On the road back to basement, Atman saw limousine crowding on the street and fashionable women shopping merrily, he could not help sighing. Four laughed, “No wonder someone said the biggest enemy was self. You just persuaded me to try my best, but you sighed about your poor life.”

     “Yeah, you’re right. The onlookers see most clearly. That’s why people have to find bosom friends to correct themselves. There is no need to watch the fish, let’s go home to make fishing net now.”

     The next day, Atman returned to the basement without any result. He found most of the jobs were about technology and sale, neither of which was his favor. Suddenly he understood he needed a job which could give him plenty of leisure time. He needed time to strength himself before he found a real job, but before that, he had to to find a job to support himself.

     After thinking for nearly a night, he decided to be a security guard. After Atman hid his bachelor’s degree, he found a job of guarding a small company. He only needed to sit in the lodge and had nothing else to do all day.

  Before he went to work, he drank with Four to celebrate. This time they decided to cook a dinner by themselves. After two hours, finally they got the dinner ready, but which tasted too horrible for them.

     Accidently, Atman found the school report of Four. Atman became serious, “Four, you’re really wasting your talent. Look at your school report. Your marks are all great, especially on specialty subjects. Now you’re just lazing away in the small company.”

     “Ha-ha…”Four was a little ashamed and just used laughter to cover his awkwardness up.

     “Now you’re a software engineer on network products. Tence is the best company on network products. Why don’t you consider entering Tence?” Atman looked at Four expectedly.

     “You’re right. But I’m afraid I don’t have the ability to enter Tence. For a job of software engineer in Tence, there are thousands of people competing for it.”

     “What’s the big deal? There is going to be a man who can get the job finally, right? I’m already ruined and really don’t want to see you following my steps. ”

     “Yeah, maybe you’re right.”

     “Then why aren’t you going to be the man? They’re man made of flesh and bone too. You must be confident to beat all of them.”

     “Yeah, I admit I was a little coward. Why can’t I try it? It won’t be a big deal if I lose.”

     “Don’t say so. If you’re thinking of losing it isn’t a big deal, surely you’ll lose.”

     “You must have the courage of burning your bridge.”

     “I decide to quit my job next month. What do you think?”

     “Why do you need to wait until next month? Life is really so short. There is really not much time for you to wait.”

     “Ok. I decide to quit my job tomorrow and spend three months studying to improve myself. Atman, I just met you not long before, but I always think your words are reasonable.”

     “Cheers!” Atman and Four drank their beer all of a sudden.

     “By the way, there is also English test. You have to improve your oral English. From now on, we will talk with each other in English instead of Chinese.”

     “No problem.”

     Four tidied up all his books covered with a layer of dust in the same evening.

     Since then, Four studied diligently in his basement. When he was really tired, he tried to use a needle to prick himself to stay awake, but he found it was no use. He also tried to use cold water and found the result was the same.

    So when he was too tired, he just fell asleep and made the alarming clock ring half an hour later. When he was awaken by it, he continued to study hard. Sometimes, he didn’t even have time to take a bath and just slept with all his clothes on.

    Every day after work, Atman would bring dinner for Four and then left quietly. He just read classic Chinese history and literature and wrote reviews. He admired Chairman Mao very much, especially on his studying spirit.

     The twenty-four histories of China was the essence for five thousand years. Chairman Mao had read them more than once. About the book Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government, he had read it for seventeen times. Whenever he was available, he just read and read again without end and tiredness. He also said reading was his best love.

     Atman bought a second-hand computer at the price of 1000 Yuan. The first thing he did was using a picture of Chairman Mao reading in his bed as the desktop for inspiration.

     Time went by so quickly. Two months past in a blink of eyes. Atman gave his mother a call and his mother told him that his wife Chry wanted to divorce with him. Atman was surprised and begged Chry to come to Deep and stay with him; he still didn’t want to do that. Chry refused stubbornly and said to Atman coldly on the other of the phone, “No need to talk too much. We’re over. I really can’t see any hope by staying with you.”

     Atman felt a little sad, after all, Chry was his wife, but suddenly, he had an outburst, “Ok. Not a big deal. You, find your prince charming. I can live well without you. Who cares? Bye!”

     Atman asked a leave for a few days and divorced with his wife Chry by legal procedure. He was sorry for breaking his mother’s heart, but also relieved, now he belonged to himself completely.

    After the divorce, Atman sat under the poplar shadow of river bank, watching the blue sky. Every time he was in depression, he liked sitting on river bank to watch white clouds flowing aimlessly in the blue sky. Then he felt himself being changed into a while cloud too and all depression flew away with the river water.

