When it was Lin Shiyao’s turn, a female staff member handed her a script, and she began reading it aloud. Her voice was full of emotion, clear and melodious like an oriole, earning nods of approval from the examiners. After finishing, she was asked to wait outside.
……
Once everyone had finished their interviews, it was time for the results.
“Now, I will announce the broadcasting positions: Li Qingqing and Lin Shiyao.”
Li Qingqing, seeing that Lin Shiyao had also passed, was furious. Her father was the workshop team leader and had clearly said he could help her and Yuanyuan get the broadcasting positions—so how did this fox spirit snatch it from her?
Next to her, the girl named Yuanyuan bowed her head and quietly cried. She thought Li Qingqing was useless—promising to help her get the broadcasting position, only to have it taken by a “fox spirit.” Truly helpless.
Lin Shiyao signed her name and immediately completed the onboarding procedures. This was better—no time for complications, as there were often issues with people trying to take over slots.
Ignoring Li Qingqing’s scornful glares, Lin Shiyao walked straight out of the textile factory and checked in at the gate.
“Ding! Check-in successful: one pound of pork, ten pounds of cabbage, thirty eggs.”
Lin Shiyao was surprised. She had only wanted to test what she could receive by checking in at the factory, expecting maybe fabric—but it wasn’t.
It seemed the check-in items had nothing to do with the location. For now, she put the items into her storage space.
She took the same shaky bus back home, further strengthening her resolve to buy a bicycle.
By the time she got home, it was noon. Lin Zhengbin was eating.
“Big sister, you’re back! Where did you go? I didn’t even see you when I got home.”
“Nothing, I went out to look for work,” Lin Shiyao said, collapsing onto the sofa.
“Did you find a job?”
“Of course, your sister is amazing—of course I got one.”
“Really? Sister, you’re incredible!” Lin Zhengbin was thrilled. This meant his sister wouldn’t have to go to the countryside. It was hard work out there; one of his classmates’ older sisters had gone, and he didn’t want his own sister to have to go. She was too delicate to handle farm work.
In the afternoon, Lin Shiyao stayed home to finish translating the manuscripts from the bookstore.
She worked diligently and finished around five o’clock. Her parents hadn’t returned from work yet, and Lin Shiyao decided to show off some cooking skills, helping her family gradually accept her changes.
Luckily, the meat and vegetables she had received from the check-in could be used. When the dishes were ready, her parents and brother returned. Seeing Lin Shiyao had prepared the meal, both Lin Ba and Lin Ma were shocked.
When had their daughter ever learned to cook? And it smelled so good!
“Big sister, what did you make? It smells amazing,” Lin Zhengbin exclaimed. Since the incident with the drowning, his sister seemed to be getting more and more capable.
“Sweetheart, when did you learn to cook?” Lin Ma asked, suspicious. She knew her daughter, usually not allowed to cook—at most, she could wash some vegetables and watch, but never actually handle the food herself.
“Mom, Dad, I saw it in a book—it had lots of recipes. I just followed the instructions,” Lin Shiyao said confidently. Indeed, the original owner had such a book.
“Did you get hurt?” Lin Ma worried. Their daughter had never cooked before—what if she cut herself? Lin Ba, though not very expressive, shared her concern.
Lin Shiyao felt both exasperated and warm inside. In her previous life, she hadn’t had the care of her parents—this was her chance to make up for it.
“I’m fine. Everything’s good. You two go wash your hands and try my cooking,” Lin Shiyao urged.
Lin Zhengbin had already washed and sat at the table, eyes fixed on the delicious food, swallowing hard.
The whole family tasted the dishes and praised them repeatedly. Lin Shiyao felt a little embarrassed from all the compliments.
After the meal, Lin Shiyao dropped a bombshell.
“Really?” Lin Ma couldn’t believe it. The job they had been searching for so long, her daughter had gotten it in a single day.
“Really, Mom. I already completed the onboarding procedure. I can start work tomorrow.”
“Mom, do we still have a bicycle ticket? I want to buy a bike and pay you back after I get my first paycheck.” Lin Shiyao had no money or ticket, so she needed a way to move around. She was eager to earn, imagining her future as a landlady.
“You child, what are you talking about? The bicycle ticket was saved for you anyway,” Lin Ma said, patting her arm.
Lin Shiyao hugged her mom’s arm, acting spoiled. “Mom, you’re the best. Thank you.” She turned to Lin Ba: “Thanks, Dad too.”
Lin Ba looked at her with affection, lightly patting her head. “No need to be so formal with the family.”
“Sis, me too,” Lin Zhengbin pouted.
“Okay, okay, thanks, little brother,” Lin Shiyao said with a smile.
“Mom will buy it for you tomorrow, and your Dad will take you to work in the morning—on the way,” Lin Ma said. Working at the supply and marketing cooperative made buying the bicycle very convenient.
“Okay,” Lin Shiyao replied, remembering that her father’s steel factory wasn’t far from the textile factory.
The next morning, after breakfast, Lin Shiyao rode her father’s bicycle to work.
Many neighbors saw them going downstairs and asked where they were going. Lin Ba usually rode alone, so why bring his daughter today?
Proudly, Lin Ba said he was taking his daughter to work, then rode off with her.
Everyone watching was shocked—how did Lin Shiyao get a job so quickly? Did she use connections or pull some strings?
At the textile factory gate, Lin Ba reminded Lin Shiyao not to be afraid of anything and to come to the steel factory if she had problems. His heart as a father was in pieces on her first day.
Lin Shiyao, though inexperienced in formal work in this life, had plenty of previous summer and winter jobs. She wasn’t a rookie—she was experienced.
“Dad, don’t worry about work. If anything happens, I’ll come find you. Besides, I’m capable—no one can bully me,” Lin Shiyao reassured him.
“Good. Don’t run off after work, wait at the gate for Dad,” he said. With the outside world so chaotic and his daughter so pretty, what if she ran into trouble?
After seeing her father ride off, Lin Shiyao walked into the textile factory.
A few workers walked in small groups along the way, noticing such a beautiful girl entering with them, sparking curiosity and chatter.
“Comrade, are you here visiting relatives or for work?” asked a woman around 30.
“Big sister, I’m here to work as a broadcaster. I passed the exam yesterday and am starting work today,” Lin Shiyao replied with a smile.
“Oh, then we’ll hear your broadcasts! You’re so pretty,” the woman thought happily, especially hearing her call her “big sister.”
“Hmph, some people, just because they have a fox-like face, think they can get jobs—what skill is that?” a sharp voice interrupted.
Lin Shiyao and the woman turned and saw—Li Qingqing with her braids. The tiger hadn’t roared, and she thought Lin Shiyao was a weak cat.
“Smack!” A crisp sound rang out. Li Qingqing was stunned—she actually dared to hit her.
“How dare you hit me? Do you know who my dad is? I’ll make sure you can’t stay here!” Li Qingqing shouted, covering her face and pointing at Lin Shiyao.
“So what? I already hit you. What’s there to fear? Oh, who’s your dad? Say it so everyone can see who can’t stay here first,” Lin Shiyao crossed her arms confidently.
Seeing so many people watching, Li Qingqing suddenly remembered her father had told her to act cautiously and avoid trouble.
“You just wait…” she muttered, covering her face as she ran off.