This glow… it looked so similar to when she discovered that hundred-year coral fragment.
Ji Shuyu walked closer to the sea. Just then, a wave crashed in, splashing water all over her.
After the wave receded, Ji Shuyu looked down and saw a peculiarly shaped coral buried in the sand.
She quickly picked it up.
Fortunately, her pregnancy wasn’t far along yet, so she could still squat down flat-footed without much issue.
“Little Sister, what’s wrong?”
Director Wang, seeing this, came over. Noticing Ji Shuyu squatting and picking something out of the sand, he asked curiously.
Ji Shuyu shook her head and said, “It’s nothing, I just saw a pretty seashell.”
She had already tossed the coral fragment into her space.
Hearing this, Director Wang smiled. “You young women always like these things. I have plenty at home; I’ll give you some later.”
Having lived on this island for so long, he had loads of these seashells at home.
Ji Shuyu politely thanked Director Wang and went with him to the supply and marketing cooperative.
This large shipment would keep Director Wang supplied for a long time.
The previous opening policies had been very effective, attracting a large number of stable customers.
People used to be unwilling to buy things from the supply and marketing cooperative because the goods were expensive and poor quality.
Now, the prices were clear: if you had money, you could choose the better stuff; if you didn’t, you could opt for slightly lower-grade items.
After all, the variety at the cooperative was now complete, basically covering everything they needed.
Coupled with the good service attitude—the shop assistants all had smiling faces for everyone—people were happy to shop there now.
Ji Shuyu and Director Wang had just finished drafting a membership points system in the back office.
A modern membership points system could really help a shop retain customers.
It encouraged customers to develop a habit of visiting every week.
Even if they didn’t need to buy anything, they would instinctively want to come and look around.
Director Wang held the draft membership points detailed rules Ji Shuyu had prepared, his eyes full of admiration.
“Shuyu, your mind is truly sharp. Calculating points based on spending amount, and being able to exchange a certain number of points for practical items like soap and towels—the common folk will definitely be happy to come.”
“I’ll arrange for someone to copy these rules into a notice and post it in the most prominent spot at the cooperative’s entrance.”
Ji Shuyu smiled and nodded. Looking at Director Wang, she seemed to remember something and asked, “By the way, Director Wang, around our island, besides the common coral reefs, have you heard of any particularly strange-looking corals, or ones with unusual colors?”
Director Wang was taken aback, frowning in thought for a moment.
“Strange corals? Well, some old fishermen mentioned seeing dark red corals in the submerged reef area east of the island. Their shape isn’t like the branching kind we usually see; more like twisted knots.”
“But the currents are strong around those reefs, with undertows. No one dares get close. Over time, nobody paid it much mind. Why do you ask?”
Ji Shuyu’s heart stirred, but she kept her expression neutral. “It’s nothing. I just remembered reading about special corals in a book before when I picked up the seashell earlier. Was just curious.”
She didn’t dare say more. After all, the secrets of her space and the coral fragment were too bizarre to reveal lightly.
But Director Wang’s description gave Ji Shuyu another idea.
Perhaps that patch of coral held the secrets she wanted to know?
The two of them discussed the follow-up arrangements for the membership system a while longer.
For example, the items available for points redemption needed regular updates, and setting a “Member’s Day” each month with discount activities to ensure continuous customer attraction.
Seeing it was already noon, Ji Shuyu stood up to take her leave.
“Director Wang, the membership system is pretty much settled. I’ll head back now and come again tomorrow to see how the notice looks after it’s posted.”
“Alright, I’ll have Xiao Zhou see you back. The wind is strong by the sea this time of day; you mustn’t catch a chill in your condition.” Director Wang enthusiastically called for the shop assistant Xiao Zhou and also grabbed two packs of brown sugar from the shelves, handing them to Ji Shuyu.
(I think the author might have made a mistake — the previous shop assistant and the current one have the same name, but they’re clearly two different people. Since the name was the same, I translated it the same way, but they’re actually different characters.)
“This brown sugar is a new arrival. It’s good for you to drink brown sugar water during pregnancy. Take it!”
Unable to refuse his insistence, Ji Shuyu had no choice but to accept, thanking him repeatedly.
Stepping out of the supply and marketing cooperative, the sea breeze brushed her face. She instinctively touched her lower abdomen, her thoughts returning to the coral fragment in her space.
Earlier, in the office, she had secretly used her consciousness to check her space.
That coral fragment lay quietly in the corner, its surface seemingly shimmering with a very faint red glow, more noticeable than when she first picked it up.
Returning to her residence, Ji Shuyu closed the door and immediately entered her space.
She carefully took out the coral fragment and placed it in her palm for a close look.
The fragment was about the size of a palm, dark brown in color with an uneven surface. It really did look like twisted knots, just as Director Wang had described.
Stranger still, when she placed the hundred-year coral fragment she’d found earlier next to it, both fragments simultaneously emitted a faint light.
The lights intertwined, forming a thin band of radiance.
“What in the world is going on?”
Ji Shuyu murmured to herself, her confusion deepening.
She suddenly remembered that after obtaining the hundred-year coral fragment last time, her previously upgraded space had gained a patch of black land and a row of trees she couldn’t name.
Could this new coral fragment also have a special function?
She tried placing the coral fragment on the soil in her space.
Before long, she noticed the soil around the fragment gradually began to gleam with a faint luster, and the originally somewhat dry clumps of earth actually became moist.
Ji Shuyu’s eyes lit up. It seemed this coral fragment was indeed unusual; perhaps it had some special connection to the space.
Just then, an unfamiliar voice came from outside the door.
“Sister-in-law, are you home?”
Ji Shuyu listened carefully; it was Zhao Qiang’s voice.
She put her things away, stood up, and went to open the door: “Zhao Qiang? What’s wrong?”
“Sister-in-law, please come with me quickly and take a look. Something’s happened.”
Zhao Qiang looked anxious, as if the matter was extremely urgent.
Ji Shuyu didn’t delay and quickly followed him out.
On the way, Zhao Qiang explained the whole story to her clearly.
It turned out to be related to Lin Feifei.
The cultural troupe had prepared a performance today to reward the troops.
These kinds of shows happened every few months.
Everyone was used to them.
This time, the venue for the performance was chosen at a seaside spot within the military area.
Since it was a collective activity, He Yuan couldn’t refuse and had to go along with everyone.
Unexpectedly, during the performance, a sudden gust of wind blew in. Lin Feifei lost her balance and fell into the sea.
Several other members of the cultural troupe also fell into the water at the same time.
He Yuan was sitting in the front row and joined everyone in rescuing them.
As luck would have it, the person he rescued was Lin Feifei.
Lin Feifei was wearing her dance costume and was completely soaked. He Yuan tried to let go of her to find her something to wear, but Lin Feifei grabbed hold of him.
Then she started crying, saying things like, He Yuan had touched her all over, and she didn’t want to live anymore.
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