Chapter 3, Can you be any more deceitful?
Entering Youhua College is a key turning point in their destiny, at least allowing them to move from the outskirts of the city to deeper areas. If they can find a job in a tier 3 area and successfully complete their internship to be formally retained, having a foothold will enable them to bring their immediate family members over.
Moreover, only residents within the fourth-level urban areas have a quota for completely pollution-free food. Those who, like Li Jie’s parents, have been constantly on the move, find that their records of entering and exiting the city serve as the basis for the duration of their stay in Yanhuang City. As a result, they can only obtain one-tenth of the amount available to residents of the third-level urban areas who do not leave the city.
Regardless of the circumstances, here, it is imperative to adhere to my lifestyle habits as an unshakeable fundamental principle! Within five minutes—everything must be restored to its original cleanliness and tidiness!
This, this is a bit cramped, but how can we feel comfortable having you stay in a hotel?
Upon returning to the room, the tall and stout man rubbed his nose and sighed, saying: "The most detestable thing in the world is comparison! We, twenty-one people, are crammed into a house of over a hundred square meters, just to find a good job in a tier-three city. And what about Li Jie? He doesn't want to work at all, he rejects all offers that come his way, not even interested in understanding the situation. Oh heavens—grant me a life like that in my next incarnation!"
Can he eat now
Li stood up after finishing his commentary, glanced at the meat and vegetables on the table, and sighed silently... These were the completely pollution-free, 100% healthy food products purchased by his parents, which would soon be consumed due to their excessive cooking. The key issue is—clearly they were all stored in the storage room, and there was a full genetic information comparison lock. Did he forget to close the door?
There is only one truth regarding this matter: that is, Jiang Xinshu, with his well-thought-out strategies and exceptional wisdom that leaves no detail overlooked, made the most valuable decision in the face of Li Jie’s emotional impulses.
The room was in complete disarray, and he could only be grateful that his parents were often away and did not happen to return today at this time
Do not eat the rice in the storage room anymore; just from this meal, you have consumed tens of thousands. I usually do not eat it, saving it for when my parents return so we can enjoy it together. Li Jie really wanted to be generous, but in such times, the limited resources necessitate a planned distribution. The price of completely uncontaminated grain within the quota is quite high, and once it exceeds the personal purchase quota limit, the price increases exponentially in a tiered manner, and there is also a cap set on it
Youhua College is located within the third city wall. As the college vacation approaches, students will not be allowed to stay in the dormitories, and they have only two months to find suitable internships. However, the rental costs within the third city wall area are quite high, and there are limited houses available for rent. Without a rental contract from a landlord, it is impossible to obtain a pass for the third city wall area. Li Jie and his group of friends cannot afford the rent and have no relatives or friends to rely on. Once the official vacation begins, students' passes will no longer be valid for activities within the third city wall area, so they can only plead with Li Jie to take them in.
"How much?" The tall and stout man was instantly dumbfounded. He then raised his hand and gestured in front of his mouth, asking with a near-crying tone, "If I spit it out now, can I avoid paying?"
Have a meal
Li Jie! Xiao Hua, you know that I have liked her for many years. Brother, whether I can have a happy and fulfilling life depends entirely on you!
The short man beside the tall and stout one squinted at him and grunted, "As if finding a job together with him would make any difference! Li Jie is one of the three revered warriors of our academy's Comprehensive Combat Department. Not to mention, with his skills, he could easily join the Peacekeeping Elite Team, right? Starting salary of 40,000 a month, and what about us? Finding a job that pays 8,000 would be quite good!" Li Jie is one of the three revered warriors of our academy's Comprehensive Combat Department. Not to mention, with his skills, he could easily join the Peacekeeping Elite Team, right? Starting salary of 40,000 a month, and what about us? Finding a job that pays 8,000 would be quite good!
Indeed, they are the children from humble backgrounds in Youhua Academy, whose families reside on the outskirts of the city, which means they are at risk of close contact with various radioactive dust at any moment. Repeated world wars have devastated an increasing number of environments, and now, theoretically, the area surrounding Yanhuang City is designated as a low-radiation zone.
He resolved the issue very well, while at that moment, Li Jie, who was standing at the door, was facing another unexpected problem
"There is no room for negotiation. When doing good deeds, one must not get oneself entangled; that is what we call a foolish good person. Haven't the Wang family teachings from my mother's side been mentioned to you?" Li turned and walked down the corridor without looking back
They are certainly all aware of the reality of living under someone else's roof
Why has the number of people in the room surged
Li felt a sudden surge of tension, and the tall, stout man quickly waved his hand, saying: "It's not your father!"
No need to say more! Li Jie does not even want to exclaim how impressive the people from the tall and stout community are, as four of his peers have actually entered Youhua Academy. Does he still need to hear an explanation? The remaining situation is not much different. First: Pretend, you all must pretend to care for everything in the house just like I do; second: In case of any loss, compensation must be made at market value, no debts can be incurred, and interest must be calculated
The remaining seven all changed their expressions as well. The reason they are all gathered here is precisely due to their limited financial means. As a result, they spent tens of thousands in one meal, which is a matter of their very lives!
