With the machine running, large rocks are instantly transformed into small pebbles.

With the machine running, large rocks are instantly transformed into small pebbles.

The road at the village entrance has been riddled with potholes for years. It floods after rain, turning into muddy messes, making it a jarring ride for vehicles. Repairs have been desired for a long time, but where would the paving stones come from? Buying them costs several hundred yuan per truckload, and the transportation fee is more expensive than the stones themselves. We could only hope, hope that one day we could scrape together enough money, hope that someone would lend a hand.

Those large rocks on the back hill have been piled up for years. Leftovers from quarrying and road construction, some as big as calves, others as small as washbasins, just piled up at the foot of the hill. They take up space, block the road, are an eyesore, and are too heavy to move. Occasionally, someone would come to take a few, but they would only pick the small ones, leaving the large ones lying there.

Now it's all better. We drive that machine to the back hill, feed the large rocks in, and with a roar, they come out as uniform small pebbles. Large stones shrank to smaller ones, irregular stones became regular ones, and a pile of obstructive rocks was transformed into excellent paving material. Truckload after truckload was hauled to the village entrance, filled into potholes, and then, after a road roller passed over them, smooth and solid.

How many years had we waited for this road? From muddy to smooth, from potholes to unobstructed passage, the problem wasn't money, but a machine that could turn large stones into small pebbles. Now the road is paved; cars can pass, and people don't have to detour. The rocks on the back hill are gone, the road at the village entrance is flat, and standing by the roadside, you feel a sense of relief and openness.

With a whimper, large stones are instantly transformed into small pebbles. From obstruction to usefulness, from trouble to convenience, it's all done with a single click.