For many people, retirement is a time to enjoy family life with their families, and it is the beginning of rejuvenating and doing what they love. But for Li Qiang, it seems to be the beginning of another journey.
At six o'clock in the morning, the sun has not yet fully risen, and the morning light only pulls out a faint dawn on the eastern horizon, and the whole community is still shrouded in tranquility. Li Qiang lay on the bed, looked at the fading night outside the window, and sighed softly. He got up lightly, for fear of waking his sleeping wife.
When he came to the living room, he saw on the desk the retirement commemorative plaque specially purchased by his daughter Li Xiao, which was engraved with the words "Old comrades have retired after success and enjoyed their lives". Li Qiang touched the plaque, and a smile appeared on his face, but it was quickly replaced by deep helplessness.
Changing into his usual old clothes, Li Qiang planned to go out. At this time, his wife walked out of the bedroom in a daze and asked sleepily, "Qiangzi, where are you going so early?"
Li Qiang's slightly vicissitudes of life replied gently but firmly: "I'll go out for a walk and breathe fresh air." ”
"Aren't you retired? Everything in the unit has been explained clearly, and you don't have to get up so early. The wife said in confusion and gently grabbed Li Qiang's hand.
"Well, I know. Let's take a break today, and you can sleep a little longer. Li Qiang smiled, gently untied his wife's hand, put on his shoes, and brought the door.
He walked silently on the familiar streets, quiet all around, except for the occasional sound of a few cleaning trucks breaking the morning song. The steamed bun shop on the corner of the street has begun to steaming early, and Li Qiang is standing in front of the shop in a daze. For many years, countless mornings, he would have a simple bite to eat here, and then rush to the unit to deal with the day's work. Now everything is in the past, leaving only his memories and the changing streets.
He came alone to a remote garden, where he often chatted with his old partner, Wang Gang. The two of them have been colleagues for many years, and they know each other as well as brothers. On the benches in this garden, they have shared countless sunrise deliberations and gains.
"Brother Qiang, you are really retired!" a voice interrupted Li Qiang's thoughts. He looked up and saw that it was Wang Gang walking over with his morning cane and a little smile.
"yes, I'm a complete old man from today onwards. Li Qiang tried to tease himself, "I can also be like you, basking in the sun here every day and chatting." ”
Wang Gang looked at Li Qiang and seemed to feel the unusualness in his words: "What's wrong with you? ”
Li Qiang sighed: "I don't know what's wrong with me, maybe I'm used to that kind of busy life, and now I'm suddenly empty, and I'm a little unaccustomed." ”
At this moment, Li Qiang's mobile phone rang suddenly, it was the leader of the unit who called, and his tone was urgent: "Li Qiang, you come back quickly, there is a quality problem in the unit, and the relevant departments will be fined. ”
Hearing this, Li Qiang's mood became even more complicated. He whispered, "I know, I'll go now." After hanging up the phone, he said to Wang Gang: "I have to go first, something happened to the unit." ”
"Okay, you get busy first, and I'll worry about you when you retire. Wang Gang smiled and waved his hand.
Li Qiang left the garden, his steps becoming heavy. After retiring, he should no longer be involved in work, but for an old employee who has devoted most of his life to the unit, the responsibility and concern in his heart are so difficult to give up.
The sky was already fully lit up, and the number of pedestrians on the street was increasing. Wang Gang stood at the exit of the garden, looking at Li Qiang's back as he walked farther and farther, his heart full of worry. He knew that Li Qiang was not a person who would give in easily, and if it wasn't for some important reason, Li Qiang would never choose to leave immediately after retirement.
And at the same moment, Li Qiang's daughter Li Xiao also began to realize her father's abnormality. When I got home from work, I found that my father was not there, and my mother was busy with housework as usual, as if she hadn't noticed anything unusual. Li Xiao felt unusual, so she asked her mother, "Mom, where is Dad?"
"Your dad went out in the morning, saying he was going to relax. The mother replied, looking unconcerned.
"Where's his mobile phone, did you call him?" Li Xiao said a little anxiously.
"He went out without his phone, and I thought he would be back soon. The mother looked a little surprised.
Li Xiao chuckled in her heart, faintly feeling that things might not be simple, she immediately picked up her mobile phone and dialed Li Qiang's number, but no one answered.
Taking off his work clothes and quickly changing into casual clothes, Li Xiao decided to go out and look for it. It occurred to her that if there was any place where she could find her father's clues, it would be the little garden that her father would go to every day. Not long after going out, she met Wang Gang on the road.
"Uncle Wang, have you seen my dad?" asked Li Xiao eagerly.
Wang Gang nodded and told her that Li Qiang had been here early this morning, but left in a hurry after receiving a call from the unit.
At the same time, in Li Qiang's unit, the leaders are dealing with the incident of being fined for product quality problems. While flipping through the relevant documents to prepare for the response, the manager unexpectedly found an email dated seven days ago in a pile of ignored emails - Li Qiang's resignation report.
"How is this possible? How could Li Qiang leave his job silently?" the manager was surprised. "It's been seven days, why hasn't anyone reported this to me?"
The assistant said embarrassedly: "It may be a misunderstanding in communication, and we will check it immediately." ”
"Now is not the time to check, it's the time to find someone. The manager said with a straight face, "Li Qiang knows this business best, and it is difficult for us to have a convincing explanation without him." ”
The assistant immediately dialed Li Qiang's phone, but as Li Xiao experienced, there was no response on the phone.
In the small garden, Wang Gang and Li Xiao discussed how to find Li Qiang. Wang Gang proposed: "Does Qiangzi usually have any special hobbies or places he wants to go?"
