The Educated Youth Office was rather modest, but it was clean and orderly.
Everything was neatly arranged, giving the place a surprisingly pleasant atmosphere.
Inside the office sat a man and a woman, both appearing extremely busy.
The female clerk had her head lowered, writing furiously and paying attention to nothing else.
Not wanting to disturb them, Shen Youchu quietly swallowed the Mimic Fruit.
The moment she imagined Zong Sisi in her mind, her appearance changed in the blink of an eye.
She had become Zong Sisi.
Walking over to the male clerk reviewing documents, she smiled politely.
“Hello, comrade. Is this where I register for rural relocation?”
The man looked up briefly.
After placing a bookmark into the file he was reading, he replied,
“Comrade, may I see your household registration booklet?”
Shen Youchu smiled sweetly, her eyes curving into crescents.
“Of course. Thank you for your hard work, Comrade.”
She handed over the booklet.
The clerk flipped through it.
Then he looked up.
“Are you Zong Sisi or Zong Xiaxia?”
Without the slightest hesitation, Shen Youchu answered,
“Zong Sisi.”
“Very well. Please fill out this form.”
He handed her a registration form and a pen.
The Mimic Fruit only lasted five minutes.
Time was precious.
Shen Youchu filled out the form at lightning speed and handed it back.
After a quick glance, the clerk closed the household register and returned it.
“No problems. You can go home for now. Once the departure date is finalized, we’ll notify your family.”
The mission wasn’t over yet.
Instead of taking the booklet immediately, Shen Youchu asked,
“Comrade, my younger sister is also eager to serve in the countryside. Can I register her as well?”
The clerk raised his eyebrows.
“Oh? Both of you sisters have impressive ideological awareness.”
Then he added seriously,
“But I should inform you that this assignment is to the Great Northern Wilderness.”
The Great Northern Wilderness.
One of the harshest relocation destinations.
Shen Youchu immediately replied with righteous passion:
“That’s exactly where we want to go!”
“No hardship is too difficult for us sisters!”
The sincerity in her voice nearly moved the clerk.
“Excellent.”
He nodded approvingly.
“You two have remarkable dedication. I’ll submit the recommendation. Go ahead and fill out another form.”
Shen Youchu swiftly completed a second registration form.
Calculating that her five minutes were almost up, she exchanged a few polite words before hurrying out.
Before leaving, she made sure to emphasize:
“Please, whatever you do, make sure both my sister and I are assigned to the Great Northern Wilderness.”
Watching her depart, the clerk couldn’t help sighing with admiration.
“What an exemplary comrade.”
A person with such revolutionary enthusiasm deserved special treatment.
Immediately, he walked over to the female clerk and handed her the two forms.
“Prioritize these applicants.”
“Approve the highest subsidy level available.”
After leaving the office, Shen Youchu checked her surroundings.
Once she confirmed nobody was watching, she mentally dismissed the Mimic Fruit’s effect and returned to her original appearance.
“Hmph.”
“I hope your family enjoys the generous gift I’ve prepared.”
Meanwhile…
Back at the Shen residence…
Zong Huaiyu had literally whipped a belt to pieces.
Even after beating the adulterous pair unconscious, he still couldn’t force a single word out of them.
Furious, he threw the broken belt aside and collapsed onto the ground, drenched in sweat.
“Throw them into the river and let the fish eat them.”
The four bodyguards exchanged uneasy glances.
The hesitation in their eyes was obvious.
After all, they earned only a little over ten yuan a month.
Murder seemed like a terrible return on investment.
“Father…”
Zong Sisi’s eyes were red from crying.
She wanted to persuade him otherwise but lacked the courage.
Zong Xiaxia, however, suddenly threw herself into Zong Huaiyu’s arms.
Tears streamed down her face.
“Dad, if Mom did something like this, then she deserves the consequences.”
“My sister and I won’t blame you.”
“Please don’t be angry anymore.”
“It hurts me to see you like this.”
“…?”
The moment those words entered Zong Sisi’s ears, she froze.
She stared at her younger sister in disbelief.
Had she heard correctly?
