“Grandpa, how much do I owe for these?”
Shen Ran held a bundle of newspapers in her left hand and a book about animals in her right.
The old man glanced at her: “Why are you taking that book?”
Shen Ran smiled: “I’m curious about all the animals inside, so I just want to take a look.”
“Alright, five fen will do.”
The old man didn’t ask further and just accepted the payment.
No one had come to inspect the scrap yard in a long time—turning a blind eye was easier for everyone.
With that, Shen Ran paid her five fen and left the scrap yard.
Her thoughts briefly swept over the treasures she’d collected in her space—her heart swelled with excitement.
There were more scrap yards in the city. Why not check the others as well?
Shen Ran never hesitated when she wanted to act.
She spent the whole afternoon visiting every scrap yard she could find.
Before each visit, she’d disguise herself differently: at the western scrap yard, she was a middle-aged woman; the northern yard, a young man; the eastern yard, a village girl.
As before, she used her Beast Heart to command the mice to hunt for valuable items, rewarding them afterward.
The mice, never having tasted fine food, went wild, scurrying everywhere in pursuit of treasures.
By the end of the day, Shen Ran returned with a haul:
Combined with the treasures from her first stop, one room in her space villa was nearly full.
The total value? Well over ten million RMB, maybe even over a hundred million.
Shen Ran couldn’t help but laugh—she was practically a billionaire now!
She rewarded the mice with cakes and fruits, and they gathered in the sewer beneath her villa, dancing and squeaking with joy like it was the Lunar New Year.
Of course, a passing band of stray cats eventually wiped them out—a sad footnote in the story.
Back to Shen Ran:
As she left the eastern scrap yard, she ran into someone familiar.
“Hey, Comrade Shen! Is that you? What a coincidence!”
A tall young man waved with a bright smile.
Shen Ran paused.
She was disguised as a village girl: dusty gray clothes, braided hair, freckles added to her face.
Yet somehow, he recognized her.
“Comrade Sun, what are you doing here? Doesn’t your family live in the suburbs?”
It was Sun Zhengfei, the grandson of the old veterinarian she had met at the clinic.
“Yes, I had some business nearby.”
He grinned, pointing at the freckles: “And your face… did you get sunburned?”
Shen Ran chuckled awkwardly: “Yes, I didn’t expect you to recognize me.”
Sun Zhengfei puffed out his chest proudly: “Of course! My eyes are sharp like military radar—I can even tell the gender of a mosquito flying by!”
Shen Ran raised an eyebrow: “How do you figure that out?”
He bared his teeth in a wide grin: “Like attracts unlike, repels like. Mosquitoes that bite me are female; those that don’t, male. Easy to tell!”
Shen Ran could only twitch her lips. He seemed a little… foolish. But she didn’t want to offend him.
“You’re interested in veterinary work, Comrade Shen?”
He noticed the newspapers and animal books in her hands and asked curiously.
Shen Ran nodded: “Yes, just casually reading.”
Each time she left the scrap yard, she picked up newspapers or veterinary books as a cover.
Sun Zhengfei leaned closer: “You’re not actually thinking of becoming a vet, are you?”
Shen Ran nodded again: “I’m considering it.”
Sun Zhengfei quickly shook his head: “I’d advise against it. Being a vet isn’t for humans!”
Shen Ran blinked: “Why not?”
“Vets deal with chickens, ducks, geese, cows, pigs… all dirty work. Exhausting and hardly rewarding.”
He only pursued it because his grandfather insisted—the line ran in the family. He himself dreamed of running a business, making money in the black market to support his grandfather in comfort.
Hearing Shen Ran’s interest puzzled him. How could anyone want such a tiresome job?
“Actually, Comrade Shen, you’re beautiful. You could work at a department store counter or join the performing arts troupe—that’s more suitable for women.”
Shen Ran raised an eyebrow: “That’s a narrow-minded view. Who says women can only do certain jobs? Everyone has their own preferences.”
She couldn’t reveal her Beast Heart ability that made veterinary work perfect for her.
And who said vets only dealt with livestock? Forests had wild animals, the military had service dogs, and the grasslands had Tibetan Mastiffs and wolves.
With her ability, communication was no problem.
She only wanted veterinary training as a stepping stone—to meet more people and experience more of life.
But she didn’t need to tell Sun Zhengfei that—they weren’t close enough yet.
“My choice to become a vet is purely personal interest, that’s all.”
Simple words, but Sun Zhengfei understood.
He looked at her with genuine admiration: “Comrade Shen, every time I see you, I’m impressed anew.”
Then an idea struck him.
Since he disliked veterinary work and Shen Ran had talent and interest, why not recommend her to his grandfather?
After all, the Sun family legacy was about spreading veterinary expertise—it didn’t say it had to stay in the family.
With that thought, Sun Zhengfei blurted out:
“Comrade Shen, you haven’t found a job yet, right? I have a position I can recommend for you!”