To please others? It's better to please yourself.

Four days have passed in the blink of an eye.

As soon as Xu Jing'an arrived at work in the morning, her colleague Zhang Huan asked, "Jing'an, have you heard?"

Xu Jing'an was completely bewildered: "What did you hear? I just arrived."

"Director Han's wife came to see him." Zhang Huan pulled her chair closer and whispered, "Director Han even took the day off today. The two of them really have it tough."

"When did Director Han come to the office?" Xu Jing'an asked quietly, her head bowed.

"Last October," Wang Meili, who was recruited last year, chimed in.

"Yes! He spent the Spring Festival alone at work. I heard his wife wanted to come, but the director wouldn't allow it. He said it wasn't safe to take seven children on the train," Zhang Huan confirmed.

"Everyone wants to go home for the New Year, no wonder the train station is so crowded!" Xu Jing'an chimed in. "Are these two living apart like this?"

"The people are fine now, it's a case of the couple coming together for support. But it's hard to arrange work for them." Sister Zhang took out a tea mug from the cabinet and poured water.

Across from me, Sister Jiao held her teacup, blew on it, took a sip, and continued, "So now we face two situations: those who want a happy reunion with their spouses and children have no job. Those who can't bear to give up their jobs have to go through the 'Cowherd and Weaver Girl's Magpie Bridge reunion."

The rest of the morning was spent in the office discussing Director Han and his wife.

dormitory building

"Why don't we come over with the children?" Director Han's wife, Guo Caixia, looked at her husband with concern. "Look, you've lost weight."

"You're willing to give up your work?" Han Yi smiled at his wife.

"We can't bear to part with it. Can we, as a couple, continue like this?" Guo Caixia put the cleaned quilt cover on the clothesline, while Han Yi helped her out.

"The children miss you too, and they ask every day when they can see their dad."

Han Yi looked around, then whispered in his wife's ear, "And you? Have you missed me?"

Guo Caixia glared at him with a smile, nudged her husband's waist lightly with her elbow, and turned to go into the dormitory.

Han Yi, his eyes crinkling with a smile, followed him inside and locked the door...

After finishing get off work at noon, Xu Jing'an went back to her dormitory to get her lunchbox, just in time. When she came out, she bumped into Guo Caixia at the corner of the dormitory building.

Xu Jing'an smiled at the other person: "Are you Sister Guo?"

"Yes, what's your name, young lady?" Guo Caixia asked kindly.

"Big sister, my name is Xu Jing'an, I just arrived this month. You can just call me Xiao Xu."

"Okay, Xiao Xu, the cafeteria has stewed chicken with potatoes for lunch today, hurry up!"

"Thank you, Sister Guo. I won't take up your time. I need to go get my food now. I'll talk to you again later."

Upon hearing this, Guo Caixia raised an eyebrow and replied with a smile, "I'll be here these next couple of days, you can come anytime."

Guo Caixia told her husband, Han Yi, about it as soon as she returned to the dormitory. Han Yi took a towel and wiped the water off his wife's hands, saying, "Don't overthink it, she'll find out eventually."

Guo Caixia thought for a moment and said, "Then tonight, I'll go down for a walk, and you can come down later."

The couple's tacit understanding was evident, and Han Yi nodded to indicate that he understood.

After dinner, Xu Jing'an stood by the window looking out. As dusk fell, she saw Guo Caixia come out alone and quickly went downstairs to pretend to bump into her.

"Sister Guo, what a coincidence! Shall we take a walk together?"

"Okay, Xiao Xu." The two chatted as they walked, and when they reached the playground, there was no one around.

Knowing that time was limited, Xu Jing'an got straight to the point: "Sister, since you came today, everyone in the office has been saying that you and Director Han have had a tough time."

"These days, it's not easy for anyone to make a living," Guo Caixia said, leaving no room for criticism.

"When I first heard about your situation, I had a feeling that this was all preordained."

"Why would you think that?" Guo Caixia looked at the girl in front of her in surprise.

"I want to switch jobs with you, big sister," Xu Jing'an replied directly and readily.

"What? Change jobs?" Guo Caixia thought she had misheard. She thought the other party wanted to ask Lao Han for a favor, and she wanted to see how things went first, and not let Lao Han get involved no matter what.

Xu Jing'an: "Sister Guo, it's tough for girls these days. I have it the hardest in my family. Whenever they find out I have something good, my family members will reach for it before anyone else can touch it. I work here, and my family doesn't even know."

Guo Caixia listened quietly without interrupting.

"So, I'm thinking of staying away from them. First, there will be less trouble, and fewer conflicts; second, if I'm far away, they can't manipulate me at will."

"I just started this month. To become a permanent employee, it will take at least a year, and three years is not too late. I heard that some of the people hired the year before last are still not permanent."

Guo Caixia nodded; she had indeed heard Lao Han mention it before.

"It's taking too long, I can't wait. I heard you work in the archives, which is an easy job. I thought, what a coincidence! If we both switch jobs, both of our problems will be solved."

Guo Caixia was clearly tempted when she heard this.

"You might suffer a bit, since I haven't been officially hired yet."

"What's this about losing out?" Guo Caixia immediately denied. "Okay, I'll go back and discuss it with Lao Han, and I'll give you an answer tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll wait for news!" Xu Jing'an said politely, but she knew the deal was done.