Chapter 2: Exposing the stepmother and daughter, auctioning off their jobs on the spot

The space was something she had had since childhood. Inside it was a house—a villa—fully equipped with hard and soft furnishings, as well as all the necessities for daily life. Water and electricity were unlimited. Suspended in midair within the space was also a panel, similar to an online shopping interface, where items could be purchased with points. However, how exactly to earn those points, Shi Qingqian didn’t yet know. After all, as the only daughter of Shanghai’s richest man, she had never lacked money or possessions and therefore had never needed to buy anything from it, so she had never used it.

After changing clothes, Shi Qingqian left the small, shabby room. She saw Wang Xiuqin sitting on a chair, groaning in pain, while a young girl stood by her side applying medicine. That must be the original host’s stepmother’s daughter, Shi Qingyao.

The moment Wang Xiuqin saw Shi Qingqian come out, she glared angrily and scolded loudly:
“You wretched girl, you still have the nerve to come out! Look at how you pushed me, my whole body aches terribly. Yaoyao, just look at her, she doesn’t have a shred of conscience!”

Shi Qingyao chimed in:
“Exactly, Sister, how could you treat Mom like that?”

Shi Qingqian let out a cold laugh and said:
“Don’t put on an act here. She struck first, I only defended myself. And besides, she is not my mom, so don’t call her that.”

Wang Xiuqin shot to her feet in anger, pointed at Shi Qingqian, and shouted:
“You ill-bred thing, you’ve really turned against the heavens! If I don’t teach you a lesson today, you won’t know what I’m capable of.”

As she spoke, Wang Xiuqin grabbed a broom from the corner and raised it to strike again.

“Some people really do forget the pain once the wound heals. Since you’ve already forgotten what you just felt, I don’t mind helping you remember,” Shi Qingqian said as she flexed her wrist.

Her father had been in the army, and she had endured plenty of tough training growing up. Because of that, Shi Qingqian was not the type of delicate girl who could be bullied.

When Wang Xiuqin raised the broom again, Shi Qingqian swiftly dodged and seized the handle in one quick move, yanking hard. Caught off guard by Shi Qingqian’s speed, Wang Xiuqin almost fell over.

“You damned girl, how dare you fight back!” Wang Xiuqin screamed furiously.

Shi Qingqian smirked, the corners of her lips curling with mockery:
“So what if I fight back? Do you really think I’ll let you bully me like before? I’m telling you, from now on, don’t even think about laying a finger on me.”

Shi Qingyao hadn’t expected the once weak and easily bullied Shi Qingqian to suddenly become so tough. Seeing Wang Xiuqin get the worst of it, she hurried to pull her back.
“Mom, Sister didn’t mean it, don’t be angry.”

Wang Xiuqin rushed into the courtyard, plopped onto the ground, and began to roll around, crying and wailing:
“Oh heavens, I can’t go on like this! This wretched girl dares defy me, even strike me—what kind of sin did I commit to raise such an ungrateful child?

Husband, open your eyes and see! Your precious daughter now tramples me underfoot. I worked so hard to raise her, and not only is she ungrateful, but she curses and beats me too. How can life go on like this?”

As she wailed and slapped the ground, she looked truly pitiful.

Hearing the commotion, neighbors and passersby all gathered to watch. After all, in this era there wasn’t much in the way of entertainment—gossip was the greatest pastime.

“Xiuqin, what happened to make you so upset?”
“What else could it be? Didn’t you hear? It’s definitely because daughters are hard to raise—especially someone else’s daughter.”
“Exactly, being a stepmother is never easy.”
“Xiuqin has suffered too. Her husband died just a few months after she married in, and she’s been raising two girls all on her own.”

Everyone chimed in, one after another, criticizing Shi Qingqian for being unfilial.

Though Wang Xiuqin had treated the original host poorly, she was very skilled at keeping up appearances, making outsiders believe she was the most virtuous stepmother in the world.

“Elder Sister, hurry and apologize to Mom. She won’t hold it against you. We’re still one family,” Shi Qingyao urged in a show of false concern.

“Drop the act, you white lotus,” Shi Qingqian snapped, unable to suppress the anger boiling inside at Shi Qingyao’s feigned innocence.

She took a fierce step forward, glaring at the mother and daughter.

“One family? Do you even deserve to talk about family with me? Don’t you know how you’ve treated me all these years?”

Her voice was ice-cold, and her eyes blazed with fury. Then, without hesitation, she rolled up her sleeve, revealing scars old and new crisscrossing her arm.

“Look at these wounds—these are the proof of all the years Wang Xiuqin abused me! You always claim you raised me and treated me better than your own daughter. This is your version of ‘better’?”

The neighbors who saw the scars were all shocked, whispering among themselves.

Ignoring them, Shi Qingqian continued:
“And you, Shi Qingyao—you stole my job and deliberately schemed to have me sent to the countryside. Don’t think I don’t know your tricks.”

Shi Qingyao’s face paled. She quickly tried to defend herself:
“Sister, don’t talk nonsense. The job assignment was made by the leaders, and going to the countryside was a national policy. How can you say I stole your job or set you up?”

Shi Qingqian shot her a withering look.
“Hmph, don’t deny it. The job was arranged for me by my uncle. I have proof—do you? You and Wang Xiuqin have always looked down on me and tried every possible way to bully me. But from now on, I won’t let you manipulate me again.”

Wang Xiuqin began to panic. She hadn’t expected Shi Qingqian to expose everything so suddenly.
“You wretched girl, what lies are you spouting? When did I ever abuse you? And Yaoyao never stole your job!”

“Never stole it, huh? Fine.”

Shi Qingqian pulled out a document from her pocket and held it high.

“Everyone, here’s proof—a formal nurse position at the city hospital. Official post, thirty-two yuan a month, with additional benefits. Does anyone want it? Starting bid: five hundred yuan, highest bidder gets it!”

“Buy it now, no loss guaranteed! Buy today, start work tomorrow!”

Her voice echoed through the courtyard, leaving the onlookers stunned.

After all, a hospital’s formal job was a rare prize, highly coveted.

Immediately, people began bidding.

“I’ll pay five hundred and fifty!” a young man shouted, raising his hand.
“Five sixty!”
“Five eighty!”
“Six hundred!”
“Six hundred fifty!”

The price climbed higher and higher, the atmosphere growing ever more intense.

Shi Qingqian remained calm, silently calculating. With this money, she could finally buy herself new clothes.

Then, a neatly dressed man stepped forward.
“I’ll pay one thousand!”

The courtyard fell into shocked silence.

One thousand yuan was no small sum in that era.

Shi Qingqian glanced at the man and gave a slight nod.
“Any higher bids?”