At the State-Run Restaurant, the service workers sat around a table, chatting as they sorted vegetables.
“Jiang Ning, are you still going out to work after the New Year?” As they chatted, Sister Cai, a middle-aged woman, turned the subject to Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning was twenty-one years old, 168 centimeters tall and weighing fifty kilograms. She had delicate features and a sweet, well-behaved look.
Before Jiang Ning could answer, Sister Long, who was about the same age as Sister Cai, spoke up. “Jiang Ning’s been trained. Manager Chen won’t let her go.”
Before Manager Chen took office, Jiang Ning had once taken leave to go out and find work. Less than a month later, she was urgently called back, along with several young employees, and sent to the provincial capital for training at a five-star hotel.
Sister Cai let out a long sigh. “Training, renovations, reopening—isn’t it still going to end up in this same half-dead state?”
The restaurant was attached to the State-Run Hostel. The hostel was a burden the Food and Beverage Services Company had been unable to contract out, mainly because it was too large.
The hostel occupied 5.5 mu of land and was divided into three sections: the guest rooms, the parking lot, and the restaurant. The parking lot was thrown in for free with the lease, but in this inland county town, where the economy was underdeveloped and layoffs were sweeping through the population, no one dared to take on such a huge operation.
If they could not rent it out, they had to find a way to run it themselves. The Commerce Bureau had sent several managers in succession, but only Manager Chen, who had taken office at the beginning of the year, had managed to stir up a little activity. Even that little ripple had lasted only half a year.
Seeing Jiang Ning lower her head to sort the vegetables, Sister Long said, “Jiang Ning, don’t worry. We haven’t been paid for two months already. If they still can’t pay us this month, Manager Chen will be dismissed, and you’ll be able to go out and find work.”
No one responded to Sister Long. Although everyone worried about whether they would receive their pay the following month as soon as they had collected their wages, no one wanted another month to pass without getting paid.
The restaurant fell silent, and the air grew somewhat tense.
“We’ve been paid! We’ve been paid!” The oppressive silence was broken when Sister Wang from the dough-preparation station ran into the restaurant. “Come get your wages—three months’ worth!”
A clatter of tables, chairs, and stools being moved followed. Soon, only Sister Wang remained in the dining hall. She went to the back kitchen to spread the good news, and before long, she was the only person left in the entire restaurant.
The Food and Beverage Services Company had no office building of its own. It occupied only a few rooms on the third floor of the hostel. By the time Jiang Ning and the others arrived, a long line had already formed outside the finance office.
The wages Jiang Ning received were even less than she had expected. Accountant Wang explained, “For now, we’re only paying the basic wage and seniority pay. The other benefits will be postponed.”
Jiang Ning’s basic wage was 171 yuan, and her seniority pay was 18 yuan. Three months came to 567 yuan. Clutching the few banknotes in her hand, she ground her teeth inwardly as she complained:
‘With this little money, I have to hand half of it over to my parents, then give another 150 yuan to Grandma and Grandpa. That leaves only 130 yuan. How am I supposed to go see Qi Lin with that?’
【Ding! The host’s intense resentment has been detected. The Retirement Assistance System has arrived. Would you like to bind with it?】A childlike, milky voice rang in Jiang Ning’s ear.
“Who? Who’s speaking?”
Jiang Ning spun around so abruptly that she startled Sister Cai behind her.
“I—I didn’t say anything,” Sister Cai said. “Jiang Ning, are you all right?”
Sister Long, standing behind Sister Cai, also asked Jiang Ning what was wrong.
There were no children in the line. Jiang Ning gave an embarrassed smile. “I’m fine. Maybe I imagined it.”
【Would the host like to bind with the system?】The milky voice rang out in Jiang Ning’s ear again. At the same time, a transparent screen appeared in front of her. It not only displayed the words “Would the host like to bind with the system?”—the same words ringing in her ears—but also two options: “Yes” and “No.”
Jiang Ning reached out to touch it, but her arm passed straight through the transparent screen and landed on Accountant Wang’s head instead.
