Yun Zhen looked confused.
“Sister Zhang’s Charity Organization?”
She wondered what that meant.
Sister Huang explained, “It’s a charity founded by a former female doctor.
They provide free housing for homeless women and children, and they teach them various skills.”
Free housing?
And free skill training?
“There’s such a wonderful place?” Yun Zhen was shocked.
“Of course.
I’ll take you there right now.
You can settle in first.
There’s no rush to find a job.
Once you learn a few skills at the facility, you can go out and look for suitable work.”
Sister Huang tossed the items she had scavenged into the scooter’s basket and patted the seat behind her.
“Come sit.”
It was Yun Zhen’s first time riding such a big bug.
She had already seen for herself that this machine ran faster than the horse carriages in her town.
She decided that once she saved up enough wages, she would buy one for herself—specifically one that could hold items.
Sister Huang twisted the handlebar, and the electric scooter surged forward.
“Ah!” Yun Zhen screamed in fright.
Sister Huang smiled apologetically.
“I usually drive a bit fast.”
So this big bug was also called a “vehicle.”
As the wind whipped past her face, the surrounding scenery rapidly blurred away.
Thrilled yet nervous, she gripped the back of the seat tightly, terrified of falling off.
Her heart pounded uncontrollably—THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.
After the electric scooter traveled for about twenty minutes, they arrived at Sister Zhang’s Charity Organization.
“We’re here.”
Sister Huang got off and led her inside, explaining as they walked.
“This used to be a relocation district.
It’s far from the city center and housing prices are low, so Sister Zhang bought it to settle homeless women and children.
“Although the location is a bit remote, the transportation is very convenient.
There’s a subway station just up ahead.
The district also has a lot of shops, and there are many factories behind it.
If you plan to work in a factory, commuting will be easy.”
Yun Zhen didn’t understand much of what Sister Huang said.
Words like “district” and “subway” were completely foreign to her.
However, she grasped the main points.
Sister Zhang was a great philanthropist who specialized in helping homeless women and children.
Inside this “district,” there were many merchants doing business, and behind the “district,” there were places to work.
It sounded wonderful.
If she could settle down here, she could work and earn money.
Then, she would be able to buy rice and flour to take home, and her parents and Little Bao wouldn’t have to go hungry.
Yun Zhen followed Sister Huang into the district, walking straight up to a large building.
“Hello!” A young woman in professional attire with her hair tied in a high ponytail greeted them.
Noticing Sister Huang and Yun Zhen, she realized a newcomer had arrived and put down her work.
The young woman introduced herself.
“My name is Lin.
Please, have a seat here.”
Huang Li spoke with Lin.
“I’m Huang Li, and I live in the Dongfanghong District.
This is Yun Zhen.
I met her by the dumpsters near my district.
She’s a poor child, only seventeen this year, raised by vagrants.
She often scavenges for food in the trash.
It’s so cold out, I just couldn’t bear to see her suffer, so I brought her here, hoping she could find a place to settle down.”
“Sister Huang, please fill out this form.” Having understood the situation, Lin nodded and took out two sheets of paper.
“Since you brought the child here, you need to provide proof that she is indeed homeless.”
Huang Li took a pen and began filling out the form.
“Everything I said is true, not a single lie.
I doubt she even has an ID card.
She’s been starving and is practically nothing but skin and bones.
She hasn’t eaten in days.”
Lin gently asked Yun Zhen, “Little girl, can you tell me if what this lady says is true?”
Yun Zhen nodded.
“It’s true.
Sister Huang is a good person.
She brought me here because she said your place specifically helps homeless women.”
She hadn’t dared to breathe loudly since walking through the door.
There was also something that left her both amazed and thoroughly confused: it was freezing outside, yet the inside of the room felt like a summer’s day.
It was nice and toasty, though she didn’t see a fire lit anywhere.
“Alright, then tell me your details so I can fill out your information,” Lin said, pulling out another form.
