Chapter 3 - Solitude Amoong Plants
Xiao Chen is busy watering his plants when he hears a knock at the door. He's not expecting anyone, so he's surprised when he sees his father standing outside.
"Dad! What brings you here?" he says, opening the door to let his father in.
His father steps into the living room and looks around, a frown on his face. "Your place is so... bare," he says disapprovingly.
Xiao Chen sighs. He's used to his father's criticism. His father, like many Chinese parents, values practicality and efficiency over aesthetics and frivolity. Xiao Chen, on the other hand, has always been drawn to beauty and aesthetics, especially in the form of plants.
He leads his father to the greenhouse, hoping to show him the beauty of his plants. But his father seems uninterested, instead choosing to lecture him on the importance of finding a stable job and settling down with a wife.
Xiao Chen tries to defend his passion for plants, but his father remains unconvinced. He knows his father means well, but he can't help feeling frustrated and misunderstood.
As they walk around the greenhouse, Xiao Chen tries to explain the intricacies of his work, how he's studying the effects of different environments on plant growth and health. His father listens but doesn't seem to understand or appreciate the beauty and complexity of his work.
After a while, Xiao Chen's father stands up and announces that he has to go. He gives his son a stern look and reminds him to think about his future and what's important in life.
Xiao Chen feels deflated as he watches his father leave. He's always felt like an outsider in his own family, like he's not living up to their expectations. But as he looks around the greenhouse, at the thriving plants that he's nurtured and grown, he feels a sense of pride and accomplishment.
He knows that his love for plants is not practical or conventional, but it's something that brings him joy and fulfillment. And he's determined to pursue it, no matter what others may think.
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