Shen Li had assumed that stirring their hatred for capitalists would make these people refuse to believe her.
But when Shen Li revealed her family’s contributions to the country, who would dare doubt it?
No one thought Shen Li was lying. Her contributions were too substantial—any government department could verify the records. So many major events, and the older generation around them likely knew about many of them. A simple inquiry would confirm the truth.
This time, all eyes also turned to Shen Man, but she no longer felt relaxed and admired. Instead, she sat on pins and needles.
Blood relations could be easily verified to see if she was lying. Shen Man forced a smile, “Sister, you seem to have misunderstood. I never said Uncle is my father—I meant he’s my relative.”
“My father always treated you as a daughter, giving you everything good. This job is very important to me. If I have Uncle’s certificate as a boost, my chances will be much higher. I thought you’d surely support me.”
As she spoke, tears fell. “The certificate wasn’t stolen by me—I found it today on the road. I even left a note on your desk. It’s my fault. I should have waited for you to return. I shouldn’t have rushed over the day the Red Committee results were coming out. I shouldn’t have assumed you’d support me unconditionally. I’m sorry—it’s all my fault.”
People in the 1960s were simple and kind. Hearing Shen Man cry so pitifully softened their hearts.
“She only borrowed it and admitted her mistake. Let it go.”
“Yes, Shen Man’s father even added three to four thousand yuan for her dowry. He truly treats her as a daughter. You should help her too.”
Hearing such foolish words, Shen Li couldn’t help but laugh.
“Victim-blaming? Shen Man took my things without permission. Because she shed two tears, she’s innocent? If I fussed over it, I’d be the guilty one?”
These were terms Shen Li had heard in her dreams over the years—a victim who deserved sympathy being blamed instead. She had always been angry at such injustice, and now that it was happening to her, no one could make her swallow such humiliation.
“Shen Man, you said your father added three to four thousand for my dowry? I’m curious. When my parents were alive, my eldest uncle had nothing. Now that my parents are gone, he lives in my house and casually adds three to four thousand to my dowry? Buys you Friendship Snow Cream? Buys Shen Mingtang a bicycle? As far as I know, your family hasn’t had a job these past years. Where did the money come from?”
“Lastly, you said you left a note on my desk—what time was that exactly?”
Shen Man was cornered and couldn’t explain. Her family didn’t need to work—they thrived by leeching off Shen Li.
She had thought that public sympathy would pressure Shen Li into letting the matter drop.
But this stubborn little girl—when did she become so difficult to deal with?
Shen Man steadied herself. She was a transmigrator. She had her golden hand.
She tried to recall the novel’s events. Today, Gu Xu and Shen Li had collected their marriage certificate. Shen Li had been home all morning; in the afternoon, Gu Xu handled matters for her father, which took roughly two hours. Shen Man estimated a time and spoke it aloud.
“You sure?”
Shen Man hesitated under Shen Li’s stare, but quickly regained confidence.
She was the protagonist. The protagonist always won.
She gambled—and the bet had to be right.
Shen Man was certain.
Shen Li didn’t expect Shen Man to be so unlucky. The time she mentioned coincided exactly with when the police arrived.
The room fell silent. Shen Li paused for a moment.
A faint smile crept onto Shen Man’s lips. She knew the protagonist never lost.
Now, the hard days were about to begin for Shen Man.
Shen Li leaned slightly, “Comrade Xu, at five-thirty today, did you see Shen Man?”
Impossible. The book didn’t mention anyone visiting the villa at that time. Shen Man couldn’t believe it.
A figure in a “66-style” police uniform stepped in, nodded to Shen Li, and addressed the group, “At five-thirty today, I was notified to Shen’s residence to arrest Shen Liren, Zhong Shuhua, and Shen Man—but I didn’t see Shen Man.”
He then looked at Shen Man. “Shen Man, you are suspected of bribing Zhang Tiezhu to break into Comrade Shen Li’s room and steal items. I am now arresting you to the Public Security Bureau.”
“No! It’s a misunderstanding—I remembered the time wrong!”
“I don’t know Zhang Tiezhu.”
Shen Man refused to admit it. She didn’t want to go to the Public Security Bureau.
In these times, even if you were innocent, going once could ruin your reputation. People would say, “So many people weren’t arrested, but they only got you—there must be something wrong with you.”
Comrade Xu gave Shen Man no room to speak, forcibly trying to take her away.
Shen Li spoke at the perfect moment. “Director Lin, Shen Man is uneducated, morally deficient, and has no legal awareness. Is this the pillar of talent you want to recruit?”
Not even understanding her closest relatives—that counts as uneducated.
Shen Li knew Shen Man understood, she was just pretending not to. Fine—let her remain ignorant forever. Stamp her as uneducated, and see how she finds work.
The rural relocation campaign was coming. Without work, she’d have to go to the countryside.
Shen Man had caused such trouble. Of course, Director Lin wouldn’t protect her. He said firmly, “No. Previously I was deceived by Shen Man’s sweet words. Now that I know the truth, the Red Committee will never recruit someone like her. I will even issue a notice today, severely criticizing her.”
In these times, a severe criticism notice was a grave punishment—the person’s reputation would be destroyed.
Without a reputation, no good job.
No purchased position would be possible for her.
Shen Li was satisfied enough—but she had no fondness for this Red Committee. She ignored Director Lin and looked at Comrade Xu.
“Thank you, Comrade Xu.”
In fact, Comrade Xu had also arrived shortly after Shen Li—but she had asked him not to appear yet.
Otherwise, if Comrade Xu had taken Shen Man away immediately, she could have denied everything. But now, trying to cover up, Shen Man had told one lie after another, eventually contradicting herself.
Comrade Xu shook his head. “I should be thanking you, little comrade. You’re careful and meticulous—a good material for police work.”
“Have you considered working at the Public Security Bureau? I can arrange a position for you.”
In these times, having a job was a blessing—no need to go to the countryside.
Shen Li waved her hand. “No, thank you.”
Tomorrow, she would get the marriage certificate and access the money her parents left in the bank. After dealing with this ungrateful family and Gu Xu, she would go to Hong Kong to enjoy a carefree life.
That night, Shen Liren and his family were interrogated at the Public Security Bureau. Shen Man had never endured such hardship.
She summoned her system. “I’m going to drain all of Shen Li’s lifespan.”