“Too high?”
Ji Shuyu leaned against the headboard, her face pale, putting on a wronged expression.
“What I’m giving up is an iron rice bowl at the state-run department store—a secure job, unaffected by floods or droughts, with excellent benefits. The monthly salary plus subsidies is at least over thirty yuan.”
“Once I go down, it’ll be at least three to five years, maybe even eight or ten years before I can return. Have you calculated the losses during that time? Five hundred yuan for a golden rice bowl—you’re the ones getting a bargain.”
She turned her gaze to Lin Xiumei, looking pitiful.
“As for the coupons, without these, how is a pregnant woman like me supposed to survive in the countryside? If I starve to death, or something happens to the child, Auntie Lin, can you bear the responsibility? And if word gets out, it won’t be good for my father’s reputation, right?”
“I’m just going to the countryside; it’s not like I’m not coming back. If my husband finds out I was driven to my death, then you…”
Ji Shuyu left her sentence hanging, but the words were full of threat.
Lin Xiumei’s face turned completely pale.
In these sensitive times, any negative public opinion could bring catastrophic consequences.
Lin Xiumei felt a throbbing at her temples.
She looked at Ji Shuyu, feeling for the first time that this stepdaughter, whom she had always manipulated, had become so unfamiliar and frightening.
She was no longer that pliable lump of dough; every word was now filled with calculation and threat.
Lin Xiumei fell silent, weighing the pros and cons.
Ji Meiling was still stomping her feet beside them. “Mom, you can’t agree! She’s just being greedy! That job originally…”
“Shut up!”
Lin Xiumei sharply cut Ji Meiling off.
She stared at Ji Shuyu as if trying to see through her.
Ji Shuyu met her gaze without flinching.
She knew Lin Xiumei would compromise.
For Ji Meiling’s job, and even more for their own stable lives not to be disrupted.
After a long moment, Lin Xiumei, almost gritting her teeth, squeezed out a sentence through clenched teeth.
“Fine, I agree. But I can only give you three hundred in cash, one hundred and fifty jin of grain coupons, and thirty chi of fabric coupons. The rest… I’ll try my best.”
“Alright, Auntie Lin, I won’t make it difficult for you. Let’s do it like this then.”
Ji Shuyu yawned, preparing to sleep, but Lin Xiumei immediately said, “Then you can sign now, right?”
They still hadn’t submitted that consent form for going to the countryside.
“What’s the rush? What if you don’t give me the things after I sign?”
“Prepare everything and give it to me first, then I’ll sign.”
Ji Shuyu wore an expression that said, ‘Suit yourself, I’m not in a hurry anyway.’
Lin Xiumei took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing her anger. The initiative was now in Ji Shuyu’s hands; she could only compromise.
Just wait, once she signs, I’ll definitely make sure she doesn’t have it easy.
“Fine, fine, I agree.”
Lin Xiumei said this almost through gritted teeth.
“But Shuyu, the things you want, especially the cash, national grain coupons, and fabric coupons… the family can’t gather that much all at once. Your father’s salary hasn’t been paid yet, and the grain and fabric coupons need to be obtained through exchanges. It will take at least three days.”
She stared at Ji Shuyu, her tone probing.
“Rest well at home these three days and recover your health. Once everything is ready, you sign, and we’ll take you to the Educated Youth Office immediately to report. How does that sound?”
Ji Shuyu sneered inwardly.
Three days was fine; enough time for her to thoroughly comb through the house.
She hesitated for a moment before reluctantly nodding. “Alright, Auntie Lin, I don’t want to make things difficult for you either. Three days, then. But… the items must be exactly as on my list. If even one is missing, I won’t sign.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to provide what I promised.”
She pulled the still-fuming Ji Meiling out quickly.
The door closed, and Ji Shuyu felt a thrill of excitement.
This was a zero-dollar shopping spree! But if it was too obvious, she’d get caught. Better start with small items first.
Save up bit by bit, and eventually, it’ll all add up to big points!
While Lin Xiumei was dragging Ji Meiling out, Ji Shuyu quietly opened the door.
[Detected item available for exchange: Enamel Washbasin (Slight Chipping) × 1, Exchangeable Points: 1. Confirm exchange?]
[Detected item available for exchange: Metal Thermos (Dented Casing) × 1, Exchangeable Points: 3. Confirm exchange?]
[Detected item available for exchange: …]
As long as the system judged it valuable and she deemed it dispensable, she exchanged it all!
The points slowly but steadily increased to [8.7].
The room became visibly emptier.
Ji Shuyu looked at the points on the panel, considering her next move.
This amount was still too little; it couldn’t buy anything useful.
The journey to the island was too long; she had to be fully prepared.
Not to mention establishing herself initially on the island—this meager stash was far from enough.
Her gaze turned toward another room.
The truly valuable things in this house weren’t limited to these.
Perhaps she could try her luck in Lin Xiumei and Ji Guodong’s room. Those two were definitely hiding many good things.
That day, Lin Xiumei was going out, and Ji Meiling pestered her to go along. Ji Guodong wasn’t home due to working overtime.
It gave Ji Shuyu a golden opportunity.
After they left, Ji Shuyu went to the master bedroom.
The door was locked. Who else would it be to keep out but Ji Shuyu?
But this didn’t stump Ji Shuyu.
She quickly searched through the Points Mall.
Sure enough, in a remote corner of [Daily Supplies], she found what she needed.
Simple Lock-picking Tool (One-time Use) – 1 point. (Description: Can open simple pin tumbler locks.)
After choosing to exchange, a small, oddly shaped metal piece appeared in her palm.
Holding her breath, she carefully inserted the metal piece into the keyhole and gently fiddled with it a few times.
The lock soon clicked open, the tool broke and disappeared a second later.
The master bedroom was much more spacious and brighter than her small room, and the furnishings were more refined.
The double bed was covered with brand-new silk sheets; the chest of drawers and wardrobe were made of solid wood, polished to a shine.
Ji Shuyu immediately started her zero-dollar shopping spree, her gaze sweeping the room.
But obviously, ordinary items only raised her points to [12.9].
Her eyes fell on the chest of drawers.
Good stuff was usually in the drawers. Time to take a chance.
Ji Shuyu quickly rummaged through. Under a silk scarf, she felt a small, hard box.
Opening it, she found a pair of high-quality pearl earrings and a substantial silver ring.
[Detected item available for exchange: Natural Pearl Earrings × 1 pair, Exchangeable Points: 15!]
[Detected item available for exchange: Pure Silver Ring × 1, Exchangeable Points: 8!]
Ji Shuyu’s eyes lit up, and she exchanged them directly.
Points instantly surged to [35.9]. She quickly put the empty box back in its place and covered it with the scarf.
She knew Lin Xiumei had good stuff here.
However, the third drawer was locked, and this lock looked like a more complex combination lock.
For it to be locked like this, there must be something even better inside.
Ji Shuyu hesitated for a moment but still used 5 points to exchange for a set of universal lock-picking tools, also one-time use.
Just as the tools appeared in her hand, before Ji Shuyu could even start picking the lock—
Ji Meiling’s voice suddenly came from the living room outside: “Ji Shuyu, are you just lounging around at home? You’re not even making dinner!”
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