Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 71 (Part 3)
Translated by Pure (ko-fi)
Chapter 71.3 Shen Tiantian's expression gradually turned cold, "I see."
"Damn it!" She raised her head in panic. As expected, it was the gang of debt collectors, surrounding her with grim expressions, each brandishing a blunt weapon. Some of them turned to the panicked crowd around her, shouting, "This lady owes a group of workers one and a half years of wages! We are honest laborers who toiled away on the construction site, supporting our families! My son can't even afford his education, but she and her husband fled to Yan City with our hard-earned money! They bought a new house and car, feasted on delicacies, and drank the finest alcohol!"
In this era, one and a half years of unpaid wages was enough to devastate the lives of many impoverished families. Several of the migrant workers, holding Jiang Qiaqia down, even began to cry bitterly. This money had torn apart their families; wives left, children dropped out of school, and there were even elderly family members who succumbed to illness because they couldn't afford treatment. If it weren't for their deep-seated resentment, these devoted laborers wouldn't have followed the debt collectors around to track her down.
Jiang Qiaqia's newly bought expensive dress was now marred with dirt and dust. She cried out amidst the accusations and scolding, "Please, don't do this... I'm trying to gather the money..."
"It’s been over a year already! How much longer do you expect us to wait?! Your house in Yan City is over 100 square meters, it's worth more than three years of our combined salaries!"
Jiang Qiaqia never imagined she would face such an unreasonable demand. "But...but... where will I live if I sell the house?"
Unfortunately, these debt collectors were evidently devoid of pity and sympathy, showing no intention of negotiating peacefully. The leader forcefully removed Jiang Qiaqia's pearl necklace and diamond earrings, then stood up, pointed at her, and issued a chilling threat, "I don't care where you'll live in the future. You have one week. If we don't receive the money by next week, then you better watch out."
The group dispersed swiftly, vanishing before the police arrived. Jiang Qiaqia remained seated on the ground, tears streaming down her face. Her legs felt like jelly, rendering her unable to stand. A kind-hearted passerby stepped forward to help her.
It was an elderly lady, her face radiating kindness, adorned in opulent attire. After assisting her to her feet, the elderly lady gently smoothed out Jiang Qiaqia's disheveled hair, her expression filled with empathy.
"How pitiful," the elderly lady sighed. "That group of people just now were too barbaric. How could a group of grown men bully a girl like this?"
Jiang Qiaqia rarely heard such kind words during her darkest moments. She felt her sorrow welling up even more, and she instinctively leaned into the elderly lady's shoulder, tears flowing freely.
"How pitiful, so pitiful... Alas, things will get better," the elderly lady comforted, gently patting Jiang Qiaqia on the back. She then opened her elegant handbag, producing a business card from it. "If you ever face an obstacle you can't overcome, just come find me. Poor girl, I'll lend you a helping hand."
The debt collectors had given her just one week, and Jiang Qiaqia felt trapped. So, when the lady offered her help, she eagerly took it, clutching onto the offered hand. "How can you assist me?"
Would she provide a loan?
The elderly lady's smile was warm and reassuring. "With so many eyes on you, no matter where you hide in this country, you'll be discovered eventually. I'm involved in import and export, and I have some connections. If staying in the country becomes untenable, come to me. I can arrange for you to go abroad, where you can stay out of the public eye."
Jiang Qiaqia suddenly saw a glimmer of hope, though she remained apprehensive. "But—But I've never been abroad, what would I do once I'm there?"
"You're still young, you'll have no trouble finding work," the elderly lady reassured her. "Foreign countries are much more developed than our homeland. Opportunities abound. Even a dishwasher earns a decent salary, enough to live comfortably and prosperously."
*******
Shen Tiantian spoke into the phone with a gloomy face, "Be mindful of your actions and remember not to leak any clues."
The person on the other end of the phone immediately agreed, but Shen Tiantian's eyes remained frighteningly gloomy. "After she leaves, I will find a way to get the bank to dispose of her car and real estate, and to pay back the wages owed to the workers. Doesn’t matter if she’s washing dishes or working at a garment factory, she must be kept far away! Otherwise, you won't even receive a single penny from me!"
Hearing that the target had already come in contact with the human smuggler, Shen Tiantian finally looked a little satisfied. A sudden sound came outside the house, so she gave a few more brief instructions, and hurriedly hung up the phone.
When she looked outside her window, Shen Tiantian saw a familiar black car.
Shen Tiantian quickly threw away her phone. She opened the door of her room, ran downstairs as she shouted, "Big brother!!!!"
Lin Jingzhe stepped through the door of the Shen Family's house, cradling a computer monitor in his arms. Just as he entered, he spotted a little teary-eyed sparrow bounding toward him. As Shen Tiantian descended the stairs, he quickly passed the monitor to Shen Juanying. Then, he opened his arms to welcome the oncoming force.
Since Shen Tiantian hadn't hit puberty yet, she was still small and light. Her tender white face flushed with excitement, and she beamed as she nestled against Lin Jingzhe. "Big brother! You've finally bought me a computer! I've been waiting for it for so long!"
Lin Jingzhe indulged her and obediently accepted her accusation. Shen Tiantian hugged his arm and pulled him into the house. "As punishment, you have to buy me a whole new outfit!"
"Alright, this weekend, I'll take you shopping. You can pick out whatever you like." Lin Jingzhe chuckled at the playful audacity of his former sworn enemy, offering no resistance. "But first, let me help you set up the computer, okay?"