Accountant Wang abruptly raised her head. Her stern face darkened further. “Once you’ve collected your wages, move along. Don’t cause trouble here. I’m only following orders.”
Jiang Ning was most afraid of Accountant Wang, especially when she wore such a dark expression. She withdrew her hand as if she had been shocked by electricity and said meekly, “Yes, yes, I’m leaving right now.”
Jiang Ning walked away, and the transparent screen moved along with her. It did not obstruct her vision in the slightest. As she went downstairs, she tried touching the word “Yes” on the screen.
At once, the milky voice rang out again.
【Congratulations, host, on successfully binding with the Retirement Assistance System. The Beginner Gift Pack has been issued.】
Jiang Ning felt as if something extra had appeared in her mind. Nervous yet curious, she asked, ‘Who—who are you?’
【I am the host’s Retirement Assistance System. With my assistance, the host will never again be troubled by menopause.】
Menopause? She had only passed through puberty a few years ago, and now she was entering menopause? What about the prime of her life?
‘Did you bind with the wrong person?’
【No! Absolutely not!】A little baby in hanfu appeared on the screen, hands on her hips and stamping her feet. The two little buns on top of her head bobbed with every stomp, making her unbearably adorable.
The sight put Jiang Ning in an excellent mood.
‘All right, all right. You didn’t bind with the wrong person. Then can you tell me why you’re called the Retirement Assistance System? And why did you choose me?’
【I chose the host because I sensed the host’s intense resentment. As for why I’m called the Retirement Assistance System, that’s of course because the host has already retired.】The Little Baby folded her short arms over her chest and pretended to be profound.
Retired?
Jiang Ning opened her large, doll-like eyes wide. The system had definitely chosen the wrong host. But looking at the comically adorable Little Baby on the screen, Jiang Ning could not bring herself to puncture her pride.
‘Then do you know what my name is?’
【This baby not only knows the host’s name, but also knows everything the host has done over half her life.】
Half her life? Had the Little Baby’s real host actually retired?
‘Then you—’
“What are you doing? Why are you walking so slowly?”
A hand landed on Jiang Ning’s shoulder, startling her. She looked at the transparent screen before her and asked Sister Cai, “Sister Cai, did you see anything?”
Sister Cai looked around. “See what? A ghost?”
Jiang Ning realized that she was probably the only one who could see the transparent screen.
“Pooh, pooh, pooh!” Sister Long, right behind Sister Cai, spat three times. “Old Cai, even if you’re in a bad mood, don’t scare Jiang Ning!”
“What’s wrong with Sister Cai?” Jiang Ning asked.
Sister Cai pursed her lips and said nothing. Sister Long, however, could not keep it in. “It was Accountant Wang, of course. Sister Cai only asked her why they were paying only the basic wage, and she gave Sister Cai a thorough tongue-lashing. What’s so great about being an accountant? Once the hostel goes under, won’t she be laid off just like us?”
Accountant Wang had been stern before, but she had never lashed out for no reason. It had to be because Jiang Ning had touched her head.
Jiang Ning apologized to Sister Cai. “I’m sorry. I got you in trouble.”
“It has nothing to do with you.” Sister Cai patted Jiang Ning’s shoulder again. “Come on, let’s get back to the restaurant. We haven’t finished sorting the vegetables.”
Sister Cai and Sister Long hurried downstairs. Jiang Ning followed behind them, continuing to converse with the Little Baby as she walked.
‘Tell me what my name is, and what I’ve experienced during the first half of my life.’
The Little Baby on the screen pouted, clearly displeased.
【Does the host not believe this baby? Your name is Jiang Ning. You’re fifty-one years old this year. You had two sons with your former husband, Qi Lin, and you did not have any children after marrying your current husband, Qian Dong…】
‘Wait!’ Jiang Ning interrupted. ‘Are you saying I married Qi Lin and then divorced him?’
【Yes. The Qi family subjected the host to PUA for ten years…】