Red Envelope Rain

Old Wang rubbed his frozen fingers at his workstation, exhaling a puff of white breath. On the screen, a dense array of red envelope icons was falling like a torrential rain. It was New Year's Eve, and the company had "thoughtfully" organized a "company-wide online red envelope grabbing" event, supposedly a New Year ritual to "coagulate the hearts of the people."

Old Wang stared at the screen, his fingers trembling as he clicked the mouse repeatedly. Grabbing red envelopes, something he initially thought was only popular among young people, had now become a "job" for middle-aged folks like him. He recalled when he first joined the company, the year-end bonus came in thick envelopes, heavy with real cash, not the jumping numbers and various illusory "coupons" on the screen now.

His colleague, Little Li, was clicking the mouse rapidly, like a perpetual motion machine. He excitedly shouted, "I got one! I got a 'Nomination Coupon for Employee of the Year'!"

Old Wang was stunned. A nomination coupon? What the heck was that?

Little Zhao next to him also excitedly showed off, "I got an 'Exchange Coupon for a Department Team Building Trip'!" He looked very happy, as if he had actually won a free trip.

Old Wang felt like he was in a large online game, where everyone was fighting tooth and nail for some strange virtual rewards. He suddenly missed the "tangible" red envelopes of the past, even if it was only two hundred yuan, it was enough to buy a pound of pork and add some real flavor to the New Year's Eve dinner.

Another wave of red envelope rain fell, and Old Wang's finger trembled, clicking one.

"Congratulations! You have received a 'New Year Blessing Voice Message from the Boss'!"

Old Wang looked at the green dialogue box that appeared on his phone screen, with the boss's familiar and slightly hoarse voice: "Happy New Year, everyone. In the new year, everyone must continue to work hard and create more brilliance for the company! Remember, the company is your home!"

Old Wang listened to this very official blessing, and a feeling he couldn't quite explain surged in his heart. He closed the voice message and continued to stare at the screen. The red envelope rain was still falling, and everyone's faces were filled with excitement, anticipation, and a hint of undisguised fatigue.

Another red envelope appeared on the screen, and Old Wang mechanically clicked it open.

"Congratulations, you have won a 'Five-Year Unpaid Overtime Experience Card'!"

Old Wang stared at the message, stunned for a long time before he reacted. He thought he was seeing things and rubbed his eyes, but the message was still there.

Other colleagues were still excitedly sharing the "benefits" they had grabbed. Someone got a "Year-End Summary Exemption Card," someone got an "Opportunity Card to Have Lunch with the Boss," and someone even got a "Three-Day Pinned Company Intranet Avatar Card." Everyone was discussing and comparing, as if they had really gotten something amazing.

Old Wang felt a sense of absurdity, a feeling of powerlessness washing over him. He looked up, watching his colleagues busy grabbing red envelopes and cheering, and suddenly felt out of place. He felt like he was trapped in a huge game, but he had lost interest in playing.

He shut down his computer and got up to walk to the window. Outside, the city lights were sparkling, lively and bustling. He took a deep breath, trying to dispel some of the frustration in his chest.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated with a message from the boss.

"Old Wang, what did you grab?"

Old Wang hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Nothing much, boss, I only grabbed a future."

The boss replied instantly, "That's good, keep up the good work in the new year!" He also added a "strive" emoticon.

Old Wang looked at the flashing emoticon and suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with helplessness and a hint of bitterness. He understood that this red envelope rain was less of a New Year's blessing and more of another absurd demonstration of workplace reality. And they were all trying to play their roles in this absurdity.

He opened his computer, and on the screen, the red envelope rain was still falling, as if it would never stop...