Civil Engineering in the Mortal World: Ten Years Without Knowing Today's Events

"The number of college graduates in 2024 is expected to reach 1179 million, and the employment situation is severe..." Looking at the news pushed to my phone, I couldn't help but smile bitterly. Could it be that AI and big data predicted I was going to lose my job?

It's already 2 a.m., but I still can't fall asleep, so I opened my chat window with Xiaohui again.

In the afternoon, during a short meeting, they sent me another picture of strawberries.

The strawberries were still served in the same white porcelain bowl. This time the photos are clearer, the focus is on the strawberries, and they're not blurry.

"Brother Chen, I took this picture of today's strawberries."

I replied with one word: "Okay".

Then I added, "The photo is clearer than the last one."

"Yes, I've learned it."

Seeing these three words now touches my heart. From learning to fry eggs to learning to take photos, she's learning so many things, not for herself, but to show them to me.

I put my phone down and went to sleep. Tomorrow—no, it's already today—I still have to go to work during the day; life goes on.

In the morning, when I arrived at the site wearing a safety helmet, I saw that Lao Huang was already there.

He stood on the roof of the west wing, using a straightedge to check for flatness. When he saw me coming, he straightened up and dusted off his hands.

"Mr. Chen, the flatness of this roof slab is good; all three points are within 4 millimeters."

"Mr. Huang, I have something to tell you."

"explain."

"You've heard about the client's plan to put out a tender, right?"

Old Huang glanced at me and handed the straightedge to the surveyor next to him. "You guys go ahead and take your measurements. I need to say a few words to Engineer Chen."

We moved to the side and stood at the edge of the roof slab. Below was the freshly poured foundation slab, grayish-white, with scaffolding erected on top. Several workers walked back and forth on it, the clanging of steel pipes echoing through the room.

"I've heard about it," Old Huang said.

"President Hu asked me to tell you that he hopes you will come and visit more often and offer more suggestions."

Old Huang chuckled. "Engineer Chen, are you just being polite with me?"

"It's not just politeness. It's true. The client is assessing us, and we need to show them that we're serious about our work."

Old Huang took out cigarettes from his pocket, handed one to me, and lit one for himself. He took a drag, exhaled, and the smoke dissipated in the wind.

"Engineer Chen, let me tell you the truth." He looked at me, "Your work on this project wasn't bad. I've been a supervisor for twenty years, and I can tell which construction companies are serious and which are sloppy. Your old Hu is a serious person, and so are you. But seriousness aside, the client wants to replace you not because you did a bad job, but because—"

He paused.

"Why?"

"Because someone wants to get in." Old Huang stubbed out his cigarette. "That's how this industry is. If you do well, you might not stay. If you don't do well, you might not be fired. Sometimes, someone just wants to get in, and you have to leave."

I didn't say anything.

"So don't overthink it." Old Huang patted my shoulder. "Just do your job well, and what's meant to be yours will come to you. What's not meant to be yours, you can't keep even if you try."

He left. I stood on the edge of the roof, watching his retreating figure. His white hat reflected the sunlight as he slowly walked away.

The phone rang.

I took out my phone and saw that it was my mother calling.

"Little one, when are you going to bring Little one back?"

"Mom, didn't we say next month?"

What day of next month?

"Mid-next month."

"That's still more than half a month away." Mom's voice sounded a little anxious. "Your dad has been asking me a lot these past few days how your talks are going. I said they're going well, and he said he wants to meet them."

"Mom, talk to Dad again, ask him to wait a little longer."

"What are you waiting for? What are you waiting for?" Mom's tone became urgent. "Does that girl treat you well? Don't you know whether she's good or not? If you think she's good enough, bring her back. If not, make it clear to her. Don't drag it out."

"Mom, I didn't delay."

"You're not just stalling? It's been almost a month since we first met. A month has passed, and you still haven't brought her back. How long are you planning to wait?"

I paused for a moment.

"Mom, I promise I'll bring it back by the middle of next month."

"You mean what you say?"

"no sooner said than done."

After hanging up the phone, I held it tightly in my hand.

Take it back.

What happens after I bring her home? My parents see her, they're satisfied, and then it's settled. What happens after that? We get married. What happens after we get married? We live together. How will we live together? I'm at the construction site, and she's at home. Can she manage alone at home? What if she forgets to turn off the gas? What if she gets lost when she goes out? What if she gets scammed?

I've been thinking about these questions, but I still don't have the answers.

It's not that there are no answers, it's that we dare not think about them.

……

When I got back to the dorm that night, Xiao Liu wasn't there. He'd gone to his girlfriend's house and wouldn't be back until tomorrow.

I lay alone in bed, tossing and turning. I took out my phone and reopened Xiaohui's chat window.

I scrolled up to the day we first met. She texted "Brother Chen," and I replied with "Mhm."

It's been a month.

A month ago, I was thinking, "How could I possibly marry a girl with the mental capacity of a nine-year-old?" A month later, I agreed to take her home.

Have I changed, or am I being pushed along?

I do not know.

Just then, the phone lit up. It was a voice message from Xiaohui.

I clicked on it.

"Brother Chen, are you happy today?"

The voice was soft and gentle.

I pressed the voice call button and said, "Happy. How about you?"

"I'm happy too, Brother Chen, go to bed early."

"it is good."

Goodnight, Brother Chen.

"Good night."

Some things, perhaps, don't need to be thought through so clearly. Thinking them through too much might actually hinder your progress.

