The letter contained her mother’s hopes for her and congratulations on her marriage. She expressed regret toward Shen Li, wishing that Shen Li could use the money to live well.
At the end, her mother reminded her to take good care of the jade token and never lose it.
Shen Li examined it carefully and noticed that her mother had stopped writing while explaining the token—something must have happened that prevented her from finishing the letter.
Shen Li carefully placed the items back and stored them in her space.
When she left the bank, several men in patched clothes were pushing wooden boxes outside.
Leading them was the man whom Shen Li had once given a coin to for calling a rickshaw. He had originally planned to help her transport the boxes for free, but Shen Li had insisted on sending them herself.
The boxes were clearly well-made. Wooden boxes were expensive these days, especially of this quality.
Shen Li delivered the boxes and returned home, paying no attention to the people murmuring behind her.
One muttered, “She really gave them to us? So rich… must be that capitalist lady.”
The rickshaw man glared at them. “What about the capitalist lady? It’s the capitalist lady who’s giving you such sturdy boxes now.”
“Her heart is kind. Why label her? If you really want a label, she’s practically a living saint.”
Yes, what of the capitalist lady? It was this capitalist lady who had noticed their poverty. They had originally gone to a carpenter to request a wooden box, when this lady came over and asked if they wanted one.
Seeing the boxes, they had thought she wouldn’t really give them away. Such exquisite boxes clearly had value—but she really gave them, without taking a penny. Truly a living saint.
Shen Li didn’t realize it, but in the eyes of those people, she had already become a saint.
Back at home, she ran into Xu Gongan.
Xu Gongan had come regarding Shen Liren and his family.
Shen Li invited him in and began to make tea, but Xu Gongan stopped her.
“Comrade Shen, no need for tea. I came to tell you that your uncle and his family may be released tomorrow.”
“Released? Weren’t there witnesses and evidence?”
Xu Gongan looked apologetic. He had once been so confident that he could convict them.
“That Zhang Tiezhu suddenly changed his testimony and then committed suicide in the detention room.”
Originally, the witnesses and evidence were intact. Now, the witness was gone, the testimony changed, and although the evidence remained, Shen Man insisted she had only found it and hadn’t had time to return it.
Shen Li frowned. “Suicide? How?”
Zhang Tiezhu, a thug like him, feared death the most. Moreover, he had entered the house but hadn’t had time to commit a crime. Even if convicted, the sentence wouldn’t be severe. Suicide was impossible.
Xu Gongan shook his head. He couldn’t understand either. “The higher-ups gave the order—tomorrow they’ll be released. I came early so you’d be mentally prepared.”
“And the award certificate—you can collect it at the Public Security Bureau.”
“I’m really sorry I couldn’t help you more.”
Xu Gongan felt extremely guilty. Things had reversed so quickly that even he couldn’t understand what went wrong. But he had no choice but to obey the higher-ups’ orders.
“No, you’ve already helped me a lot. I’m glad you came to tell me, otherwise I wouldn’t have been prepared tomorrow.”
After giving his report, Xu Gongan left.
Shen Li stood at the door, pondering the Shen Liren matter. The only explanation she could think of was Shen Man’s identity as a “book transmigrator.”
If the law couldn’t punish them, and they came back anyway… fine. She would accompany them for some entertainment. Sending them to prison alone was too boring. Watching them fight among themselves would be more interesting.
Still, she had a special gift to send.
That evening, Shen Li returned to her space to study the check-in task.
Entering the space, the spiritual energy in the air made her feel relaxed and refreshed.
The space had developed well, yielding plentiful harvests.
After checking the harvest, she focused on her most important task: check-in.
The previously gray button was now blue and clickable.
A label appeared: Lifespan Renewal Check-In.
Apparently, whoever married her would become her “lifesaving medicine.” Shen Li was extremely glad she had acted quickly and avoided marrying Gu Xu, that scoundrel.
The check-in was a daily task, providing lifespan and points as rewards. Points could be exchanged in a shop.
She opened the exchange shop and saw many items she had only seen in dreams—modern items.
There were modern tools, goods, medicine, weapons, books, and more. Each item cost many points, and rare items cost astronomical amounts.
Shen Li didn’t dare think about it. For now, just staying alive was enough.
Comrade Gu had to come tomorrow.
Or she would ask the intermediary for Gu Zhaoye’s address.
Lost in thought, Shen Li eventually fell asleep.
Her sleep was restless. Suddenly, a knock woke her.
It was still early—just after five.
Who was disturbing her peace so early?
She was alone at home. She went down but didn’t open the door immediately. “Who is it?”
“Comrade Shen, it’s me.”
The voice was low and familiar—it was Gu Zhaoye.
Shen Li immediately opened the door, worried. “Did something happen?”
Otherwise, why would he come so early?
Half-awake, she hadn’t even thought about how he knew where she lived.
“I have an urgent task and need to leave Shanghai for two days.”
Leave? Two days?
Those words jolted Shen Li fully awake. “What? Leave for two days? Is it important? Can I come with you?”
“No.” Soldiers on missions don’t take family members, especially for dangerous assignments.
“What am I supposed to do?”
Her world was collapsing—her check-in task, her life.
Gu Zhaoye hadn’t expected Shen Li to be so clingy. He wasn’t annoyed; instead, he felt needed. He patiently reassured her: “I’ll spend time with you when I return.”
[Today’s check-in task: Hold his hand—ten fingers interlocked. Reward: 7 days lifespan, 10 points. Your remaining lifespan: 2 days 10 hours.]
Shen Li didn’t hesitate or make excuses. Thinking that her life depended on it, she reached out, grasping his hand tightly, ten fingers intertwined.
Worried he might pull away, she held on tightly, speaking to distract him.
“Two days? Just two days? You’ll be back in two days?”
“Yes.”
It was Gu Zhaoye’s first such intimate contact with a woman. His ears flushed slightly, but he didn’t let go. His clingy wife deserved reassurance.
[Today’s check-in complete. Reward: 7 days lifespan, 10 points. Current lifespan: 9 days 10 hours. Points: 13.]
Her lifespan renewed, Shen Li finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She asked casually, “When do you leave?”
“In half an hour.”
“From where?”
“Xiatan.”
Xiatan was far from her, in the opposite direction. Shen Li was shocked. “Why not just go to Xiatan directly? It’s so early—the bus drivers aren’t even working yet.”
“I promised to see you. Now that I have, I must leave.”
Gu Zhaoye would run to Xiatan.
He had come here initially to visit a comrade’s widow. He carried only some money and tickets. Since this mission was secret, he couldn’t draw attention with a bicycle or anything noticeable.
Gu Zhaoye was always a man of his word. He had promised to marry Shen Li, and once the political review cleared her, he would. He had also promised to see her—no matter what happened, he would come.