Jiang Guoguo thought her grandpa was wonderful in every way. He smiled all the time and, just like a child, loved eating little snacks. Whenever Guoguo visited his house, she could always scrounge up lots of tasty treats.
But Grandpa had one “strange” habit: he loved collecting junk. Other people’s discarded chipped enamel basins and broken wooden stools were all treasures to him. Mom always sighed, and Dad just shook his head.
What made Guoguo feel even more “embarrassed” was that other people’s grandpas wore crisp shirts and played chess, while hers might be arguing with Old Wang, the scrap collector, until both their faces turned red. “Come on, brother! I’ll give you another fifty cents for this old copper basin. It’s an antique!” Whenever this happened, Guoguo’s face burned, and she wished she could disappear into the ground. Grandpa, though, would cheerfully pat Old Wang on the shoulder and slip him a handful of peanuts. “If you find anything good next time, save it for me first!”
Then one day during summer vacation, Jiang Guoguo tagged along with Grandpa as he went out to collect “junk.” She discovered his secret: the “junk” he brought home might be treasures he had stored away in time! Each piece was a weighty little time capsule. Open one, and what rushes out is not only long-buried memories, but also the heavy, vivid breath of life unique to that era, mingled with sweat, tears, hunger, and defiance. It reminds us that the stability we enjoy today was won by countless people who endured hardships and persevered in ways we can hardly imagine.
Theme: Remember that stability comes from struggle.