I need to go to bed early tonight, so I put my phone next to my pillow and turned off the light.

……

The tender notice was released on time, and Lao Hu forwarded it to our project WeChat group immediately.

My phone froze slightly when I opened it. The announcement was very long, filled with conditions and requirements.

I quickly scrolled down to the qualification requirements section: Grade A general contracting qualification for building construction, with no fewer than two similar projects completed in the past three years, and the project manager must be a Grade A construction engineer with at least one complete project experience.

Lao Hu meets the requirements. Our company also meets the requirements. But we're not the only ones who do.

Xiao Liu leaned closer and glanced at my phone screen. "Brother Chen, what does this say?"

"Tender Announcement"

"Do we have a chance of winning?"

"have no idea."

"What if we don't win?"

I didn't answer. Xiao Liu stood there for a while, then left.

I put my phone down, picked up the water glass on the table, and took a sip. The water was cold, so cold it chilled me to the bone, making me shiver.

Old Huang came in the afternoon. When he walked into the office, he was holding a document and placed it on my desk.

"Engineer Chen, this is last month's supervision report. Take a look and sign it if there are no problems."

I glanced through it. The monthly report listed the project progress, quality status, safe and civilized construction, existing problems, and rectification status. The "existing problems" section stated things like, "Verticality deviation of the north wall in the west area has been rectified; slump control of the foundation slab in the east area needs to be strengthened," etc. These were all issues that had been reported before and had already been resolved.

I signed the report and handed it to him.

"Mr. Huang, have you read the tender notice?"

"I've read it." Old Huang put the monthly report into his bag. "You meet all the requirements, now it's time to look at the quote."

Do you think we have a chance of winning?

Old Huang glanced at me and smiled. "Engineer Chen, I can't say for sure. But whether it works out or not, you need to get the job done well over the next month or so. The client is watching."

"I know."

"I'm leaving." He picked up his thermos and left.

I stared at the progress schedule on the wall. There was still a little over a month left; the main structure should reach the fourth floor.

If everything goes smoothly during this period and the progress and quality are satisfactory, the client might consider renewing the contract. If problems arise, then it's completely hopeless.

My phone kept ringing. After a few seconds of thought, I answered the call.

"Xiao, you said you'd bring Xiao Hui back in the middle of next month, what's the exact date?"

I hesitated for a moment. "The 15th, perhaps."

"Okay, did you tell her?"

"I said so."

"What did she say?"

She said yes.

Mom chuckled on the other end of the phone. "This child, so obedient. Tell Mom a day in advance so I can go grocery shopping."

"Mom, stop fussing."

"No rush." ​​Mom's voice carried a long-lost lightness. "Xiao, your dad's been in much better spirits these past few days. He walks around the neighborhood twice a day. I told him you were going to bring a girl home, and he smiled."

I held my phone, but didn't say anything.

"Alright, you're busy now. Don't forget to tell Mom beforehand."

"Um."

After hanging up the phone, I flipped through my calendar. The 15th of next month is a Sunday. Xiao Liu and Lao Wang are there; I can ask for a day off, it shouldn't be a problem.

I opened Xiaohui's chat window and typed a few words: "Xiaohui, I'll take you to meet my parents on the 15th of next month."

She quickly replied, "Okay."

He sent another message: "Brother Chen, I'm buying new clothes."

I was taken aback. Buying new clothes. That was what she was thinking about.

I replied with two words: "No need to buy."

"I want to buy it. To meet Brother Chen's parents."

As I read those words, something inside me felt a slight pang.

"Okay. Let's buy new clothes."

"Hmm. Brother Chen, what color do your parents like?"

I thought about it. My mom likes dark red, and my dad likes gray. But I don't know how to tell her. She probably can't distinguish between dark red and pink, or gray and black.

"Anything is fine. Whatever you like is fine."

"Then I'll wear pink."

"it is good."

After sending the message, I put my phone on the table.

Outside the window, the tower crane is turning.

I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes.

Two voices were in my head. One said: What are you doing? Are you really going to take her to meet your parents? The other said: Do you have any other choice? You're thirty-three. Your dad can't wait, your mom can't wait, and you can't wait either.

The two voices argued for a long time.

Finally, I opened my eyes, picked up my phone, and sent a message to Lao Hu.

"Mr. Hu, I would like to take a day off on the 15th of next month."

Old Hu replied quickly: "What is it?"

"I'm taking my girlfriend home to meet my parents."

After a few seconds, he replied with a single word: "Okay."

Another message followed: "Congratulations."

I put down my phone, stood up, and put on my helmet.

When I stepped out of the office, the sun was blazing, and I squinted. The construction site was teeming with people and filled with noise: the screeching of rebar cutters, the roar of winches on the tower, and the rough voices of workers shouting their commands.

I walked towards the foundation pit.

Halfway there, my phone vibrated. It was a photo Xiaohui had sent. A pink dress hanging on a hanger, with her balcony in the background.

"Brother Chen, new clothes."

I zoomed in on the photo. It was pink, knee-length, with a small lace trim around the neckline.

"nice."

"Does Brother Chen like it?"

"like."

"Then Brother Chen's parents like it too."

I stopped. I stood in the middle of the construction site, surrounded by small mountains of sand, gravel, and cement pipes. I stared at that pink dress for a long time.

Then I put my phone in my pocket and kept walking.

Why think so much about the future? Just live well in the present.