The bodyguards were equally stunned.
Their expressions practically screamed:
Damn. That’s cold.
Even Zong Huaiyu was so angry he started laughing.
Strangely enough, his frustration vanished instantly.
He shoved Zong Xiaxia away.
His hand rose as if to slap her.
Then stopped.
“I should’ve contributed a little less that night.”
“Otherwise I wouldn’t have ended up with something like you.”
“Get lost.”
Zong Xiaxia pouted.
Covering her face, she burst into pitiful sobs.
Zong Huaiyu didn’t even spare her a glance.
Instead, he turned to Zong Sisi.
“You’re crying too.”
“All you ever do is cry.”
“It’s annoying.”
The criticism only made her cry harder.
Her entire body shook.
Instantly, Zong Huaiyu’s heart softened.
Panicking, he dug several cloth ration coupons from his pocket.
“Alright, alright.”
“Daddy didn’t mean it.”
“Stop crying.”
“Take these and buy yourself some new clothes.”
The reason Zong Sisi was his favorite daughter was simple.
She was obedient and knew when to stop.
Sniffling, she accepted the coupons and quietly nodded.
Not another word.
Rubbing his temples, Zong Huaiyu barked at the bodyguards:
“What are you idiots standing around for?”
“Take them to a doctor.”
“If they can be saved, save them.”
“If not, let me know so I can start planning the funeral banquet.”
“Hahahahaha!”
A bizarre, almost demonic laugh suddenly echoed from behind them.
Everyone jumped in fright and spun around.
There stood Shen Youchu.
No one knew when she had returned.
In one hand she held a giant pork rib that Aunt Yang had specially bought for her.
In the other, a bowl of soup.
She was laughing so hard she could barely stand.
Zong Huaiyu’s perpetually squinting eyes snapped wide open.
He stormed over.
“Have you lost your mind?!”
“You’re eating the entire rib by yourself?!”
“How are we supposed to live like this?!”
He was just about to summon Aunt Yang and scold her when she came jogging over herself.
“Master, we have a guest.”
“I don’t care!”
Zong Huaiyu waved her off.
“Send them away.”
“Very well.”
Aunt Yang smiled professionally.
“I’ll go inform Young Master Fu.”
She turned to leave.
Young Master Fu?
Zong Huaiyu froze.
Then, displaying astonishing vitality for his age, he grabbed Aunt Yang by the arm.
Pointing at Shen Youchu, he exclaimed:
“Has she gone crazy, or have you?”
“If it’s Young Master Fu, why didn’t you say so sooner?!”
“Hurry and serve tea!”
“Tell him I’ll be right there!”
Then he turned toward his daughters.
“You two go upstairs.”
“Don’t come down unless I call for you.”
Neither daughter was as beautiful as Shen Youchu.
But they weren’t unattractive either.
And Fu Boda had a notorious reputation.
Zong Huaiyu wasn’t taking any chances.
Turning to the bodyguards, he ordered:
“You lot don’t use the front gate.”
“Take those two and climb over the wall.”
The bodyguards looked utterly speechless.
Finally, one honest fellow spoke up:
“Boss… the wall is over two meters high.”
“It’s hard enough for us to climb it ourselves.”
“Carrying Madam and this adulterer at the same time is…”
Before Zong Huaiyu could explode again, Shen Youchu suddenly tossed aside her rib and soup bowl.
Rubbing her hands together enthusiastically, she volunteered:
“No worries!”
“Easy job.”
“I’ll throw them over the wall for you.”
“And if you can’t climb over yourselves, I can toss you over too.”
“Shut up!”
Zong Huaiyu rolled his eyes so hard they nearly left his head.
“Nobody asked you.”
“Hurry up and come meet Young Master Fu.”
He grabbed her arm and tried dragging her toward the living room.
To his surprise…
She didn’t budge an inch.
“Hurry up!”
“They’re practically dying over there!”
“What are you waiting for?”
Shen Youchu casually shook off his hand.
Then she smiled sweetly.
A very, very dangerous smile.
“You really want to take me to meet this Young Master Fu?”