Leisure time
Compared to the work at the beam yard, the pace of work in the reference room is indeed slower. No longer does she have to constantly watch the wind and sun at the construction site, no longer does she have to compete with the construction team, and no longer does she have to fret over sudden quality issues. Lan Tongtong's life feels like it's switched from a fast-paced action film to a soothing art film.
She arrives and leaves work on time every day. Although her work is demanding, her hours are relatively fixed, and she rarely has to work overtime. The sudden increase in personal time makes her feel a little overwhelmed, but it also gives her room to breathe and adjust.
Gradually, she began to reorganize her life. She dug out a long-unworn skirt from the bottom of a suitcase and changed out of her work clothes, which were practically attached to her body and stained with mortar and sweat. At first, when she walked into the archives in her elegant dress, Old Chen and the occasional colleague looked at her with surprise and admiration, causing her to blush slightly. But she soon grew accustomed to this long-lost, youthful lightness.
She now had time to carefully care for her skin, slightly roughened by the sun at the construction site, and to comb her long hair, which was always hastily tied up for convenience. She even occasionally put on a touch of makeup, sculpting her eyebrows and applying a touch of brightening lipstick. The person in the mirror, her features still the same, but the fatigue and tension from the site had faded, and she now had a softer, more radiant look.
Everyone in the project department who knew her noticed that Lan Tongtong had changed. No longer the dusty, hurried, "female" technician, she had become a graceful, gentle, and beautiful young woman. Zhang Biao once encountered her in the hallway and was stunned for several seconds before scratching his head and saying, "Worker Lan, you...you look really good in this!"
This change in appearance also subtly affected her state of mind. Wearing a skirt, she unconsciously slowed her pace, her posture becoming more graceful. Away from the hustle and bustle and pressure of the construction site, her brows were no longer furrowed, her eyes regained their former clarity, and even possessed a calmer composure, akin to the experience of life.
She used the extra time to pick up her professional books again, not just to cope with the upcoming exams, but to truly calm down and systematically review and deepen her knowledge. She also began reading some non-major related books, listening to soothing music, and trying her hand at cooking. Life seemed to be infused with new color and rhythm.
Of course, she hasn't forgotten the lessons learned at the beam yard or Mo Ge's teachings. Working in the reference room has given her access to broader, more comprehensive information about the project. She's seeing the overall context of the project from a different perspective, and her understanding of many issues has actually deepened even more than she did on-site. The frustration still lingers, but it's no longer as sharp and suffocating as it initially was. Instead, it's gradually become a reminder and motivation.
That day, the project department received some rather happy news: Li, the head of engineering, and Xiao Zhao, a document clerk in the safety and quality department, were getting married! Their bond over this project, from their acquaintance to their decision to spend their lives together, became a legendary story within the project department.
The wedding wasn't a grand affair; it was simply a banquet hall booked at a nice hotel in the city, hosting colleagues from the project team and some relatives and friends. When the bright red invitations arrived, a festive atmosphere permeated the entire project team. This tender touch, blossoming in a world of steel and concrete, was particularly precious.
Lan Tongtong also received an invitation. She carefully selected a gift, wrapped a red envelope, and on the wedding day, she changed into a decent yet bright dress and went to the hotel alone.
The banquet hall was festooned with lights and filled with laughter. The colleagues who usually worked furiously on the construction site in work clothes and hard hats were now dressed in sharp suits or beautiful dresses, their faces filled with relaxed and joyful smiles. Project Manager Liu Chao officiated, and Chief Engineer Zhang Xiao, Deputy Director Feng Chang, and other leaders also attended to offer their congratulations, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
As the groom, Mr. Li, walked onto the stage hand-in-hand with the bride, Xiao Zhao, the audience erupted in applause and cheers. Mr. Li, usually serious and earnest, was beaming, his eyes filled with happiness and tenderness. Xiao Zhao, clad in a pristine white wedding gown, her face a shy blush, was stunningly beautiful. They recounted the details of their meeting and falling in love while working on the project: the nights they worked overtime together, the midnight snacks they brought each other, the tacit cooperation at work... These ordinary, trivial moments at work now became the most moving chapters in their love story.
Lan Tongtong sat in the audience, watching this joyful scene and listening to the sincere blessings of her colleagues. A complex yet warm emotion welled up in her heart. She contributed her share of the money and toasted with everyone, sharing in the joy.
At that moment, as the bride and groom exchanged rings and made their vows, Lan Tongtong was struck by a strange feeling. Looking at the newlyweds, brought together by the project, and at her colleagues who were like comrades and family, a thought quietly occurred to her: So, on this construction site, seemingly filled with nothing but steel, concrete, and rules and regulations, such a sincere and beautiful relationship could blossom. Getting married here seemed... not so bad.
The thought took her by surprise. She had always viewed the project as a place where she had to strive, prove herself, and even be constantly vigilant and fight. It presented pressure, challenges, and complex interpersonal relationships. She had never considered it a place to find emotional well-being, find love, and even start a family.
At that moment, she seemed to see another possibility: perhaps work and life weren't necessarily mutually exclusive; perhaps this land, where she had once felt frustrated and exhausted, could also foster warmth and a sense of belonging. The union of the engineering director and Xiao Zhao was like a gentle ray of light, illuminating her heart, which had been somewhat gloomy due to previous setbacks, and giving her a vague hope for the possibilities of the future.
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