Volume One, Chapter Seven: Everything Goes Into the Space

Shen Jinlin’s generous display left everyone even more astonished. “He really is loaded, to just hand his sister fifty yuan without a second thought. If only I had such a good big brother.”

“Exactly. Unlike my own brother, who won’t even spare me five yuan a month. Look at him—fifty yuan without batting an eye. He must really dote on his sister.”

Striding confidently out of the Cangtian, Shen Jinlin felt on top of the world, as if everyone bowed before his might.

Shen Ruzhi, her face wreathed in smiles, counted the fifty yuan in her hands. From childhood, she had always thought of her family first, scrimping and saving wherever she could. Because Wang Cuilian often whispered in her ear about how hard it was to earn money, she’d become a considerate daughter, never asking for anything extra, and wearing just a few clothes all year round.

On the way home, Shen Ruzhi feigned casualness as she remarked to Shen Jinlin, “Big Brother, I’ve noticed lately that Mom and Dad keep going to the storeroom, always carrying something out. I really wonder what treasures are in there—they go in more than ten times a day.”

Hearing this, Shen Jinlin’s eyes darkened, a keen light flashing within them. Their parents were surely stashing money in the basement again. He would go see for himself tonight.

As Shen Ruzhi climbed the stairs, she caught a glimpse of the greed he couldn’t hide in his eyes and knew he would definitely make a trip to the storeroom and the basement.

The basement was locked, and only Shen Zhongguo, Wang Cuilian, and Shen Jinlin had keys. She needed to find a way to get Shen Jinlin’s key.

Shen Ruzhi took out the key she had prepared in advance. Keys from this era all looked much the same. She waited for her moment—just as Shen Jinlin was leaving the storeroom, she headed downstairs. Shen Jinlin, afraid of alerting Shen Zhongguo, didn’t dare switch on the lights and moved about in the dark.

She crashed into him suddenly. There was a sharp clatter as his key dropped to the floor. Seizing the chance, Shen Ruzhi tossed her fake key so it would fall with his.

Startled, Shen Jinlin barked, “Who’s there?”

“Big Brother, it’s me. You ran into me and it hurts. Where are you going at this hour?”

When he heard it was Shen Ruzhi, Shen Jinlin patted his chest, still recovering from his fright. “Why aren’t you asleep so late at night? What are you running around for?”

He had been scared half to death, thinking it was Father. Father had said this was a sensitive period—no one was to touch anything in the basement. But he was used to living large and couldn’t tolerate being short of money.

“Big Brother, I just came down for a glass of water. Where did you go? You’re just getting back now?”

Shen Jinlin didn’t bother explaining. “Just drink your water and go back to bed.”

As he spoke, Shen Jinlin realized his key was missing and began searching the floor. Shen Ruzhi stepped on his real key, leaving the fake one nearby.

He picked up the key and stuffed it back in his pocket before heading upstairs. Only after he’d left did Shen Ruzhi stoop to pick up the key beneath her foot.

In her previous life, after being sent down to the farm, she’d finally learned the truth—her family really were the most wicked of capitalists, profiting off the nation’s misfortunes. All these treasures were wrung from the blood and sweat of others.

Taking advantage of the night’s silence, Shen Ruzhi opened the basement door. Though she’d guessed what she would find, she was still stunned by the sight of so much wealth. Several large chests of gold, all kinds of jade jewelry, a chest full of cash, antique vases—it was all there.

No wonder they had risen overnight to become Hong Kong’s wealthiest family, enjoying lives of splendor and luxury, while she had suffered on the farm in their stead.

Thinking of those five dark years, tears streamed down Shen Ruzhi’s face. She had been allowed only a single black steamed bun a day, forced to work no matter if her hands were broken or her feet lame, doused with cold water in the dead of winter, beaten and insulted, her hair pulled by others. The Shen family was reviled by all; anyone could trample her, and the staff never intervened—in fact, they joined in the abuse.

Each month, she was paraded through the streets, enduring the utmost humiliation and shame. Yet she kept telling herself, again and again, that her parents would come for her.

Wiping away her tears, Shen Ruzhi thought: all this wealth could never make up for the suffering she endured for their sake in her past life.

She stored away every treasure into her secret space. To avoid arousing suspicion, she left the items at the top untouched, replacing only those beneath with bricks she had prepared in advance. The surface remained undisturbed—no one would notice a thing.

Shen Zhongguo was extremely cautious; if the treasures vanished overnight, he would immediately suspect a family member. So she only took from below, leaving the conspicuous items on top. But she would never let them move these things elsewhere.

Three days later, when Wang Yaoyao’s misdeeds came to light and she was driven from the Shen family, that would be the perfect moment for Shen Ruzhi to report them. She would take everything she could; what she couldn’t, she would see returned to the state.

She counted the cash—there was over twenty thousand yuan in that chest.

Shen Ruzhi swept every last bill into her space without hesitation. After all, Shen Jinlin would be the scapegoat; what did she have to fear? He was known for his lavish spending—it wouldn’t be surprising if he took so much money.

Just as she was about to leave, her attention was caught by a vase in the middle, worn smooth and gleaming from handling. She stopped, twisted it in her arms, and a hidden compartment opened, revealing things that made her eyes widen in shock.

The next morning, before Shen Ruzhi was even out of bed, Shen Zhongguo’s furious shouts echoed throughout the house.

“That damned unfilial son! If he dares come back, I’ll break his legs!”

“It’s not as though we’ve ever deprived him of food or clothes, and yet he dares steal so much money and then run off. Call him right now and tell him to get back here! Maybe then I’ll only break one of his legs!”

Wang Cuilian was beside herself with dread. She never imagined her son would steal all the cash from the chest. It was all their money—and at such a sensitive time! The authorities were already watching the Shen family. They’d worked hard to send Shen Ruzhi to the countryside to divert suspicion. If they discovered Shen Jinlin was spending money extravagantly, inconsistent with their income, they’d surely launch an investigation.

“Calm down, calm down. I’ll call him right away and tell him to bring the money back.”

Shen Zhongguo squinted at her. “It’s all your fault for spoiling him! Last time, when he wanted to buy some foreign car, you encouraged him. Look at your fine son—if something goes wrong, he’ll doom us all.”

“I’ll call him right now.” Terrified by his words, Wang Cuilian hurried to make the call.

Shen Jinlin knew his father checked the basement daily. Having stolen the money, he dared not return home and went straight to hide out at his workplace.

The phone rang five times before he answered. Wang Cuilian, frantic, scolded him: “Do you realize what you’ve done? Bring the money back immediately! Your father knows everything. At a time like this, taking so much money—do you want to get our family killed? Bring it back at once, or your father will break your legs!”

Her disappointment in him was palpable.

“Mom, I know what I’m doing. I won’t waste the money. I’m a grown man—what’s wrong with having a bit of cash on hand?” he retorted.

It was only two thousand yuan—was all this commotion really necessary? Did they really have to threaten to break his legs?

“You—just stop talking and bring the money back right away!” Wang Cuilian stamped her foot in frustration.

“Mom, I’ve got work to do. I’m hanging up now.”

“Hey! Jinlin! You bastard, are you listening?”