In the middle of the night, David Clark woke up. Listening to the steady breathing of Emily Clark sleeping soundly in the next room, he couldn’t help but get up, walk into Emily Clark’s room, and sit by her bedside. By the light of the streetlamp shining in through the window, he carefully studied this little sister he must have earned from a previous life.

This was the delicate, radiant face of a sixteen-year-old girl, as lovely as a spring blossom, with a faint smile still lingering on her lips—who knows what happy dream she was having. Her beautiful hair was spread across the pillow, and the whole room was filled with a subtle fragrance of her hair. It was summer, and Emily Clark was only wearing a simple short-sleeved shirt on top, her two fair arms exposed. She wore capri pants on the bottom, revealing a bit of her calf and her round little feet. Each of her toes was plump and delicate, like translucent agate.

Looking at this sleeping girl, David Clark felt as if his heart had been washed clean with clear water, without a single improper thought. He softly said to himself: This is my sister, my own flesh and blood. Since Heaven has brought me to this era and given me such a beautiful sister, I must take good care of her and make sure she is happy and joyful every single day...

Chapter 011: Turning, Milling, Planing, Grinding

“Lazybones, get up!”

A sharp, girlish shout startled David Clark awake from his dreams. Opening his eyes, he saw the energetic Emily Clark standing before him. Compared to the peaceful, sleeping sister from last night, this Emily Clark felt even more familiar to David Clark.

“What time is it?” David Clark asked groggily.

“It’s seven thirty.”

“It’s only seven thirty, why are you making such a fuss?” David Clark muttered, closing his eyes again. Graduate students at Hua Qing University were all members of the “Jiusan Society”—they went to bed at three in the morning and got up at nine. Who would disturb someone’s sleep at seven thirty?

Emily Clark reached out and tugged David Clark’s ear upward. Unable to bear the pain, David Clark had to sit up. “Hey, Miss Xiao Fang, why are you waking me up so early?”

Emily Clark said angrily, “Young Master Xiao Hua, it’s seven thirty, that’s not early. Work starts at eight. If you don’t get up now, when do you plan to?”

Work? David Clark scratched his head and asked, “I haven’t even reported in yet, what work?”

“Then hurry up and go report in!” Emily Clark said.

“What’s the rush? The report notice says to report before September 15. Today is... August 29, right? There’s still plenty of time.”

“You’re so silly,” Emily Clark said. “Uncle Thompson said you should go report in quickly. If you report now, you can get half a month’s salary, and when they adjust your pay later, it’ll count as if you started in August. If you’re late by a couple of days, it’ll only count as September.”

What kind of rule is that? David Clark grumbled inwardly, but he knew what was important. Half a month’s extra salary was a good thing—at the very least, it would be enough to make Xiao Fang a few meals of boiled fish. Since he hadn’t figured out a way to make money yet, he should grab whatever cash he could.

Emily Clark was already showing her housewife side, having gotten up early to make porridge. David Clark had two bowls, changed into clean clothes under Emily Clark’s guidance, and got ready to head out for work.

“Has Xiao Hua left yet?” Charles Thompson appeared at David Clark’s door, poking his head in to ask.

“Uncle Thompson, come in, my brother hasn’t left yet,” Emily Clark quickly invited Charles Thompson inside.

Charles Thompson was carrying a cloth bag. He came in, took out the contents, and put them on the table. David Clark looked closely—it was the cigarettes and liquor he had given Charles Thompson yesterday. One bottle of liquor had already been drunk, and the other Charles Thompson had brought back.

“Uncle Thompson, what’s this about?” David Clark asked.

Charles Thompson said quietly, “Xiao Hua, when you go to the factory office, look for George Walker, Director Walker, he’s the deputy director in charge of personnel. Report to him, then give him this bottle of liquor, and also... five packs of cigarettes. Keep the rest of the cigarettes for the workshop supervisor and the team leaders—each should get a pack. The master gets two packs, and for the other workers, just hand out one or two cigarettes each.”

“This Liang...” David Clark didn’t quite get it.

“George Walker,” Emily Clark reminded him. “He’s in charge of personnel. Back when you were at the factory, you offended him.”

“Really?” David Clark patted his head, as if remembering. George Walker was a cocky deputy director. Once, he had scolded David Clark and the others for being naughty, so David Clark and William Reed climbed onto his roof and blocked his chimney, filling his house with smoke when they cooked.

Charles Thompson said, “That was all just childish mischief. Director Walker won’t hold it against you. But your job assignment is up to him. Say a few polite words, give him the cigarettes and liquor. With such good gifts, he’ll have to consider it.”

David Clark shook his head. “Uncle Thompson, the cigarettes and liquor were for you. How can you give the same gift to two different people?”

Charles Thompson said, “I already drank a bottle yesterday, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Take this bottle to the director—it’s important for you. If you get a bad assignment, you’ll suffer for a lifetime, even your chances of finding a partner will be affected.”