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60 stories following one expat professional through two full years of working and living in China. From a nervous late-night airport arrival to a confident second-year promotion, readers experience real workplace interactions, urban daily life, and the slow but meaningful process of cultural adaptation — all while building HSK 4 reading confidence.
Story Description
Follow 林思远 (Lín Sīyuǎn) — a foreign professional in their late twenties — as they navigate two years of work and life in a big Chinese city. Each story is a window into one real moment: the first day at the office, apartment hunting after work, a late report that teaches a lesson, a rainy day saved by a kind neighbor, a nervous performance review, and finally, a quiet New Year’s Eve reflecting on everything that has changed.
Series 1 covers the first year: arriving alone, finding a home, learning unspoken office rules, making the first real friend, going on a first business trip, and slowly feeling like part of the team. Series 2 covers the second year: leading a small team for the first time, managing competition between colleagues, handling a client crisis, receiving a promotion, saying goodbye to a close colleague, and facing bigger questions about career and future.
Each 350–400 character story is written using HSK 1–3 vocabulary plus a carefully controlled set of HSK 4 words, with no more than 15 new words introduced per week. Sentences are short and natural, grammar is clear but expressive, and key vocabulary is recycled across every story for long-term retention.
But this series is about more than language. It is about the small moments that define life abroad: the pride of ordering food without hesitation, the relief of a coworker who stays late to help, the loneliness of a rainy evening in an empty apartment, and the quiet satisfaction of finally feeling at home in a foreign city.
What Makes This Series Special
Strictly Controlled HSK 4 Vocabulary
Every story uses only HSK 1–3 words plus a fixed approved list of HSK 4 vocabulary. No unexpected advanced words appear. New words are limited to 15 per week across 7 stories and are recycled throughout the series for natural reinforcement.
Authentic Workplace Language
Stories include real office situations: group chat culture, performance reviews, business trips, client calls, overtime decisions, and team management. Readers build practical Chinese for real professional environments.
Natural Spoken Dialogue
Every story includes 1–2 short dialogue exchanges that reflect how people actually speak in Chinese offices, apartments, and daily life. Grammar is accurate but never stiff.
Daily Vocabulary Recycling
Core words (公司, 同事, 经理, 出差, 报告, 加班, 房租, 压力, 经验, 适应) appear in every week across both series. Learners encounter the same vocabulary in new contexts again and again, supporting long-term memory.
Real Cultural Content
Office food culture, apartment hunting, public transport, business dinners, company team-building trips, Chinese New Year traditions, and the emotional experience of living far from home — all woven naturally into every story.
Each Story Includes
| Feature | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Chinese text | All words from approved HSK 1–4 list |
| Pinyin version | Full text with tone marks |
| English translation | Natural, not literal |
| Vocabulary | 10 key words with meanings |
| Grammar | 2–3 patterns explained with examples |
| Culture note | 1–2 cultural topics per story |
| Comprehension questions | 10 questions with answers |
| Multiple choice | 6 questions |
| True / false | 10 statements |
| Retell prompt | Guided writing or speaking practice |
Vocabulary & Grammar Coverage
Core Vocabulary
All HSK 1–3 words appear regularly. HSK 4 words are drawn from a fixed approved list only.
Key Workplace & Daily Life Words
公司, 部门, 同事, 经理, 客户, 项目, 报告, 会议, 计划, 责任, 经验, 出差, 加班, 工资, 合同, 规定, 房租, 小区, 邻居, 地铁, 交通, 习惯, 压力, 放松, 兴趣, 邀请, 拒绝, 影响, 机会, 决定
Grammar Points Across the Series
只要…就…, 即使…也…, 连…都…, 不但…而且…, 虽然…但是…, 既然…就…, 越…越…, 把, 被, 通过…, 受到…影响, 为了…, 先…再…, 一…就…
Perfect For
✓ HSK 4 learners building reading fluency and stamina
✓ Intermediate learners wanting daily reading in a real-life context
✓ Professionals learning Chinese for work environments
✓ Students interested in modern urban Chinese life and workplace culture
✓ Teachers needing structured, level-controlled graded readers
✓ Self-learners seeking daily immersion in practical Chinese
Series Structure
Series 1 — 林思远的中国第一年 (30 Stories)
| Week | Stories | Focus | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1–7 | Arrival & First Steps | Airport arrival, first night, reporting to work, the name story, first day tasks, office group chat confusion, apartment hunt |
| 2 | 8–14 | Setting Up Life | Signing the lease, first work mistake, first weekend exploring, canteen culture, understanding the group chat, first guest at home, Sunday discoveries |
| 3 | 15–21 | First Wins | First client meeting, lunch invitation, weekend hiking, housewarming party, special assignment, first salary, neighbor friendship |
| 4 | 22–28 | Growing Confidence | Team crisis, after-work relaxation, colleague birthday, first home cooking, manager’s trust, rainy day kindness, month-end reflection |
| 5 | 29–30 | Looking Forward | New month targets, two-month reflection |
Series 2 — 林思远的中国第二年 (30 Stories)
| Week | Stories | Focus | Highlights |
|---|
| Week | Stories | Focus | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1–7 | Leading a Team | First team leadership, internal presentation, managing competition, career talk with manager, mentoring an intern, project crisis, team BBQ |
| 2 | 8–14 | Deeper Connections | First bonus, office romance gossip, company team-building, parents visit China, language exchange friends, business trip to Nanjing, first refusal of overtime |
| 3 | 15–21 | Challenges & Growth | Client complaint crisis, colleague in hospital, office move, business dinner, summer holiday decision, training course收获 |
| 4 | 22–28 | Big Decisions | Promotion interview, waiting for results, good news, headhunter call, farewell for old colleague, year-end review, video call about the future |
| 5 | 29–30 | A Year Ends | Last language exchange, New Year’s Eve reflection |
Week 1
Week 2
