“Everyone’s fortune is different; Yan Biao just happens to be standing under a lucky financial star.”

Grandfather always said that a person’s destiny is set at birth, following rules that are hard to escape. Whether someone is good or bad, they have their own karma, which has little to do with wealth.

Take Yan Biao for instance—he has great financial luck, but that’s about it. If he continues down the wrong path and earns money dishonestly, his later years are destined to be lonely, ultimately unable to escape a solitary end.

Cheng Hao raised his eyebrows, not commenting either way.

But it was Ge Bing, standing nearby, who couldn’t hold back. “What? Someone like him—such a scumbag—has such good luck? How are good people like us supposed to live? That’s not fair.”

“Fairness isn’t measured solely by wealth. Other gains and losses are beyond calculation.”

Hearing Ge Bing’s complaints, Dai Qing couldn’t help but glance at his face. His features were unremarkable, but the clear, clean lines around his forehead suggested that his parents would live long and healthy lives. Other than that, there wasn’t much wealth in his future, but he did have noble people around him, making his life relatively smooth.

“Other gains and losses?” Ge Bing scoffed. “Is there anything better than having money?”

“Of course. For example, health and life itself.”

It’s like holding a fortune in your hands, but being powerless to save your own life.

Without money, most people would accept their fate. But when money can’t save you, that’s when people start feeling truly desperate.

Ge Bing fell silent. “…”

Cheng Hao, listening to the young woman speak so seriously, couldn’t help but smile.

“You have a point. A person’s life and health really aren’t things that can be measured by money.”

Dai Qing glanced at him briefly, then turned and left.

Ge Bing scratched his head. “Bro, why does that girl sound like an old man lecturing us? Listening to her talk, I feel like I’m hearing my great-grandfather give a sermon.”

Thinking of the girl’s serious, old-fashioned demeanor, Cheng Hao smiled wryly.

“Let’s go. We’ve got to head back to the security office—there’s work to do this afternoon.”

---

Back at home, Dai Qing washed her newly bought bedding, hung it in the courtyard to dry, and then started preparing lunch before taking a short nap to rest up for her shift.

Her shift started at 3:30 in the afternoon.

As fate would have it, just as she entered the factory gate, she ran into Liu Ming and his group.

“Hey, little sister! What a coincidence! We meet again. I didn’t get the chance to ask last time—what’s your name? I’m Liu Ming from the machine repair workshop, Ming as in ‘bright.’ If you ever need anything, you can come find me.”

Liu Ming smiled warmly as he spoke, walking alongside her.

This immediately drew teasing from the others in his group.

“Oh, Liu Ming! Since when did you become so eager to help others?”

“Yeah, I’d love to skip work every day—how about you help me out too?”

Dai Qing’s expression remained indifferent as she listened to the rowdy group. Before she could respond, Liu Ming stepped in quickly.

“Quit it, you guys. A bunch of grown men with all that strength—what help do you need? This young girl is small and new here—giving her a hand is only right, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, right! We all know what’s going on here—you’re just ignoring us for a pretty face. Right, boys?”

“Exactly, a guy who forgets his friends the moment he sees a pretty girl.”

“You better treat us to drinks later, or we won’t let this slide.”

Liu Ming pretended to be exasperated, shooing them away. “Go, go, go! Stop talking nonsense. I don’t even know this young girl that well yet. She’s new to the factory—don’t scare her off with your jokes.”

Turning back to Dai Qing, he smiled warmly. “Don’t mind them. We’re used to joking around like this, everyone here is pretty laid-back.”