Li Xiao frowned, thought about it, and replied: "He has been busy with work before he retires, and he hasn't talked about the places he particularly wants to go. But I remember him mentioning earlier that he wanted to see our old house. ”
"Let's start there. Wang Gang nodded, and the two hurriedly walked in the direction of the old house.
The manager looked at Li Qiang's unresponsive mobile phone communication records, and felt a lot of pressure in his heart, so he decided to go to his home to check the situation, hoping to find some clues.
Several people were looking for Li Qiang at the same time, but Li Qiang was walking on a new path in his life at this time because of the change in his mood. He may have moved away from his old life, but the impact he left behind is still fermenting and intertwining in different corners.
Time passed minute by minute, and Li Xiao and Wang Gang finally arrived at the old house of Li Qiang's family. It is a small two-story building with traces of age, and the paint on the exterior wall has peeled off, and it looks quite dilapidated. However, here, every brick and tile is full of memories for Li Qiang.
The door was hidden, Li Xiao cautiously pushed it open, only to see Li Qiang sitting on the old sofa in the living room, with some yellowed photo albums and an unfinished cup of tea spread out in front of him.
"Dad!" Li Xiao couldn't help but shout, his eyes full of concern and puzzlement.
Li Qiang raised his head and saw his daughter's anxious face, he stood up and comforted her with a smile: "Xiaoxiao, don't worry, Dad is fine." ”
Wang Gang also followed him into the house and said with concern: "Qiangzi, you scared us to death, why did you suddenly disappear? ”
Li Qiang sighed, his eyes were a little hesitant but more firm: "I know that something happened to the unit, but... I'm not going back. ”
"Not going back? but... You are really needed over there. Wang Gang looked a little puzzled.
"I have already submitted my resignation report. Li Qiang's voice was calm but resolute, "In recent years, I feel that I can't keep up with the modern management implemented by the unit, and it is difficult to accept it ideologically. ”
"But isn't it good to retire?" Li Xiao asked puzzled, "Why do you want to leave your job suddenly?"
"Retirement is just a change in identity, but the feeling of powerlessness and being eliminated by the times in my heart is like a shadow. Li Qiang said slowly, "In the past two years, I have been reflecting, and I want to let go completely more than once and give myself a chance to find an outlet for my soul." ”
Li Xiao held his father's hand: "But you walked away silently like this, which not only worried the family, but also caught the unit off guard." ”
Wang Gang also nodded in agreement: "Qiangzi, I understand your feelings, but in any case, you should explain it to everyone, it is unfair to everyone to say goodbye without saying goodbye like this." ”
Li Qiang looked at the photo album in his arms, and burst into tears: "You are right, I may have thought too simply." I thought that leaving silently would neither cause trouble to everyone nor affect the normal operation of the unit, but I didn't expect it to cause trouble to everyone. ”
"Over the years, the unit has been like home, and everyone is used to having you. Wang Gang patted Li Qiang on the shoulder, "No matter what, you are our respected old comrade, and you should have a decent farewell." ”
"Yes, Dad, we can't be selfish, we have to think for the unit, think for you, and think for us who love you. Li Xiao persuaded softly.
Li Qiang looked at his daughter, and then looked at his old partner Wang Gang, who had been in the same boat all along, and a warm feeling surged in his heart. He finally nodded, saying that he would like to go back to say goodbye to everyone and explain his decision and the subsequent consequences.
The three of them left the old house full of memories together, and headed in the direction of the familiar and unfamiliar unit. Li Qiang's mood was complicated and indescribable, but with the support of his family and friends, he felt a sense of strength. Whatever the road ahead, he knew he was no longer fighting alone.
Back at the unit, Li Qiang's arrival sparked a discussion, but after Li Qiang apologized to everyone for his silent resignation, the discussion gradually subsided, and was replaced by a warm current. Although everyone is anxious about the quality problem this time, it is more about understanding and respect for Li Qiang.
After careful consideration, the leaders of the unit finally decided to convene a plenary meeting. At the meeting, the leader said sincerely: "We have always attached importance to the modern management of processes and efficiency, but in this process we have neglected the communication and emotional exchange with every comrade. ”
Li Qiang stood up with a smile on his face: "I know that my decision is a bit sudden, and it may cause you a lot of trouble, and I am deeply sorry for this." However, I still want to use my experience to help you and make our unit better developed. ”
"That's exactly what we wanted. The leader showed a relieved expression, "So we invite you Li Qiang to come back and share your experience with everyone, and also guide our new comrades so that they can adapt and develop faster." ”
Li Xiao listened to her father's words on the side, her heart was full of pride, she knew how valuable her father's experience was, this incident not only allowed her father to find a new position, but also made the unit leaders realize the importance of communication.
The topic between Li Qiang and the leaders gradually deepened, from the development prospect of the unit to the details of daily management, every point made the colleagues present refreshing, and many people began to seriously record his suggestions and ideas.
After the meeting, the leaders of the unit also began to reform the information communication mechanism, all meeting minutes and important decisions must be notified to every employee in a timely manner, and experience exchange meetings with the participation of old employees and new employees are also organized every week.
Time passed slowly, Li Qiang shone in a familiar place as an old comrade, and the distance between old employees and young employees was gradually shortened because of Li Qiang's guidance.
One evening, Li Qiang came to the old house again. He looked at the gradually darkening sky, and there was indescribable satisfaction and relief in his heart. The discomfort and powerlessness of the past have been gone with the wind, replaced by the hope and brightness of a new life.
"Isn't all this change precisely because of mutual respect and in-depth communication, because we understand the inevitability of change and accept the new trend of the times?" Li Qiang said to himself, with a little emotion.
As the sky grew dark, he gently closed the door, the lights of his home flickered in the distance, and the lights of the distant unit were still bright, as if whispering to him: "Is the wisdom of the old comrades like this never-extinguishing light, which continues to illuminate the road of the new era?"