     Suddenly he remembered his friend Optim. Every time he went home, he would visit Optim for a while to have a pleasant chat. Thinking of it was the last day to stay at home, Atman went to Optim’s cabin.

     Optim was cooking potatoes when Atman came in. He raised his head to see Atman coming and showed a happy smile, saying, “Atman, long time no see. Thanks to the divorce, or else I’ll never expect to see you before Spring Festival.” Seeing Optim’s happy face, Atman became happy too and replied, “Yeah, we should drink to celebrate it. Still potatoes?”

    “Yeah, that’s the only thing available all year round. My hands are always too trembling to cook other things.”

    Atman felt sorry for him, but never showed it on face. He produced an exquisite lighter and handed it to Optim, “Here you are. My gift for you.”

    Optim was exited to receive it and then gave a big potato to Atman, “Sorry, man, I can only give you a potato.” Though Optim had a serious disease to make all arms and legs thin and trembling, he always showed people merry smile. Atman always liked seeing Optim’s smile for it make him warm in heart. Nobody took care of Optim, he always struggled hard to cook for himself and ate potato all year around, still he smiled, not only on face, but also in the deepest place of heart.

    Atman stayed with Optim to chat until there were several stars in the dark blue sky. The chatting content wasn’t important; they were both very happy, which was really enough. Atman’s mother told him Optim had asked her several times about when he came home and he just missed him. Atman shook hands with Optim and said goodbye, “Optim, take good care of yourself. I’ll visit you again in Spring Festival.” Optim still smiled to reply, “Atman, I’ll wait for you. I don’t know whether it’s right or not. Though single again, so what? Just look at me, destined to be handicapped and alone all life. You should be happy…” Atman walked to home under the starry light. After a while he could not help turning around and found Optim still sat there watching him.

     When he came back again, Four was curious about his absence for a few days, but didn’t ask about it. After Atman wrote reviews for three thick notebooks, Four was also get ready to apply for software engineer of Tence.

     The first round was written examination, Atman insisted on accompanying Four. Four was a little moved. Four did very well in the written examination and got the second place. Four also passed the first two interviews smoothly.

     During the final interview, one of the interviewers asked what was the character of Four. He just expected Four to answer either introverted character or extravert character, but Four answered that his character was complicated. The interviewer just frowned and began to use holiday words to send Four away.

     Four was really indignant that his effort of three months was just ruined by a stupid question. He said angrily to the interviewer, “You can’t send me off for the sake of stupid question.” But the interviewer just added, “And now you’re becoming rude.”

     Four retorted, “May I ask you the question too? What’s your character?” The interviewer was very angry and shouted at Four, “Get out. A rude guy likes you, even though you have the software talent of Bill Gates. I won’t accept you.”

     Four said disdainfully, “As long as you’re in Tence, I’m sure Tence will be corrupt in just a few years. You just close the door of Tence on talents. You know nothing about human resource.” Then he snapped the door and got out.

     Another interviewer River just sat without saying anything. When Four left, he said to his colleague, “Dorry, what are you doing? We need a software engineer instead of a public relations manager. Yeah. I know you graduated from Harvard Business School, but you should know the story of Chen Ping. Liu Bang just used Chen Ping regardless of those feverous attacks on his private life, someone said Chen Ping had an adultery with his sister-in-law. We need his software talent. Why should we care about whether his character is introverted or extraverted? We should do better than the ancients. Sometimes you need to learn a little Chinese thing, not all western things are good.” The interviewer called Dorry was a little embarrassed. 

     Four just told the whole thing to Atman and got ready to get out of the Gate of Tence. Then River came out and told Four could come to be a member of Tence next week.

     Four was going to refuse it stubbornly, but Atman pinched his back and whispered to Four to stop talking. Atman made a bow and answered politely, “Thank you. Sir. My brother is a short fuse, but he is kind-hearted.”

     River laughed heartily, “It doesn’t matter. No temper, no ability. I’m very busy right now. See you next week, welcome to be Tence man.”

     When River was left, Four stared at Atman confusedly, “Atman, why are you so weak? There isn’t only one company Tence in Deep.” Atman answered patiently, “A little impatience spoils great plans. Tolerance isn’t recreance. You just pay three months to get the chance. Not necessary to spoil it just because of one addlebrained guy. “

     Four suddenly understood, “You’re right. I’m a little impulsive. By the way, I’m running out of money now and have to work.”

     It was already a week after Four came to work at Tence. There were fifty people old and new in the VoIP Group. Most of Tence’s profit came from enterprise products; the VoIP Group was just on home products-VoIP Gateway series and faced the risk of cancellation.