The key is, have they all eaten...? Can they really throw it up?! Even if it costs money, it is useless; what is lacking is not money, but the purchase of more quotas! In a third-tier city, it is quite difficult to find someone to let go of their quota. That is quite challenging, as the resellers may have bad intentions, using reports to extort, which could lead to severe consequences, because the penalties for such matters are very heavy
However, air currents may suddenly bring persistent radioactive dust. The city has a protective shield that can block it, but activating it takes time. Those living on the outskirts of the city are certainly the most at risk, while those residing deeper within the city are comparatively safer
Ah—" Gao Da Pang suddenly raised his arms high and exclaimed: "That is why I say that the most detestable thing in the world is comparison! When we have a friend who is more capable than us and comes from a better family background, we are both pained and delighted at the same time!"
The expressions on the twenty-one familiar and unfamiliar faces in the room suddenly froze almost simultaneously, and then, one by one, the figures moved in unison!
Stop pretending to be pitiful, this meal is on me
Do you think I am a saint? Letting you stay over while I spend 3,100 a night in a hotel in a third-tier city? The house next door also belongs to my family—there's no need to play the pity card, it's not going to work! That is where my parents live, and if you leave your hair behind, my mother will definitely have a fit due to her obsessive cleanliness, and then she will disinfect the entire place. " Li opened the door and went out, followed by a large group of tall, stout individuals, each wearing a long face, weakly pleading, "Li Jie, why don't we discuss this a bit more... Are you really leaving without saying anything?"
"Black history, coercion, being forced to change one's mind—such things do not exist, they simply do not exist..." Soon, Jiang Xinshu himself believed it, and he had to believe it.
At that moment, the door across suddenly opened, and an aunt walked out, her face stern as she scolded: "What is going on with you? Making such a racket at this hour, don't you have any decency... The door across didn't used to be like this, and you are making such a fuss even before the holiday has started. What will it be like in a few days..."
Where could he possibly be generous?
Oh..." Li Jie let out a sigh of relief. If his parents were to find out about the situation in the house, it would be uncertain whether he could continue to live a leisurely and carefree life. "Next, I will say that I have found a job."
Jiang Xin casually sipped his wine, stating that this topic must come to an end. Such a damaging matter to his image, he would say? What a joke! That is impossible! The closer a leader approaches a state of deification, the stronger the cohesion becomes
Including Gao Dapeng, the eight individuals are all friends that Li Jie is very familiar with, as for the remaining thirteen...
Faced with such enthusiasm, and seeing the disarray in the room, along with an extra one, two, three... in total, thirteen unfamiliar faces, oh, and eight familiar faces, deliberately adopting a low profile and smiling...
In Yanhuang City, due to the necessary regulations following the war, numerous isolation walls constructed from alloy materials have been erected, with electric fences installed on top to prevent climbing. Throughout Yanhuang City, there are several hundred such walls, which are generally divided into nine levels, with the outermost layer referred to as the Ninth Level Wall. The area within the Ninth Level Wall occupies approximately seventy percent of Yanhuang City's total area
Li Jie entered the house without paying much attention and casually closed the door behind him
Li Jie, those few... ...
Several familiar faces warmly approached, eagerly kicking aside the trash that obstructed their path, saying: "Everyone has been waiting for your return to start the meal. Come on, let's eat and chat in the restaurant."
It feels like a group of mischievous children caught in the act
Eight tall and stout individuals gritted their teeth and agreed, which was reasonable and left no room for objection
Indeed, for the tall and stout individuals, receiving assistance from Li Jie is a rare opportunity. They have no relatives to rely on here, and if it were not for Li Jie taking them in, they would only be able to survive here for a few days. If they cannot find a place to go within those few days, they would have to bid farewell to the third-tier city.
Li Jie smiled as he opened the hand of the tall, stout man who was gesturing as if to choke his throat, and put on his shoes, ready to go out
Hearing the sound of the door opening, the tall and stout man hurried over and shouted, "Li Jie—wait a moment, a big uncle just came looking for you."
Li Jie is back! That's great, it's time to eat, time to eat! Gao Da Pang is hungry, everyone is hungry, just waiting for Li Jie.
Li Jie was directly amused by anger
The two who are mopping the floor are the children of my neighbor and his cousin, as well as his cousin's sister... Don't glare at me, listen to what I have to say. It's my fault for being talkative; I boasted to my mother, and as a result, she was entangled by the neighbor and was crying and making a scene, forcing me to do something. I can't let her lose face from now on, can I?" The tall and stout one said as he patted his chest, making a solemn promise: "I guarantee! I guarantee that the situation just now will never happen again!"
Stop laughing, quickly tidy up and clarify everything. We also need to start looking for internship opportunities right away. Whether we can achieve our goals and work and live in a tier-3 city depends on these two months!
What do you think, can I still stay like this now?" Li Jie looked at the six mats in the living room, the two pillows on the sofa, the mat on the kitchen floor, and the mat in the hallway... His expression was blank.
Where are you going
What is going on? Li could not take off his shoes and went straight in because the soup and various messy things on the ground were mixed together
"I’m sorry, I’m sorry..." A few tall and stout individuals hurriedly apologized as they retreated into the room, closing the door behind them before finally letting out a sigh of relief. They then exchanged glances, unable to suppress their laughter.