Chapter 237: A Job? Just Go Be a Government Worker Then
Walking in the rain actually feels kind of nice. Especially in a foreign city, with the soft autumn rain falling.
Amidst the uncertainties of senior year, when life feels confusing, it’s comforting to have someone you can rely on.
People often say that the graduation season is also the breakup season. So now that they’re in their senior year and about to start internships. Was it a bit too late for the two of them to finally admit their feelings for each other?
But Lin Yibai didn’t care about that.
Instead of worrying about all those complicated thoughts, she chose to focus on enjoying the grilled saury fish in her hands. One of life’s greatest joys has to be eating grilled saury, right?
Long live saury.
Xia Changyu had secretly watched her many times before and finally figured out that grilled saury was one of her favorite foods.
As they passed a trash bin, Lin Yibai threw away the leftover fish bones. She was always really good at eating grilled saury.
With her bright eyes and white teeth, she could still manage to eat the fish so cleanly that only a perfect skeleton was left.
Xia Changyu rested the umbrella on his shoulder and neck, then took out a tissue and gently wiped the tips of her fingers. After that, he softly cleaned the corner of her mouth.
The two of them were chatting casually, like a couple talking about daily life.
Xia Changyu asked softly, “Are you still stressed about work?”
Lin Yibai sighed and replied with a bit of frustration, “Yeah… the jobs I want, I’m not qualified for. And the ones I don’t want. Well, there are a few I could take. But I just feel stuck, like I’m not good enough for the top jobs, but overqualified for the lower ones. I can’t imagine graduating and ending up jobless!”
Xia Changyu said, “No way you’d be jobless! You’ve done so many part-time jobs. At the very least, that counts as flexible work!”
Lin Yibai let out a helpless laugh. “Don’t joke. I’m really worried about finding a proper job!”
Xia Changyu thought for a moment and stopped teasing. “You studied marketing and business planning. Have you ever thought about opening your own shop? Like a bubble tea shop, or maybe one of those cafes everyone on the internet dreams of owning? I could give you some money, we could rent a place and set it up together.”
Lin Yibai shook her head and disagreed. “Dreams are dreams, and daydreams are daydreams. I know you really love me… and you think about me a lot, and you’re even willing to do things for me. But that’s not a reason for you to waste your money helping me open a shop.”
She was still very practical.
Those stories in dramas, where opening a cafe leads to a perfect life. Lin Yibai knew those were just fantasies that would be crushed by real life.
She felt like she had to help her “good boyfriend” think more clearly.
She pointed to the street outside their school and said, “Look at the streets out there, what do you see everywhere? Bubble tea shops, coffee shops. It’s already a saturated market, a ‘red ocean,’ a ‘dead sea.’ There’s no dreamland out there. If we try to join now, we’d just become another failed shop buried under the sea.”
Xia Changyu could only smile bitterly. He had honestly been thinking, even if they lose money, it’s worth it as long as it makes her happy. But she said no.
As for her worries about the future, Xia Changyu had seen it all along. He also knew Lin Yibai didn’t want to work under him, so he never brought up the idea of hiring her at his company again.
As a boyfriend, he couldn't always think about romance or other dirty thoughts. He was seriously wondering, what kind of job would be a good fit for her?
Everyone has their own dreams. He thought of a compromise, what if she went to graduate school?
But he remembered, last time when the school was offering recommendations for grad school, she had already clearly turned it down.
Still, he asked, “So, have you really never considered going to grad school?”
Lin Yibai shook her head. “Do I look like the kind of person who likes reading or studying? Instead of going to grad school and spending years studying, I’d rather go out and make some extra money for baby formula!”
Xia Changyu frowned seriously, “Don’t say stuff like that.”
Lin Yibai was confused. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Xia Changyu replied seriously, “Just look at your figure, there’s no way our kid would go hungry. And when it comes to money for baby formula, shouldn’t I be the one earning it? Do you really expect to do it yourself?”
Lin Yibai couldn’t help but slap him on the waist and scolded, “What are you even talking about? How did this become a conversation about kids? We haven’t even taken the first step yet!”
Xia Changyu muttered under his breath, “Isn’t it just a matter of time?”
Seeing Lin Yibai raise her fists like she was about to fight, he quickly raised his hands in surrender and said, “Okay, okay! I give up! You win! But let me give you a suggestion, what do you think about taking the civil service exam or trying to get into a government job for now?”
Lin Yibai was stunned. “What? The civil service exam?”
You mean that so-called "end of the universe", becoming a government worker?
In some places, especially in areas like rural towns or the northeast, becoming a government employee is seen as the most important goal in life. It’s something that brings honor to the family.
But the further south you go…
Especially in Fujian Province, where Lin Yibai lived…
Taking the civil service exam wasn’t really considered a “big life goal.” So for her, becoming a government worker had never been her first choice.
As Lin Yibai was still thinking, Xia Changyu took a deep breath and tried to convince her while the idea was still fresh.
“I know what kind of job you’re looking for, you don’t want something that’s too competitive or stressful. You’re not greedy for money, either. As long as the salary is average and there’s a little room to grow, you’re happy. And you don’t want to be too tired.”
In more developed areas, government jobs usually aren’t the top choice. Making money is the main goal.
At least in places like Fujian, when parents praise someone else’s child, they don’t usually say, ‘They became a government worker.’ They say, ‘They are doing business,’ or ‘They own a company.’
Still, isn’t a government job a good option too?
Lin Yibai furrowed her pretty brows, clearly torn. But out of regional pride, she cautiously asked, “Can I really pass the civil service exam?”
Seeing her ask that way, Xia Changyu finally relaxed a bit. After all, who wouldn’t want the girl they love to have a safe and stable future?
Especially with a government job. Girls who pass the strict background checks and exams are usually clean and reliable. Someone you’d trust to be ‘given to the country,’ so to speak.
And besides...
Xia Changyu thought, wouldn’t it be better for his future wife to work inside the stable government system, rather than struggle in the chaotic and unpredictable world outside?
Thinking of this, he became even more sure of himself.
“You definitely can do it, why wouldn’t you be able to? Let me put it this way. If it weren’t for my own situation that I really have a family business to inherit, my first choice would’ve been the civil service too.”
Lin Yibai asked softly, “Really?”
Xia Changyu replied, “Really.”
Lin Yibai muttered, “You do make a good point... Let me think about it some more.”
Xia Changyu urged her, “No need to think more! I’ll earn the money, we’ll be fine. You can enjoy a peaceful and stable life in a government job. That’s what I truly hope for you.”
When a man seriously wants to pave the way for the girl he loves, he moves fast. That same day, Xia Changyu went and bought a full set of books for the civil service exam and gave them to her.
Lin Yibai didn’t push back anymore.
After all, she didn’t have any big dreams right now.
Taking the civil service exam, maybe it’s not such a bad idea after all.