In a small repair shop for three – wheel covered vehicles, there were two handlebars lying. One was a shiny electroplated iron handlebar, and the other was a newly painted iron handlebar that still gave off a faint smell. The electroplated iron handlebar, relying on its dazzling appearance, always sneered at the painted iron handlebar.

“Look at you, dull – looking. How can you compare with my shiny metallic luster?” The electroplated iron handlebar raised its “head” triumphantly and said. The painted iron handlebar remained silent. It knew its appearance was ordinary, but it firmly believed it had unique value.

Not long after, a three – wheel covered vehicle was sent to the repair shop due to a damaged handlebar. After seeing these two handlebars, the vehicle owner hesitated for a moment and finally chose the more affordable painted iron handlebar. “Hey, don’t regret it. Choosing me is the wise move!” The electroplated iron handlebar shouted from the side, but the vehicle owner still installed the painted iron handlebar on the three – wheel covered vehicle.

So, the painted iron handlebar started its “working journey.” At first, it followed the three – wheel covered vehicle shuttling through the streets and alleys of the city, delivering fresh vegetables to the vegetable market. Once, the vehicle’s canopy was accidentally scratched by a tree branch, making a big hole. The vehicle owner was very distressed and was about to stop to repair it when he suddenly noticed that the tree branch that scratched the canopy only gently grazed the painted iron handlebar. The paint on the handlebar had only a slight scratch, and the main structure was intact. “Goodness, I didn’t expect you to be so sturdy!” The vehicle owner couldn’t help but praise. The painted iron handlebar was overjoyed in its heart, knowing that its sturdiness had come in handy.

Later, the vehicle owner decided to take his family to the countryside for an outing in the three – wheel covered vehicle. Along the way, the road was bumpy, and the vehicle jolted severely. When they reached the destination, the vehicle owner checked the vehicle and found that although he had worried that the handlebar would loosen due to the bumps, the painted iron handlebar was firmly fixed in place without any problems. And on the muddy road sections in the countryside, the vehicle splashed muddy water, soiling the handlebar. After the vehicle owner simply rinsed it with water, he found that the paint on the painted iron handlebar was still intact and there was no sign of rust.

At the same time, the electroplated iron handlebar left in the repair shop, because of its high price, remained unsold. One day, there was a small water leak in the repair shop. Water droplets dripped on the electroplated iron handlebar for a long time. Before long, rust spots appeared on its beautiful metal surface, and it no longer looked shiny.

When the three – wheel covered vehicle with the painted iron handlebar came to the repair shop again for routine maintenance, the painted iron handlebar looked at the electroplated iron handlebar, which had once laughed at it, and said with emotion, “Friend, appearance is important, but inner quality and practical value are the real keys that determine our fate.”

From then on, the painted iron handlebar continued to serve the vehicle owner conscientiously. With its practical actions, it proved that even without a gorgeous appearance, it could shine in an ordinary position, bringing safety and convenience to the driver.