     Without mental preparation, VoIP Group received a hard task with three other new software engineers. They all started to complain the group leader and Four was one of them. They thought they were novices and should at least receive training before work formally. They also heard the task had been researched by VoIP Group for a long time without any result. The first day they four received the task, they did nothing but complaint.

     After work, Four continued to told his difficulty to Atman and abused the group leader Leven without stop. After Four stopped abusing Leven, Atman suddenly asked, “Have you tried the task?”

     “Not yet.”

    “Then how do you know you can’t finish the task? Don’t think other old employees too capable and let them be a surveyor’s pole to judge you. Sometimes qualification and experience are harmful. Just try your best. Don’t complain. Always trust yourself. You can. It’s also a great opportunity.”

     Four nodded and was sincerely convinced.

     The next day, Four analyzed the problem carefully and found it was a compatibility issue between VoIP gateway and VoIP server. Actually it was the nonstandard behavior of VoIP server causing the problem. The VoIP server in BL telecom had already worked with thousands of VoIP gateway produced by Top which was the biggest competitor of Tence.

     Four thought Top could change their VoIP gateway to adapt to the VoIP server in BL telecom, there was no reason Tence couldn’t change it. For the next two months, he just lived as the same as his previous three months.

     One day, when River met Four at the elevator, he was surprised to see Four was so gaunt. He asked thoughtfully, “Are you ill? Four. You need to take good care of yourself. Without health, all other things including work are bubbles.” Four answered gratefully, “Thank you. Mr. Song. I’m fine.”

    Two months had passed without any progress on the VoIP issue. One night, Four dreamt he resolved the issue and was overjoyed. When he woke up, he found it was only a dream, but suddenly he thought of an idea. He patted his head and said to himself, “I’m so stupid. Why should I always thinking of changing the request packet by myself? The teacher Top is just here.”

     So the next day, he bought a Top VoIP gateway. When he connected the Top VoIP gateway correctly, he just used Ethereal to capture the request packet of Top. He just found out the Top changes in the VoIP request packet. He just spent an afternoon changing the request packet by using Top changes for reference.

     When he filled two test accountants in the VoIP gateway, he was both nervous and excited. He never had this kind of feeling before. When he dialed the number and found it OK. Four was so excited that he threw himself on the floor from the chair. No wonder Archimedes had a streaking after he resolved an issue, thought Four. Only the colleagues of Four stared at each other in surprise and didn’t know what happened to him.

     All the group members were happy, finally the order could be executed after three months. But for the popularity, quality and price dominance of Tence brand, the order would be dashed to pieces earlier. In the evening, the group leader invited every group member to celebrate, but Four refused it politely, all he thought was having a good supper with Atman to celebrate it. The group leader insisted no more, he was also happy he could save money. Only other group members were downhearted.

     When he came to the basement, he came to the room of Atman. Atman was just reading and totally ignored other things. Only Four used his knuckle to knock Atman’s head, then Atman knew Four was coming.

     “Atman, cost you a little time. We can have a nice supper together. I just finished the issue,” said Four happily.

     “Even though you have money, you mustn’t dip into your purse. You need to save money to find a wife,” Atman faddled.

     “Come on. Just a supper. I can afford to it. At worst I find an ugly wife, much cheaper.”

     “You dude!” Atman tousled Four’s hair.

     “Don’t! My hairstyle is the thing of which I feel proudest.”

     Atman smiled like a flower in full blossom. Four found Atman was never happier after he met him. Being real happy for friends’ achievement without even a tiny jealousy, really a real and rare friend, especially in the cold economic society of 21st century, sighed Four.

      After supper, Atman said to Four, “Thank you. Four. I haven’t had such a nice supper for a long time.” “Don’t need to thank me. It’s just your contribution. Don’t need to thank cormorant when you eat fish.”

     The setting sun was really beautiful and incarnadined the blue sky. Walking alone the road beside a river, enjoying the summer evening breeze, Atman felt peaceful in his heart, but Four had a different feeling.

     He said, “There are so many lovers walking here. Maybe I’ll find a girl to walk with me every nightfall. Just look at the clear water and green trees, smell the aroma of flowers, then held my girlfriend’s hands, I won’t ask for more from life. Why won’t you invite sister-in-law here to accompany you?”

     “She just divorced with me.”

     “Oh, I’m really sorry.”

     “Nothing. Maybe you should say congratulations.” Atman pretended to be relaxed, “when you become group leader, I’ll introduce you a perfect girl.”

     “That’s settled then. You mustn’t eat your words later.”