The Star's Park
"Today, it's the 37th time." Old Wang muttered to the register, drawing a circle around the name "Xingxing" with his pen.
"Today, it's the 37th time." Old Wang muttered to the register, drawing a circle around the name "Xingxing" with his pen.
The interviewer pushed up the glasses on his nose, his gaze behind the lenses as calm as a stagnant pool. "Your resume...is quite unique."
Old Wang's suspicion began when he noticed three missing days of attendance records on his paycheck for three consecutive days. He was an honest man, having worked diligently at the company for nearly ten years, never being late, leaving early, let alone being absent. He went to the HR department, where a young girl, fiddling with her newly acquired smartwatch, casually said, "The system is upgrading, there might be some data delays. I'll help you verify it later."
The atmosphere in the exam room was like air had been sucked out, dull and oppressive. Each examinee was as if muted, with only the scratching of pen nibs on paper, occasionally mixed with suppressed coughs. I am Li Ming, a veteran "exam-taker" who views the National Civil Service Exam as a routine annual event, as familiar as attending a wedding.
"OK, let's go online."
The physical examination report lay on the table, the words "Healthy" boldly printed in black on a white background. Li Wei squinted and looked it over several times, afraid she had missed something. All the indicators were normal, like a smooth mirror reflecting her flawless health. Half a month ago, she had even taken half a day off work specifically for this report, braving the winter wind to stand in long queues at the hospital.
title: Echoes of the Quake: The Fragility and Hope of the Middle Class slug: 2025-03-25-earthquake-aftermath
title: Echoes of the Quake: The Fragility and Hope of the Middle Class slug: 2025-03-25-earthquake-aftermath
title: Echoes of the Quake: The Fragility and Hope of the Middle Class slug: 2025-03-25-earthquake-aftermath
title: Echoes of the Quake: The Fragility and Hope of the Middle Class slug: 2025-03-25-earthquake-aftermath