Wang Family Village, the village committee office.
The only place with a telephone.
Shen Nanchu was speaking into the black receiver.
Wang Jianguo and Wang Jianshe stood beside her, not daring to make a sound.
"Director Gu, I’m telling you, I’ve made a major discovery here in Wang Family Village."
"I suspect this bone might be the skull of our ancestors."
"If it’s true, this could provide crucial physical evidence for the study of human origins and evolution. It would make our country the first in the world to make such a discovery."
Wang Jianguo and Wang Jianshe glanced at the bone on the table.
The thing looked suspiciously like a pig bone.
Did their ancestors have heads like pigs?
"What? You’re coming here personally to investigate?"
"No, no, no, that won’t be necessary. I’m not entirely sure yet. And with how busy you are, Director, making a special trip for just one bone seems excessive."
"How about this? I’ll conduct more field surveys under the Cultural Relics Bureau’s name. Once we have more findings, you can bring a team over."
"Yes, yes, of course. Not a problem at all. It’s all for the sake of our country’s progress. I’m more than happy to contribute."
Shen Nanchu handed the phone to Wang Jianguo.
This was the director of the Cultural Relics Bureau!
Wang Jianguo had never spoken to such a high-ranking official in his life!
"L-Leader, hello!"
His voice trembled with nervousness.
For the rest of the call, Wang Jianguo kept nodding and bowing, saying "yes" repeatedly.
Shen Nanchu didn’t need to hear the other side to know what was being said.
Sure enough, when Wang Jianguo finally hung up, he announced:
"Comrade Shen, from now on, you don’t have to work in the fields. Focus on your research."
"As for work points…"
Wang Jianguo gritted his teeth, ready to have the village cover the cost.
"No need to record work points for me, Village Head. Since I’m working for the Cultural Relics Bureau as an external staff member, they’ll provide my compensation."
Shen Nanchu’s words made Wang Jianguo sigh in relief.
"Alright, then do your best. If you need any help, just ask."
"Absolutely."
Shen Nanchu was overjoyed inside but kept her expression neutral.
"What about the corn planting later…?"
Wang Jianguo took over.
"I’ll handle it."
"Then I’ll leave it to you, Village Head. If it weren’t for my important duties, I’d gladly contribute to Wang Family Village’s development."
She elevated her image to new heights.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to work—she just had more pressing matters.
Without waiting for Wang Jianguo’s response, Shen Nanchu picked up the bone.
"Village Head, I won’t delay your corn planting. I’ll take this bone home to study it and see if I can find anything."
"This afternoon, I’ll go up the mountain again to search for more discoveries."
With that, she dashed off, leaving Wang Jianguo and Wang Jianshe staring at her eager retreating figure.
"Comrade Shen is truly a rare talent!"
"Indeed! Dedicated to the nation’s progress. Look how fast she’s moving!"
The system, having witnessed everything, was stunned.
It had never seen such an impressive host before.
It quietly connected: "Host, is that really the skull of human ancestors?"
Shen Nanchu: "The system is a bit dumb. Can I get a replacement?"
The system realized: "Host, you lied?"
Shen Nanchu: "Did I? I only said I suspected it."
The system: "……"
Shen Nanchu sprinted home with the bone.
No fieldwork meant even the wind smelled sweet.
This was the scent of freedom.
Absolutely glorious!
(︾▽︾)
Back home, she locked the door and shut the windows, leaving only a crack for ventilation.
After feeding herself and her cat, Coal Ball, she flopped onto the bed for a nap.
As for the so-called ancient human bone? She tossed it carelessly onto the floor.
(__)。゜ZｚＺ
Meanwhile, chaos erupted on the mountain.
"Did you hear?"
"I heard. What about you?"
"I heard too. What a coincidence."
(╯▽╰)┌┐(￣ヮ￣)
Yu Lanhua stared at Wang Jianguo in disbelief.
"Husband, is it true?"
Everyone around them perked up their ears.
Wang Jianguo scattered corn seeds into the soil, a hint of pride in his voice.
"I spoke to the director of the Cultural Relics Bureau myself. How could it be fake?"
Li Mei couldn’t stand seeing Shen Nanchu succeed.
"Village Head, there are plenty of frauds these days. What if Comrade Shen is lying just to skip fieldwork?"
"Nonsense! Impossible!" Wang Jianguo’s expression turned stern.
"Comrade Shen just forgot where she put the phone number."
"The Cultural Relics Bureau’s number was verified by the county officials—I helped her check it myself."
"You think the county officials would lie?"
Li Mei still refused to accept Shen Nanchu’s competence.
"But everyone saw it—that was clearly a pig bone! Maybe she’s tricking everyone to avoid work!"
Wang Shier nodded.
He often slacked off too.
Many had seen Shen Nanchu running with the bone—it did look like a pig bone.
Labor was honorable; laziness was shameful.
[Dislike Points +1]
[Dislike Points +2]
[Dislike Points +1]
……
"Bullshit!" Yu Lanhua planted her hands on her hips and tore into Li Mei.
"Li Mei, I know exactly what you’re up to."
"You’re just jealous because Comrade Shen is prettier, more capable, and richer than you!"
"Why don’t you take a good look at yourself? The way you see things says more about you than them!"
Pfft—
Wang Shier couldn’t hold back his laughter.
"You—you—!" Li Mei stammered, unable to retort.
Yu Lanhua wasn’t done.
"You’re young, but your heart’s blacker than decade-old smoked liver!"
"Without Comrade Shen’s skills, you just flap your lips and accuse people of fraud."
"If all fraudsters looked like Comrade Shen, every man in Wang Family Village would be scammed down to their underwear!"
"Ugh! A dark heart sees darkness everywhere!"
Wang Jianguo stepped in.
"Comrade Shen’s work will bring honor to Wang Family Village—it’ll put us on the national map!"
"As village head, I won’t tolerate anyone slandering her without proof."
"Next time, anyone who baselessly smears Comrade Shen will be handed over to the police!"
Li Mei’s face burned red.
"I—I was just joking!"
"Jokes aren’t allowed either," Wang Jianguo and Yu Lanhua said in unison.
[Dislike Points +50]
The female lead, Jiang Shuyi, grew even more resentful of Shen Nanchu.
How could the village head and his wife favor her so much?
After all her hard work, they should favor her!
……
