I dreamt that I was facing a business failure and felt very depressed. I saw my mother and stepfather going out to set up a noodle stand, which made me feel very sad. My mother said that my stepfather wanted to earn a bit of money to make a living.
Every day, my stepfather cooks a big pot of soup, and when customers come, he adds white noodles to it. I asked my mother how much a bowl costs, and she said one US dollar, which is about 30 New Taiwan dollars. I thought to myself, relying on selling noodles to make a living is really not easy.
I asked my mother, "Can you stand all day selling noodles?" She said that most of the time it is my stepfather selling, and she sits and rests on the side.
I saw that everyone is still trying hard to make a living. I thought, if the economic situation is so bad and business can't succeed, it's better to stop. Calculating it, I am losing money faster than making it. I've been struggling for so long, and the economy hasn't improved. Continuing like this will only drag the family down.
I continued to think, when the timing is wrong, it's better to conserve and build strength. Precisely because I feel there is no hope, I need to develop and cultivate my skills, create opportunities for myself, and increase hope. It means not giving up.
Looking at my mother and stepfather's backs, if they can make soup and sell noodles, I need to work even harder and stop feeling sorry for myself. As long as I don't give up, there is hope.
夢見我正面臨生意失敗，相當沮喪。看到媽媽和繼父出門擺麵攤，讓我看了好捨不得。媽媽說繼父想說多少賺一點，來過生活。
繼父每天都燉一大鍋湯，然後客人來了再下白麵條。我問媽媽這樣子一碗多少錢，她說一塊錢美金，大概台幣 30 元。我心想要靠賣麵來賺每天的生活費，真的也不是很容易。
我問媽媽：「您可以一直站著賣麵嗎？」媽媽說大部分時間是繼父在賣，她在旁邊坐著休息。
我看著大家都還是很努力地想辦法過生活，我心想大環境這麼不景氣，生意做不起來，就不要再做了。算一算，我現在賠錢的速度比賺錢還快。硬撐了這麼久，經濟也不見起色。再下去，只是拖垮家裡其他人。
我繼續想，時機不對的時候，就養精蓄銳。正因為覺得沒有希望，所以要好好地發展培養自己的技能，替自己創造機會，增加更多希望，就是不要放棄。
我看著媽媽和繼父的背影，如果他們都可以煮湯賣麵，我更要好好地努力，不能再自怨自艾。只要不放棄，就有機會。
Ending 1: A Turnaround
As I stood there feeling a mix of sadness and determination, a familiar face appeared. It was an old friend who had found success in their own business. They offered to help me revamp my struggling venture with new ideas and a small investment. With renewed hope, I accepted their offer, and together, we turned things around. Seeing my mother and stepfather smile as they witnessed our success filled me with gratitude and a sense of accomplishment.
Ending 2: A New Opportunity
Just as I was contemplating my next steps, a stranger approached my mother’s noodle stand. Impressed by the taste and quality, they offered to partner with us to expand the business. My stepfather and I agreed, and within months, we transformed the small stand into a thriving restaurant. The business grew beyond our expectations, providing us all with stability and a sense of pride.
Ending 3: A Personal Revelation
As I watched my mother and stepfather work tirelessly, I realized that my true passion wasn’t in the failing business but in helping others. I decided to close my business and start a community initiative to support small local vendors like my parents. The sense of fulfillment and purpose I found in this new venture far outweighed the previous failures, and I found myself happier than ever before.
Ending 4: A Family Effort
Feeling inspired by my family’s hard work, I decided to join them in running the noodle stand. We worked together every day, and slowly, our combined efforts attracted more customers. The community began to support us, and our small business flourished. The bond with my family grew stronger, and I learned the true value of perseverance and teamwork.
Ending 5: A Fresh Start
After much thought, I decided to sell the failing business and use the remaining funds to pursue further education. I enrolled in a program that taught me new skills and opened up different career opportunities. With this fresh start, I eventually found a stable and fulfilling job, allowing me to support my family better and ensuring a brighter future for us all.