After a long day of work, as it neared closing time, Auntie Xu put away her yarn and various odds and ends, then gave Su Yun a few final reminders.
"Girl, starting tomorrow, this recycling station will be under your charge. Keep your eyes open. Don't let anyone fool you. Keep the prices as low as possible—we can't let the state suffer losses…"
"And if that distant relative of mine shows up again, just grab a broom and chase her away. Don't worry about saving my face. I'm really not close to her!"
Su Yun nodded solemnly. "I understand. I'll remember everything."
Very satisfied with her attitude, Auntie Xu said goodbye once more and left the recycling station carrying her personal belongings.
As soon as she was gone, Su Yun eagerly shut the gate and rushed toward the "gold mountain" she had sorted earlier. With lightning-fast efficiency, she sold everything—including that lodestone—to the treasure-hunting system in one go.
"Ding! The treasure-hunting system balance has exceeded 1,000 yuan. Consumption requirement met. System store successfully expanded!"
In an instant, the scene before her shifted, as if a page had been turned. The previous grain supermarket disappeared, replaced by clothing, shoes, socks, and various daily necessities.
Su Yun looked carefully. The top row displayed shoes and socks: cloth shoes, rubber shoes, sneakers, leather shoes. Below them were all kinds of men's and women's clothing. Further down were towels, blankets, quilts, thermoses… and at the very bottom, astonishingly, two bicycles and a sewing machine!
But none of that mattered to Su Yun right now. What mattered was the balance displayed: 6,608.4 yuan.
In just one day, she had officially become a woman worth thousands!
This time, she didn't just get excited internally. She directly performed a full set of broadcast gymnastics, jumping so high she nearly smashed a hole into the recycling station floor.
By the time she composed herself and walked out, Su Yun looked perfectly normal. No one could tell she was now "Su the Thousand-Yuan Lady."
Still, as someone with thousands to her name, Su Yun wasn't stingy. She immediately bought two jin of pork belly and four apples from the system store, wrapped them in old newspaper, placed them in a net bag, and headed home.
After all, finding a job was worth celebrating!
When Su Yun floated back to the courtyard, she saw He Hua's thin figure wandering near the entrance from afar. Her face was overflowing with pride—she couldn't even hide it.
Standing on the steps of the courtyard, He Hua looked down at Su Yun and immediately spoke in a showy, triumphant tone. "Oh, Su Yun, you're finally back. You've been gone all day—did you go meet some wild man—"
Before she could finish, her expression suddenly changed.
Her face twisted in shock as she pointed at Su Yun's blue work uniform and demanded, "Where did you get that outfit?"
Su Yun kept walking, glanced at her sideways, and said calmly, "None of your business."
"Stop right there!"
He Hua hurried forward to block her path, fuming. "If you don't explain, I won't let you pass! Tell me—where did that uniform come from?"
How could this be? She hadn't gotten anything yet, and Su Yun was already wearing a worker's uniform! Even borrowing it was unacceptable!
Forced to stop, Su Yun held her net bag leisurely and looked at her good-naturedly. "Take a guess."
With that, she nimbly stepped around the twisted-faced He Hua and entered the courtyard.
Behind her, He Hua stomped in fury and chased after her.
As soon as Su Yun stepped inside, she smelled the aroma of stewed meat in the air. She couldn't help sniffing. What a coincidence.
Then He Hua's angry yet smug voice rang out again behind her.
"How is it? Smells good, doesn't it? This is braised pork my boyfriend gave me. They say it was made by a former imperial chef from the previous dynasty. Other people can't even buy it! My boyfriend casually gave me a whole box!"
"Su Yun, aren't you jealous?"
Just as He Hua finished speaking, Doctor Jiang from across the courtyard pushed his bicycle in. As he passed Su Yun, he glanced at her curiously. "Su Yun? Why are you suddenly wearing a work uniform?"
He Hua sneered from the side. "Hmph, she borrowed it. Showing off on purpose! Don't tell me it's actually hers?"
Ignoring He Hua completely, Su Yun smiled at Doctor Jiang. "I found a job today. I'll be working at the recycling station under the subdistrict office. Starting today, I'm officially a worker."
At those words, He Hua's jealous expression nearly twisted out of shape.
The neighbors who overheard quickly gathered around in surprise, chattering all at once and squeezing He Hua aside.
Auntie Gao from the front room, still wearing her apron and peeling green onions, excitedly asked, "Is that true? Su Yun, you got a job? How did you manage that?"
Clearly, everyone was concerned about this question.
Facing the enthusiastic neighbors, Su Yun cheerfully fabricated her story. "My godmother reached retirement age and wanted to hurry home to take care of her grandchildren, so she transferred the recycling station job to me."
From outside the crowd, He Hua retorted darkly, "Liar! Since when do you have a godmother? Why didn't I know?"
A nearby aunt rolled her eyes. "Does Su Yun need to beat drums and gongs to notify you when she recognizes a godmother?"
"That's right…"
The neighbors chimed in, all saying Su Yun was lucky. The job had come at just the right time—she wouldn't have to go to the countryside now.
He Hua gritted her teeth, nearly going mad with rage.
At that moment, Widow He's shrill voice rang out from the inner courtyard. "He Hua! Where did you run off to again? Aren't you watching the meat in the pot? It's time to add the radishes!"
Hearing that, He Hua quickly composed herself and shot Su Yun a vicious glare.
Go ahead and show off, she thought. Even if you found a job, so what? The golden son-in-law is about to be mine. You're destined to lose to me!
With that thought, He Hua lifted her chin arrogantly. As she passed Su Yun, she deliberately called back loudly, "Coming right away!"
Su Yun deliberately turned her head away, ignoring her entirely and continuing to chat with the other neighbors.
That single gesture infuriated He Hua even more.
From the gossip of the enthusiastic aunties, Su Yun learned that He Hua's boyfriend had sent her another box of braised pork today. Widow He had practically broadcast it to the entire courtyard, deliberately stewing meat during peak hours so everyone would know her daughter had an impressive suitor.
After hearing all this, Su Yun felt no jealousy whatsoever. She chatted a little longer, then carried her net bag back home.
The moment she stepped inside, her mother Chen Xiue hurried back with a vegetable basket, panting. She shut the door behind her and looked at Su Yun expectantly, asking cautiously, "Xiaoyun, how did it go? Did it work out?"
Su Yun didn't answer. She simply smiled and spun around twice on the spot.
Seeing the loose blue work uniform on her, Chen Xiue's eyes instantly reddened with tears. Overcome with excitement, she said, "Heaven be praised! The huge stone weighing on my heart has finally fallen away!"