Chapter 1: The First Mission 1

Liu Wen lay on the bed, absorbing the original owner's memories. From these memories, she could understand why the original owner had died from a mere cold; she was truly a pitiful little thing in her own home, ignored by everyone.

No, it wasn't just that she was ignored; it was that she was expected to do all the chores, but never received any share of the food, clothing, or drink.

Although she was the youngest child, she never enjoyed the privileges of being the baby of the family. Her requirements were simple: to live well and not be as spineless as she had been.

The Liu family had five children. The eldest, Liu Wei, had entered the machinery factory as a glorious worker after graduating from junior high.

The second, Liu Li, had started dating a male classmate while in school. It seemed his father was a person of real power at the supply and marketing cooperative, and he had arranged a job for her as a clerk there, just waiting for her to reach the age to get married.

In this era, that was an incredible job, so even though she wasn't highly valued by her parents, she held a high status in the Liu family due to her future in-laws.

Liu Liang was the third child and the twin brother of Liu Xia. He was handsome and clever, the pride of Liu Gui and his wife, and was currently attending high school.

Liu Xia was the fourth child. She was pretty, had a sweet mouth, and knew how to coax people. She was also the heroine of this mission. Last year, she had just become a glorious "educated youth" at a farm in a neighboring province.

Liu Wen was the fifth child. She had only graduated from junior high in June. Because she did all the housework for the entire family, she was always the last to eat, with the excuse being that as the youngest, she had a small appetite. Thus, even though she was already fifteen, she looked like a twelve-year-old.

According to policy, the Liu family was required to send one more person to be an educated youth. Under normal circumstances, it would never have been Liu Wen's turn, as she was underage.

But Liu Wei and Liu Li had jobs, and Liu Liang was the treasure of Liu Gui and his wife, so naturally, it was Liu Wen who had to go.

As for whether Liu Wen wanted to go, sorry, no one cared. She wasn't even notified; it wasn't until the neighborhood committee came to inform her of the destination for this batch of educated youth that she realized her name was on the list.

Liu Wen had asked her parents why she was the one going. Given that the original owner had been doing so much housework every day without time to review her studies, she had still consistently ranked in the top three of her grade and had been dreaming of attending high school.

Now that her high school dream was completely shattered, how could she be reconciled?

But the result was that Liu Gui and his wife glanced at their angry youngest daughter and said dismissively, "If you don't go, who will? We don't feed freeloaders in this house."

The two brothers, Liu Wei and Liu Liang, stayed out of it, while Liu Li mocked her, "If Liu Xia can go, why can't you?"

As soon as those words were out, Zhai Min slapped her. One had to know that among the three daughters, she loved Liu Xia the most. If it weren't for Liu Li's future in-laws, it would have been her who went to the countryside in the first place.

The original owner already had a cold and a weak constitution; combined with that heavy slap, she developed a high fever that night. Even so, the family didn't take it seriously.

Thinking of this, Liu Wen carefully turned over. Originally, the original owner should have left for the countryside days ago, but she had been in such a bad state—semi-conscious—that she couldn't depart, and it had been delayed.

It was thanks to not leaving with the main group that when the neighborhood committee came to check on the situation, they discovered Liu Wen was in a coma, forcing the Liu couple to send her to the hospital.

For one, the neighborhood committee and the neighbors had seen it. This was a factory dormitory; if they didn't send her to the hospital, the news would spread throughout the entire factory.

For another, they were worried that if Liu Wen really died, their precious son would have to go be an educated youth, which was something they were unwilling to see.

Liu Wen lay quietly on the bed, waiting for the Liu family to deliver food. No matter how much they grumbled, they had to bring it.

Zhai Min arrived at the hospital carrying a bowl of porridge, in a very foul mood. She was already feeling terrible, and seeing Liu Wen lying on the bed waiting to be fed made her mood sink to the bottom.

"Eat," Zhai Min said crossly.

"Thank you, Mom." The Liu family didn't like her, and Liu Wen had no interest in maintaining a good relationship with them.

Zhai Min watched Liu Wen eat breakfast, thinking about how she had to cook, wash clothes, and clean the house every day after work these past few days. It had exhausted her.

"I'm asking you, is your body any better?"

"If you can, get discharged." Zhai Min just wanted Liu Wen to be discharged early so she could go back to doing chores.

Was she asking her to be discharged early to continue being a maid? Liu Wen wasn't having it. "My body is still quite weak."

"Besides, I have to wait for the next batch of educated youth to leave, so I need to nurse my health."

"If I don't get healthy, how can I respond to the call?"

"If I get sick, I won't be building the vast countryside; I'll just be causing trouble." Liu Wen finished her breakfast quickly.

Her body was her own, so she had to take good care of it. Otherwise, once she reached the farm, she would be the one to suffer.

"You..." Zhai Min glared at Liu Wen with eyes full of fire.

Unfortunately, Liu Wen ignored her completely and lay back down to rest.

Zhai Min looked at Liu Wen lying on the hospital bed and really wanted to drag her home and give her a good lecture.

But she didn't dare, because of Liu Wen's illness, the factory was already pointing fingers at them.

Having failed to achieve her goal, Zhai Min could only leave in a huff. She had to; there was still a pile of things waiting for her at home.

Watching Zhai Min leave in a rage, Liu Wen thought this woman was a fool. "Mom, when I get better, I should be leaving with the next batch. By then, you'll have to do all the housework yourself."

Forget it, she might as well give a reminder; after all, she was a kind child.

Zhai Min, who was storming off, paused at these words. That's right, why hadn't she thought of that?

She had felt overwhelmed while Liu Wen was hospitalized these past few days. Once she left to be an educated youth, wouldn't she have to do everything?

No, this wouldn't do. Why should she do all the housework? She had to make Liu Li do it. Otherwise, after she got married, she wouldn't know how to do anything, and she'd have to do it for her in-laws anyway.

Right, Zhai Min quickly thought of having them do the chores together. That way, even if Liu Li's in-laws found out, they wouldn't say anything.

Watching Zhai Min quicken her pace as she left, Liu Wen knew she must be going back to make Liu Li do the chores.

Liu Li certainly wouldn't be happy about doing housework. Even before, her status at home was only slightly higher than Liu Wen's, and she rarely did chores unless the head of the family spoke up.

Ever since she started working at the supply and marketing cooperative, she had entered the upper circle. Even if Liu Gui and his wife spoke up, she would just pretend not to hear.

Now that Zhai Min was asking her to do chores, she would never agree. A conflict was bound to erupt.

Liu Wen didn't think there was anything wrong with that. Liu Li had bullied the original owner in every way before she gained power, and after entering the cooperative, she had become even worse, bullying the original owner from every angle.