56 posts tagged with "Irony"

Wang Dachui's most anticipated moment each noon was opening his lunch box. Not because of the delicious food inside, but because a small piece of golden sandalwood would inexplicably appear.

Old Wang has been very busy lately, busy with "trade-ins." It's not that his old TV or refrigerator at home needs replacing, but as a member of the company's "trade-in" task force, he's busy helping other people "trade" their old things for new ones.

Old Wang's company is a large home appliance enterprise, and it established this task force specifically to respond to the national call for "trade-ins." Every day, Old Wang sits in his office, facing his computer screen, browsing through mountains of "old goods" information – old televisions, old air conditioners, old washing machines... The photos of these old goods are like crumpled faces, silently telling of their past glory and present decline.

In Zhang Qiang's third month at the company, he was transferred to the "Stellar Observation Department." He initially thought it involved astronomical observation, but on his first day, he was led into an airtight room. In the center of the room was a giant screen displaying mobile phone screenshots, each increasingly red.

“Your task is simple, count the number of stars in each screenshot,” said Department Head Li, handing him a counter with a deadpan expression, as if announcing that lunch would be steamed buns.

The elevator doors opened, and a rich aroma of food rushed out, along with an even stronger sense of "struggle." Zhang Qiang took a deep breath, as if inhaling energy, and then stepped into ByteDance's "park." Here, "park" refers to the company's free three meals, reportedly costing up to 100 yuan per meal.

Zhang Qiang had only been working for three months, and the most anticipated time of his day was mealtime. It wasn't just because it was free, but also because the food here seemed to possess some kind of magic, capable of making everyone mechanical and efficient. During lunchtime, the long lines resembled a moving river, everyone with their heads down, silently sliding towards the food pick-up area. There was no conversation, only the light sounds of plates colliding and the subtle noises of chewing. Everyone ate quickly, as if completing an important task.

Old Wang was the neighborhood's renowned "Mr. Fix-It." Appliance repairs, plumbing unblocking – there was nothing he couldn't handle. Today, he took on a new job. Mrs. Li, his neighbor, had a broken smart scale. The display only showed a red dot, like an eye, staring eerily.

Mrs. Li complained, “This thing, they said it was so smart and accurate when I bought it. After only two years, it’s just a decoration. It's a real ghost!” Old Wang chuckled in response, he loved these kinds of challenges.

In the cubicles, the sound of keyboard clicks resembled the low hum of insects, interspersed with the subtle clicks of mice. At exactly noon, the digital clock on the screen turned red, signaling the start of “digital lunch” time.

Old Wang received a notice to collect this year's year-end bonus. He rubbed his hands, red with cold, thinking that the company had done well this year and the boss might be feeling generous.

In the office, besides Old Wang, there were nine other colleagues. They looked at each other, guessing the amount of their respective bonuses. The manager walked in with a beaming smile, carrying a huge black plastic bag in his hand.

Old Wang was in the backstage area of Weibo Night, picking his teeth with a toothpick. All around him were glamorous celebrities, each one like a mannequin in a shop window, plastered with perfect smiles, awaiting their turn on the red carpet. He, Old Wang, was the odd one out in this dazzling scene. He was neither a celebrity nor a staff member; he was just a "vibe setter."

"Beep—" The card swipe was crisp, and Xiao Li stepped through the west gate of Peking University. Her slightly immature figure, clad in a deep blue security uniform, was incongruous with the surrounding lush green pines and cypresses. Who would have thought that she, who once harbored the dream of becoming a graduate student at Peking University, would now become a security guard guarding its west gate?

Chen Pi first felt that something was wrong with his face during his senior year's final exam. The invigilator, Old Wang, stared at his face for a full three minutes, then took off his reading glasses, rubbed his eyes, and looked for another three minutes. Chen Pi felt his cheeks burning, not because he was too nervous about the exam, but because Old Wang's gaze was like an X-ray, scanning for some secret.