The morning sun was bright and beautiful, and the urban village had long since come to life. The pace of life in West City was not fast. By the time the stalls at the snack shop downstairs had been set up for three hours and dozens of steamers of buns had been sold, the Lin family had just finished a leisurely breakfast and were preparing to amble downstairs to open their small convenience store.
Lin Youyu was the one heading to the shop to open up. Wang Xiuzhi was in no hurry to go down; she was busy with Grandma Lin, sorting through the freshly brought back green onions and chives.
"Mom, your vegetables are growing so well, and they're so clean," Wang Xiuzhi praised sincerely, picking through the chives in her hand and removing yellow leaves and old skins as she looked at the elderly lady sitting across from her. "I'm growing some on my balcony too, but I can't seem to take care of them as well as you do."
Hearing this, Grandma Lin turned to glance at the two pots of little greens planted on her daughter-in-law's balcony. In two foam boxes filled with soil stood a few rows of scrawny, yellowish-green seedlings. The old lady, who had been quite skilled at farming in her youth, immediately frowned and said with mild exasperation, "With your way of tending them, they'll wither before they're even ready to eat. Forget it for today. Find some time tomorrow to pull them all out. I'll find a packet of seeds later and teach you how to plant properly."
Wang Xiuzhi agreed with an embarrassed smile. She really shouldn't have gotten carried away and tried planting two pots on the balcony just because she saw how well her mother-in-law's balcony garden was doing.
As they sat there sorting vegetables, Lin Lan came out of her bedroom, having changed her clothes and opened the door.
She had her hair in a ponytail and was wearing a smart-looking office blazer. With light makeup and a leather bag slung over her shoulder, she clearly had serious business to attend to, which drew the simultaneous gaze of both the old lady and Wang Xiuzhi.
"Oh, I only heard you say yesterday that you submitted your resume online, and today a company already wants you for an interview?" Wang Xiuzhi called out to her daughter in surprise, her expression showing her astonishment.
This season wasn't the peak hiring period. For her daughter, who had been resting at home for a few days, to get a response right after sending out her resume was quite unusual.
"Maybe they're short-staffed," Lin Lan replied. Just then, something fluffy brushed against her calf. Looking down, she saw the family's big white cat winding around her legs. "Snowflake." Lin Lan smiled, picking up the cat and holding it aloft. "I'm going out. I'll be back by evening at the latest. I'll bring you your favorite lamb skewers then, okay?"
Held up in the air, the white cat showed no fear, its tail hanging naturally. It meowed at Lin Lan. "Meow."
"It's not for foraging, more like... scouting out a new territory," Lin Lan replied to the cat. "If the scouting is successful, I'll be hunting there from now on, and I can come home every day."
"Meow—"
"Not far, not far at all. It's about half an hour on the family's e-scooter. That industrial park is quite close."
"Meow, meow."
"Yes, that's right. If I start hunting there regularly, I'll buy you your favorite salmon cans every week, okay?"
"Meow!"
Not far away, her mother and grandmother, still holding chives, watched the interaction between the girl and the cat with peculiar expressions. Lin Lan had started acting like this the second day after returning home. It was understandable that she used to play affectionately with the family's big white cat, but now, with her saying something and the cat meowing back as if they were really having a conversation, it looked both strange and amusing.
"Acting as if she can really understand what it's saying," Wang Xiuzhi muttered first, then raised her voice to call to her daughter, "Stop playing with the cat. If you have an interview, hurry up and go. Don't miss the time."
"I won't, I've timed it perfectly," Lin Lan put the cat down and turned to reply. "Mom, Grandma, I'm off then. I won't be back for lunch."
"Got it. Come back early tonight!"
"Meow—"
As Lin Lan reached the door, Snowflake followed her there, sitting down and meowing at her, its long tail swishing back and forth.
Wang Xiuzhi then heard her daughter suddenly chuckle. "Mom, Snowflake says it wants the chicken breast I bought for it yesterday for lunch, with fish jerky mixed in. Remember to add that in, okay."
