Chapter 9: Handover of Duties

Lu Mingyue: [It seems this girl isn’t foolish after all.]

She yawned, feeling a bit tired. After a full day of fighting without proper rest, there were still important matters to attend to tomorrow.

The Zhang family had something to discuss, so she withdrew first.

After closing the door, Ren Huifang quietly glanced at the faces of the father and his two sons and whispered, “You all heard that, right?”

Zhang Miaomiao looked at her father and elder brother; they both nodded, and she nodded slightly as well.

“Mom, what’s going on?”

Zhang Songwu couldn’t believe in such supernatural talk, but he clearly heard Lu Mingyue’s voice.

“I don’t know either, but this can’t get out.”

She treated Mingyue like her own daughter; if this spread, what if the higher-ups got caught and investigated?

“Don’t worry, Mingyue is our own child,”

Zhang Chengliang unconditionally stood by his wife.

Since they could hear the inner voices, Zhang Miaomiao saw no need to hide and told her family everything about her relationship exactly as it was.

“Have you met his family?”

Zhang Songwu thought about Lu Mingyue’s words—that the man had two children and had been married multiple times—and felt instantly nauseated.

“No.”

Zhang Miaomiao shook her head. She had tried before to use the excuse of visiting elders to learn about Fang Dashan’s family, but he always brushed her off.

“No matter what, Songwu will go check tomorrow.”

This involved their daughter’s and family's future; they couldn’t be careless.

At this moment, Zhang Chengliang believed Lu Mingyue’s words without doubt.

Over thousands of years in China, there have been many capable and talented people.

Zhang Songwu agreed, and the family returned to their rooms with heavy hearts.

Ren Huifang still felt uneasy and knocked on her daughter’s door.

“What’s wrong, Mom?” Zhang Miaomiao lowered her head, her mood gloomy, speaking weakly.

Ren Huifang took her daughter's hand and cautiously asked, “You don’t have any relationship with that man, right?”

Since her daughter hit puberty, Ren Huifang had started educating her on hygiene and related knowledge.

Zhang Miaomiao’s cheeks flushed as she shook her head. “No, I’ve always remembered what you told me.”

Ren Huifang’s worries eased. Times were harsh for women, and she had heard of countless instances where women were persecuted over their chastity.

If her daughter truly liked someone trustworthy, Ren Huifang wouldn’t say much, but given this man’s questionable character, she absolutely could not approve.

---

“Mom, do you think what Mingyue said could be true?”

Thinking of the evil deeds Fang Dashan supposedly committed, Zhang Miaomiao felt sick to her stomach. She had never noticed anything amiss.

Ren Huifang didn’t know either. The only thing they could do was patiently wait for the investigation results.

Unlike the Zhang family, filled with worry, Lu Mingyue had a peaceful night’s sleep.

Early the next morning, she packed her clothes and prepared to cook.

She had nothing valuable to thank her godmother with, so before leaving, she wanted to make a few meals in gratitude.

Zhang Songwu was the earliest riser in the family, going to military training on time every day. When he came downstairs, he saw movement in the kitchen.

Walking over, he found Lu Mingyue there.

“Mingyue?”

Lu Mingyue turned around and smiled apologetically, “Brother Songwu, you’re up. I haven’t finished breakfast yet.”

She was about to make an egg pancake, had just found the ingredients but hadn’t started.

“You’re cooking? That’s too tiring. I’ll go for a run and buy breakfast to bring back. It’s still early; you should rest a bit.”

It was only five o’clock. Young girls shouldn’t skip sleep or they won’t grow.

Lu Mingyue thought: ...I’m nineteen. Shouldn’t I have stopped growing by now?

The original owner inherited her biological mother’s advantages—tall and slender, reaching 1.7 meters in high school.

Though she didn’t grow taller afterward, this height already surpassed eighty percent of people.

In times of scarcity, genes couldn’t overcome malnutrition; many men at 1.7 meters were considered tall, let alone women.

Without asking, Zhang Songwu ushered her out of the kitchen, repeatedly reminding her to wait for him to come back with food.

Watching his retreating figure, Lu Mingyue shrugged. Since her goodwill wouldn’t go to waste, she stretched and went back to sleep.

She woke again at seven. Just as she left her room, Ren Huifang called her to eat.

Hearing from Songwu that Mingyue had gotten up early to cook.

“Try the soy milk from the cafeteria—handmade and full of bean aroma.”

The soy milk was sweetened, and Lu Mingyue liked it very much. She stopped only after eating two long fried dough sticks.

Zhang Chengliang didn’t finish his breakfast, hurriedly called away by a guard.

Zhang Miaomiao came down yawning, her eyes shadowed with dark circles. She had been having nightmares and slept poorly.

She continued to look listless at work, which pained Ren Huifang. When Miaomiao refused to take leave at home, she reluctantly let her be.

Lu Mingyue helped pack up and suggested leaving.

---

“Godmother knows you have things to do, but before you leave, you must bring that man here for me to see. Otherwise, I won’t feel at ease.”

Lu Mingyue was about to mention this. “Don’t worry, godmother. I’ll bring him to see you tonight. We’ll eat out.”

Ren Huifang pressed her lips. “Come home instead.”

Eating out always cost money; Mingyue didn’t have much on her, so saving was better.

“Alright, then I’ll come back early to help you.”

Lu Mingyue returned to the residential compound but didn’t go home. Instead, she went to a detached small house on the west side.

After knocking, a middle-aged woman soon appeared, surprised to see her.

“Mingyue?”

Lu Mingyue smiled faintly. “Aunt Cai, I need your help with something.”

Cai Chunhua was puzzled. At best, they had a nodding acquaintance. It was strange for Mingyue to show up with a request out of the blue.

Though suspicious, she stepped aside to let her in.

After sitting down, Lu Mingyue explained, “I heard you’re looking for a job for Big Sister. I have a good position here.”

“Really?” Cai Chunhua’s eyes brightened.

She and her husband had a son and a daughter; Big Sister was their late-born daughter, pampered and never made to work.

Life was comfortable, but with the changing times, their family had to send someone to the countryside.

She and her husband were retired. Their eldest son had a job, so the quota fell to Big Sister.

When she learned of this, she got a mouth ulcer from the anxiety, trying to find work for her daughter.

Factory quotas were fixed; if one spot opened, someone would fill it quickly, and some were reserved in advance.

Big Sister was to be sent to the countryside in three days, and they hadn’t found her a job yet. It seemed too late.

“I’m getting married. My husband is a soldier. When he moves with the army, the job position will be vacant. If you’re willing...”

“I’m willing!”

Cai Chunhua interrupted eagerly before hearing the rest.

A gift like this arriving at their door—how could she refuse? Mingyue’s position was in the office, not the workshop. Such a good job was like a blessing from heaven.

“That’s good. Is Big Sister around? If she has time, we can handle it later today. To be honest, I’m leaving in a couple of days, but you know our situation. We have to do this quietly.”

Everyone in the compound knew their family’s situation.

Cai Chunhua looked into her clear, bright eyes and agreed immediately. This child had a hard life growing up; this was the only way. It was just a matter of keeping it secret for a few days—no big deal.

Without delay, and without alarming the family, Lu Mingyue completed the job handover.