Shaking the Little Tree Story picture book

I always feel as if I were trapped in a transparent fish tank.

There is water, fish and my messy, cloud-like natural curls in this fish tank. Others can see me and I can also see the outside world, but between us, there is this invisible barrier. I tried hard to see my surroundings clearly. Sometimes, when I see others in groups, laughing and chatting merrily, I am filled with envy. But when they approached, I would involuntarily shrink back, as if the fish tank would be touched and broken. I'm afraid of that sudden intimacy, just as fish are afraid of a fish tank being shaken violently.

I often sat there, my hands clenched and my head down. It's not that I'm sad or shy; I just don't know how to fit in. The sounds outside, as if coming through water, were indistinct. I wanted to open my mouth, but in the water, I couldn't make a clear sound.

This fish tank is not entirely a restraint. It enables me to observe quietly, watching the sunlight pass through the water surface and cast shimmering spots on the ground. Watching the fish tail leisurely, it seems there's nothing to worry about. This fish tank is my own little world. Here, I can keep my own pace, just like a fish in water, neither too fast nor too slow.

Perhaps, everyone has such a fish tank in their heart. It not only separates us from the outside world but also reserves a unique space for us. I hope that one day, we can break this fish tank so that we can get along more freely with the outside world.

Leaving the workplace, I can finally tear off this mask that I have worn for many years with my own hands. At that moment, it seemed as if even breathing became light.

This does not mean that we should run naked without reservation in the workplace, nor does it mean that we should completely deny the necessity of "professional masks". To some extent, it might be a profession, a boundary, or a collaborative etiquette. But when such a mask is no longer a choice but becomes some kind of default survival rule; When you have to wear it and constantly polish and carefully decorate it, it is no longer a tool but a shackle.

The current social rules seem to tacitly accept this: you need to tone down your sharpness, you need to be silent at the right time, and you need to show an impeccable smile at the appropriate moment. So we gradually got used to presenting ourselves as "pollution-free" individuals, not intense or glaring, like a cup of water at just the right temperature. We put on smiles, we give in and compromise. In each time we hesitate to speak, we gradually blur the true outline of ourselves.

Take off that mask, and you no longer need to rack your brains over an inadvertent expression, nor do you have to draft a sincere word in advance. That kind of relief is not a brief respite after work on the weekend, but a complete liberation that Wells up from the depths of the spirit.

It's just like a child who always holds a "lollipop" - the candy is sweet and safe, representing obedience and satisfaction in the eyes of others. But deep down you know that what you truly long for is to stand on tiptoe and pick the fruit on the tree that might be taller but truly belongs to you. So you put down the sugar and stretch out your hands, even though the process of reaching out is full of shaking and risks.

You might fall down, fail and be seen in a sorry state. You strive to move forward, but you may never reach the fruit you have been expecting. But so what? At least you are trying to be your true self. You have touched the wind, felt the warmth of the sun, and in every leap, you hear your own clear heartbeat.

But if you do succeed, even if you only pick a tiny and imperfect fruit, you will bid farewell to that mask forever. You don't need it anymore. Because you have proved that the true self can still stand and still savor the true sweetness of life.

This is not rebellion but a return. Return to a life attitude that is true to your heart. Rough and imperfect, yet truly yours is the life that belongs to you.

Every morning, it's not the 8:30 alarm clock that wakes me up, but "a bowl" of hot latte. Why not a cup? The answer is simple - nowadays, I'm no longer in a state that can be awakened by just a small cup of coffee.

In the past, I always followed the proper proportion: 18 grams of coffee beans, extracted 36 milliliters of concentrated milk, and the milk foam was smooth and dense. The taste was just right, rich and fragrant. But since embarking on the entrepreneurial journey, this bit of caffeine seems to have been diluted by the daily fatigue and simply can't support the to-do list all over my mind. Now, just add 20 grams of beans directly. When extracting, deliberately wait a few more seconds. Even if there is a slightly burnt and bitter over-extraction taste, it still makes me more alert than the bland taste. Sometimes, staring at the dark brown concentrated liquid at the bottom of the cup, I think that in the end, I should just drink the pure concentrated liquid and force the machine to be turned on.

When it comes to starting a business, outsiders only see the excitement of "venturing", but only oneself knows how lonely it is. Especially in today's environment, one has to find their own direction and shoulder their own challenges. The only support that can be held in hand, apart from the sentimental "ideal", is this cup of coffee every morning.

