Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay! Chapter 53

Next door, when Shitou personally brought soone over, the shop owner was especially polite. "Old Wei, this is my sister. She wants to pick out a bicycle for her family."

Old Wei understood the implication. "Miss, tell what kind you're looking for, and I'll give you the wholesale price."

Nan Sheng imdiately declined. "That’s not necessary—you’ve got to make a living too. I’d like sothing low-key but well-made."

The bicycle was for her parents, and if it looked too new, they’d refuse it outright. Plus, neighbors would gossip if they found out.

Old Wei wheeled out a bike with rust on its fra, about seventy percent new, and explained,

"Miss, this one was only bought three or four months ago. The owner left town for a while and didn’t take care of it, but it’s perfectly functional. Try it out if you don’t believe !"

The original owner was well-off and didn’t want it anymore after seeing the rust, opting to buy a new one instead, so the old bike ended up in his hands.

Shitou didn’t let Nan Sheng test it. He took the bike himself and rode it around the courtyard a few tis before asking Old Wei, "How much for this one?"

As he reached into his pocket to pull out money, Nan Sheng quickly stopped him.

"Shitou, let’s keep things separate. I don’t mind when you bring small things, but I’m buying this bicycle myself—or I’ll be upset!"

Shitou had only t Nan Sheng a handful of tis and didn’t dare push the issue, not wanting to cause trouble for Yi-ge.

Uncle Wei chid in, "I bought this bike for a hundred yuan. Just cover the cost, and it’s yours."

He could tell Shitou respected this young woman and was happy to do him a favor—the shop next door had helped him sell plenty of goods.

Nan Sheng pulled out a hundred and fifty yuan, not wanting to owe anyone. The extra fifty was for the receipt.

"I can’t let you work for free. This was the price when I bought my last bike—consider it a fair profit. Don’t take it the wrong way."

Uncle Wei was straightforward too, recognizing the extra as paynt for the receipt. "Alright, I’ll take it. Co back anyti you need sothing, and I’ll give you a good deal."

After buying the bike, Nan Sheng now had two—too many to ride at once.

"Shitou, leave this one here for now. I’ll send soone to pick it up later. I’ve got to get to work!"

It was almost seven!

"Take care, Nan-jie!"

Even a thief would speak ekly in front of the law.

When she arrived at the town governnt office, the mayor hadn’t co in yet. The gatekeeper let her in and said, "Comrade, work starts at eight here. You’re too early."

Nan Sheng thanked him. "It’s my first day—I didn’t know the schedule. Sorry for the trouble."

The governnt building was single-story. She wandered around and saw offices for the Party secretary, the mayor, the Revolutionary Committee, and the Youth League.

Add in the accountant, clerk, public security officer, broadcaster, and cook, and there were at least ten staff mbers.

The earliest arrivals were the clerks from each departnt. Besides running errands for their superiors, they also cleaned the offices in the morning.

The mayor’s two clerks were Du Tang, a man who’d worked under him for years (ranked at Grade 25 despite being just a clerk), and Jia Bing, a woman assigned less than a year ago at the lowest Grade 27.

Du Tang was polite to Nan Sheng. "Comrade Nan Sheng, once the Youth League office opens, I’ll take you there to file your records. You can rest for now."

"Thank you!"

Du Tang was busy—the mayor often assigned him important tasks, from archiving docunts to running outside errands.

Jia Bing, assuming Nan Sheng had no connections, started ordering her around like a senior. She felt a strange sense of superiority, finally free from nial chores now that she’d "made it."

When Du Tang returned, he saw Nan Sheng wiping down desks while Jia Bing watered plants. He quickly took the rag and apologized.

"My mistake, Comrade Nan Sheng. I didn’t explain clearly. Jia Bing, co here—Comrade Nan Sheng is a clerk recomnded by the mayor. She doesn’t handle these chores."

Nan Sheng smiled. "It’s fine. I had nothing else to do."

Jia Bing snatched the rag back, resentful. Why did Nan Sheng get to be a clerk right away, outranking even Du-ge? She must have connections or have bribed soone!

When the mayor arrived, the leadership held a eting first. He greeted Nan Sheng warmly and had Du Tang settle her at her workstation.

Clerks and junior clerks shared a large office. Besides Nan Sheng, the Party secretary also had a clerk.

The office layout was interesting—staff sat near their respective superiors.

As a clerk, Nan Sheng’s desk was twice the size of a junior clerk’s, with file drawers on either side. The keys were left in the locks, now hers to keep.

Du Tang fetched water to help clean, but Nan Sheng declined, taking the bucket and rag herself.

"You’ve already done enough for . I can handle this much."

Du Tang didn’t insist and went to fetch her office supplies instead.

After about an hour, the eting ended. Nan Sheng went to the Youth League office to transfer her residency records, officially making her a town governnt employee.

A Grade 24 clerk’s salary wasn’t high—just fifteen yuan a month—but governnt benefits were good: work from 8 AM to 4 PM, one day off weekly, a staff canteen, and holiday perks like during Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival.

Right after transferring her records, Nan Sheng was called in by her direct supervisor, with Du Tang present. "Nan Sheng, ask Du Tang if you need anything. He’s been here three years and knows the ropes."

Nan Sheng smiled. "Yes, sir. Comrade Du Tang has been very helpful."

After small talk, the supervisor got to business. "We ant to transfer you earlier, but you know how chaotic things were a few days ago.

Now’s the perfect ti. The ice-making technique you provided is fully docunted, and the workers are trained. In a few days, we’ll have villages co to town to collect it. You and Du Tang will oversee this!"

"Yes, sir!"

Yu Feng was riding high. The Party secretary, as the town’s top leader, had initially pushed the drought response onto him to avoid responsibility.

Now, Yu Feng’s influence in the town governnt surpassed the secretary’s. He’d impressed city-level leaders and even dealt directly with county officials—the secretary must be kicking himself.

Take this ice-making project: county leaders had asked him to share the technology.

He had a feeling that once the drought ended, he’d be promoted straight to the county level.