I have a bond with labor insurance products

This is a personal story shared by my friend who works on a construction site. He told me about it, and I thought it was quite interesting—almost like a scene from a TV show. With his permission, I’d like to share this with you all.

I’m a construction worker, and I’ve been in this industry for several years now. Every day is the same: dusty, hot, and wearing rough clothes. The sun beats down on me every day, turning my pale skin into something resembling an "African black face." No, that’s not an exaggeration. Haha!

On the job site, we’re required to wear safety gear, like labor protection shoes and helmets. It wasn’t too long ago, but last week, I lost my safety shoes. There was no way around it—if I didn’t wear them, I’d be violating the rules. So I had to buy a new pair. While I was buying them, I met a girl—a sweet, kind, and simple girl. (Don’t laugh, but I’m 28 and still single. It’s not easy finding someone like this.)

That afternoon, after work, I went to a shop to get some safety supplies. As I walked in, a girl with a ponytail asked, “What do you need?” Her voice was soft and friendly. I looked up and immediately felt a bit nervous, afraid I might seem creepy if I stared too long.

“Um… I want a pair of safety shoes.” I said, a little shyly.

“Okay, what kind do you want?” she asked.

“I don’t know much about them. You can recommend something,” I said, trying to keep the conversation going.

She picked up a pair of shoes and said, “This one is popular. A lot of people from the construction site come here.”

“How much is it?” I asked.

“It’s not expensive. Just wait a second while I get it for you.” She ran to the shelf and brought it back.

I handed her a fresh 100-yuan bill and said, “Here you go.” She looked surprised. “You don’t even ask for the price? That’s kind of strange.”

I scratched my head and smiled. “Safety shoes are pretty much the same price. I trust you won’t charge me too much.” I added, “I’m not usually this generous, but today I feel like being nice.”

She laughed and said, “You’re funny!” Then, just as she was about to hand me the change, a man called out behind her. “Xiaoying, come help me carry the goods.”

After giving me the money, she hurried out and started carrying the heavy box. I watched her struggle and offered to help. “Let me take it,” I said. I rolled up my sleeves and carried the box with her brother. When I set it down, my hands slipped, and the heavy item fell onto my feet. The pain was intense, and I almost cried.

She rushed over and told her brother, “Brother, lift him up.” Then she turned to me and asked, “Are you okay? You must be in a lot of pain. If you go to the hospital, make sure you check your bones.”

“It’s just a small injury,” I said, trying to hide the pain. My voice shook a little. She looked worried and said, “No, I have to go.” Then she told her brother, “You stay here. I’ll take him to the hospital.”

She helped me onto her electric scooter. As she was about to start the engine, she suddenly remembered something. “Oh, don’t forget your helmet!” She got off the bike, grabbed a pink hard hat, and put it on me before starting the ride. She really cared about safety.

On the way to the hospital, I didn’t know what to say. I was a bit embarrassed. Finally, she broke the silence. “Do you work at a nearby construction site?”

“Yes, just a short walk from here,” I replied.

“It’s embarrassing that I helped you get hurt again,” she said.

“It’s okay. I get injured often on the job. If I had worn my safety shoes, this wouldn’t have happened. But I lost them yesterday. I didn’t know where to go.”

“You lost your shoes there too?”

“You don’t know, it’s all a group of big guys. People who wear the wrong ones are normal.”

“My name is Xiaoying. What’s yours?”

“Chen Mu.”

“Er… Silence? Are you more silent than that?” she laughed.

“My mom said my dad talked too much, so she named me Chen Mu to make me speak less,” I explained.

“Oh, I see.”

Of course, there were more little moments after the hospital. We’ll keep updating the story daily, so be sure to follow our official Weibo account for the next part.

Disclaimer: This story is an original article edited by China Labor Insurance Network. Please cite the source if you wish to reprint it.