Short stories weave tales of life, delivering messages to the hearts of readers. They may not offer complete solace, but they grant understanding of the characters' journeys
Chapter 1 Stone Lotus
During the sweltering summer days, my jade plant became an indispensable part of our small garden. I vividly remember the day I first brought it home from a paper exchange event. At the time, I had just finished a small research project on botany and was thrilled to take care of plants. The plant had delicate pink flowers that bloomed amidst lush green leaves. Every day, I would take it out to sunbathe and water it thoroughly. The jade plant looked plump and healthy, as if it were responding to my attentive care. I placed it in a corner of the garden where there was plenty of sunlight and cool breeze.
Then one day, my dad said that the hot sun would kill the jade plant. He advised me to keep the plant indoors instead of in the sun. My dad was very knowledgeable about plants; he used to be a farmer before moving to the city. Following my dad's advice, I moved the plant to my study corner. I placed it next to the window where soft light filtered in every morning. However, after a while, the jade plant began to droop and change color, no longer as lush as before. The leaves gradually lost their vibrant green color and became pale.
My sister saw the situation and advised me, "Every plant needs sunlight, you should put the plant on the balcony, why do you keep it indoors?" My sister is very fond of nature, and she has participated in many environmental protection clubs and planted trees at school. This time, I moved the jade plant to the sunniest corner of the balcony, where it received the most sunlight. Initially, the plant seemed to recover, but very quickly, after only two days, the jade plant suddenly withered and dried up. The plump leaves became wrinkled and fell off.
Remembering the early days when I took good care of the plant, and it thrived, I decided to follow my own instincts. I wondered if there was a way to combine my dad's and sister's advice to find the best way to care for the plant. After many nights researching jade plants in books and online forums, I realized that jade plants need sunlight but not too much, and they also need moisture but not too much water.
From then on, I started a new care regimen for the plant. In the morning, I would take the plant out to sunbathe, when the sun rose high and the sun became hotter, I would bring it back inside. I placed the plant near the window so that it still received natural light but was not too hot. I also adjusted the amount of water I watered, just enough to keep the soil moist without waterlogging the roots. Not only that, but I even bought a type of fertilizer suitable for jade plants to supplement the plant's nutrients.
Every day, I spent some time checking the plant's condition, from the color of the leaves to the moisture of the soil. Whenever I saw the plant showing any signs of abnormality, I would patiently experiment and adjust my care methods. Sometimes, I would even talk to the plant, believing that care and love also contribute to the plant's better growth. Thankfully, I didn't lose all my capital like the farmer in the fable. Now, the jade plant is very healthy and has always been by my side as a close little friend. The leaves have become green and plump again, as they were at the beginning. Every time I see the plant, I feel proud and happy that my efforts have been rewarded. One day, I discovered that the jade plant had a new flower blooming. It was a miracle! I couldn't believe my eyes. The white flower was as pure as a gem. I felt life flowing through each petal, even though they couldn't exist like ordinary flowers.
Now, the jade plant is not only part of a small garden, but also a symbol of patience, love, and care. I have learned a lot from taking care of plants, from understanding the plant's needs to knowing how to listen and adjust methods to suit. The little jade plant has become a close companion, always reminding me of the value of perseverance and passion. I cherish my little jade plant, promising to continue caring for it with all my love and attention as I did on the first day.
And after all that I've been through, somewhere I realized that listening to the opinions and words of others is good and shows respect for them. But perhaps, sometimes listening should just be listening, because not everything is really right and not everything is wrong. Perhaps, we should hold on to our own opinions, change what we need to change, and fix what's not good about us. And it would be better if we didn't worry too much about trying to please everyone, just to get the appreciative look from others.
#1: How is your day progressing?