Bad people thrive because they are opportunistic and shameless. In adversity, they will kowtow and beg for mercy, but the moment the trouble blows over, they won't hesitate to stab you in the back. The tricks Liu Meili was currently playing were all things she had used up long ago.
Sang Zhi did not even lift her eyelids. She yawned lazily and said, "I want scallion pancakes tomorrow morning. I’ve left the ingredients in the kitchen, but let me make one thing clear: if anyone dares to steal a bite, I won't be polite."
She hoped Liu Meili was smart enough to go along with it and not cause any more trouble. Otherwise, where else would she find a nanny who didn't cost a dime?
Liu Meili cursed under her breath, then took her son out to beg others for help. Unfortunately, bad news travels fast; their family was now like a rat crossing the street—everyone wanted to kick them while they were down. Who would dare get involved in such a mess? Liu Meili was met with closed doors all night.
...
The small courtyard had no private toilets, so one had to use the public one in the yard. Small children, however, had no such inhibitions; many who weren't in school yet would just pull out their little "sparrows" and relieve themselves on the spot.
When Sang Zhi returned from the toilet, she happened to see Granny Zhao’s grandson watering the ground by the door. Seeing her, the little boy was so embarrassed he tried to bolt, but he hadn't pulled his pants up, and he tumbled right into a suspicious patch of wet mud. Granny Zhao, frustrated by his lack of grace, gave him two slaps. The scene was so ridiculous that Sang Zhi couldn't help but laugh.
"Ding. Merit Value minus ten..."
Sang Zhi’s smile froze.
"Host, please establish correct values. Schadenfreude is unacceptable. Also, please activate your novice task as soon as possible: assist one patient within one week. Upon completion, you will be rewarded with a novice pack of two hundred Merit Value. Friendly reminder: once Merit Value reaches zero, the Merit System will enter sleep mode."
In the interface of the Merit Mall, only a dim sixty Merit Value flickered.
Sang Zhi gasped. How was she supposed to know that even laughing would cost her? And what was this about a novice task? Her "golden finger" was useful, but it was like Sun Wukong’s magic headband—it came with a restriction. She thought to herself, *Wait until my level is higher. Then I’ll laugh whenever I want and won’t be afraid of losing points.*
...
In the courtyard, Liu Meili, her eyes red and swollen, was listlessly frying pancakes. Although their family had escaped the rural registry and were eating state-supplied grain, city rations were strictly limited. Residents got twenty-three jin a month, officials twenty-six, and specialized workers—like steelworkers—got forty-five. This quota wasn't all fine flour, either; half was coarse cornmeal, two-fifths flour, and one-tenth rice. For a family of five with three grown men, the ration wasn't enough to eat, let alone use for fine flour.
The thought that this fine flour came from her own meager share, yet she couldn't eat it, made her blood boil. She wanted to quit, but she couldn't withstand another beating from Sang Zhi. The aroma of meat pancakes filled the air. Sang Weiguo crouched nearby, whining, "Mom, give me some! I want to eat!"
There was only enough for one person, but Liu Meili had been clever; she had divided the dough to make four small ones. Pitying her son, she snuck one to him. Sang Weiguo had just taken a bite when he saw the "great demon" leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, wearing a mocking smile. Fearing the pancake would be snatched away, he stuffed it into his mouth despite the heat, gagging until he rolled his eyes. Liu Meili hurriedly fed her youngest son some cold water.
Sang Zhi couldn't be bothered with them. She took the meat pancakes and the coarse-grain flatbreads that were supposed to be the mother and son's breakfast. "Trading the meat pancakes for the coarse ones—any objections?"
She didn't want to cook in the morning, but there was no reason she should feed them for free.
"No, no..." Liu Meili saw her gripping a rolling pin, looking ready to strike, and didn't dare say otherwise.
After Sang Zhi left, she turned around and gave the choking-dry coarse flatbreads to Granny Zhao. With grain in short supply, everyone was tightening their belts. Knowing she was appeasing her embarrassed grandson, that family actually contributed thirty Merit Value to her.
