is not much, I just asked for that." Anyway, the house is your own, so you don't have to worry too much about it every month. "
"yes, as long as you get by. Xiao Wang smiled and patted me on the back, "What's the use of having more money, the most important thing is to be healthy and have a good attitude." If you look at other people, what if they have money? Is there still less eating, drinking, prostitution, and gambling?"
I will smile in my heart, Xiao Wang's words really speak my inner thoughts.
Yes, money is important, but it's not all about life. Some of our former classmates and friends have made a fortune, some have small savings, and some are destitute. But no matter what, what we cherish most is our friendship and the innocent years we once had.
More money and less money does not mean that a person is superior or humble. What matters is whether we can maintain our inner calm and dignity, and whether we can live the life we want. With this awareness, I will never be ashamed of my situation again.
My expression gradually relaxed, and my eyes regained their light. Looking at Xiao Wang's sincere old face, I couldn't help but step forward and give him a big hug.
Xiao Wang also hugged me back, patted me on the back and said, "Okay, okay, we old guys should be happy." As long as you are happy, you will be the richest man!"
Just then, a cell phone rang interrupted our conversation. Xiao Wang took out his mobile phone and looked at it, and his face suddenly changed: "It's not good, it's the boss calling, I have to answer the phone!"
After Xiao Wang left in a hurry, I stood alone in the corner, his words echoing in my head. I took a deep breath, regrouped my emotions, and walked back to the box.
By this time, everyone was already a little drunk, and they all raised their glasses to me. I smiled and clinked glasses with them, but didn't join in their talk.
At this moment, the squad leader suddenly slapped the table and said, "Okay, okay, don't talk about it! Let's get together today and celebrate well! Come on, have a drink!"
Everyone laughed and raised their glasses, but I didn't move. Seeing this, the squad leader looked at me suspiciously.
I took a deep breath and said slowly, "Brothers, I won't drink with you today. I only have a pension of 9,000 yuan now, so I have to live a poor life. "
As soon as the words fell, there was silence in the box. Everyone looked at each other, as if they couldn't believe their ears.
At this moment, my mobile phone suddenly rang, and it was a message reminder tone from the group of classmates. I subconsciously clicked on it and found that people had already removed me from the group chat one after another.
Looking at the group chat interface with only a few people left, my heart was surprisingly calm. In the past, I might have been sad or angry about it. But now, I just feel relaxed.
All these years of struggle and hard work have made me understand what is really important. Money status is important, but what is more important than these is inner calmness and dignity. As long as you can live the life you want, it is already the greatest happiness in life.
I closed my phone and smiled at the students in the box, and there was no shame or inferiority in that smile, only calmness and calmness.
"Alright, it's time for me to go. I nodded to everyone and walked towards the door.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Just as I was about to step out of the box door, the squad leader finally stopped me, "Don't just leave, we have to have a drink!"
I turned my head, looked at the confused faces of him and the other classmates, and shook my head slightly: "No, I'd better go back first." "
"Brothers, I know you may think I'm doing something strange today. I looked around at everyone in the box and said in a sincere tone, "But trust me, I don't mean anything else." I just want to let you know that even though I have a small pension, I'm quite content. "
I smiled and continued, "Money is important, but what is more important is the calmness and dignity of the heart. Although I have been poor all these years, at least I have never done anything wrong, and I have never put on a rich man's stand with others. "
"So don't worry too much about my pension. The important thing is that we old classmates can reunite and reminisce about the good old days. "
As I spoke, a faint melancholy welled up in my heart. Yes, we are no longer what we used to be, and we are living in different strata of society. But no matter what the circumstances, we were the best friends, and we spent a simple and beautiful time together.
Those years are long gone, and now we go our separate ways, but the friendship is forever engraved in the bottom of our hearts. Even if someone excludes me because of my "poor acidity", I don't care. Because for me, they will always be the closest friends.
I glanced at the faces in the box again, and each one was the one I knew best. Some of them are already full of the ravine of time, and some are a little tired, but I can still see the vitality of my youth in their eyes.
I took a deep breath, nodded at them, and turned to walk away. There was silence behind them, but I knew that what I had just said must have touched their hearts.
After leaving the box, I did not leave immediately, but wandered in the corridor of the hotel and lingered for a while. I thought maybe someone would come after me later, so I decided to wait and see.
Sure enough, it didn't take long for someone to trot out. I turned around and saw Xiao Wang sweating profusely trotting towards me.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Xiao Wang gasped and looked me up and down, "If you have anything in your heart, just tell me, why do you want to do such a thing that makes everyone feel awkward?"
I smiled and shook my head: "I've made it very clear, and I don't have anything in my heart. I just want everyone to know that even though I'm poor, I'm content. "
I stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "Prince, you have to believe that money and status are not everything. What matters is whether we are able to live the life we want and whether we are able to maintain our inner calm and dignity. "
"Take myself as an example, although I am poor, I have never done anything wrong, and I have never put any rich man on the table of others. I live a very down-to-earth and contented life, and you say that there is nothing to be ashamed of in such a life?"
Xiao Wang was silent, and his honest eyes seemed to finally have some understanding.
"Alright, you go back first. I patted him on the back, "Just drink and talk as if nothing happened." We old fellows should be happy. "
Xiao Wang nodded, but still looked at me with some unease. I smiled and patted him the shoulder to show that I was really okay.
Watching Xiao Wang return to the box, I finally put my mind at ease. Maybe today's events will leave some impression on those people, but I believe that one day, they will understand what I think.
Money status is important, but more important is inner calmness and dignity. As long as you can live the life you want and maintain your inner peace, you are already the richest man. The reason I'm doing this today is to hope they understand that.
I took a deep breath, re-groomed, and walked out the hotel door. Outside, it was already dark, and the streetlights illuminated the sidewalks.
I looked up at the night sky and saw a sky full of twinkling stars. A smile unconsciously lifted into my mouth. Yes, even though I'm poor, I at least have this starry sky. And that's enough.
I took a stride and walked along the path illuminated by the streetlights. Behind him, the hotel was brightly lit, and there was the occasional burst of laughter or two. But I didn't look back, but walked farther and farther away, and finally disappeared into the night.
From now on, I will start a new life. Although I am poor, I will live a solid and safe life. As long as I can maintain my inner calmness and dignity, I will always be the happiest person in the world.