The programmer and his woman

In my company, the Network Department is a crucial department responsible for maintaining the company's network security and setting up networks during external construction. This department consists of three male colleagues who provide a solid network guarantee for the company with their professional technical capabilities and enthusiasm for work. However, in sharp contrast to them is the Operation and Maintenance Department, which always confused me when I first joined the company.

The Operation and Maintenance Department plays an indispensable role in the company, but I still cannot clearly understand their specific work content. I only know that they should cooperate with our software department, but I still do not have a clear understanding of how they cooperate and what they do. What surprised me even more was that, except for the department manager, this department is almost entirely composed of female colleagues, and they are all very beautiful.

As time went on, I gradually discovered some problems. The department manager seemed to be responsible for recruiting all the members of this department, which puzzled me. What was even more difficult for me to accept was that the department manager seemed to have a special preference for recruiting female employees with outstanding appearance. I began to realize that this might not be just a coincidence.

After observing for a period of time, I found that the behavior of the department manager was even more unacceptable. He always approached female colleagues under various excuses and made unnecessary physical contact. Although his behavior did not directly touch the private parts of women, the deliberate touching and contact, such as touching the hair, patting the face, and holding hands, made people feel very uncomfortable. These female colleagues always showed disgust on their faces when they were touched by him, but because they worked under him, they had no choice but to swallow their anger.

When I first entered this company, I mistook a female colleague for the receptionist. Later I found out that she was actually a software engineer in the website program group. She usually speaks directly, although her words may be a little blunt at times, but her personality is actually very friendly and easy to get along with. She is just not very good at speaking, and she still calls me a child in such an annoying way. No wonder she is still unmarried in her thirties.

Speaking of older singles, my colleague Zhang in front of me is also an older single. He is almost 30 years old and doesn’t even have a partner. As for the reasons why he can’t find a partner, I summarized the following points for him. One of the reasons is that he is naturally dull. He is very nervous when chatting with female colleagues in the group. How can he find a partner? The second point is that a 30-year-old man can dress himself up to look like a man in his 50s. I admire him very much. If he wasn’t introduced, I would have thought he was the oldest in the group. Looking at his colleague Zhao in front of him, he is several years older than him and has been married for a long time. Now he looks younger and more handsome than him. This is the difference.

We are all worried about Lao Zhang's marriage. Colleague Lao Zhao also teaches him some tips on picking up girls whenever he has time. But every time Lao Zhang hears us talking about this, he would smile and say, "Stop it," and then wave his hands and refuse to listen.

I think our team leader, Sister Wang, is pretty good. She has always been a role model in my heart. She is simple and unpretentious, about the same age as Lao Zhang, and always gives people a sense of intimacy. However, when I learned that she had already entered the palace of marriage, I couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

Turning to look at Sister Cao, she is the most beautiful scenery here, beautiful and charming. There is no doubt that she must have been married a long time ago. After all, her charm is irresistible.

That day, when I was immersed in my own world of code, Sister Cao suddenly came over. She tapped my desk gently and said softly, "Xiao Wang, there is always a problem with the program you adjusted. Let me see your code." I immediately opened the program code and let Sister Cao look through it.

At such a close distance, Sister Cao's beauty is even more difficult to look away from. She has a short and capable hair, exuding a charming temperament; her big eyes sparkle with wisdom; her high nose bridge is as perfect as a sculpture; her small mouth always has a hint of smile. And today, she is wearing a tight short-sleeved professional shirt, and her towering chest is even more amazing. Her leaning forward gave me the opportunity to peek at the light pink underwear and most of the snow-white flesh ball through the gap between the buttons of her clothes. At that moment, I seemed to be pulled by a mysterious force, my heartbeat accelerated, and my blood vessels expanded.

However, Sister Cao didn't seem to notice my strangeness. She was concentrating on looking at the code, nodding from time to time. Finally, she finished looking at the code and stood up to leave. I felt sorry for myself, thinking: "You have seen enough, but I haven't seen enough." But I also knew that such thoughts could only stay in my heart.

Lao Zhao's call interrupted my thoughts. He invited me to have dinner together. I was about to get up, but I found that the state of my lower body was a little embarrassing. I smiled awkwardly and said to Lao Zhao: "You go first, I will go after I finish writing the code at hand." Lao Zhao seemed to notice something, but he didn't ask any more questions and left first.

I don’t know why, but after I turned 18 I became inexplicably impulsive. I sat in front of the computer typing code and finally calmed myself down.

At the dinner table, the boss threw a "surprise" grenade at us. We had to go all out this month to get the program done! Next month, our program would be put to the test in actual combat and ready to make its debut! In the company, the countdown banners were flying like battle flags, and the evenings became a carnival time for us programmers, but it was an overtime version of the carnival!

My parents are now used to my night owl's schedule, but they are very proud to show off to the neighbors: "Our kid is now a software engineer!" At that time, everyone was still confused about this profession, so people always asked curiously: "What does a software engineer do?" My mother smiled and replied: "Oh, he is a computer engineer! He is amazing!"

Every weekend, I was like the legendary "computer savior", summoned by neighbors and my parents' friends, ready to use my "magic" to save their computers. They always couldn't tell the difference between software and hardware.

In fact, I am a pure "software poet" in my heart, swimming in the ocean of code and weaving poems of the digital world. However, reality has pushed me into the battlefield of hardware maintenance, fighting desperately with various computer failures.

