The Sanitation Worker‘s 35th Birthday

Lao Li is a model sanitation worker.

The kind that wins awards every year.

He loves his job. At four in the morning, while the city is still asleep, he's already wielding his large broom, grooming the streets.

He loves to watch the sunrise, the clean streets reflecting the golden light, like a shimmering river.

He feels that this is the painting he draws for the city.

Today is Lao Li's 35th birthday.

He cooked himself a bowl of longevity noodles with two fried eggs.

After finishing the noodles, he went out as usual. When he reached the entrance of the subdistrict office, the director called out to him.

"Lao Li, happy birthday!" The director smiled and handed him an envelope. "This is a birthday gift from the subdistrict office."

Lao Li was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor and accepted it with both hands. It felt heavy.

"Thank you, Director! Thank you, Subdistrict Office!" He was so excited that he was a little incoherent.

The director patted him on the shoulder: "Lao Li, you've worked hard these years, take a good rest."

Lao Li's heart was warm. This gift was really heavy; he wondered what good things were inside.

He couldn't wait to open the envelope and pulled out a...

Dismissal notice.

"Since you have reached the age of 35, according to the 'Subdistrict Sanitation Workers Employment Management Regulations', your employment contract has expired and will not be renewed."

Lao Li's smile froze on his face. The envelope in his hand felt light, like a fallen leaf.

"Director, what... what's going on?"

The director still smiled: "Lao Li, that's the policy. We also hate to see you go, but there's nothing we can do. You're still young; you can look for other jobs."

Lao Li wanted to say something, but the director had already turned and entered the office, leaving him standing there alone, like an abandoned trash can.

He looked at the dismissal notice in his hand, then at the clean and tidy streets in the distance, and suddenly smiled.

He folded the notice, put it in his jacket pocket, took out his phone, and dialed a number.

"Hey, son, Dad received a special birthday gift today... Yes, a 'surprise'... Guess what? Haha, you can't guess, can you?... It's a dismissal notice!... Yes, just because I'm 35... It's okay, Dad is still young and can find another job... What? You said you've already found one for me?... What job?... Oh... Oh... Okay... Okay... I'll be right there..."

Lao Li hung up the phone, and the smile on his face became even brighter.

He walked to a brand-new sprinkler truck, opened the door, and sat inside.

The words "XX District Urban Management Bureau" were clearly printed on the body of the truck.

His son is the newly appointed director of the District Urban Management Bureau.

Lao Li started the engine, and the sprinkler truck slowly drove towards the street. The water splashed, reflecting colorful lights in the sunlight.

He remembered the director's smiling face and couldn't help but smile again.

Thirty-five years old, he's still very young.