Sang Zhi had to deal with work matters today. Yesterday’s incident had caused quite a stir, and the factory had sent an investigation team. When she arrived, she provided some "testimony."
As she left, she was called over by Director Fang. Director Fang also worked at the pharmacy; he was the son of a servant at her grandmother's house and had grown up alongside her father as a fellow apprentice. When a vacancy opened at the pharmacy, he had used his connections to save it for the original owner, but unfortunately, the original owner hadn't been up to the task.
Seeing Sang Zhi, the old man’s eyes lit up, and he brought her into his office for a lecture. "You’re lucky you escaped the 'educated youth' relocation to the countryside this year, but it doesn't look like you’ll escape it next year."
The only way to avoid the countryside was to have a job or get married. But jobs were hard to come by. The original owner had squandered a golden opportunity. Seeing her bow her head in silence, the old man thought she was reflecting and softened his tone.
"Alright, I'm not blaming you. Your uncle is quite something—when trouble struck, he abandoned your brother and cleared his own name. But once your brother leaves, the position will be vacant, and you can take it. We need to be quick. Let’s go handle the paperwork."
Sang Zhi had been mentally prepared for the uncle to sacrifice the pawn to save the king. Since there were no surveillance cameras or fingerprints, and the recording only featured Sang Jianshe, as long as her uncle insisted he was unaware, the leaders could do nothing.
As for the job... the pharmacy was fine, but she had no medical qualifications. She didn't want it and explained her plans to the old man. The young woman’s bright eyes and clear expression reminded him so much of his old junior brother; seeing she shared the same ideals as her father, he swallowed his words of persuasion. He simply said he would keep an eye out if any hospital departments were hiring.
As for this position, he technically had the final say. But knowing her greedy uncle and aunt, he was worried they might scheme again, so he thought it best to finalize it quickly.
Aunt Su Xia’s youngest son had reached the age for relocation. If he didn't find a job this year, he would have to head to the countryside next year. She had been so worried lately that her mouth was covered in fever blisters. After returning, Sang Zhi went straight to Aunt Su to explain her intentions.
Su Xia shook her head; she didn't want to steal Sang Zhi’s spot.
"Aunt Su, I want to be a doctor. Besides, you forgot—I have a great-uncle I can turn to. Even if I don't become a doctor, he can find me a good job."
After much persuasion, she finally agreed. But Su Xia insisted on not taking it for free and offered eight hundred yuan. In the current market, an apprentice position was four hundred and a permanent one was eight hundred. Since they were genuinely trying to look out for her, Sang Zhi agreed.
Su Xia found her youngest son, grabbed her documents, and hurried to handle the transfer.
Back at the Sang household, Sang Yun and her mother got word of the news. Although her son had committed a crime, the job had originally been the hospital's compensation to the Sang family. They figured it was worth being beaten by Sang Zhi if it meant the daughter got the benefit!
Their plan was perfect, but when they arrived at the hospital and stated their purpose, they were interrupted. The staff member handling the transfer smiled enigmatically and said that someone had already filled the vacancy.
"Impossible!" Liu Meili shouted. The trouble had only happened last night, and the factory hadn't even issued a ruling yet—how could the job be gone?
Just then, Aunt Su, her son, and Sang Zhi walked out of the office. Seeing them, Liu Meili finally understood. They were a step too late.
Pulling back her disappointed and shouting daughter, Liu Meili felt as if she had aged several years. "Since it’s a done deal, don't dwell on it. The top priority now is to get on good terms with that retired high-ranking official. Once we do, getting him to help find a good job will be easy. The place where he lives is full of influential people; just find someone capable and marry them."
Sang Yun thought of the man at the train station and blushed. Liu Meili didn't notice her daughter’s expression and told her to head back while she went to run an errand. She had received her wages today and needed to buy some grain on the black market.
But when she reached the accountant, she was hit with a bombshell.
"What did you say?!"