Sufficient Qi and Blood

Li Weiguo felt that he was increasingly becoming like an old computer, slow to boot, running sluggishly, and occasionally crashing. And now, the company has organized a team-building activity called "Sufficient Qi and Blood, Blessings for the Whole Family", forcibly pulling them, the group of constantly-spinning programmers, into the mountains, saying it was to "experience nature and replenish energy."

The location of the activity was chosen in some godforsaken ravine, euphemistically called "original ecology." Li Weiguo looked at the surrounding greenery, feeling that his eyes were about to turn into the code on his computer screen.

"Good morning, everyone! Today we will be conducting the 'Qi and Blood Grand Circulation' activity!" A man dressed in sportswear, calling himself a "Qi and Blood Instructor," stood on a high platform, waving a flag with the four large characters "Sufficient Qi and Blood" written on it. His voice was loud, like he was selling some health product.

Li Weiguo felt this scene was very similar to the launch event for their company's new app, except that this time they were not selling software, but "qi and blood." He looked at his colleagues around him, their faces all wearing a kind of resigned smile, much like the expression he had when facing the computer screen during his daily overtime.

"Everyone, let's start with the 'Qi and Blood Activation' warm-up exercises!" With the instructor's command, everyone began to do all sorts of strange movements. Li Weiguo felt that these movements were not like exercise, but more like a shamanic dance. He secretly glanced at the colleague next to him and found that someone was actually playing with their phone, and while playing, also following the instructor's movements. This scene was simply too magical and realistic.

At lunchtime, Li Weiguo discovered that the meals were all vegetarian, claiming to "purify the blood." He ate a few bites, feeling empty in his stomach. His colleague, Xiao Wang, quietly told him that the cafeteria auntie had secretly hidden some meat, but only people with "sufficient qi and blood" could eat it.

"Who is considered to have sufficient qi and blood?" Li Weiguo asked curiously.

Xiao Wang smiled mysteriously and pointed to the few supervisors doing Tai Chi in the distance, "They are the epitome of 'sufficient qi and blood'!"

In the afternoon, the instructor announced that they would carry out the "Qi and Blood Energy Transfer" activity. Everyone had to hold hands, form a large circle, close their eyes, and feel each other's "qi and blood flow." Li Weiguo felt this scene was simply too awkward. He was reminded of the scene of doing morning exercises in elementary school, where the teacher forced you to do it, now the company is forcing you to do it, it was just old wine in new bottles.

He closed his eyes, feeling the heavy breathing of his colleagues around him, and suddenly felt a little nauseous. He opened his eyes and found that everyone had a mysterious smile on their faces, as if they had really felt some "qi and blood energy."

In the evening, the instructor organized a bonfire party, and everyone sang and danced around the bonfire. Li Weiguo looked at his colleagues' swaying and shaking movements and felt that they had all been brainwashed. He suddenly felt like an outsider, watching a group of people acting out an absurd play.

After the activity, Li Weiguo returned to his small rented room. He looked at the dense lines of code on the computer screen and felt that his "qi and blood" had been completely depleted. He turned on his phone and saw a notice sent in the company group: there would be a meeting at 8 am tomorrow to discuss the development progress of the "qi and blood management system."

Li Weiguo sighed, turned off his phone, and lay down on the bed. He suddenly remembered a sentence the instructor said today: "Sufficient Qi and Blood, Blessings for the Whole Family." He felt that this sentence was simply too ironic, because he not only did not feel "sufficient qi and blood", but he also felt that his spirit was about to collapse.

The next morning, Li Weiguo was late. He opened the company door and found the whole company silent, without a single person. He walked to his workstation and saw a note on the desk that read: "Those with insufficient qi and blood are automatically dismissed."

He looked at the note and suddenly laughed. He felt that this company was simply too absurd, even more absurd than any code he had ever written. He turned and left the company, feeling an inexplicable sense of relief in his heart.

He walked downstairs and saw an ambulance parked at the door, with paramedics loading someone into the vehicle. He curiously went over for a look and found that the person was actually the "Qi and Blood Instructor" from yesterday. He heard the paramedics saying: "Overexertion, leading to a heart attack, needs to be sent to the hospital immediately."

Li Weiguo smiled, feeling that this world was really too interesting.