Ji Nian glanced briefly at the slightly crumpled test paper in front of her.
It didn’t look like something she had written—more like a final exam paper snatched from some school’s grade-level curriculum.
The questions were all fairly simple for her, and she barely needed to think before starting to write.
As Ji Nian worked on the paper, the woman nearby yawned out of boredom, preparing to take a nap.
Before her drowsiness could fully settle in, she was abruptly awakened.
The child stood before her with the completed test sheet and, seeing her open her eyes, simply said, "Done."
The woman rubbed her eyes and took a closer look at Ji Nian’s face.
She hadn’t paid much attention earlier, but now that she examined the child properly, she realized how striking she looked—mixed-race, with green eyes. She’d heard there was a green-eyed kid in the West District, though she recalled that one was a boy.
Too lazy to dwell on it, she reached out and snatched the paper from Ji Nian’s hands, not particularly gently, before walking off.
Uncertain of the next steps, Ji Nian simply returned to her original seat and waited.
"District Chief! District Chief! Someone’s here for the job posting you put up outside!"
The woman walked inside, stopping before the only office—its door didn’t even need to be pushed open, as it was already broken.
A young woman sat inside, buried in stacks of documents.
Li Hua had been assigned here last month—though "assigned" wasn’t the word she’d use. "Exiled" felt more accurate.
Even now, she was still simmering with the same resentment she’d felt upon first hearing the news.
"What?"
Hearing the woman’s voice, she lifted her head, masking her exhaustion.
She took the test paper and skimmed through it.
Neat handwriting, all answers correct—an outstanding performance. In the outside world, this level of competence wouldn’t be remarkable.
But here? It was practically a luxury.
"Bring her in, quickly."
Her tone carried a hint of excitement.
No matter how dire her circumstances, she still instinctively sought opportunities, carving out new paths for herself in adversity.
When Ji Nian entered, Li Hua glanced behind her.
Seeing no one else, realization dawned on her.
"You’re Ji Nian?"
She glanced at the name written on the test paper—the handwriting looked like it belonged to someone well into their twenties.
Ji Nian nodded. "Yes, that’s me."
While Li Hua studied her in surprise, Ji Nian was also observing her—or rather, observing a younger version of Madam Li.
Youthful, vibrant, with a stubborn determination etched in her brows.
Though startled, Li Hua quickly composed herself upon confirming that the child before her was indeed the one who’d taken the test.
This place wasn’t one where normal logic applied. It bred both extreme fools and astonishing madmen—or perhaps geniuses, depending on perspective.
"I need an assistant to help me handle some paperwork…"
She explained at length, then, gauging Ji Nian’s expression, cut straight to the point: "The pay is eight hundred a month."
Ji Nian asked, "Can it be weekly?"
Li Hua replied, "If you show up, sure."
The woman beside them muttered, "That’s against regulations."
Li Hua smiled faintly. "I’ll cover it personally."
The woman immediately dropped her objection.
Realizing this was likely the highest wage Li Hua could offer, Ji Nian also grasped another fact:
That newly built concrete building outside… was the government office.
Who would’ve thought? The future "Land of Flowers and Birds" had started with a government headquarters smaller than a hundred square meters.
After finalizing the deal, Ji Nian retraced her steps back the way she came.
She detoured to a clothing store where the owner lounged on a chair by the entrance. Pointing at a random item, she asked, "How much for this?"
The shopkeeper gave her a sidelong glance, then, noticing Ji Nian’s fair complexion, softened slightly. "That’s a hundred. Fresh stock, all the rage outside right now."
Ji Nian thought to herself, What nonsense—this style was outdated twenty years ago.
Thanks to Ji Tingzhou’s habit of ranting about fashion magazines, she wasn’t an expert, but she knew enough to call out the lie.
She pointed at a few more items, confirming prices, and mentally noted that the one she actually wanted was within reach if she saved up. Ignoring the shopkeeper’s sarcastic remarks about her only asking and not buying, she left cheerfully.
On her way back, Ji Nian didn’t find Ji Tingzhou in his little tin shed. Thinking it over, she guessed they’d gone to Shen Rushan’s place instead.
She turned and headed there from memory.
"Who’s there?!"
The moment Ji Nian stepped inside, she was met with Shen Rushan’s sharp, wary glare.
Recognizing her, he relaxed and lowered the wooden plank in his hand. "It’s you."
Without asking where she’d been, he motioned for her to follow.
Before even entering, Ji Nian frowned.
The smell of blood hit her.
Someone was hurt.
Quickening her pace, she stepped inside.
Shen Rushan’s home had no proper bed—just wooden planks with a thin mat serving as a sleeping space.
Right now, Ji Tingzhou sat at the edge, one arm broken as he struggled to grab a towel to clean himself. Wei Yang dozed against him, while Zhiliao lay unconscious nearby.
Ji Nian froze at the sight of blood covering both of them.
"Did you get into a fight?"
Shen Rushan nodded and gave a brief rundown.
Ji Nian committed the culprit’s name to memory.
As she approached, another thought nagged at her.
This didn’t make sense. Even regressed to childhood, Zhiliao shouldn’t have been injured this badly.
Ji Nian checked Zhiliao first.
Being a girl, the others couldn’t examine her properly, so only basic first aid had been done.
If only we had proper equipment, she thought. Right now, she could only assess external injuries.
After Zhiliao, she crouched before Ji Tingzhou, ignoring his frown as she prodded his broken arm.
Before he could protest, she grabbed his wrist and—click—snapped it back into place.
The move was so swift no one had time to react.
Beyond that, he was covered in wounds, blood still seeping out. Medicine was scarce here; they were used to enduring—live if you could, die if you couldn’t.
"Getting hurt like this—are you an idiot? If you can’t win, run. Why stand there and take it?"
She checked him, then the others—even Wei Yang, tracing the bruises on his neck.
Ji Tingzhou’s frown deepened at being scolded. He looked at Shen Rushan as if to say, She’s yelling at me?
Shen Rushan nodded. Yes, she is.
After examining everyone, Ji Nian ran a hand through her hair, mussing up her hair tie, before suddenly remembering something.
"Get me some water—clean, drinkable water."
Once Shen Rushan was on it, she dashed outside.
She returned shortly, clutching a few strands of grass.
Shredding one into pieces, she tossed it into the water Shen Rushan had boiled. Then, she handed another plant to Ji Tingzhou.
"Chew this and spread it on your wounds."
Ji Tingzhou didn’t move.
"No."
Even if it was his own saliva, he found the idea disgusting.
"Blood is dirtier than urine, yet you're covered in it too. What's there to fuss about spit?"
She pushed the herbs toward him again.
Fortunately, at this age, Xiao Zhou hadn’t yet developed the stubbornness of his older self—the kind that would make him declare, "I’d rather die." He still valued his life a little.
Knowing these herbs could treat wounds, though somewhat skeptical, he chewed them under Ji Nian’s watchful gaze. Then, with the expression of a man marching to his doom, he smeared the green paste over his injury.
Ji Nian nodded in satisfaction before turning to tend to Zhiliao. By then, what she’d asked Shen Rushan to prepare was ready.
Once cooled, she helped Zhiliao sit up and poured the concoction into her mouth. Halfway through, Zhiliao regained consciousness and drank the rest willingly.
Before long, Zhiliao woke.
Her vision blurred as she opened her eyes, and for a moment, she mistook Ji Nian for Xiao Zhou.
Before she could speak, the person before her—whose voice bore no resemblance to Xiao Zhou’s—said, "You're awake."
"Get better soon, Zhiliao-jie. I’ll teach you how to fight!"