The door clicked shut, leaving behind a stunned Wang Xiuzhi and Grandma Lin, and a big white cat that had already trotted back to rub against their legs.
This ingratiating display, clearly aimed at securing a tasty meal, slowly brought Wang Xiuzhi back to her senses. She couldn't help feeling both annoyed and amused, gently nudging the cat aside with her calf. "You really have become a little spirit, haven't you? You just knew Lan Lan was asking for something delicious for you, right?"
The old lady also nodded. "This cat is good, very perceptive. No wonder Lan Lan worked so hard to rescue it and raise it. It truly understands human nature."
Grandma Lin didn't know it yet, but in the future, her granddaughter would bring home many more cats that were "perceptive and understood human nature."
Like other rapidly developing cities, West City had also built quite a few industrial parks over the years with government support. Large and small companies were based there, providing many job opportunities.
When Lin Lan was in Shanghai, she worked in the 3D printing department of a media company, specializing in 3D modeling. She had worked there for two or three years, so she was no stranger to operating machines and personally printing products. It was because she learned quickly and did good work that she had gotten a chance for promotion to a supervisor position.
Now that she was back in her hometown, everything had to start over. The conditions in West City were naturally far behind those in Shanghai; a few years ago, there weren't even companies of this type here. But having something was better than nothing. Lin Lan also didn't want to switch careers and go to a game company to work on models. Being able to continue with 3D printing was ideal.
Pulling an e-scooter out from the basement of the small building, Lin Lan put on her helmet and rode onto the non-motorized vehicle lane on the road.
The Lin family didn't own a car. Firstly, they were locals, and all their relatives and friends were in West City, so there was no need. Secondly, right outside their building was a bus stop, making it very convenient to go anywhere. Even if you were impatient waiting for the bus, riding an e-bike was sufficient. Thirdly... from the oldest to the youngest, every member of the Lin family found getting a driver's license too troublesome. No one was willing to go through all that hassle just for a car.
"No car, we're not buying one," Lin Youyu would wave his hand dismissively when outsiders brought up the topic. "How many families actually need a car, really? Lots of people are already busy enough with their mortgages, and then they pile on a car loan. After that, car insurance, road maintenance fees, tolls, gas—which one doesn't cost money? Does it really not hurt when you pay for it? Let's be honest, buying a car is mostly for face. But look, does my family lack that kind of face?"
When Father Lin said this, his own building stood behind him, and he straightened his back proudly. After that, no one ever asked him about it again.
E-scooters were convenient and fast. As long as you followed simple traffic rules, you could travel unimpeded through the city. They were deeply loved by the general public. Especially during rush hour, the feeling of superiority as you zipped past, leaving everyone in the dust, was something car owners stuck in traffic couldn't describe with mere envy or jealousy.
Just like now.
Waiting at the same red light, Lin Lan glanced at the tightly jammed motor vehicle lane beside her, her expression calm with a hint of concealed smugness.
Until her gaze inadvertently swept over the driver's seat of the car in front. There, a young driver with his window down was probably rushing to work and had brought his breakfast on the road. Taking advantage of the red light, he peeled a Wang Zhong Wang sausage and held it in his hand.
But he didn't eat it. Instead, he held it out the window, waving it towards the opposite side, once, then again, as if showing off.
At first, Lin Lan was puzzled. Then she tilted her head, craned her neck forward for a better look, and saw the driver waving his Wang Zhong Wang at a Golden Retriever sitting on its owner's electric scooter.
The big dog was so teased that its tongue was hanging out, panting heavily. Yet, due to the Golden Retriever's excellent temperament, it held its ground, only fidgeting in place and stamping its paws. This made the sausage wave even more provocatively.
Lin Lan: "..." What a jerk.
Fortunately, the guy didn't tease for too long, mindful that the red light wouldn't last much longer. He soon withdrew the sausage and ate it himself. From her angle, Lin Lan could only see the arm in a silver-gray suit jacket extended from the window, the blue Mercedes-Benz he was driving, and its local Xicheng license plate. As for what this cheeky dog-teaser actually looked like, she had no idea.