Shen Tiantian grumbled a bit before agreeing. She took him to her room and then went downstairs to fetch him a glass of juice and a plate of cakes before settling in beside him to watch him work.
His younger sister was finicky, self-willed, and loved to act spoiled. Lin Jingzhe often felt more like a father figure than a brother. There were moments when he wished he could enlist some people to carry her around, sparing her from exhaustion. As he worked on installing the computer, he accepted the glass of juice Shen Tiantian handed him, feeling an indescribable sense of wonder. Among all the familiar faces in this new life, this little brat had undergone the most significant transformation.
He vividly recalled his previous life, when he had stirred up chaos in the Shen Family and clashed head-on with Shen Tiantian.
Now, with a much closer bond to this family, Lin Jingzhe couldn't help but feel increasingly guilty. Back when they were rivals, Shen Tiantian's schemes were every bit as cunning as his own. Perhaps it was their different upbringings, but at times, her methods seemed even more ruthless than his.
Lin Jingzhe recalled the endless trials he faced at her hands. Back then, Shen Tiantian was formidable yet sharp-witted, sly yet insightful— a far cry from the delicate and innocent girl she was now.
As he reminisced, Lin Jingzhe connected the computer's power supply. When Shen Tiantian saw the screen light up, she leaped up in joy, clapping her hands. "Big brother, you're amazing!"
Lin Jingzhe instructed, "Pass me the keyboard."
Swiftly, Shen Tiantian handed it over.
Watching her with tender eyes, Lin Jingzhe couldn't help but think, ‘What a genuinely pure-hearted girl. It's a pity she was forced to be otherwise in my previous life.’
Once the computer was fully set up and connected to the Internet, Shen Tiantian eagerly took her seat and opened a web page.
Sitting beside her, Lin Jingzhe observed as she navigated with ease. When Shen Tiantian logged into Best Partner Search, he praised sincerely, "You're quite familiar with the layout."
Shen Juanying observed the children by the door with a silent smile. Despite her concerns about the Jiang Qiaqia situation, she couldn't help but feel a sense of joy. She feigned complaints, "Jingzhe, you always spoil her! If you asked me, I wouldn't have agreed to buy her a computer. She might pick up bad habits there, and it could even affect her studies."
Shen Tiantian shot a glare at her mother, clearly dissatisfied. "I'm using it for reading!"
Shen Juanying shook her head. "Why do you need a computer to read? I can buy you any physical books you want. Just tell me the genre, be it historical or modern, Chinese or foreign classics, whatever you prefer."
"You don't understand anything!" Shen Tiantian was clearly frustrated. She turned to Lin Jingzhe and pouted, "Big brother~!"
Moved by her, Lin Jingzhe hastened to calm the situation. "Aunt Shen, the internet is very developed now, and it can really be used for studying."
"That's true." Shen Tiantian regained her confidence and proudly told her mother, "My friend and I found a new forum. There are many original works on it. These computers have practical uses, you know? That new forum might not be well-known yet, but it has potential."
"Forum?" Lin Jingzhe was surprised. He always thought that Shen Tiantian was just playing around, so he couldn't help asking, "Are you thinking of investing in it?"
"Yes." Shen Tiantian was very willing to listen to her brother’s suggestions, so she immediately asked, "Do you think it's plausible?"
At that time, internet investment hadn't gained full traction, especially in the realm of virtual literature. It was a market with immense potential in the future. Lin Jingzhe was pleasantly surprised by her forward-thinking approach. "I've clearly underestimated you. You have a keen eye for opportunities. I'll wholeheartedly support your career endeavors. If you face any challenges, just let me know."
Shen Tiantian looked smugly at her mother. Shen Juanying could only smile and shake her head in surrender. "Do as you please. These new technological advancements are beyond me. The future belongs to you young people."
After she said this, she lingered by the door a little longer, observing the interactions between the siblings. Eventually, she turned and left, a sense of relief washing over her.
Lin Jingzhe checked the time, stood up, and gently patted Shen Tiantian's head. "You can stay here and enjoy yourself."
He made his way out of the room and descended the stairs. It was getting late, and he still had to go to the Xiao Family's house. Whether it was due to the advent of the Internet age or simply a coincidence, both Shen Tiantian and Xiao Miao had simultaneously requested for a computer.
When Xiao Chi heard Xiao Miao's coquetry request, he quickly shot her down, "Hell no."
Lin Jingzhe couldn't fathom how a brother could be so stern with his own sister. In his case, he couldn't help but want to dote on Shen Tiantian endlessly.
Shen Tiantian was fully immersed in her new computer. As she navigated the forum, her phone on the bed suddenly rang.
When she picked it up, an elderly female voice came through, "The human smuggler has already been contacted, and the garment factory is also on standby. This operation can be completed this weekend at the earliest."
Shen Tiantian's expression gradually turned cold. "Got it."
After hanging up, she fell into contemplation, meticulously planning out the complex steps from start to finish without a single mistake.
The faint green glow of the computer screen played on her face as she lost herself in thought. Suddenly, the sound of a car starting outside jolted her from her reverie. Shen Tiantian promptly leaped out of her seat, alarmed.
"Big brother!!!!"
Shen Tiantian opened the window angrily. She pouted her lips and shouted downwards, "Where are you going?! You can’t leave!!! You promised to have dinner together!!!"