Rebirth: Daily Face Slaps - Chapter 3

Unaware of Lin Mengting’s thoughts, Qin Mei continued to chatter, “You should have! If you were coming to work in S City, why didn’t you write a letter or give me a call beforehand? I could have recommended you for this job, and you wouldn’t have had to suffer through three months of factory work! Every month, you couldn’t make ends meet and even had to borrow 1,500 yuan from your Third Uncle to cover living expenses! Just because you’re the only one in the Lin family’s next generation who attended technical school, they didn’t want you to live a better life than them. Your father and mother had ‘iron rice bowl’ jobs, but they kept ‘messing up’ and lost those jobs, forcing them to come to S City to work. They resented your parents for not helping them, and that resentment extended to your whole family. These past ten years, they’ve been saving money in S City, but they neglected their son’s education. As a result, he didn’t want to continue his studies after elementary school and joined them in working in S City. They were jealous of your family for having a girl who excelled in her studies! They talk about ‘valuing girls over boys,’ but if they had a daughter who was as good at studying as you, see how they would act! Ultimately, these kinds of people are just the type who can’t stand to see others doing well if they’re not!”

…

Unfortunately, despite Qin Mei’s empathetic words, they left little impression on Lin Mengting’s heart. She had already said such complaints in her previous life, and ultimately, the path one chooses is their own. External obstacles are nothing compared to personal resolve.

On the surface, Qin Mei seemed like a caring and doting “neighboring sister” to Lin Mengting.

In reality?

In her previous life, Lin Mengting never saw through this, or rather, she didn’t want to think too deeply about it.

But in this life…

Lin Mengting sighed and said, “My uncle came to S City twenty years ago. Now he’s settled here. His daughter works at the S City Zoo and gets two free tickets every month. Next time, we can go to the zoo together.”

Qin Mei paused, confused. “How come you never mentioned this uncle before?”

“I’ve never met him. I only found out when I called home recently and my dad told me,” Lin Mengting smiled. “If I’d known earlier, I would’ve gone to him immediately.”

“But it’s not too late now.”

“That’s true,” Qin Mei lowered her eyes, hiding her envy. “With your uncle’s help, you’ll surely get a nice, easy job at the zoo.”

“I’m not planning to work at the zoo,” Lin Mengting smiled. “Too relaxed and comfortable an environment would make me lose my drive. While I’m young, I want to work hard. Even if the outcome isn’t great, I can start over.”

“How rare!” Qin Mei’s floating heart finally settled, and she felt like teasing Lin Mengting. “I didn’t expect you to say something so philosophical! Tell me, what novel have you been reading lately to be so ‘possessed’?”

Indeed, still too young! If it were her, she would definitely seize the opportunity to get a job at the zoo and use the leisure time to study or get certified, working towards promotion and transfer.

“Lately, I’ve been so broke I could drink the northwest wind, where would I get money to rent novels?” Lin Mengting half-joked. In her previous life, she had escaped school and parental control, becoming wildly obsessed with novels.

To what extent?

She read during meals, before sleeping, and right after waking up.

In one day, she could easily finish reading nearly ten novels.

“Renting a book costs just one yuan,” Qin Mei almost rolled her eyes. Did she really think she didn’t know the whole Lin family were novel enthusiasts? Besides, Lin Mengting’s parents had just sent her 5,000 yuan for living expenses recently!

“One yuan is still money!” Lin Mengting wiggled her finger and laughed. “Now that I’ve lost my income, if I don’t save, soon you’ll see me living under a bridge.”

“Who’d believe that?!” Qin Mei pouted. “Remember to tell me when you find a job.”

Lin Mengting nodded.

“Visit when you have time.”

Lin Mengting nodded again.

“Now, pack your things. I’ll talk to Qin Dong, and we’ll have dinner together tonight.”

Lin Mengting kept nodding.

After Qin Mei left, the roommates who had overheard the conversation started chatting again.

Occasionally, they’d ask Lin Mengting questions, which she would answer. The rest of the time, she leaned against the wall, writing and drawing in a notebook.

This scene was so familiar to everyone that no one was surprised.

After all, Lin Mengting had a talent for drawing and a delicate emotional sensitivity typical of literary people. Although not as sentimental as Lin Daiyu, she still wrote a diary entry every day!

As for packing?

At this point, Lin Mengting had been in S City for less than six months, switching jobs twice. The money she earned was just enough to get by. Apart from essential clothing and bedding, she hadn’t acquired much else. When it came to moving, one woven bag would suffice.

In fact, to the reborn Lin Mengting, these clothes were unappealing. She planned to discard everything except a few quality and timeless pieces.

So, packing reduced her belongings by half.

As for skincare products every girl needs?

Lin Mengting didn’t even have a concept of skincare back then. Her only sunscreen was bought due to frequent outdoor work and the harsh sunlight in S City.

Despite this, the newly reborn Lin Mengting was still shocked by her exposed, almost “black” arms and the sunburn scars on her neck. Not to mention her appearance in the mirror, almost matching the “Black Toothpaste” effect.

She couldn’t believe her 18-year-old self had no sense of beauty, tolerating such an unappealing look. No wonder she was rejected when applying for other jobs after leaving the base.

She looked like a “village girl”!

Even with a technical school diploma, people would suspect it was fake.

All those years of studying seemed wasted. Even with a reborn soul, she had no trace of the elegance that comes with knowledge.

Indeed, as the ancestors said, “Fair skin covers all flaws!”