Chapter 11 : Sign up Shu Ruxue to go to the countryside

Auntie could only return to the kitchen to continue cooking, wondering who the person was who had just brandished the whip. It seemed there would be trouble again here tonight.

She also felt that Siying had changed since waking up that time. It seemed she had been deeply hurt by the Shu family. It was a good thing that she no longer held any expectations for them, this way she wouldn’t be hurt again.

After eating, Yun Siying calmly went upstairs and fell asleep peacefully as soon as she entered the room. She hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in eight years, and these past two days of restful sleep felt incredibly satisfying. She no longer had to stay on edge, sleeping with one eye open. She no longer had to guard herself against attacks from zombies, mutated plants and animals, or even malicious humans.

In the evening, someone knocked on her door, shouting angrily, “Siying, come out! You’ve got some nerve, daring to whip Ruxue.”

When she opened the door, she saw Shu Chengzhi’s gloomy face. She smiled, completely unconcerned with his attitude. Seeing her indifference and lack of remorse, Shu Chengzhi’s anger surged, and he suddenly lunged at Yun Siying.

Yun Siying’s smile faded. She quickly blocked Shu Chengzhi’s fists and kicked him hard in the lower abdomen. He flew backwards, slammed into the opposite wall, and slowly slid down, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

“Oops! I reacted on instinct. I thought I was being attacked by a thug. I didn’t expect it to be you… but honestly, you’re really not that good!” Yun Siying looked at the disheveled figure in the hallway and said apologetically, though there was a clear smile on her face. Anyone could see she was in a very good mood.

Shu Chengzhi looked up at her smiling face, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and clutched his aching abdomen as he struggled to stand. He confirmed once more there was no worry or concern in her eyes, only a sense of unfamiliarity and even surprise.

Since they were young, whenever he got injured, his sister would always be extremely worried. She would hover around him, asking questions and carefully applying medicine to treat his wounds. She even taught herself medicine because of this.

But the person standing in front of him now felt like a stranger and that made him feel disappointed. “I didn’t expect your skills hadn’t dulled. In fact, you’ve improved quite a bit.”

Yun Siying didn’t respond. She simply raised an eyebrow and walked downstairs. In the living room, Tang Lingxue and Shu Ruxue were crying and complaining to the old man. The old man sat there with an expressionless face, it was impossible to tell if he was angry or pleased.

“Shu Siying, you ungrateful girl! I raised you for eighteen years, and this is how you repay me by beating my granddaughter so viciously!” Shu Guofeng glared at Yun Siying in anger and raised his hand to slap her.

Shu Siying swiftly grabbed his wrist and twisted it gently. With a loud click, his wrist was dislocated. Her gaze turned icy cold.

“Fool. I’m Yun Siying now. Don’t call me by the wrong name again. And I hope you never regret what you did today.” She then released his hand and looked at him with utter indifference.

Shu Chengzhi stared at Yun Siying in disbelief. He hadn’t expected her to strike not only him, but also their father. “Siying, when did you become so unreasonable? You never used to be like this.”

“You’ll be gone in a few days, can’t you just endure a little?” The old man glanced at Shu Ruxue and Tang Lingxue with a trace of disappointment. He didn’t believe Yun Siying would attack without reason.

“You’re all being ridiculous. Shu Ruxue just got a small injury, and you’re acting like someone died.” Yun Siying looked coldly at the group. This so-called family had caused the death of their own biological daughter. She truly felt sorrow and pity for the original owner, who had died so unjustly.

“How can you say such cruel and vicious things? Ruxue was injured by you. It seems our Shu family can’t accommodate a big Buddha like you,” Tang Lingxue said angrily. If looks could kill, Yun Siying would have died several times under Tang Lingxue’s glare.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be leaving in a few days. If I stay with such a foolish family any longer, I’m afraid I’ll catch your stupidity too.” After saying this, Yun Siying turned and went back to her room without sparing a glance at the furious faces behind her.

“Dad, did you see her attitude? She even dared to attack Chengzhi,” Tang Lingxue said as she looked at Shu Zhisheng with concern, her heart full of resentment toward Yun Siying.

“Siying didn’t kill him. Guofeng’s wrist is just dislocated. She’ll be going to the countryside in a few days. You and your daughter should endure it a little longer,” Shu Zhisheng said as he went upstairs. Siying’s words were still echoing in his mind, she had changed her name to Yun Siying and completely abandoned the Shu surname.

Yun Siying slept until noon the next day. After getting up and washing, she went into the living room. The house was empty. She entered Shu Zhisheng’s room, found the household registration book, and left the family compound.

She went to a state-owned restaurant, ordered a dish of pickled fish and a bowl of rice. After eating and drinking her fill, she strolled down the street lined with relics of a bygone era. There were political slogans on the walls, and most people wore clothes in black, white, gray, or army green.

She found an empty alley and entered her private space. Sitting in front of a mirror, she began to apply makeup to her face. After a while, a smiling face identical to Shu Ruxue’s appeared in the reflection. Yun Siying smiled with satisfaction. It truly deserved to be called one of the four great evil arts.

She exited the space and went directly to the Youth Office. “Hello, comrade. I’m here to sign up to go to the countryside. May I ask if I can choose where I go?” she said as she quietly slipped a five-yuan bill into the female comrade’s hand.

She only wanted to go to the same place as Shu Ruxue. Her mental power scanned the public area, and she quickly located Shu Ruxue’s registration form and noted the destination written on it.

The female comrade’s face showed displeasure at first, but upon feeling something in her hand, her expression softened. When she saw that it was a five-yuan note, her demeanor changed completely.

“Little comrade, where would you like to go?” the staff member asked warmly. At that time, going to the countryside was a national movement every family typically sent someone, and any young person without a job was expected to participate.

“I’d like to go to the Hongxing Brigade in Mayun County, Lingyang Province. My cousin’s family is there, so I’ll have someone to take care of me,” Yun Siying replied bashfully.

“Comrade, you’re in luck! This group of educated youth is being assigned to Lingyang Province. I’ll get you the registration form,” the staff member said cheerfully, handing over the form.

She took it, quickly filled in Shu Ruxue’s information, and signed it. The staff member also signed it and handed her a thick stack of large-denomination bills. “This is your 150 yuan countryside subsidy. Please keep it safe.”

“Okay, thank you, comrade. Please send the countryside assignment notice to my home,” Yun Siying said as she took the money and left the educated youth office.

Instead of returning immediately to the Shu household, she entered her space and wiped the makeup off her face.