After finishing her shower and changing clothes, Shen Zhiyao stepped out of the space. Before she even fully left her room, she heard voices outside. Peeking out, she saw Niu Xiaohua—Li Guizhi’s freeloading daughter—along with a young man she didn’t recognize.
Shen Zhiyao communicated with Bai Bai using her consciousness. “Bai Bai, who’s that guy?”
“Lin Yesheng,” Bai Bai replied. “A low-tier version of a ‘phoenix man.’ Four brothers, an older sister, and he’s also going down to the countryside—same place as you. Previously, Li Guizhi had intended to use him to force Shen Zhiyao into going down. That’s him.”
Shen Zhiyao rolled her eyes. “Ah, no wonder he looks familiar… like yesterday’s trash I threw out.”
She stepped outside. Niu Xiaohua froze and asked, “Why are you here?”
Shen Zhiyao teased her. “Big sister, this is my house. Wouldn’t it be normal for me to be here?”
Niu Xiaohua lowered her narrow forehead and squinted her small eyes. “I didn’t mean that. I just thought you weren’t home!”
Shen Zhiyao glared at her. “Enough. Your parents are at the police station after fighting—hurry up and go!”
A trace of embarrassment crossed Niu Xiaohua’s face. How could she bring this up in front of her boyfriend? That shameless Shen Zhiyao… just wait until I trick her job, she’ll regret it!
Though she thought this, she didn’t dare say it aloud. She grabbed Lin Yesheng and prepared to leave. Lin Yesheng, meanwhile, was stunned—Shen Zhiyao had suddenly become so beautiful. She had always been attractive, but now she exuded a charm that made Niu Xiaohua look plain. Who would even pay attention to Niu Xiaohua with a vision like this standing here?
Lin Yesheng said to Niu Xiaohua, “Jiajia, go find your parents. The kitchen’s a mess; I’ll help clean it and prepare some food. That way, when your uncle and aunt return, there’s already something ready to eat.”
Niu Xiaohua, predictably, was grateful. She blushed, nodded, and went along with him.
Shen Zhiyao was annoyed. “Hurry up and leave! This is my house. I don’t even know him—why is he still here?”
“Little sister, Brother Sheng is my friend, not a stranger!”
“Don’t talk to me like that. My mom only had me!”
Niu Xiaohua immediately teared up, looking at Lin Yesheng. He said to Shen Zhiyao, “Little sister, how can you say that? No matter what, you’ve lived together for years. She has her share here too.”
Shen Zhiyao smiled faintly. That smile nearly made Lin Yesheng swoon—it was breathtaking!
“Heh, you talk so nicely. Did you wipe your mouth after using the toilet? Who do you think you are, bossing people around in my house? And ‘Jiajia’? Not Niu Xiaohua anymore? Just changing your name doesn’t make you fancy.”
“You…!”
“You what? Didn’t your mother teach you it’s rude to point at people? Should I send you back to be remade? Get out of my house—next time I’ll break your legs!”
With that, she returned to her bedroom. Both of them were seething. Niu Xiaohua hurried to check on Li Guizhi, but had no time to speak, and dragged Lin Yesheng away.
The next day, Shen Zhiyao slept until 10 a.m., then refreshed herself in the space, had breakfast, and began planning her day. She first went to Shen Congguo and Li Guizhi’s room to pack everything up for disposal. When she opened the bed, she found a small box. Inside was a neatly tied bundle of Da Tuanjie (“Great Unity”) notes. Counting them, there were 5,000 yuan—likely money Shen Congguo had earned from secretly selling steel and hadn’t dared to spend. Heh, what a gift for Shen Zhiyao! With a flick of her hand, she transferred the money into the bedroom of her space.
She then noticed a faint hollow sound behind the wardrobe. Moving it aside, she retrieved a hammer from the space and began smashing the wall. Soon, two boxes were uncovered. She first placed the boxes into the space and then restored everything to its original state.
Next, she went to the kitchen and collected all the rice, flour, grains, oils, eggs, seasonings, and even the cooking pots—everything went into the space. Even though she wouldn’t eat it herself, she could use it as gifts when she went to the countryside.
With the house now stripped of valuables, she put on her shoes, slung a small bag over her shoulder, and headed out to handle the house and job transfer. On her way, she ran into Neighbor Zhao Da-niang.
Zhao Da-niang held Shen Zhiyao’s hand and fussed over her. “Girl, are you okay? Last night looked serious—still dizzy?”
At that moment, Bai Bai spoke. “Yao Yao, sell the house to her. Her daughter-in-law just had a baby and there’s no room at home!”
Shen Zhiyao smiled at Zhao Da-niang. “No problem, Da-niang. After last night, I’m fine. I was just about to arrange for my uncle and aunt to come back.”
“Oh, what a good child! Those black-hearted folks, huh?”
“By the way, Da-niang, I’m heading to the countryside the day after tomorrow. I won’t need the house anymore. Considering what happened yesterday, my uncle probably doesn’t want to stay either. Can you help me see if anyone needs it? I’ll sell it at a discount.”
Zhao Da-niang immediately clasped her hands. “Girl, how much do you want? My daughter-in-law just had a baby, and with three sons, a daughter, and us old folks, there’s no room. You can sell it to me—it’s close by, and I can take care of it!”
Shen Zhiyao subtly pulled back her hand and smiled. “Da-niang, tell me what you can offer. We’re neighbors, and I’ve always appreciated your help.”
Zhao Da-niang patted her arm. “Good child, I thank you. How about 1,200 yuan? Even with all my kids, I can’t give more.”
“Da-niang, that works. Let’s complete the paperwork soon. Can I stay here until the day after tomorrow when I take the train? And if my uncle and aunt come back after I leave…”
“Don’t worry. My three sons are all tall and strong—they won’t bully you!”
After a brief chat, Zhao Da-niang went home, retrieved the money, and accompanied Shen Zhiyao to complete the paperwork. Although houses in this era couldn’t be directly sold, voluntary transfers could be processed.
After completing the paperwork and collecting the money, Shen Zhiyao bid Zhao Da-niang goodbye. Zhao Da-niang told her she could stay until the day after tomorrow and would return the keys before she left.
Shen Zhiyao then went to the state-owned store and spoke to the manager, previously a colleague of her mother. She explained that she was going to the countryside and wanted to transfer her job. The manager clapped his hands—his son was also about to go down, and this way he could work with him. For 800 yuan, Shen Zhiyao happily sold the position.
After selling her job, she browsed the store, buying enamel basins, thermos flasks, two bottles of Moutai, cigarettes, some egg cakes, peanut brittle, and two nice-looking skirts that weren’t in her space. Paid in cash, she left with her purchases. Everything, except the Moutai at seven yuan a bottle, cost less than ten yuan in total—everything in this era was so cheap!
Next, Shen Zhiyao just had to deal with Shen Congguo and his family.