Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder — I Rise to Female Lead Through Hard Work-Chapter 33: Like a Frostbitten Eggplant

Pay back the money?

Anmin blinked innocently at Ding Ancheng and said, "How could it be so soon? I haven’t even started working yet. Do you need it urgently?"

Ding Ancheng laughed, a laugh filled with frustration, feeling like he was talking to a brick wall.

Ding Anmin, standing by and seeing her big brother like this, felt a bit uneasy. But since this was a matter between the couple, she didn’t want to get involved. She just took a few steps back to distance herself a bit.

"So why did you suddenly decide to find a job?"

"It’s not sudden; I’ve been thinking about it for a while," Yi Roujing replied.

The temperature around Ding Ancheng rose slightly, but his words were still a bit cold, "What kind of job are you thinking of doing?"

"Something related to the hospital would be best, to get familiar with it in advance," Yi Roujing pondered, "but office work is fine too, I can do that."

"I’ll ask around," Ding Ancheng replied.

"Hey, don’t. I want to try finding something myself first," Yi Roujing replied, "based on merit."

"If you don’t find anything this time, make sure you don’t go into the city alone next time," Ding Ancheng reminded her, "Call me when you get home."

Yi Roujing nodded.

"I’m heading to school first." With that, Ding Ancheng walked a few steps and handed the net bag to Ding Anmin.

A real brother, indeed.

Ding Anmin looked down at the net bag filled with malted milk and candies, her hand sinking a bit, her eyes fixed on Ding Ancheng, waiting for his instructions.

"Keep an eye on your sister-in-law, and call me if anything comes up," Ding Ancheng said a few words before leaving.

"As expected, big brother still trusts me." Ding Anmin straightened up a bit while holding the bag, its weight making her overlook the words "sister-in-law" that Ding Ancheng had just uttered.

"Trust what?" Yi Roujing was confused for a moment.

"These things aren’t safe in your hands; I have to hold them, in case you eat them all," Ding Anmin said with a hint of pride.

Is that what it means? Yi Roujing blushed slightly, embarrassed. Fortunately, she hadn’t been smug just now, thinking it was because Ding Ancheng was worried about her carrying something heavy, when in fact it was because he didn’t trust her. Indeed, she must have been seen taking out the candy while getting ready earlier...

If Ding Ancheng had heard the conversation between the sisters-in-law, he’d probably be spitting blood.

"Oh, let’s go ask around at various factories for work." Yi Roujing recovered her composure and focused her mind on the important task, "Later I’ll do the asking, and you step aside a bit."

"Why?" Ding Anmin was a bit annoyed, "Can’t I listen?"

Yi Roujing rolled her eyes and then looked down at the green net bag in Ding Anmin’s hand, "Are you going to carry that while asking for work? If you don’t offer some things as a token, do you think people will give you information for free?"

Ding Anmin quickly hid the net bag behind her back, "No way, I’ll just stay further away from you then."

"Do you think big brother knew this, so he gave me the stuff?" Ding Anmin suddenly hesitated a bit.

"He just trusts you," Yi Roujing replied with a laugh, and Ding Anmin nodded in agreement.

The largest factory in Huaixi County was the food factory, but Yi Roujing didn’t plan to go there. After all, the gatekeeper knew Ding Ancheng, and if she couldn’t find a job, it would be an embarrassment. Moreover, she already knew quite a few people working there, including Hupozi’s son and Wang Qiushuang’s suitor.

Optimistic Yi Roujing, brimming with confidence for the future, Yi Roujing, considering her networking skills, Yi Roujing...

"We’re not hiring, try somewhere else."

"Go, go, with just a middle school diploma and you want office work in a factory?"

"Not hiring, not hiring."

...

Yi Roujing’s eyes widened in surprise, her body feeling weak, like an eggplant hit by frost.

Ding Anmin had a perfectly natural, unbothered look on her face, "I told you, it’s not easy to find work in a factory. If you could just ask and get a job, then everyone could come to the county town, seriously."

"How can one get a high school diploma?" Yi Roujing asked Ding Anmin, her eyes serious, giving Ding Anmin a feeling of being eyed like prey, making her subconsciously take a step back.

"Now you know a middle school diploma is useless, right?" Ding Anmin muttered, and Yi Roujing was so irritated. She was a graduate student—graduate student... but she couldn’t say it.

"Didn’t big brother ask if you wanted to go to First High? Go study there for two years, take the graduation exams, and you’ll get a diploma," Ding Anmin replied.

"If I take exams now, can I get a diploma?" Yi Roujing asked.

"You have to be grounded," Ding Anmin advised seriously.

"If it weren’t for the high school knowledge I had already learned early on, do you think I wouldn’t have gone to high school?" Yi Roujing replied calmly.

"Whether you know it or not, others don’t know that; people look at certificates," Ding Anmin pointed out, "Moreover, even having a certificate isn’t helpful. Me and second brother both have high school diplomas; do you think work is easy to find? What’s most important is still having connections and skills."

"With connections, it’s not impossible to work in a factory even with a middle school diploma. And even if you want to be an apprentice to learn a craft in a factory, the factory must first be willing to take you in, which still requires connections, unless you’re very outstanding and can become a master right away."

The reality... Although Yi Roujing understood that society was like this, she used to be inside the ivory tower, indifferent to the outside hustle and bustle. Plus, her family background meant she never had to worry about these things. Now that she’s facing them, she understandably feels a bit disappointed, but she won’t be easily defeated.

"I’ll ask big brother next time I see him, see if I can take the test, if not, oh well," Yi Roujing replied.

"But what if you can take the college entrance exam, and you don’t have a high school diploma, can you participate?" Ding Anmin leaned closer to Yi Roujing, cautiously looked around, and then whispered.

"Sure," Yi Roujing nodded. The first year of the restored college entrance exams wasn’t just for current high school graduates; workers, farmers, soldiers, and educated youth could all participate. She’s a bona fide farmer through and through, why wouldn’t she qualify?

"You say it so convincingly," Ding Anmin replied skeptically, "You should just go to high school, studying is easy, no need to work, just enjoy it secretly."

"Don’t worry, I have my plans," Yi Roujing said confidently, "Alright, let’s go home."

The words "go home" coming from Yi Roujing’s mouth made Ding Anmin feel a bit dazed, as if it was the first time hearing this, indicating that Yi Roujing was starting to recognize her situation, justifying all of her heartfelt advice.

When they expected to meet Wang Qiushuang at the station, even until Yi Roujing and Ding Anmin got on the vehicle, and after it started, Wang Qiushuang still hadn’t got on.

"I guess that person might be taking the next bus," Ding Anmin murmured.

"No need to concern yourself with others’ matters," Yi Roujing said indifferently.

It was already noon when they reached the Tongxian Commune. Ding Anmin didn’t want to spend money, so she stubbornly went home on an empty stomach. Yi Roujing wanted to help carry the net bag at intervals, but Ding Anmin didn’t let her. Along the way, Yi Roujing had no complaints, as she had nothing weighing her down, she had no standing to speak.

Hungry is one thing, but Yi Roujing feels thirsty, oh how uncomfortable it is.