Chapter 9 : Transfer of work – Registration for going to the countryside

The next day, Yun Siying appeared at the table on time. The aunt brought breakfast, and naturally, the richest portion was given to Shu Ruxue. Yun Siying’s portion looked the same on the surface, but the porridge was much lighter. She ate calmly, wearing a playful expression as she observed the family.

Before Shu Zhisheng left, he told Tang Lingxue, “Lingxue, don’t get confused again. Siying is also your daughter whom you have raised for eighteen years. She will be going to the countryside in a few days. Remember to buy her supplies so outsiders won’t laugh at her.”

“Dad, I know. You can go to work without worry!” Tang Lingxue’s expression was a bit stiff but then she smiled and replied.

When Shu Chengzhi left, he said worriedly, “Siying, get along well with Ruxue at home and take care of her. She has had a hard time these past eighteen years. I think you should be able to understand and tolerate her.”

“I know.” Yun Siying’s tone was flat, without emotion, but the look in her eyes when she glanced at Shu Chengzhi was more scrutinizing and playful. She wondered what Shu Ruxue’s real purpose was in entering the Shu family.

She didn’t interfere in others’ affairs but respected fate. The rule for surviving at the end of the world was to avoid meddling in others’ business and to be kind especially when these people were the ones who had killed the original owner.

“Shu Siying, come with us to the machinery factory to handle the handover procedures for the job,” Tang Lingxue said coldly.

“Okay! Remember to bring your household registration book,” Yun Siying said, then went back to her room to change.

When she came downstairs, Tang Lingxue and her daughter were already waiting in the living room. It seemed they were really eager to take over the job in her hands.

An hour later, several people appeared in the personnel office of the machinery factory. The staff asked again, “Comrade Shu Siying, are you really willing to transfer this job to Comrade Shu Ruxue?”

“Sure, please help me with it,” Yun Siying still didn’t change her mind.

The staff then brought a form, Yun Siying and Shu Ruxue signed it respectively, and the staff stamped it to confirm the handover was complete.

“Aunt Tang, please give me the household registration booklet. I’m going to sign up for going to the countryside now,” Yun Siying said, looking at the happy Tang Lingxue. Since she learned the truth last night, she no longer wanted to stay in the Shu family.

“Here you go. I have to accompany Ruxue to the Friendship Store. I don’t have time for your trivial matters,” Tang Lingxue said impatiently as she handed over the booklet.

“Mom, let’s sign up Siying first!” Shu Ruxue quickly grabbed Tang Lingxue’s hand. She didn’t dare let the household registration booklet fall into Yun Siying’s hands. If she also signed up for the countryside, wouldn’t she have to go too?

Tang Lingxue saw her daughter wink at her and immediately reacted, breaking out in a cold sweat. She almost harmed her daughter, and quickly took back the household registration booklet.

“Let’s go, we will go to the Youth Office with you,” Tang Lingxue said, full of vigilance toward Yun Siying.

Under the watchful eyes of Tang Lingxue and her daughter, Yun Siying quickly signed up and received a 150 yuan subsidy for going to the countryside. The three then walked out of the Youth League Office.

“I still need to go to the police station to transfer my household registration,” Yun Siying said, noticing the changes in the two but paying them no mind.

So the three went to the police station, and Yun Siying took out the household registration booklet, the countryside registration certificate, and the severance of relations document, handing them to the staff.

“Comrade, please help me separate my household registration,” she said.

The staff was surprised to see the severance document, the household booklet, and countryside certificate but said nothing and began processing. Yun Siying then said, “Comrade, please help me change my name Shu Siying to Yun Siying.”

“Why did you change your name to Yun Siying? You should change it to Li Siying,” Shu Ruxue said from the side.

Yun Siying looked down on Shu Ruxue and said, “Am I the one who changed my name, or you? Why do you care so much? Do you live by the sea?”

Fortunately, the staff didn’t pay attention to Shu Ruxue’s words, and Yun Siying’s household registration was quickly processed. Tang Lingxue snatched the household registration book from her and left with Shu Ruxue.

Yun Siying turned and went to the newspaper office again, published a statement severing her relationship with the Shu family, and confirmed that it would be published the next day. She paid the publication fee with satisfaction. She took the bus back and had just entered the family compound when someone came to gossip.

“Siying, aren’t you injured? Why don’t you stay home and take care of yourself? Why are you going out?” Grandma Lin looked at her pale face with concern. It was only today that she realized how hard the past six months had been for this child.

“Hello, Grandma Lin. Aunt Tang asked me to transfer my job to Shu Ruxue, and I came back as soon as it was done,” Yun Siying said, pretending to be a little weak.

“She beat you like this, didn’t let you stay home to recover, and she’s still thinking about your job, kid! You’ve transferred your job to Shu Ruxue, how are you going to live in the future?” Grandma Lin felt sorry for the child. It was said that in the past six months, she had been framed many times by the biological daughter who was just found, and this time she was beaten all over.

What kind of thing did the Shu family do? They raised this girl for eighteen years, how could they have no feelings for her? Not to mention she didn’t make any mistakes; even if she did, they shouldn’t have been so harsh. Wouldn’t just verbal criticism be enough?

“Grandma Lin, I transferred my job to Ruxue. They gave me one thousand yuan. I’m going to the countryside for Ruxue. I should be able to live there,” Yun Siying said bitterly.

Grandma Lin looked at the child in front of her. She used to be smart, with a lively sparkle in her eyes, as if she held endless wisdom and vitality.

After this sudden change, she seemed to have lost her former spirit. Her eyes became dim, as if covered by a shadow, losing the clarity and brightness they once had. She gave off a helpless and confused aura, like she was lost in a dark abyss with no way out.

“They are too much. They want you to go to the countryside to replace Shu Ruxue?” Grandma Lin’s voice unconsciously rose with sorrow, feeling sad for Yun Siying.

“Grandma Lin, I went there voluntarily. In this way, I can repay the Shu family for raising me these eighteen years,” Yun Siying knew Grandma Lin had good intentions and was someone who couldn’t hide her thoughts.

“You were forced to go to the countryside. Are all the supplies ready?” Grandma Lin asked worriedly. This child still had little experience. She transferred her job so easily and had to go to the countryside.

“Thank you, Grandma Lin. Not yet. I still need to take care of my body. I don’t have the strength to buy supplies now. I will go buy them in two days. It’s still in time,” Yun Siying replied with some sadness, then said goodbye to Grandma Lin and went home.

She didn’t touch anything in the Shu family kitchen but entered her space and cooked a dish of braised eggplant with meat, a dish of stewed pork ribs with corn, and a serving of white rice in her kitchen. She had a full meal, she hadn’t eaten so satisfyingly in a long time.

Fortunately, her space had a gas stove and a gas tank, which made things much more convenient. Cooking with a fire was really troublesome, but she would have to live like that in the future. In the 1970s, there was probably no electricity in the countryside.