Whitewashing
Zhang Wei was a long-time employee of a company, working diligently for more than ten years, his hair turned white from overwork. But recently, he found that he couldn't understand the company more and more.
The new leader was a young man in his early thirties named General Manager Li. As soon as General Manager Li arrived, he carried out sweeping reforms. First, he launched a "Vitality Program," requiring everyone to dance and check in every morning, saying it was to improve team cohesion. Then he launched an "Innovation Competition" to encourage employees to come up with all kinds of "disruptive" ideas.
Zhang Wei felt that these were all quite formalistic, but he didn't say anything. After all, there are policies from above and countermeasures from below; he just wanted to earn a living.
But what happened next made Zhang Wei feel uneasy.
The company began a large-scale "whitewashing."
The so-called "whitewashing" was to make some old employees with long service records and strong abilities, but without high educational qualifications, "voluntarily" leave through various means, and then recruit a group of "high-quality" talents who graduated from famous universities.
Zhang Wei felt a chill. He knew that he was probably also on the "whitewashing" list.
Sure enough, not long after, General Manager Li called Zhang Wei to his office.
"Zhang Wei, you've been working at the company for so many years. Thank you for your hard work," General Manager Li said with a smile. "The company is now undergoing transformation and upgrading and needs more young strength. As you know, the younger generation always surpasses the older one."
Zhang Wei's heart sank, knowing what General Manager Li was going to say.
"Considering your situation, the company has decided to give you a compensation package to allow you to retire early," General Manager Li continued. "Of course, if you are willing, you can also participate in the company's internal training to improve your education."
Zhang Wei knew that this so-called "internal training" was just a guise. It would be a waste of time to go, and he would still be eliminated in the end.
"General Manager Li, I understand," Zhang Wei said calmly. "I agree to retire early."
A satisfied smile appeared on General Manager Li's face. "Zhang Wei, you are a smart man. I believe you will have a better life in the future."
Zhang Wei returned to his workstation and packed his things. He looked at the busy young people around him and felt a sense of trance.
He remembered when he first joined the company, full of passion and dreams. But now, he was going to be "whitewashed" away.
He put his things into a cardboard box, including a water cup that he had used for many years, an old calculator, and a few photos with colleagues.
He carried the cardboard box and walked to the company gate. He looked back at the towering office building and felt a mixture of emotions.
He suddenly remembered a joke:
An old employee asked a new employee, "Do you know why the company is 'whitewashing'?"
The new employee looked blank. "I don't know."
The old employee said meaningfully, "Because the company wants to become 'white'."
Zhang Wei smiled wryly and walked out of the company gate.
He went to a small restaurant, ordered a few dishes, and drank alone.
He watched the news on TV, which was reporting on a company that had successfully "whitewashed" and achieved transformation and upgrading.
Zhang Wei suddenly felt that he had also been "whitewashed." His former ideals and former passions had been "whitewashed" away.
He finished his last glass of wine, stood up, and walked out of the restaurant.
He walked to the street, looked at the bustling crowd, and felt a sense of bewilderment.
He didn't know where to go, and he didn't know what to do.
He just felt that the world seemed to be getting more and more unfamiliar.
He looked up at the sky, and in the sky, a bright moon was shining, clear and lonely.
He suddenly remembered a sentence:
"The moon is still the same moon, but it no longer shines on my hometown."