The Needle That Couldn‘t Go In

Old Wang was known as "Mr. Standard" at work. His life, just like his punctual 7:30 am clock-in every morning, was precise and meticulous. He loved rules, viewing them as the lighthouse guiding his life's voyage. This was not only reflected in his work but also in every detail of his life. For instance, he used the same needle every day to pierce the same capsule, extracting the fish oil inside, and then precisely dripping it into his morning oatmeal. This was his health regimen he had adhered to for twenty years.

This morning, as usual, he took out the polished steel needle, ready to pierce today's capsule. However, when the needle tip touched the capsule shell, it felt like hitting steel, unable to penetrate at all. Old Wang frowned, carefully inspecting the needle, the tip was intact, neither bent nor broken. He tried again at a different angle, but still, it didn't work. The capsule seemed to be enveloped by an invisible barrier, impenetrable.

Old Wang began to panic, feeling like he had been abandoned by the rules. He carefully checked the fish oil capsule, the date on the packaging, the batch number, all indicated no issues. He even brought out a magnifying glass, meticulously examining every corner of the capsule shell, hoping to find some clues. However, everything was so normal, unsettlingly normal.

To make sure it wasn't the needle's fault, he rummaged through the drawer for old needles. He carefully wiped each needle and tried them one by one, but the result was the same; none of them could penetrate. It was as if a tiny cog in the precise machine of his life had suddenly stopped working, and everything was out of control.

He couldn't understand why the rules had suddenly failed. Was there something wrong with him? He recalled his recent life, his routine, his diet, his work, everything was the same as usual, without any changes. He even completed this month's report ahead of schedule the day before yesterday, earning praise from his department head.

He began to doubt his life, the logic of this world. He even picked up his phone and searched "why can't a needle pierce a capsule," and the result was "no related information found."

The bell rang for work, and Old Wang, as usual, sat at his workstation on time. He turned on his computer and started processing today's emails. However, his mind was not on work at all; his head was filled with the needle that couldn't go in.

During the lunch break, he tried to complain to his colleague, Old Li. After hearing his description, Old Li burst into laughter, saying that he must have used the wrong needle. Old Wang patiently explained that he had used all the needles he could find, but Old Li shook his head, saying he must be getting senile.

Old Wang was not giving up. He brought all the remaining fish oil capsules to the office. He first tried using a stapler needle, then a thumbtack, and even borrowed sewing needles from colleagues, but they were all firmly blocked outside the capsules. People in the office gradually gathered around, curiously watching him. Everyone started discussing it, some saying he was obsessed, some saying he should go to the hospital.

Eventually, the department head noticed the commotion. He walked over to Old Wang, picked up a fish oil capsule, and said with a smile: "Old Wang, you're just too serious. Can't you just bite it open?"

After speaking, the department head lightly bit the capsule in front of everyone, and the liquid flowed out. Old Wang stared at the capsule in his department head's hand, his expression frozen. The colleagues burst into laughter.

Old Wang silently packed up his things. He suddenly realized that sometimes, rules are not the only answer, and he had been trapped in the rules he set for himself for too long. He had used all the tools within the rules, but had overlooked the simplest, most direct method. He had always pursued "correctness" and "standards" but forgot to be flexible.

That night, Old Wang returned home. He picked up a fish oil capsule, gently put it in his mouth, and bit it open. Then, he turned on his computer and began writing a report on "rigid rules and innovative thinking." He decided to change his work style and his life.

At the end of the report, Old Wang wrote: "If the rules cannot solve the problem, then break them, or at least, try biting it with your teeth."