At the municipal government office building in the Dongcheng District of Jingzhou, three beautiful women—Yan Shuyao, Nie Yuliu, and Jiang Yulan—stood before the public notice board. Their eyes darted back and forth, shimmering with a mix of envy and regret.
Years had passed, and all three had married. They had transformed from fresh-faced young maidens into sophisticated young matrons, possessing a charm even more profound than before. As the old saying goes, there are gains and losses; once a family life is complete, one’s career is bound to hit a temporary plateau. Because the three of them lacked significant background resources, they could once afford to be picky when they were single, relying on their striking looks while powerful men courted them with various favors just to catch a glimpse of their beauty. But after marriage, that was no longer an option; one had to be mindful of appearances.
When Qi Tongwei worked at the Dongcheng District Commission, Yan Shuyao was already a section-level official, and she still held that same rank today. Without some major career move, she might have to continue drifting for another twenty or thirty years. Nie Yuliu and Jiang Yulan were even worse off; their university degrees had helped them scrape into deputy section-level positions, but there had been no progress since. The only consolation for them was that they hadn't been relegated to the grassroots level and forced to leave Jingzhou. But if they wanted to move up even a sing…
Chapter 500