The Old Man and the Comet: A Story of Time and Space

There was once a man named Li. He was elderly now, but his eyes were still sharp. He had lived for almost a century, and he loved to talk about time and space. Nowadays, he still remembered his childhood clearly.

His childhood began long ago. He was a young boy in an eastern village. Every morning he woke early. He could afford only one small meal, but he was happy.

In school, his teacher said, "Time goes forward, not backward." The boy did not completely understand. Later, he did. At school he was good at oral English. In a debate, he argued about a contentious topic. Some classmates gave him criticism, but he did not get angry. He said it was impolite to shout. He would definitely persist with his own ideas.

As a teenager, he was an adolescent full of dreams. Later, he grew into an adult. He worked as a junior engineer. A senior leader appointed him to a new post in April.

His schedule was always full. He worked from January to December, month after month. In February he planned projects. In March he checked the annual report. His monthly meeting was held on the first day of each month.

In June he visited a new location in the west. In July he measured the length and depth of a tunnel. In August he returned home. In September and October he wrote reports. In November he met a contemporary engineer, and they became friends.

He could locate any spot on a map in one minute. He knew the distance between any two cities. He often stood on a platform and looked beyond the hills. The wheel of time never stopped.

He was a considerate man. Nobody disliked him. His co-workers called him a great coordinator. He could spare an hour every day to read. He used a time-saving method and a multi-functional calculator.

He loved history, and he kept records in chronological order. He remembered every occasion, from his first party to his last session.

One decade passed, then another. The economy had a downturn for a while. Many people lost their jobs, but Li did not give up. He said, "This difficult period will not last."

When he was forty, a comet appeared in the sky. Its tail was purple and bright. People everywhere looked upward at it. Some felt frightened; others called it a miracle. It was an era of great change.

Later, he married a kind hostess. She ran a small nursery and loved children. They had a daughter. The little girl always called her "Mommy." She grew up fast. Time flies.

The family held an annual carnival in the town square. The celebration was loud and happy. People played the drum and danced. Children ate ice-cream and drank juice and cocoa.

His wife could cook well. She used oil and powder to make food rich in carbohydrates. The smell of fresh bread from the roaster filled the house. The fragrance of flowers came through the window.

His daughter was a classy young woman. She became a stylist. She liked flashy clothes and shiny shoes, and she would polish the shoes every day. She had a shabby old bicycle, too, but she loved it.

One day a cyclist ran into the pavement near their house. The cyclist fell and hurt his throat. The family helped him. Li checked his condition and called for help. It was a fright, but nobody was badly hurt.

The family was not superstitious, but Li's wife still believed in one old superstition about the moon. She was afraid of the dark. She would never bury a pin in the garden, for she thought it brought bad luck.

Li's daughter often disagreed with him about music. She liked loud drums and fierce rock songs. He preferred soft, quiet tunes. They had a small dispute about it, but they loved each other.

When his daughter married, she chose a dome-like hall for the wedding. The hall was full of fine furnishing. A Mexican friend brought a great gift. The party lasted for hours.

The wedding had a rehearsal the day before. Everyone did a checklist to make sure nothing was forgotten. The hostess of the house felt proud. Somebody sang a song, and many people danced.

Years later, Li retired. He was due a pension. He chose a quiet venue near the sea. He made a reservation at a small hotel. From his window he could see the whole length of the beach.

He liked to bounce a ball with his grandson on the sand. The boy would hide behind a rock and jump out. They played for a long while. The old man never felt tired.

One summer, his grandson asked about space. "Grandpa, what is a spatial relation?" Li smiled. He drew a circle and explained its diameter. He said that space has direction, distance, and depth. He also said, "Space is a great realm."

"Time is like a river," he said. "It has a duration, from the first minute to the last hour. We cannot stop it. We can only wait and watch." The boy listened and nodded. The old man sometimes stayed up late to read.

Li kept a wireless radio to hear the news. One night the news was weighty and serious: there was an act of terrorism in a distant city. He felt sad. He hoped for peace everywhere. He said, "A single small dispute can grow into a great conflict." He believed kindness could influence the world. Nobody is born with hate.

In his garden he grew herbs. Their leaves had a strong smell. He used them to make tea. He would measure the water with care. He said the right condition made the best tea.

Sometimes his old colleagues visited. They talked about the past and the present. One friend brought a quotation for a new bridge. Another friend asked him to appoint a date for a reunion. The reunion was held in October at a local restaurant. The leader of the group gave a short speech. He said their old project was a great victory.

Li also remembered a hard time. Once the market had a fierce downturn. His company could not pay salaries. He had to swap his car for a smaller one. It was a challenging period. But he did not complain. He said, "A decisive man never gives up." He believed hard work would generate good results. His positive spirit empowered his whole team.

His grandson loved to hear these stories. The boy asked, "Grandpa, were you ever afraid?" Li answered, "Yes. Fear can choke a man. But courage is a great friend." The old man had many hobbies. He learned kungfu from an old master and practiced every morning.

He also liked to cook. He made cocoa drinks and cold juice for the children. He baked bread in a roaster and always added a little oil to the pan.

One winter, Li caught a cold. His throat hurt and he could not speak well. His voice was weak for a week. He went to see a local doctor and recovered soon. The doctor checked his condition and said that rest and water were the standard cure.

In his old age, Li thought about time more deeply. He said, "Every year has twelve months. The year begins in January and ends in December. April brings rain. August is hot. The seasons turn continually, like a great wheel."

The town holds a fair every year. Originally, it was a small market. Now it is a big event. Essentially, it is the same happy gathering. The fair happens annually.

When Li was young, his village had no electricity. At night, people used small oil lamps. Years later, power lines came. The lights enlarged the scope of evening activities. But some merchants sold counterfeit lamps. Li warned people to be careful.

Money was always a hassle in those years. The owner of the shop would levy a small tax on goods. Li's father would remit money home from the city. They spent half their income on food. In winter, the family would shrink their spending.

His first job was challenging. The rules stipulated many conditions. He had to select the right parameters for each machine. The task involved careful math. He kept a specific checklist for every step.

Li read many books. Reading gave him inspiration. He would incorporate new ideas into his work. With more exposure to good books, his familiarity with engineering grew. His memory and retention of facts were strong.

After years of work, Li gained great prestige in his field. He was not necessarily rich, but he was respected. One day he decided to propose to his girlfriend. He asked a friend to be the intermediary. The friend helped them meet. It was unlikely that she would say no, and she did not. Money did not lure him; love did.

To reach his new city, Li had to undergo a long journey. He was in transit, passing through three towns. Outside the train window he saw tufts of green grass and small hills. Long work days would exhaust him, but a good rest always helped him recover his strength.

Li wrote a book about his life. He chose a simple title: "My Road." In the last chapter, he wrote, "In the world, kind people still outnumber the cruel ones."

The dentist told his children to use toothpaste with fluoride. It protects the teeth. Li passed this advice to his grandson.

Now, at the end of his life, Li was at peace. He had lived a full and productive life. He had raised a family and helped many people. He had no great regrets.

Tonight, his family gathered around him. They held a small celebration for his ninetieth birthday. Everyone brought a present. The room was full of laughter.

Li looked at his family and said, "Take good care of yourselves. Enjoy your time together. Time is the one gift that nobody can buy."

The old man smiled and said good-bye to the day. The stars came out, one by one, scattered across the dark sky. He closed his eyes, happy and complete.