Lin Wan pulled her arm back and asked rather impolitely, “What do you want from me?”
Ma Xiuying reached out again to grab her arm. “Let’s go inside your room and talk.”
Lin Wan dodged her again. “Stay away from me. Don’t pass your lice onto me!”
Ma Xiuying was the dirtiest girl in their class. Lin Wan had once seen fat lice fighting in her hair strands.
There were also often tiny white eggs stuck in her hair.
No way.
Lin Wan’s arm already started to itch.
She couldn’t help scratching it.
Ma Xiuying’s expression turned unhappy.
But remembering her purpose, she forced it down and kept the smile on her face no matter how strained it looked.
“Just say it here. We’re not close anyway,” Lin Wan said.
Back when they were in school, Ma Xiuying spread rumors about the original owner everywhere, and the original owner was just as sharp-tongued in return—she despised how dirty Ma Xiuying was and never treated her politely.
Seeing that Lin Wan refused to talk privately, Ma Xiuying could only state her purpose.
“I just wanted to ask how you knew the post office was hiring. I also wanted to—”
Before she could finish, Huang Guihua pulled Lin Wan behind her and put her hands on her hips. “You want my ass!”
“You think Wanwan would tell you? Everyone already passed the exam!”
“Enough, enough. If there’s nothing else, get out. Don’t stand here waiting for a meal in our house.”
Ma Xiuying got anxious and tried to explain. “Auntie, that’s not what I meant. I just meant we’re all classmates—if there’s job info, Lin Wan should’ve told everyone…”
Huang Guihua almost laughed from anger and directly swept her out with a broom.
“Pah!”
“Bullshit!”
“Find me a single household that shares recruitment information!”
“Eating grapes and calling them sour—look at yourself in the mirror! Dreaming all day long!”
“Winter hasn’t even come yet and you’re already blowing snot bubbles!”
The neighbors watching the commotion pointed and whispered. Huang Guihua wasn’t wrong either—who would ever share job openings?
Wouldn’t that just create competition for themselves?
Are you sick in the head?
Ma Xiuying burst into tears and stamped her foot before running off.
After complaining to the neighbors for a bit, Huang Guihua went inside and closed the door, reminding Lin Wan:
“You’re about to become a postal worker now—very honorable!”
“From now on, when dealing with shameless people like that, don’t say a word. Mom will handle it!”
“If I’m not home, Hongqiang, just throw them out!”
“You’re still a kid—whoever argues with you is immature!”
Zhang Hongqiang straightened his chest and patted it loudly. “Mom, don’t worry!”
“I’ll protect my sister!”
Lin Wan felt warm inside.
Being unreasonably protected and spoiled felt really, really good.
She rushed over and hugged Huang Guihua from behind. “Mom, you’re so good. I like you so much!”
She even rubbed her face against her back.
Zhang Hongqiang quickly hugged her leg. “Sister, you’re good too! I like you too!”
The corners of Huang Guihua’s mouth couldn’t stop lifting.
She patted Lin Wan’s hand. “You’ve been running around all day and still bought so many things.”
“Go rest in your room.”
“I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”
“Oh right, do you want to buy a pair of leather shoes?”
Lin Wan shook her head. “No. I’ll wait to see if the work unit issues labor protection supplies.”
Huang Guihua thought about it. “Right, I forgot postal workers have uniforms.”
“Oh, Mom has something to tell you.”
Lin Wan pulled her into the room and told her everything—about getting the hundred yuan and ration coupons from Zhang Qin, and how she caught her stealing the household registration book and instead sold it for money.
She explained it all in detail so Huang Guihua wouldn’t be caught off guard later.
Huang Guihua sneered. “Ungrateful thing!”
“Secretly running off to get married!”
“No betrothal visit, no gifts—she’s devaluing herself!”
“Wanwan, listen to me. A woman must first value herself before others will value her.”
“If you don’t even respect yourself, how can anyone else respect you?”
Lin Wan nodded in full agreement.
At that moment, she especially appreciated Comrade Huo Xiao—even if their relationship was fake, the gifts he brought to visit were the only ones in the entire residential compound.
He had given both her and her mother enough face.
That night, the whole family returned home.
The house immediately became lively and noisy.
Bao Yan and Zhong Hongmei put down their bags and went to wash their hands to help Huang Guihua with dinner.
