The Old Cobbler's Worn Leather Shoes

On a street corner in the old town, Old Xu, an eighty-year-old cobbler, has had his stall for decades. Beside his stall, there's always a pair of men's leather shoes, old-fashioned and with soles worn completely flat. Every day, the first thing Old Xu does when he sets up his stall is to meticulously polish these shoes, yet he never wears them, nor does he sell them. Behind these shoes lies an accident that Old Xu can never let go of. Many years ago, Old Xu was a hot-blooded construction worker. During a dispute on a construction site, Old Xu impulsively threw a punch. Young Chen, a fellow worker on the site, tried to protect others and was pushed down in the chaos, sustaining injuries. He couldn't be saved and passed away. Old Xu paid the price for this, enduring the punishment he deserved. After regaining his freedom, Old Xu, filled with immense pain and guilt, found Young Chen's frail mother. The old woman didn't scold him. Instead, tears streaming down her face, she took out the new leather shoes Young Chen cherished most, which he hadn't had a chance to wear, and choked out, "I don't hate you, but please, see the world for him." Old Xu was struck as if by lightning and knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly. From that day on, Old Xu learned the craft of shoe repair. With his meager income, he silently supported the old woman's living and medical expenses, accompanying her through the rest of her life. For decades, Old Xu remained unmarried, guarding his shoe repair stall alone. He polished these shoes every day, as if Young Chen were still by his side.