Chapter 2: The First Task 2

No matter how much Liu Wen didn't want to be discharged, she couldn't stay in the hospital forever. Once she received the notice from the doctor, she reluctantly headed home.

For the past few days, Liu Li had lost count of how many times she had argued with Zhai Min over doing the housework.

Seeing Liu Wen discharged, she couldn't help but think that if it weren't for her hospitalization, there wouldn't have been so much trouble.

"Oh, look who it is. It's the eldest miss of the Liu family," Liu Li said sarcastically.

Liu Wen glanced at Liu Li, really wanting to say that her face looked as mean-spirited as it possibly could.

Not to mention that working as a clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative might look impressive now, but would she still be so glorious in ten or twenty years?

Even if Liu Wen didn't go to the supply and marketing cooperative, she had heard from neighbors that Liu Li was incredibly arrogant; even when old neighbors went to buy things, she would treat them with indifference.

With that kind of attitude, could she possibly be popular at work?

Liu Wen walked around Liu Li. "I'm the eldest miss? Who doesn't know that all the chores at home are done by me?"

"By the way, go wash the clothes." Seeing a neighbor peeking over, Liu Li slammed the door shut.

"Fine." Liu Wen didn't want to argue with Liu Li. It was just housework, after all; it wouldn't be for many more days.

Liu Wen went to the balcony, put her things away, then picked up two large basins of clothes and walked to the floor's water room to wash them.

Although it wasn't peak water usage time, there were still people in the water room. Seeing Liu Wen start washing clothes right after being discharged—and two full basins at that—they couldn't help but speak up.

"Wenwen, washing clothes right after getting out of the hospital?"

Liu Wen smiled. "Yeah." She lowered her head and continued washing.

The words sounded like concern, but most of them were just onlookers. The original owner had been here for so long, and she had never seen anyone offer a helping hand.

They were all summer clothes, so Liu Wen finished washing them quickly and hung them out one by one. After finishing these chores, she was exhausted and had to lie on the bed for a long time before she felt better.

Liu Li calculated the time; Liu Wen should be done with the laundry. She walked to the balcony and saw Liu Wen lying on the bed. "Get up. It's already this late, go buy groceries and cook."

"Honestly, she really thinks she's some kind of eldest miss," Liu Li said viciously.

"Give me the money," Liu Wen said bluntly.

Liu Li threw the money at Liu Wen. "Just buy whatever."

Liu Wen carried a large vegetable basket to the market. Going to buy groceries at this hour, one could imagine that only the leftovers were left, and none of them were any good.

Regardless of the quality, Liu Wen picked up a few things and left quickly. If she didn't go back to cook now, she wouldn't make it in time for dinner.

Halfway home, Liu Wen habitually hid a dime. The original owner had always hidden a bit of money, though it was usually just a few cents, mostly to buy books occasionally. Liu Gui and his wife were never happy to give her money, only doing so once or twice after being asked ten times or more, which was how the original owner managed to save a portion.

Now that she was in this body, Liu Wen certainly wouldn't pass up the chance to save some money. Otherwise, when she went to be an educated youth, the family certainly wouldn't prepare anything for her, and how would she survive?

She marched home quickly. There was still half an hour before Liu Gui and his wife would be home from work. She quickly lit the stove, washed the vegetables, and rinsed the rice.

After a flurry of activity, she managed to get the meal ready just an hour after they got off work.

It had worked Liu Wen to death, but fortunately, Liu Gui and his wife were worried that Liu Wen's health might still have issues, which would affect her status as an educated youth and force Liu Liang to go instead, so they let her eat with them.

Since they were eating together, Liu Wen ate her fill without hesitation, ignoring the dagger-like glares from Zhai Min and the others.

Seeing the way Liu Wen ate, Zhai Min found her more and more displeasing. "Eating like a pig."

"Can't help it. I used to eat leftovers, it's rare to be able to eat a proper meal together." Liu Wen remembered what the neighborhood committee auntie had told her on the way home.

"By the way, I'm leaving next week." Liu Wen just wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible. Even if being an educated youth would be hard, could it be harder than staying here?

At the very least, as an educated youth, as long as you put in the effort, you would have an income; you wouldn't have to worry about having nothing to eat.

Besides, it was already the summer of '72. In five years, the college entrance exam would be restored. She would just take the exam then—it was only five years of hardship.

"Leaving next week, huh?" Zhai Min gave an 'oh' sound. "Fine, go to the station yourself when the time comes."

"By the way, take all your things with you."

"After you leave, the balcony can be cleared out. It's inconvenient to hang clothes there."

Zhai Min hadn't thought about preparing anything for Liu Wen; instead, she was thinking that once Liu Wen left, the balcony would be empty. She could renovate it slightly so Liu Li could rest there. That girl had always complained about not having a private room; it would be perfect for her to live on the balcony.

Liu Li was surprised to hear that Liu Wen was actually leaving. "Ah, you're actually leaving?"

No way. She had hoped and hoped, and finally waited for Liu Wen to be discharged, thinking that there would finally be someone to do the housework, but she hadn't expected her to leave so soon.

"Yes." Liu Wen looked at Liu Li with a smile. "Big sister, you and Mom will have to do the housework from now on."

Hahahaha. Liu Li's reaction was about the housework not getting done, while Zhai Min's thought was that the annoying brat was finally leaving.

Uh, Zhai Min was stunned. That's right, she had only been thinking about Liu Wen leaving to stop being annoyed, but once she was gone, wouldn't she be the one doing the housework again?

Coming home from work today, someone had already washed the clothes and cooked the meal; she just had to eat, and she had been in a great mood.

"Liu Li." Zhai Min looked at Liu Li. "We need to divide the housework."

Divide the housework? Liu Li wasn't afraid of Zhai Min. "Sure. There are five people in the family, let's split it up. Why should I be the only one doing it?"

"Besides, Liu Liang is also a freeloader. Does he earn any money?" Liu Li said bluntly, pointing directly at Liu Liang.

Liu Wen quickly cleared the dishes. Now that she was leaving, the people who had previously united to bully the original owner were now turning on each other over housework.

Hearing Liu Li call Liu Liang a freeloader, Liu Wen was instantly amused. Previously, Liu Gui had said that about the original owner; she hadn't expected Liu Li to say it about the Liu family's precious treasure, Liu Liang.

Liu Wen was in a great mood, and her dishwashing movements became much lighter.

Liu Liang felt terrible hearing Liu Li call him a freeloader, but he didn't say anything. It wasn't because he was magnanimous, but because he knew someone would be more anxious than him.

Zhai Min immediately lost her temper and jumped out. "Eat your food! You only just started working; you were a freeloader before, too. I've raised you for so long, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"Liu Li, let me tell you: buying groceries, cooking, washing dishes or clothes, and cleaning the house—you must choose two."

"Don't think that just because you're working, your wings have hardened." Zhai Min had previously thought that if her eldest daughter entered the supply and marketing cooperative, the whole family would enjoy the benefits. But last time, when Liu Xia went to be an educated youth, she had been unwilling to help buy things and had made snide remarks. She knew then that she was a dog that couldn't be tamed; since that was the case, why bother coddling her?

Liu Liang placed the washed bowls on the stove in the hallway and waited quietly for them to argue. If he jumped in now, he definitely wouldn't get any good results.