As the green light came on, the tide of cars surged forward again, engines rumbling into a collective roar.
Twenty minutes later, Lin Lan arrived at the industrial park where the interview company was located. After a bit of searching, she found the place and entered the company.
For technical position applicants, companies usually conduct technical tests in addition to basic interviews, and Lin Lan was no exception. By the time the interview process was over and she walked out of the company, it was almost noon. She hurried out to find food.
Too hungry to be picky, Lin Lan spotted a convenience store nearby and ducked straight inside.
Twenty minutes later, comfortably full, she walked out carrying a few leftover oden balls and fried chicken skewers.
The interview should have gone fine. A veteran returning from Shanghai had that kind of confidence. Lin Lan reflected on the salary and benefits. As expected, they were a notch lower than her previous company, but still within an acceptable range.
Barring any surprises, she'd likely be working at this company from now on.
Just as she thought this, a chorus of meows sounded by her ear.
"Meow— Meow, meow—" Food! Food! Give me some, give me some, please?
A black-and-white stray cat and a calico cat emerged one after the other from the bushes of a flower bed, circling a few steps away from Lin Lan and meowing at her.
These cats were clearly used to being fed by people. They weren't afraid at all, even expertly performing various rolling and cute-begging poses. When Lin Lan, resigned, crouched down and offered her leftover food, they immediately gathered around and began munching away without ceremony.
Five minutes later.
"Meow—" (Are you going to hunt here from now on?)
Proficient in cat language, Lin Lan naturally struck up a conversation with the two cats. Having eaten her food, these local strays were quite friendly towards her. Coupled with this being their first encounter with a human who could communicate with them, they were gracious enough to stay and chat for a bit.
"Yes, barring any surprises, I'll be foraging here." Seizing the rare opportunity, Lin Lan also had some questions for these local cats. "That company over there... no, the people in that building, are you familiar with them?" She pointed towards the location of the company she had just interviewed at, which wasn't far away.
The two cats immediately meowed in reply: (We know, we know! We go there too, some two-leggers give us food. We know a lot about what goes on inside.)
"So, what's the atmosphere like at that company? Uh... I mean, do people there argue a lot or anything?"
"Meow!" (Yes, just a couple of days ago some two-leggers were arguing.)
Promising! A glint flashed in Lin Lan's eyes: "What were they arguing about?"
"Meow, meow aow—" (I don't understand. I just know they kept repeating 'perfect attendance'... 'late'... stuff like that.)
"Meow meow—" (And something about '2 seconds'... '8:30'!)
As animals who have lived alongside humans for a long time, cats can understand a portion of the simplest vocabulary, like 'eat' and 'play'. More complex terminology, however, is beyond them. But that doesn't stop adult cats, with intelligence equivalent to a two or three-year-old child, from remembering some repeated sounds.
Just like now. The stray cats didn't understand why the people in the company were arguing or the specifics of what was said. But from the kittens' recollection of the extremely high repetition rate during the argument and the few words they remembered, Lin Lan quickly pieced together a scene of a heated dispute between a regular employee and an HR staffer. With a little polishing and organization, the argument was reconstructed as follows—
Employee: "Why is my perfect attendance bonus gone this month? I clocked in and out on time every single day!"
HR: "You were late for clocking in one day."
Employee: "Impossible! I clock in right on the dot every day. I was never late!"
HR: "If you don't believe me, look at the attendance sheet yourself. The clock-in records for all company employees are right here! Take a look at your own!"
Employee: "But this says exactly 8:30! Isn't the company's start time 8:30?"
HR: "The company's official start time is indeed 8:30, that's correct. But look again at your exact clock-in time: 8:30:02. Two seconds! See that? You were late!"
Employee: "I#&￥%... Two seconds counts as being late!?"
HR: "Two seconds counts! Anything past 8:30:00 counts!"
Employee: "Screw this ! What a crappy company! I quit!"
With the two stray cats chiming in one after the other, Lin Lan grasped the whole story and understood why the company was suddenly hiring.
And after hearing it, only one thought remained in her mind: Holy crap, such a dog-eat-dog place? She can't join this company!
