In the clinic, Liu Meiling finally figured out what the little device inside her body actually was.
It turned out that in the future, with so many elders who deliberately extort people, young generations had lost all courage to do good deeds.
This little device had been designed to encourage people to do good—though how it ended up linked to her was still a mystery.
But the device promised rewards for every good deed.
0928’s voice suddenly appeared in her mind, sounding like an eight- or nine-year-old child, full of swagger:“I, the Great One, am spreading truth, kindness, and beauty! Learning from Lei Feng, a model for all! What do you know, huh?”
Liu Meiling rolled her eyes, but an inexplicable unease settled in her chest.
At the same time, 0928 spoke urgently in her mind:“I’ll give you a gift. Want it?”
“Of course!” Liu Meiling didn’t hesitate.
【Detected injured person two kilometers away. Proceed to rescue. Countdown: 30 minutes.】
A small map appeared before her eyes. Liu Meiling didn’t know what rescuing someone had to do with a gift, but relying on her sixth sense, she leapt onto the back of her second son.
“Second son, hurry! Turn right!”
The eldest son’s eyes widened.
This lively energy did not match the image of someone who had just spat blood. Were these two kids playing tricks on him?
The third son clutched money in one hand and medicine in the other:“Mom! Mom, where are you going?”
Baomei, embarrassed, quickly followed her older brother.
Li Baojia ran as instructed by Liu Meiling. The closer they got, the more silent she became. This was her home… until the familiar door appeared in front of her, and her heart finally settled.
She pushed it open, and a skinny child collapsed to their knees with a thump:“Auntie! Auntie, save me! My brother is about to die! Please, save my brother!”
Liu Meiling froze for a moment, then recognized the girl as one Qin Xiangru had brought.
Inside, the metallic scent of blood hit her. She closed her eyes and exhaled. No hesitation:“Second son, carry that child! Run to the hospital!”
There was too much blood—this wasn’t something the clinic could handle.
Li Baojia didn’t question it. He carried the child and ran as fast as he could. Though he didn’t understand why Mom hated Aunt Qin so much, she said to save her child, and that was that.
The child, Qian Mianmian, finally exhaled. The three little voices called out in unison:“Thank you, Auntie!”
Three hours later, the emergency room door at Dahe County Second Hospital opened.
The doctor pushed the patient out, exhaling:“Luckily you brought him in early. Another half hour and he wouldn’t have survived! Parents, you can’t hit children like this! His arm is fractured, and he needed eight stitches on his head. Pay the fees quickly. He lost a lot of blood, but with proper care, he’ll be fine.”
Li Baohai muttered reluctantly: “It wasn’t us who hit him…”
He took the payment slip under Liu Meiling’s sharp gaze.
Qian Mianmian finally relaxed, but Liu Meiling blacked out briefly.
“Ah! Hurry! There’s a fracture too!”
A document bag appeared before her, with a “Claim” button. She excused herself to the restroom, tapped the button, and a leather envelope appeared.
Inside were two papers: a paternity test report.
Tester: Liu MeilingTested: Qian FengAnalysis: Based on current data and DNA results, the person in sample #1 (Liu Meiling) is confirmed as the biological mother of the person in sample #2 (Qian Feng).
Liu Meiling’s mind went blank—she heard nothing but 0928’s cocky voice:“Well? Don’t like this gift?”
She blinked back tears. Like it? Of course she did. How could she not? Even if a child was unreliable, no one wants their own child to be ungrateful.
Since Qian Feng was her child, she would fulfill her maternal duty.
As for the others… Liu Meiling thought of the despair she felt on the wooden bed in her previous life. She shook her head. She wouldn’t rely on her children for love or repayment.
If heaven gave her a second chance, she would seize it. She would not toil her entire life in family servitude.
In her past life, she worked for the eldest son and daughter-in-law to live comfortably, raising grandchildren and great-grandchildren, yet she was called useless—even for eating a banana she hadn’t wanted, she was scolded. No one defended her.
Liu Meiling wiped her tears. Since Qian Feng was her child, this life he would be returned to her.
And Li Mingliang? She didn’t believe he was unaware…
Remembering his behavior toward the eldest son and other children, she already had a plan.
The next morning, outside the steel mill, Liu Meiling, with her second and third sons, raised a banner:
“Steel Mill, Give Back My Husband’s Salary! Evil Steel Mill, Stealing Workers’ Wages!”
Her voice rang out strong. The second son joined:“Return my dad’s wages!”
The third son hid his face, ears red, but Liu Meiling pinched him:“Shout! Return my dad’s wages!”
People loved a spectacle. At first, a few came to watch, then seeing Liu Meiling’s passion, they joined in.
“Evil steel mill! Stealing workers’ wages! Return her husband’s pay!”“Return her husband’s wages!”
Voices grew louder. Security couldn’t stop them; the manager was reported.
Zhang Jinzhou, the manager, was panicked. Their steel mill had just been recognized as a top enterprise—awards hadn’t even been given yet!
“Who… who’s causing trouble?”
Outside the mill, 30–50 people stood, banners raised. Zhang Jinzhou sweat, voice low.
Seeing Liu Meiling, he quickly called security to bring her inside.
Inside the office, wiping his forehead:“Please sit. Your spouse… is…? Don’t worry. Our steel mill is state-owned. We would never withhold workers’ pay. Must be some misunderstanding.”
Every month’s salary passed through him.
He dared swear it hadn’t been withheld.
Liu Meiling pressed her lips together, sitting down as tears fell silently. Not loud crying, just small, agonizing drops that made one feel the injustice.
“Boss, I don’t want to trouble you. I’m reasonable; I know this creates disorder. But I have no choice! Look, these two are my second and third sons. They can eat eight steamed buns in one sitting. I have two daughters and one more son. Seven mouths to feed, all by me. My salary is just over fifty yuan a month. For over ten years, I’ve managed, gritting my teeth.
But my eldest son is old enough to marry, and our family doesn’t have a penny! Boss, I’ve suffered!”
She paused, then continued:“My husband is Li Mingliang, third-line group leader at the Second Steel Mill. Over the past ten years, he hasn’t given a single cent to the family. So, I want to ask: does your steel mill not pay wages? How is it I haven’t seen a cent in over ten years?”