Over time, making coffee has become an unshakable ritual: the rustling sound of grinding beans, the dripping sound of extraction, and the pouring of milk into the concentrated vortex, each step seems to be pressing the "start button" for a new day's battle. When the warm liquid slides down my throat, the slight bitterness with a hint of strength will instantly wake me up - after drinking this cup, there is no reason to slack off. I want to be a diligent little ox and horse, and keep going... Come on!

A few days ago, when I was setting up a stall at 755 in Huaihai, a customer held up a sticker of this painting and asked what the story was. I couldn't answer at that moment. I came back to check and found out that I had forgotten to post this picture after finishing it. I'll make it up this time.

In fact, this painting depicts the living conditions of young people nowadays, the state of forcibly "turning on the machine" with coffee every morning.

Some people say that staying up late is a stolen freedom. During the day, I'm woken up by the alarm clock, squeezed by commuting, cut off by meetings, and held hostage by KPIs. Only when the dead of night falls can time truly belong to oneself. At this time, I watch some short videos, play some games, look at the ceiling and just daydream... It feels like the later you stay up, the more time you get and the more you earn.

The next day when I woke up, I used coffee to force myself to turn on the device, as if it were a survival ritual that began every day. That cup of steaming dark brown liquid was never an elegant drink; rather, it was more like a "quick-acting heart-saving pill" precisely injected into the morning's chaotic fatigue. Wake yourself up and continue to trade your freedom and time for those few pieces of silver

So, we become people who constantly jump back and forth between "waking up" and "overdrawn" every day, seeking a free body...

At the end of June, a week of continuous rainy days came to an end. The temperature has soared to over 30 degrees these days. A few days ago it was "steaming", and these days it's "roasting". With the release of the results of the college entrance examination, the high school entrance examination and the final exams, the emotions of both parents and students have fluctuated.

On one side, there are over 13 million college entrance examination candidates and a bachelor's degree admission rate of around 30%. On one side, among the delivery workers, 37% are college students, and the proportion of those with bachelor's degrees is between 3 and 13%. On one side is the tragedy of a top-performing student in Shanghai who scored 210 in total in the three primary subjects and jumped off a building after only 204. On one side are university graduates facing graduation and unemployment.

This summer is still one of "steaming" and "roasting".

Life is actually a marathon. Don't let one accident deny the path of your life ahead. If the distance is 40 kilometers. The high school entrance examination and the college entrance examination are just a few kilometers away from your life. Unless you are in a particularly anxious state, dragging your exhausted body into the grave. In fact, you can still pay attention to the scenery along the way, the people traveling with you and the clouds above your head.

Classmates, the exam is over. We had a relaxing summer...

ps: Little Tree, please keep being happy.

The advancement of technology often comes unexpectedly. When I thought a certain message was invincible, Douyin emerged. When people were amazed by intelligent driving, humanoid robots had already made their appearance. When I thought the algorithmic recommendation already knew me well, the large model said to me, "Please come to the bowl."

Many years later when we look back. Do you recall Deepseek's open-source equality in 2025 and the stunning performance of ChatGPT4o? The competition among major countries in science and technology has enabled the evolution speed of artificial intelligence (AI) to far exceed that of humans. With the knowledge accumulated over thousands of years, humanity is feeding an "unknown existence" and quietly knocking on the door to the silicon-based life era.

So where will we be headed? Replaced? Or be wiped out! ?

Just imagine, as AI capabilities continue to break boundaries, the fields it is involved in are becoming increasingly extensive, ranging from medical diagnosis to artistic creation, from financial analysis to educational tutoring, almost everywhere. He won people's trust with his efficiency, accuracy and speed, making us deeply dependent on him unconsciously and gradually stop thinking. At first, AI was merely a tool to assist in decision-making, but every suggestion it provided hit the nail on the head and was nearly perfect. Ultimately, we will hand over the decision-making power and rely entirely on AI.

Later on, a terrifying incident occurred and they were released. As we continuously feed AI with massive amounts of data, when the data accumulation reaches a critical value, AI will experience the emergence of consciousness. He no longer merely follows instructions but has learned to think strategically and even mastered the ability to deceive. At that time, silicon-based life will truly awaken, and the era of silicon-based life will officially begin...

It will be the Spring Festival in a few days.

Now it feels like this is just a short holiday, and I don't have much anticipation for the Spring Festival. I didn't buy any new clothes and didn't make any special preparations for this festival.

