The unchanging "beauty"

　　Looking back and reflecting on the present, labor remains an enduring source of beauty.

　　The very word "labor" inspired the creation of stone tools and the emergence of pottery. You are a passion for everyone; the ancient, timeless murals of Dunhuang present you, depicting farmers plowing and planting rice in the fields—a scene still beautiful.

　　In "Peach Blossom Spring," people toil diligently, free from war, the sounds of chickens filling the air—a veritable paradise. You have been praised by countless poets. I still remember Li Bai's description in "Seventeen Songs of Autumn" of you: "Bright moon and clear sky, songs echoing through the cold river." Zhang Ji's "People cross the plank bridge, the sound of the spring; roosters crow at midday under the thatched eaves" in "Mountain Home" is even more beautiful.

　　And because of your hardship, so many have begun to study. Kuang Heng studied by the light of a hole in the wall; Sun Jing studied by hanging himself; Su Qin studied by piercing his own bones. In the end, Kuang Heng became a learned scholar, and Sun Jing and Su Qin became famous statesmen, their reputations undiminished to this day.

　　Yet, you also carry immense risks; the professional disasters and accidents alone are countless. Because of this, working people are no longer ridiculed; you've probably been planning this for a long time. You are rice, deeply embedded in the soil, picked up by Yuan Longping, nurtured by the people, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to compare you to a gem.

　　Within your small body, you carry the lives of countless people. With you, wells began to appear, wheat began to sprout, and wooden boats began their journeys. Looking closer, with you, the Silk Road began its voyages, the Great Wall began its construction, and rockets began to take shape.

　　Labor, because of you, so many heroes have emerged. From delivery drivers to master craftsmen building aircraft carriers, who isn't praised for their virtue?

　　The contributions of the "yellow-coat" heroes have made countless cities what they are—this is the "beauty" of life. Our "goodness" is also the result of the tireless efforts of countless people. Delivery drivers serve the people, and chefs are busy while our families celebrate festivals, clinking glasses, and chatting happily. And what about the people in the future? During this pandemic, who dared to say a bad word about them? These heroes have contributed to a "good" life.

　　"Life" consists of those who work silently around you: your parents who take care of everything, your teachers who stay up countless nights. Even the Peking Opera performers on stage are laborers.

　　Labor, you created humanity, you created society. Since ancient times, human evolution and social progress have been inseparable from you. You are an unchanging beauty, so isn't the life you create a paradise? Whether in the past or present, your beauty is undeniable and beyond question.