“Name?”
“Yun Zhen.”
“Age?”
“Seventeen.”
“Do you have an ID card?”
Yun Zhen stared blankly.
“No.”
“When you were wandering, which area did you usually frequent?”
Yun Zhen looked at Sister Huang.
She only had a half-baked understanding of this world, and the little knowledge she possessed had come entirely from Sister Huang.
Sister Huang answered for her, “Near the Dongfanghong District by Eastern Square on East Road.”
Lin wrote it down, then asked, “Can I contact your previous guardians?
The vagrants who raised you?”
Yun Zhen had arrived in this world completely alone, with nothing but the clothes on her back.
Where would she find a guardian?
She could only make something up.
“They left after raising me.
I haven’t seen them for a long time.”
Her face grew hot as she told the lie.
“Hmm…” Lin seemed a bit troubled, but finally said, “It’s fine if you don’t have one.
First, head over to the bathhouse to take a shower, get a haircut, and freshen up.
Later, we’ll take you to the hospital for a physical examination, and after that, we’ll arrange your accommodation.
Sister Huang, I still have work to attend to.
Could you please take her to the bathhouse next door?
Here is my membership card; just swipe it.”
Lin handed over a green card.
Sister Huang took the card.
“Sure.
I’ll take her to shower and change, and we’ll get her a haircut while we’re at it.”
Lin thanked Sister Huang and pulled a large bag of clothes from under the counter.
“These are clothes donated by kind-hearted people.
There’s everything from innerwear to outerwear.”
She brought out a shoebox as well.
“And here are some shoes.”
Yun Zhen was of average height but as thin as a rake, so Lin had specifically chosen clothes and shoes that would fit her.
Yun Zhen followed Sister Huang out the door.
The moment they stepped outside, a chilling wind slapped her in the face.
It was such a stark contrast to the spring-like warmth indoors.
She asked the only person she could talk to, “Sister Huang, it’s very cold outside.
Why is it so warm inside the house?”
A massive question mark practically hung over her head.
“The room has heating,” Sister Huang answered.
She wondered what “heating” was.
Sister Huang continued to instruct her.
“Take a hot shower in a bit, change into clean clothes, and get your hair cut short.
Once your accommodation is sorted, focus on learning some skills.
There’s no rush to earn money.
Food and housing are covered here anyway.
The people living here usually only move out after they get married, so you have plenty of time to consider your future.”
“Thank you, Sister Huang.”
Yun Zhen felt a little dazed.
To think she had managed to settle down just like that!
However, earning money still had to be put on her agenda.
Soon, Yun Zhen found herself in another nice and toasty building.
The staff at the bathhouse taught her how to use the showerhead, which bottles were for washing hair, which were for washing the body, and exactly how to use them.
She scrubbed herself from head to toe over a dozen times.
By the time she finished her shower, she felt three pounds lighter.
The fragrant shower gel smelled incredible, leaving her entire body radiating a sweet scent.
The new clothes were thick yet lightweight.
They felt soft and warm against her skin, though Yun Zhen found the design a little strange.
She figured that once she went back, she would ask her mother to alter the clothes into the style they usually wore.
A hairstylist appeared with scissors in hand.
Yun Zhen protectively covered her head and pleaded, “Could you please not cut my hair?”
The ancient texts stated that one’s body, hair, and skin were sacred gifts from one’s parents.
People in her world never cut their hair.
At most, the wealthy ladies and young misses would trim their split ends.
Seeing her guarding her hair so fiercely, the hairstylist said helplessly, “I won’t chop it all off.
I’ll just trim the split ends and give you a style that doesn’t cover your face and get in your way.”
Only then did Yun Zhen let go.
After the haircut, she looked into a mirror that was clearer than river water.
Although frostbite still lingered on her face, she looked much more refreshed.
She no longer resembled a beggar.
“I look completely different!” she murmured.