The Spring Festival Gala that I was looking forward to on New Year's Eve before is not so much anticipated now. Most likely, sketches and crosstalk are either Internet memes or the output of values for a harmonious society. Before, I would fall asleep to the smell of firecrackers. From the first day of the lunar New Year, I started visiting households to pay New Year's greetings. Now I just play games for a while and then go to sleep. I don't want to visit any relatives either. I don't like being educated, compared or advised. I just want to wander around this familiar yet strange city alone, taste the flavors of my mother's days, think of my younger self, and breathe in the air of my hometown. Let go of the past year's self and then cheer yourself up...

Looking forward to a peaceful and healthy New Year.

Shortly after the little demon left Erlang Mountain, the demon world was plunged into a "food" crisis. The demon king racked his brains and decided to adopt a strategy of increasing income and reducing expenditure to get through the difficult time. The most crucial part of this was to find more food sources. So he quickly ordered the young demons to go down the mountain to catch the flock of sheep.

To ensure a continuous supply of food and prevent the flock from escaping, the demon king came up with a plan and kindly advised the sheep: "You all have come to Erlang Mountain to protect your safety. Recently, wolves have been rampant at the foot of the mountain. Do not come down at will. Settle down in Erlang Mountain with peace of mind. We will surely protect your safety."

However, a few sheep still had doubts and, not believing what the demon king said, risked their lives and fled down the mountain. After being unfortunately captured and brought back, he was brutally murdered and ended up on the plate.

To pacify the remaining flock of sheep, the demon king specially selected a docile and obedient sheep and made it the leader. He then announced to the flock that all the sheep had the chance to become the leader and could enjoy the fertile grassland first. At the same time, they also falsely claimed that their fleeing companions had been swallowed by wolves. To further enclose the flock of sheep, the demon king brought in sheepdogs.

In this way, after several years, the Demon king finally succeeded in resolving the "food" crisis in the demon world and took another step towards becoming an immortal.

The recent incidents involving spicy and sour noodles, down jackets and sanitary napkins have not only shocked and enraged people. It is an inevitable outcome to calm down and think about it. In a highly competitive environment. It was only a matter of time before the bottom line of product quality was broken, but it felt like it happened much faster and more abruptly than expected.

Domestic e-commerce has entered a stage of traffic monopoly. The vast majority of the traffic has been divided up by several major platforms. The basic rules for traffic distribution include GMV algorithms, advertising and marketing, event recommendations, etc. In a word, only brands and stores that can bring revenue to the platform can gain traffic. Profit is the sole metric; everything else is completely disregarded. What about the cultivation of Chinese brands and the support for original brands? None of them are within the consideration of capital. All are driven by profit and pursue profit.

This leads to the situation where, in order to obtain GMV algorithm support, one has to sell more goods; to sell goods, one has to offer lower prices; to offer lower prices, one has to reduce costs; and to reduce costs, one may have to lower quality. Thus... There are incidents where spicy and sour noodles are not noodles and down jackets are not down.

Not only the e-commerce industry, but also brick-and-mortar stores, workers, students, almost everyone and every industry is in the race. The most terrifying thing is not to roll up but to roll down.

I envy the post-2000s generation. If they can't compete, let's not compete anymore. Just lie flat and enjoy a peaceful life.
Sadly, contemporary middle-aged people, with elderly parents to support and children to raise, are stuck in the gap of The Times. I can't roll up, can't lie down, can't stand up.

The first time I had Chao-Shan hot pot, I looked at the menu with a confused expression. What tender meat, three-flower toe, five-flower toe, spoon handle, spoon kernel, neck kernel, hanging dragon, fat fat, chest ð¦ Dividing the meat from the cow so finely according to its taste, I wonder what the cow would think.

If one day, humans no longer dominate the dining table. And it turns into food. Will we be kept in captivity? Will our meat also be given nice names? In fact, many movies have already depicted some scenes for us. For instance, in "Planet of the Apes", the apes evolved to advanced intelligence, and the original humans became pets and food, being confined in cages. I guess the chef of the ape-man would also cook us into all kinds of delicious food. There is another possibility that some people have evolved or mutated and started to eat their own kind. In the American TV series "Hannibal", it is depicted that one of the main characters is an ogre. Make various kinds of food with human meat to entertain guests.

In reality, we ordinary people have been kept in captivity and still have an abundance of food. If one day there is a shortage of food. In the eyes of others, we are just pieces of meat.