“I’m the director of Xinhua Bookstore, my surname is Wu. Young lady, you’re very impressive.” Director Wu gave Mu Youyou a thumbs-up.
“You flatter me, Director Wu. My surname is Mu, Mu Youyou,” she replied with a smile, waving her hand modestly.
“Comrade Mu, these books all need translation. Feel free to pick any—you can take them home and work on them slowly,” Director Wu said.
“Alright.” Mu Youyou chose a moderately thick book. With her ability, she could finish it within three days.
Earlier, Director Wu had mentioned that translating one such book paid eighty yuan.
“Director Wu, I have a question,” Mu Youyou said.
“Go ahead.” He gestured for her to continue.
“I’ll be moving to join the military soon. Can the books be mailed? I’d like to translate them at the military base,” she asked.
“No problem,” Director Wu nodded. Sending things to a military district was perfectly safe.
“Thank you. I’ll take this one back and return it in a few days,” she said with a smile.
“No rush,” Director Wu thought to himself—it would already be impressive if she finished one in a month.
Mu Youyou didn’t explain further. She simply smiled, took the book, and left.
After returning home, she entered the space and began translating. For her, it was as easy as copying text.
Over the next two days, aside from cooking, she stayed in the space translating. Since she could hear what was happening outside, she wasn’t worried about unexpected visitors. Before the third day even arrived, she had already finished.
“Sister, today is the day you’re supposed to visit Gu Beiting’s grandfather,” Caicai reminded her. This had been arranged beforehand.
“I know. I’ll drop off the book on the way,” Mu Youyou nodded.
She bought two cans of fruit with era-appropriate packaging and two jin of sponge cake from the system, storing them in the space.
She first went to Xinhua Bookstore, where Director Wu happened to be outside.
“Director Wu, I’ve finished translating the book I borrowed. Please take a look,” Mu Youyou greeted him.
“So fast?” After flipping through it, he looked at her in surprise.
“I’ve read this book before, so it was quicker,” she replied with a smile. She had no intention of doing translation work every day.
“No wonder,” Director Wu chuckled.
“I’ll pick another book, but I might only send it back after I arrive at the military base,” she added.
“No problem. I’ll send your payment to you then,” he said kindly.
“Alright.” She nodded.
Director Wu asked the same saleswoman from before to get eighty yuan in cash from accounting. The woman looked at Mu Youyou in disbelief.
Mu Youyou simply smiled calmly.
After leaving the bookstore, she found a secluded spot, stored the book in her space, took out the prepared gifts, and rode her bicycle to the southern residential compound.
Knock, knock, knock.
A guard opened the door. Mu Youyou nodded in greeting and entered the main hall. Gu Beiting’s grandfather lived with his parents.
“Hello, Grandpa!” The old man was sitting in the hall drinking tea. He was a retired veteran of the Red Army, once at the rank of army commander. His imposing presence made even Mu Youyou—who had experienced the modern world—feel a bit intimidated, let alone the original timid host.
“Youyou is here, come sit,” he said, pointing to a chair.
“Are Dad and Mom not back from work yet?” Mu Youyou didn’t see Gu Beiting’s parents.
“Not yet,” the old man replied with a smile, trying to appear gentle in front of his granddaughter-in-law.
In truth, this was only the second time they had met. The original host had a good reputation in the military compound—pretty, kind, and a teacher—making her an ideal daughter-in-law.
But Mu Youyou was not the original host. Setting aside his identity, she simply treated him as an elderly man who needed companionship.
Following the original host’s memories, she told stories from childhood, making the old man laugh heartily.
“I didn’t expect our Youyou to be such a mischievous child,” he said, growing more fond of her. He had once worried she was too timid, but now felt she matched well with his cold grandson.
“Dad, what’s making you so happy?” At that moment, Gu Beiting’s mother walked in and spotted Mu Youyou. “Oh, Youyou is here!”
“Mom.”
“Oh! You must be hungry. I’ll start cooking,” she said with a smile, heading into the kitchen.
“Mom, I’ll help.” Mu Youyou felt uncomfortable just sitting and waiting, so she followed her in after greeting the old man.
Gu Beiting’s mother was surprised. The last time the original host visited, she hadn’t helped in the kitchen. Then she thought perhaps it was because it had been her first visit.
Mu Youyou worked skillfully, assisting while chatting naturally.
Watching her, Gu Beiting’s mother nodded in satisfaction. She had once felt the girl was too meek, but now she seemed just right—capable and pleasant. Looking closely, she even seemed more beautiful than before.
Gu Beiting’s father didn’t return for dinner due to work at the military district. At the table, the old man and his mother kept putting food onto Mu Youyou’s plate.
Looking at them, Mu Youyou felt something she had never experienced in her previous life. Her eyes grew slightly red.
“Youyou, what’s wrong?” his mother asked.
“Mom, it’s nothing. I just feel very happy… and I miss my parents a little,” Mu Youyou said with a small smile, making up an excuse.
“From now on, we are your family,” she said warmly.
“Mm.” Mu Youyou nodded.
After dinner, she helped clean up, sat for a while, and then went home.
Back home, she remembered the “treasures” she had picked up at the scrap station but hadn’t examined yet.
She entered the space, took a bath, changed into vintage-style pajamas she had bought, and sat on the carpet in the living room, dismantling the items one by one. Caicai watched knowingly beside her.
“Wow!”
Looking at what she uncovered, Mu Youyou felt she could live effortlessly for the rest of her life.
A bag of diamonds, two sets of gemstone jewelry, and a pile of gold bars.
“Caicai, how are you this amazing? Tell me, what reward do you want?” she said with a smile.
“Sister, I don’t know the mission yet, so I can’t complete it. But if you earn and spend more in the marketplace, I can gain points to upgrade when I return to Tech Father,” Caicai explained.
“What does upgrading mean?” Mu Youyou asked.
“It’s like growing up for humans. Right now, I can only manifest through a medium using willpower,” Caicai said, waving the robot vacuum’s little arms.
“So after upgrading, you’ll have a real form?”
“Yes.”
“Got it. I’ll earn and spend more. But remember, Caicai—I don’t believe in waste, understand?”
Having grown up in an orphanage and struggled through life, Mu Youyou never wasted anything.
“Got it, Sister,” Caicai nodded its big head obediently.