Staring at dish after dish of meat, the two of them were completely stunned.
What kind of day was this?
They had just eaten meat, and now there was another feast!
Were they planning to eat until the family ran out of money and never live properly again?
Lifting the pot lid, oh heavens—there was a whole pot full of steamed white rice!
Zhang Aimin hadn’t even stepped through the door yet when he started shouting.
“Guixiang! I heard our Wanwan passed the postal office exam!”
The rest of the family immediately widened their eyes.
What?
She passed the postal exam?
A postal job was a highly sought-after position—extremely competitive!
At the grassroots level, the most desirable jobs were the “Eight Major Workers”: driver, postal worker, childcare worker, barber, service worker, shop assistant, cook, and ticket seller (passenger transport).
Bao Yan and Zhong Hongmei were filled with envy.
Although they both had jobs, they were temporary workers with no benefits, and their lifetime salary would never exceed thirty yuan.
Even so, those temporary positions had been bought at great cost.
At least they counted as dual-income households, which made life much easier than single-income families.
But compared to Lin Wan…
The two sisters-in-law couldn’t help feeling sour.
Their troublesome younger sister-in-law really had incredible luck!
Her partner was a driver, and now she had gotten into the postal service—on her own merit. Once hired, she would be a permanent worker, and her salary would increase with seniority.
And postal work came with great benefits too!
Huang Guixiang grinned so widely that she showed all her teeth.
“Yes!”
“Wanwan passed the postal exam!”
“Tonight’s whole table of dishes was bought by Xiao Huo from the state-run restaurant to celebrate Wanwan’s success!”
“You’ve all gotten to enjoy the benefits thanks to her these past two days!”
╭(╯^╰)╮
Tch.
These freeloaders got lucky!
If it weren’t for the fact that the food wouldn’t keep in this heat, she wouldn’t have shared it at all!
Keeping it for her own little family would’ve been much better.
At most, she’d include Old Zhang.
Zhang Aimin was so excited he spun in place.
“This is such great news! Guixiang, for such a big occasion, shouldn’t we open a bottle of Maotai to celebrate?”
“Look at all this good food…”
Zhang Hongbing and Zhang Hongqiang immediately looked at Huang Guixiang with shining eyes.
Huang Guixiang rolled her eyes.
“You can’t keep anything good in your mouth, can you? Always thinking about drinking!”
“No Maotai. We still have that bottle of baijiu we opened last time. Drink that.”
Zhang Aimin and the sons were a little disappointed, but it faded quickly.
Having meat and alcohol was already like celebrating the New Year.
What more could they want?
The whole family sat down to eat.
It was so delicious!
Lin Wan could only drink porridge and chew on steamed buns.
Tears of craving streamed down her face—out of her mouth.
“Wanwan, why aren’t you eating?” Zhang Aimin asked.
Lin Wan forced out a pitiful smile.
“Uncle Zhang, I have gastritis. The doctor told me to only eat plain porridge for two days.”
Huff. Aggrieved.
While everyone else ate heartily, Zhang Hongqiang stood up and raised his cup in a toast to her.
“Wanwan, you’re really amazing. You’re our family’s pride. The nephews and nieces should all learn from you!”
He genuinely meant it.
Lin Wan had a difficult personality, but she was truly capable. When she was in school, she always managed to bring something back home from time to time.
Now, just as she was about to be sent to the countryside, she not only quickly found a good partner, but even secured a job.
And she didn’t spend a single cent.
She earned it herself.
And even got first place!
How capable was that?
Unlike his biological sister Zhang Qin, who brought him no benefit at all, this step-sister who was disliked by everyone actually got them meat and wine!
Zhang Hongbing quickly joined in as well.
When Zhang Qin came to visit with Guo Xuyang and saw this scene, she suddenly felt like she didn’t belong to this family at all—like Lin Wan was the real daughter instead.
A sudden wave of grievance filled her heart, and her eyes turned red.
Seeing this, Guo Xuyang felt displeased.
He glanced at her with pity and squeezed her hand.
“I’m here.”
“I’ll treat you well in the future.”
“This cold family that’s blind to your worth—you don’t need to care about them.”
Lin Wan looked up at that moment and met their gazes.
Seeing their expressions, her previously bright mood instantly darkened.