Sometimes, I really want to tell them: "I am actually a magician, not a repairman!" But every time I see their expectant eyes, I can't bear to refuse. So, I have to put on my "repairman" hat, pick up the screwdriver, and start my "hardware adventure".

In this way, I was "forced" by my neighbors and relatives to become an amateur "hardware warrior" from a "software poet" who focused on writing code.

In fact, most of the time, the system is just a little bit upset. Reinstall the system and they will be "rejuvenated" immediately. Occasionally, I encounter some stubborn hardware problems, such as a small chip on the motherboard "strikes" or the interface "plays tricks". I have to admit that I can't fix it! However, I can accurately find the problem, which makes me consider myself a "half-computer detective".

As my "detective" experience accumulated, I began to be able to handle some minor faults. What's more interesting is that I also met Lao Zhang, our downstairs neighbor who is an old hand in the electrical appliance repair industry. After he retired, he opened a small shop downstairs, originally specializing in repairing household appliances, but I didn't expect that we would have a chance to work together one day.

One day, Lao Zhang took a job repairing computers and came to me for help. I then discovered that he was also a "hidden expert" in computer repair! Since then, I have become Lao Zhang's "extra-staff assistant" and would go to his shop from time to time. Although he mainly repairs home appliances, the principles of computer repair are similar, and we hit it off.

I was responsible for solving the difficult and complicated problems of the system software, while Lao Zhang was responsible for checking and replacing the suspicious components on the hardware. Although we were both half-baked, this "computer repair duo" successfully repaired many computers with motherboard problems by virtue of tacit cooperation and continuous learning.

The "cross-border cooperation" between Lao Zhang and I not only allowed me to learn more practical skills, but also brought the relationship between us two "old neighbors" closer.

Oh, my schedule is really tight now! From Monday to Friday, I am the "software man" shuttling through the code jungle, and on the weekends, I transform into the "computer doctor" in the eyes of my neighbors. This pace is even busier than a "superhero"!

However, because of my status as a "miracle doctor", my "get-together time" with my former friends has been ruthlessly compressed. In the past, we would go out, have dinner, and chat on weekends, but now I have to be busy "treating patients" and using one computer after another.

As time went by, the "friendship hotline" between us also seemed to have some "poor signal". Everyone was busy with their own things, and the contact became less and less. It felt like we were living in different "time zones". Alas, this identity of "miracle doctor" really made me love and hate it!

Today, our company welcomed a new colleague, whose arrival not only raised the average age of the office to a higher level, but also broke the existing record of our company. This new colleague, who is nearly 40 years old, is said to be a former classmate of our department manager, Lao Wang.

He has a gentle and refined appearance, revealing a calm temperament. Every time he speaks, he speaks slowly and calmly, as if every word has been carefully considered. There is always a deep meaning in his words, which often benefits me, a young colleague, a lot when I listen to him. I looked into his eyes, which were deep and bright, as if they could see through people's hearts, making me feel that he must be a person with rich experience and stories. At least at the age of 18, I cannot fully understand the world in his eyes.

He loved chatting with me. Although we were very different in age, we always seemed to find common topics. Once, during the chat, he suddenly choked up and tears welled up in his eyes. I know that men don't usually cry easily, but at that moment, I really felt his emotional fluctuations. I didn't understand why he was so sad at the time, but I just stayed by his side silently and gave him some comfort. Until now, when I think back to that moment, I gradually understand his mood at the time - maybe it was the recollection of the past, the helplessness of reality, or the uncertainty of the future.

If a 40-year-old man is successful in his career, his life should be happy and fulfilling. But the reality is often not as expected, and there are always many ups and downs and setbacks in life. Especially when a 40-year-old man and an 18-year-old boy work together, the psychological gap and pressure brought by this age gap can be imagined. Perhaps, only those who have truly experienced the ups and downs of life and tasted the vicissitudes of life can deeply feel it.

After our team's continuous efforts and dedication, our program was finally completed. This is a moment worth celebrating and the result of our team's joint efforts. At this time, our program was officially handed over to the Operation and Maintenance Department. Although I didn't know much about this department before, it now seems that it may be closer to the Testing Department. Although I still feel that something is not right, I can only understand it this way for now.

Since the operation and maintenance department took over our program testing tasks, it's like I have a "question mark transmitter" installed at my workstation - that sister always comes to me with all kinds of "difficult and complicated problems" for help. In fact, sometimes, I feel that her problems are like discounted items in the supermarket. They are clearly full of shelves, but she insists on coming to my "counter" to buy them. Lao Zhao is like the "gossip reporter" standing by, always holding a "microphone" and shouting at me: "Look, look, the sister from the operation and maintenance department is here to 'chase stars' again!"

Mr. Zhang’s personal problems are like a tough nut to crack in the company, giving everyone a headache. But I think Xiao Wang’s personal problems are like a ripe apple that falls off at the slightest touch.

Of course I understood the hidden meaning in Lao Zhao's words. He was hinting that there was something fishy going on between me and the sister from the operation and maintenance department. But I have to be honest, I am not a fan of "sister-brother love", especially this sister from the operation and maintenance department, whose "age label" clearly says "not my kind". However, she seems to have a special ability. Every time she sees me, she can "see through" my inner world. She seems to know that I don't like to date girls older than me, and every time she sees me, she will sweetly call me "Brother Wang". This makes me feel a bit like I was forcibly pulled into a "misplaced comedy", and every time I have to pretend to be calm in response to her "kindness". Oh, this feeling is very awkward.