Not long before, my daughter's shoes were scratched (划破) with a knife. She burst into tears, so I took them to the shoemaker's.
The young apprentice (学徒) glanced at the 1 and said, “Nothing I can do except 2 the upper.” His master looked at them and said, “If you 3 me, I will add more scratches on both the shoes.”
I was 4 and asked why. He explained, “As if the openings were made 5 for a special style.” I didn't quite understand him,6 I decided to leave the shoes.
Two days later I dropped by from work to 7 the shoes, only to find more scratches on each shoe, all the openings were patched (缝补) by soft red leather, the stitches (脚针) were twisted with the appearance looking more 8 and interesting than ever. I couldn't help praising the master's9.
Another time, my sister's blouse was torn, leaving a large opening. My wife checked it 10 and then said, “Let me take it home and 11 it.
Three days later, seeing it again, I was greatly12 at the torn part. It took on a look of a snowman made of flowery rags. I sighed with 13 “It's amazing!”
“I was 14 by that shoemaker. Patches are supposed to be 15, but a skilled craftsman (工匠) can make it take on a kind of perfection.” replied my wife.
Her 16 influenced me greatly: Perfection is17 to achieve in life. Patches appear in the 18 of injury, disability or disease. Since you can't change the existence of wound, you should not 19 people's sympathy by showing the wound, which is meaningless. Just sew the wound by patches and provide a most beautiful flower on it, that is the20 of life.
