The office, the winter sun outside gradually slanting westward, Zhang Guoqing glanced at his watch in surprise, thinking it might be broken. He looked at the time again, knocking on the hour hand in disbelief.
Isn’t it time to get off work?
Helplessly, he sighed secretly, got up to pour himself a cup of tea, estimating that after drinking this big cup and going to the bathroom, the time would be about right.
Once he despised this kind of working state too, but now he’s really bored out of his mind. If there weren’t those endless meetings, it would really be no different from early retirement.
The phone on the desk rang, and the piercing sound could probably scare the timid like a haunting reminder.
Zhang Guoqing, holding the cup in one hand, picked up the receiver with the other. Before he could speak, Wan Dayong’s voice came through.
He asked impatiently, "It’s almost the end of the workday; can’t you say whatever you have at home? Buddy, you’re wasting national resources, you know?"
"Oh, Director Zhang, you are indeed aware. Truly worthy of your position now."
Zhang Guoqing shook his head, chuckling, and took a sip of tea. This guy, even if he’s restrained in daring, he can’t change his heart, always afraid people don’t understand what ’Director’ means, finding a chance to tease him every time.
"Haha... I’m here to share some good news. In just a few days, your wife and I will be sailing overseas..."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Guoqing immediately spat out his tea. Damn it, truly he’s a pig-partner, making it sound like his wife is eloping with him.
Zhang Guoqing chuckled lightly, gritting his teeth, "Is it confirmed?"
"Yep, a joint operation of the four departments, finally it’s my turn," Wan Dayong didn’t notice that some were taking the opportunity to cause him trouble.
Before finishing his words, he just happened to see a colleague outside drifting by; he immediately restrained his playful looks, seriously nodding to greet them while saying, "Ahem, it’s settled then, we’ll discuss the details later."
Listening to the sudden disconnect sound "beep beep", Zhang Guoqing was so angry he almost swore. Since communication with the West began, he had a feeling his wife would be sent on a business trip again, but he didn’t expect it to be so soon.
Where have all those noble officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gone? Usually, each is like a vulture, eager to consume each other.
Now they’ve gone big, even involving the four departments.
Zhang Guoqing sat there, contemplating for a while: truth be told, having the chance to go abroad at this time is quite good; it’s better than staying in Beijing, constantly hearing about one old man getting seriously ill, or another elder just passing away.
At the end of the workday, Zhang Guoqing grabbed his briefcase, exchanging greetings with colleagues, not rushing but leisurely heading to the parking lot. But once he got into the car, his true nature showed, speeding up as soon as he hit the avenue.
Got to listen to what his wife says first? He couldn’t forget she has a little notebook, shouldn’t play any secret operations; his fragile heart can’t take it.
In the building of Section One, Zhou Jiao was about to pack up the documents on her desk to leave work when she heard a knock on the door. She called out: Come in.
Looking up, she saw it was Tian Miao from the office opposite. Zhou Jiao’s eyes flashed, masking her inner surprise, smiling, "End of the workday, not heading home?"
After coming in, Tian Miao even craned her neck to look around, closing the door, quickly stepping to the desk, grinning mysteriously.
Zhou Jiao watched her back as she turned away, the raised arc of her lips yet to fall, but her eyes slightly squinted. Nowadays, false when true, true when false, without, existent, existent without.
Isolating others by inciting relations, or go with the wind, or even borrow a knife to kill, all are possible.
Truly the workplace is like a battlefield, especially during this era, she’s even more cautious of believing anyone; one wrong step could mean falling into an abyss.
Leaving the gates of the unit, Zhou Jiao instinctively walked left, actually seeing a familiar military vehicle parked not far on the road. She strongly suspected Zhang Guoqing chose the logistics division intently for convenient transportation.
Before she got closer, seeing him open the car door, standing by the car with that smile, Zhou Jiao burst out laughing, promptly tossing aside the office troubles.
"Why are you doing errands in the city again?"
Zhang Guoqing smiled meaningfully at her. See how well his wife spoke; uninformed crowd would just think he was giving her a lift home.
Getting in the car, Zhou Jiao hurriedly asked: "Did the kids call?"
Zhang Guoqing quickly started the car while smiling, "Missing the sons? I noticed them keep sending stuff home, must be unwilling to go to the post office to make calls."
Zhou Jiao thought and agreed, knowing her children act cautiously, yet still hope they save money while possibly using a phone at some elder’s office for home calls.
She, too, became the most mundane, most contradictory mother in the world.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space