Chapter 2 – Daily Life

Tan You was always obedient — one command, one action. She quickly finished reading through the mission details. But there was one thing she didn’t understand.

“System, how exactly do I complete this mission?”

The system seemed to pause for a moment before replying:

“When the host is ready, inform me. I will transmit you into the mission world. There, you will take the place of the client and live out a portion of their life, long or short.”

Tan You frowned, trying to interpret it with her limited knowledge.

“So… it’s like being a character in a TV drama? When I become them, I’ll decide how to act?”

“Something like that,” the system confirmed.

She still had doubts. “But you just said it’s not really me traveling there. Then how do I go? And can I come back?”

“Your soul will be transferred into the client’s body. No matter how much time passes in that world, in reality, it will only be an instant.”

Tan You’s eyes widened. “Wait—doesn’t that mean I’ll have unlimited time? Eternal life?”

“In a sense, yes,” the system said coolly. “But a word of caution: if you die in the mission world, your real body will also be affected.”

Tan You nodded seriously. “Got it. But I won’t go now. I’m not ready yet… and it’s not convenient either.”

The system didn’t press her. “That’s fine. Do you have anything else to do in the meantime?”

Tan You lowered her voice, almost embarrassed. “My parents are leaving for C Province tomorrow to work. I want to wait until they’ve gone before I start. And… I want to study the mission carefully first. I want to do it well. I have three days, right? As long as I begin within that time, it’s fine.”

“I understand,” the system said. “Then I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

Tan You smiled faintly. “System, you’re the best. I just want to earn more energy, so I can boost my intelligence faster.”

The little system twitched. On the forums, senior systems often complained about being pressured and exploited by their hosts. Why was *its* host so easy to coax? Whatever it said, she just accepted.

Feeling oddly smug, the system decided—alright, since the host was so obedient, it would work hard to help her too!

The two of them kept talking, and Tan You completely forgot her sleepiness. She treated the mission details like a brand-new toy, flipping back and forth, studying every word.

By five in the morning, she had practically memorized the client’s entire background. After dozens of careful readings, she already had a rough plan of how she might act in that world.

She wanted to discuss her ideas with the system, but whenever it came to missions, it had only one answer:

“Please complete the task independently.”

At the time, Tan You didn’t realize her so-called “heaven-sent” system was practically useless. Maybe because she didn’t know, she simply thought it was normal. If she had to rely on herself, then she would just work harder.

Her mind was still on the mission when she suddenly heard movement from the west room. In a flash, she scrambled back onto the prayer mat and knelt upright.

Her mother, **Cheng Wenhui**, opened the door. Seeing Tan You kneeling properly, she nodded in satisfaction.

“Alright, get up. Wash your face and then go do the laundry.”

Tan You rose immediately, said nothing, and went to the well. With practice ease, she drew water, added washing powder, and began scrubbing clothes. She had done these chores all her life.

In the countryside, children started helping with housework from a young age—feeding chickens and ducks, cooking, washing clothes, cleaning. Tan You had been doing it since she could remember. Resistance was pointless; if she ever refused, she would only be branded lazy.

Meanwhile, Cheng Wenhui busied herself in the kitchen. Summer breakfasts were simple: a big pot of porridge and a few pancakes, enough to last the whole day.

But only if the weather wasn’t too hot. In the summer heat, even breakfast is spoiled by afternoon. The Tan family was desperately poor—no fridge, no washing machine, none of the “luxuries” that other households might have.

Tan You crouched at the well, working through a mountain of laundry—her parents’, her younger sister’s, even yesterday’s unwashed clothes from when she was punished to kneel. Later, once her parents left, she planned to boil water and finally wash herself properly.

By the time she began hanging clothes, Cheng Wenhui had finished cooking. Soon after, Tan Yue, Tan Lin, and her grandparents also woke up.

Breakfast was laid out on a folding table outside. Tan You fetched bowls and chopsticks from the cupboard and served the elders first, before sitting quietly at the table herself.

Only when everyone was seated did Cheng Wenhui announce:

“After breakfast, we’ll leave for C Province. Tan Yue will come with us. We’ll be back before the new school term starts.”

Her gaze swept coldly to Tan You. “You’ll stay home this summer. If the school needs anything, call me.”

Her tone was sharp, her eyes still full of disappointment over Tan You’s exam results.

Tan You only nodded. She rarely spoke at home anyway. No one really wanted to listen to her. Everything she said seemed to be twisted into another reason to scold her.

Cheng Wenhui continued sternly: “You did terribly in the high school entrance exam—just two points short! If you can’t even get into high school, what future do you have? At your age, if you don’t study, what else can you do? Even the factories won’t take you. All that’s left is farm work.”

Her voice grew harsher. “And with your eyesight, you can’t even tell rice shoots from weeds. Besides studying, what else are you good for?”

It was her usual daily lecture. Normally, Tan You found it grating. But after reading the client’s story last night, she strangely took the words to heart.

Of course, she wasn’t the type to argue back. Even if her thoughts had changed, she still only nodded silently.

Cheng Wenhui sighed. “You’re sixteen already. In foreign countries, kids are independent by eighteen. Once you’re eighteen, we won’t be responsible for you anymore.”

Tan You looked up, taking her words seriously. She had that kind of personality—once told something, she believed it to the letter.

Her father, Tan Lin, spoke next: “Your mother is right. In other countries, once they’re adults, kids work and support themselves. That’s how our family will do it too. When you’re eighteen, you’ll earn your own living.”

He added bluntly, “And don’t forget how much money we’ve spent raising you. Even at ten thousand a year, that’s a fortune. When you grow up, you’ll have to pay it back.”

Tan You tightened her grip on her chopsticks but stayed silent.

Her temperament resembled her grandfather, Tan Deming—quiet, expressionless, and hard to read. No matter what storm brewed inside her, no one could see it on her face.

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