Chapter 8: The Jealous Jiang Jinwei
Shi Zijin didn’t hesitate and directly paid the rent for his subordinates.
[Federal Coins +15,000]
However, the two new tenants wouldn’t return for a few days.
Su Tao felt a bit guilty about taking advantage of a few days’ rent without them actually staying.
But her “breadwinner” didn’t seem to mind. He even took all the remaining breakfasts from the vending machine.
[Federal Coins +210]
Afterward, those who needed to go on missions went on missions, and those who needed to attend school went to school.
Su Tao also needed to head to the base to buy herself some clothes to change into.
When she left the Su family, she had practically brought nothing with her.
Not that there was much to bring—Li Lianrong had never bought her anything new in over ten years, always giving her hand-me-downs from others.
Su Tao gritted her teeth and decided that as long as she had extra money, she would never shortchange herself again.
The solid wood wardrobe in her room was still empty.
She first took a stroll around the East District Shopping Center, buying essential underwear, socks, and other necessities.
It only cost her 50 Federal Coins.
In the apocalypse, clothing wasn’t expensive—most people were still struggling with safety and basic needs.
She then spent 80 Federal Coins on a spring long-sleeve dress.
This was the first new piece of clothing in her life, and she had bought it for herself.
Su Tao had decent looks, with fair skin and delicate features, though she was a bit short at 160 cm.
When she put on the new dress, the sales assistant even helped style her hair.
Standing in front of the mirror, Su Tao barely recognized herself.
So, she could look this pretty, this presentable…
The sales assistant praised, “Miss, you have a great look—you can pull off any color or style of dress!”
Su Tao smiled shyly, quickly paid, and boldly walked out of the shopping center wearing the new dress.
If she hadn’t been low on funds, she might have given in to impulse buying and gotten another one.
She decided she needed to spend wisely and avoid impulsive purchases.
Carrying her shopping bags, Su Tao went to a convenience store and bought a pack of drinking water, spending 50 Federal Coins.
She really needed to buy a water dispenser from Dongyang—water at the base wasn’t cheap either.
Finally, she visited the second-hand market to buy a broom, mop, and cleaning supplies.
Total cost: 30 Federal Coins.
As the number of rooms increased, the public area also expanded.
Su Tao knew that maintaining cleanliness and comfort was crucial, especially with more tenants arriving soon.
To provide tenants with a good living experience, Su Tao knew she had to maintain public cleanliness.
Just as she finished paying and was about to leave, a familiar-looking girl walked in.
The girl seemed to find Su Tao familiar as well. She had already walked past her but then took a few steps back, standing in front of Su Tao and sizing her up:
“Are you Su Tao? Jiang Jinwei’s gluttonous and weak little sister?”
In her memory, Su Tao had always looked frail and malnourished, dressed in ill-fitting, shabby clothes, with a perpetually miserable expression.
But now, Su Tao appeared well-dressed, even somewhat attractive, exuding confidence from head to toe.
How strange.
Su Tao’s expression immediately darkened as she recalled that this girl was a friend of Jiang Jinwei, someone who had previously visited the Su family for meals.
Her family seemed to be in a better situation than the Su family, and she always looked down on them. Su Tao had even been the target of her snide remarks, suggesting she was only fit to sleep with the toilet.
“Who are you? If you have nothing important, get lost. Stop spewing garbage everywhere like a rabid dog,” Su Tao retorted, refusing to back down.
Chen Qiaoying instantly flew into a rage:
“What are you, exactly? Do you think you’re worthy of speaking to me? I’ll tear your filthy mouth apart!”
She bared her teeth and claws, lunging at Su Tao.
Su Tao spat a mouthful of saliva in her face and bolted away, using a quick turn to teleport back to Taoyang.
Back home, Su Tao’s good mood remained entirely unaffected by the incident.
On the other hand, Chen Qiaoying, still fuming, went straight to the Su family house and found Jiang Jinwei.
“Jinwei, that cheap sister of yours is quite the big shot now! Wearing a new dress, carrying all those shopping bags, and she even dared to mock me indirectly and spit on me!”
Jiang Jinwei, who had been in a foul mood, widened her eyes instantly upon hearing this:
“You said you saw Su Tao? And she was wearing new clothes and shopping?”
“Yeah! Didn’t you know? She looked so smug, even generously bought a big pack of drinking water at the convenience store. Since when has your family been this generous?”
Jiang Jinwei’s face turned green with anger. She smashed the cup in her hand:
“She’s out there living it up, while I have to take her place in the Pioneer Army! That bitch!”
Chen Qiaoying was startled. When she turned and saw that Li Lianrong’s expression was also unpleasant, she quickly made up an excuse to leave.
The entire Su family seemed to be filled with lunatics.
The moment Chen Qiaoying left, Jiang Jinwei burst into tears:
“Mom! Why? Wasn’t it decided that Su Tao would go? What about Tangdou if I leave? What if I die out there? You wouldn’t even know where to collect my body! Tangdou would become a child without a mother. Mom! You have to bring Su Tao back. I really can’t go!”
Li Lianrong wiped her own tears, her heart aching:
“I’ll go find her, I’ll go find her. Stop crying, okay? It’s all your sister’s fault. If not for her, it wouldn’t be you going to risk your life…”
The mother and daughter held each other, crying bitterly.
