Bench Cinema

Old Wang felt like he had become a "trendsetter" for the first time. It wasn't because he bought some trendy new electronic product, or learned some high-tech skill, but because of the small plastic stool he was carrying.

The cinema entrance was crowded with people, all carrying various types of stools – wooden, plastic, tall, short – a motley collection resembling a market. Old Wang looked at his slightly worn-out blue stool he’d fished out from home and suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

"I should have borrowed that small folding stool from Old Li's place," Old Wang muttered, but he was quickly swept into the cinema by the surging crowd.

Inside the cinema, it was a sea of dark figures, but there were no seats. Instead, there were rows of audience members with their own small benches. Everyone was searching for their “thrones,” like old men looking for a spot to play chess in the park. Old Wang finally found a spot a bit closer to the front, set down his stool, and sighed with relief, ready to enjoy the long-awaited movie.

The movie began, the picture clear, the sound effects impactful, but Old Wang felt like something was off. He looked around and saw figures hunched over, staring intently at the screen. Their gazes and the height of their benches seemed equally humble. Occasionally, a bench would creak, breaking the cinema's silence, sounding like a kind of unspoken sigh.

Old Wang suddenly felt that he wasn't watching a movie, but rather participating in a performance art. Everyone brought their own benches, as if bringing their own identities, each taking their place to collectively perform an absurd drama.

He recalled the county news he’d seen that morning, saying that in response to the call for "universal participation and resource conservation," the county was piloting "bench cinemas," encouraging people to bring their own benches to watch movies. This would not only effectively reduce operating costs, but also promote "making the most of resources."

When Old Wang saw this news, he even thought the county leaders had good ideas, coming up with this kind of method. But now it seemed that he was just a fool, happily trotting over with his bench to "support the work."

Halfway through the movie, Old Wang’s back was aching and his buttocks hurt from the bench. He began to miss those cinema seats where you could comfortably slouch, and those spacious areas where you could stretch your legs. He felt like he wasn't enjoying a movie, but rather receiving some kind of "education", one about "conservation" and "obedience."

The movie ended, the lights came on, and Old Wang, carrying his blue stool, walked out with the crowd. He saw that the cinema entrance was piled with various discarded benches, different colors, all kinds of shapes, like silent tombstones, commemorating the comfort and dignity that had been “conserved” away.

Old Wang looked at the pile of benches and suddenly laughed. He laughed at himself, laughed at this absurd world, laughed at this blue stool.

He hoisted his stool onto his shoulder and walked towards the street, planning to go to a small bar for a drink. He thought, isn't this what life is like? It will always give you a small stool, and make you find your own place to sit and watch a movie with no choice.

Just then, a familiar voice called out to him, "Old Wang, wait for me!"

Old Wang turned around and saw Old Li, holding a delicate folding stool. Old Li smiled and said, "Today is the premiere of Flying Cinema. I was afraid it would be crowded, so I came early. You can pick any seat you want, come on over!"

Old Wang was stunned. He looked at the stool on his shoulder, then at the folding stool in Old Li’s hand, and suddenly felt like the stool on his shoulder was extremely heavy. He slowly put down his stool, looked at Old Li's receding back, and finally, he chose to silently place his stool next to the roadside trash can, then turned and walked in the opposite direction. He thought that perhaps today, he would rather choose to take a walk on the street than to sit on any bench and watch any movie.