Three Days Later.
Johny Lee had spent the last seventy-two hours in a frenzy.
He rose early and returned late, sticking doggedly to his monotonous memory drills. The three uses of his "BACK" ability that became available during this time were spent extravagantly on mock exams.
He used them to experience the backward flow of time from different angles, testing the limits of his power to ensure nothing would go wrong on the big day.
In the blink of an eye, it was the day before the exam.
Oncology Hospital, General Oncology Ward.
Johny sat by the bed, soaking up every word of Grandpa Hu's tutoring.
Since Grandpa Hu's son was the one who set the essay questions for the Shanghai exam, the old man had unique insights into the mind of an examiner.
Every sentence was branded into Johny's brain.
The format had flipped: Grandpa Hu now fired questions at him, pulling complex policy topics out of thin air.
He explained the unwritten rules of officialdom and the hidden functions of government departments so Johny could better understand the logic behind the civil service exam.
"…From the material just given, write a proposal to the tourism authority regarding uncivil tourist behavior.
Requirements: feasible suggestions, clear logic, no more than 400 words.
Go on, give it a try."
Johny answered by the book.
Grandpa Hu shook his head.
He pointed out three specific mistakes, then recited an answer he considered excellent.
Johny reached for a pen to write it down, but Grandpa Hu stopped him.
"No need to write—understanding is the key. Digest the arguments, the tone, and the big picture.
It'll stick naturally. Got that? Good.
Here's another: China's marine resources are abundant yet meager per capita; the Bohai Sea is vital to the northeast economy…"
3:00 PM.
Grandpa Hu coughed twice, looking tired but satisfied.
"Remember everything?"
"Mm." Johny tore off a sheet of paper towel and handed it over for the old man to cough into.
Grandpa Hu patted his arm, smiling weakly. "Your friends and classmates are also taking the Beijing exam, right? Keep what I've told you to yourself.
Don't mislead others, but don't give away your edge either.
Hah, my skills are limited—this is all I can teach you."
"You're too modest, sir.
I've truly benefited." Johny scratched his nose awkwardly.
"I don't really have many friends.
I never lived in the dorms, just knew a few classmates, and they all figured they couldn't pass, so they went straight to job hunting.
I'm the only one stubborn enough to want into the government.
Thank you for these past few days, Grandpa Hu."
Before leaving, Grandpa Hu—still in his striped hospital gown—gripped Johny's shoulder hard.
"Do well. The future belongs to you youngsters."
Johny gave a firm nod.
North Entrance of Heping Street.
Johny stepped into the musty stairwell of Building 1 and trudged up to the third floor. He pressed his own doorbell.
Click.
Sarah had just opened the door when the fourth-floor door swung open above them. Section Chief and his family of three came walking down the stairs.
Sarah greeted them hurriedly.
"Section Chief Sue, back so early?
Heading out to eat?"
Johny followed reluctantly with a mumbled, "Section Chief , Aunt Sue."
Section Chief Sue said nothing.
He gave a curt, dismissive nod, acting as if speaking to them was beneath his pay grade.
Aunt Sue smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"Tomorrow's the exam, so we're taking Tony for a meal at Quanjade for roast duck."
"Oh, that place isn't cheap," Sarah said politely.
"Quanjade is nothing special, not that great of a restaurant," Tony boasted, glancing sideways at Johny.
He stopped at Maggi's door (Apartment 302) and pressed the doorbell.
No answer. He pressed it again, harder.
Sarah quickly said, "Maggi probably isn't off work yet."
Tony gave a disappointed "Oh."
He turned to his parents. "Dad, Mom, let's go."
Johny knew Tony had been trying to court Maggi.
Though her family background wasn't wealthy, she was stunning—and even though she was a bit older than Tony, the Sue family didn't seem to object to having a beauty like her as a daughter-in-law.
Just as Johny stepped inside his apartment and the Sue family turned to leave, Section Chief , not watching his step, kicked a trash bag Sarah had left briefly by the door.
Splat.
Leftover oil from a takeout container in the bag smeared across the toe of his polished leather shoe.
His face changed instantly.
He spun around and glared at Sarah.
"What is wrong with you?
Couldn't put the trash anywhere else?
Did you do this on purpose?"
Sarah flustered, her hands shaking.
"Sorry, sorry! I—I was just about to take it downstairs."
Tony frowned, adjusting his glasses.
"Could you show a little class?
The hallway is dirty enough already without you people adding to it."
Sarah bowed her head.
"I'll throw it out right away, so sorry."
Seeing his mother bowing and scraping, Johny's anger flared like a match in a gas tank.
"High class?
You people toss trash out your window all the time!"
Once, Johny and his mom had nearly been hit by a garbage bag thrown from the Sue family's fourth-floor window.
Other neighbors complained too, but because the Sues were officials and everyone else were nobodies, they swallowed their anger.
Sarah tugged his arm anxiously. "Johny! Stop!"
Tony glared at him. "What did you say? Who the hell throws things?"
Johny stared him down icily. "You know damn well who."
"You think you have a say here?" Section Chief Sue cut in, his voice booming. "You dirty my shoe and still act righteous?"
"You walked into it yourself—your eyes are on top of your head!" Johny started to step forward, but his mother yanked him back in panic.
Aunt Sue stepped in to smooth things over, though her tone was patronizing.
"Old man, why argue with a kid?
We're all neighbors—let it drop." She turned to Sarah with a fake smile.
"Sarah, we're off to eat.
But, well, that trash really shouldn't be by the door.
Next time, show some consideration, okay?"
Johny's lungs nearly burst.
He walked into it himself, yet he blames us?
Section Chief wiped his shoe with a napkin, scowled, and threw the dirty napkin on the floor.
"What rotten luck! Let's go—the car's waiting!"
Tony gave Johny and his mom a look of pure contempt and followed his parents downstairs.
Sarah kept a frozen smile on her face until they reached the second floor.
Then she shut the door and let out a soft, defeated sigh.
"Johny, we can't afford to cross them.
Just... endure it."
Johny fumed, pacing the small living room. "What kind of people are they?
Once you become an official, do you stop being human?
Do you stop being reasonable?"
"Sigh…"
Evening.
Maggi came home from work and rang Johny's bell, her arms full of groceries.
These days, she had morphed from an ordinary neighbor into a part of the family. After so many shared meals and laughter, the three of them felt like real kin.
"Maggi, here, eat more."
Sarah piled food into her bowl.
"Sister Sarah," Maggi hesitated, looking worried.
"When I came back, the aunt downstairs said… well, what happened today?"
The 1980s apartment block had paper-thin walls; every quarrel became public property.
Sarah patted Maggi's hand.
"Maggi, listen to me—never pick someone like Tony.
I'm not bad-mouthing them, but that family... they bully people." She recounted the whole incident with the shoe.
Maggi frowned and squeezed Sarah's hand. "I knew they weren't decent.
I never told anyone, but Tony has been pestering me.
I've said no clearly.
One day, on my day off, I ran into Section Chief at the supermarket.
He pointed his finger right in my face and said, 'Our Tony liking you is your honor—don't think you're all that.' It was ugly."
Johny clenched his fist so hard his knuckles turned white.
"Who does he think he is?
The Mayor?
The Governor?"
"Let's drop it." Maggi smiled gently.
She reached out and dabbed a grain of rice from Johny's lip with a tissue, her touch lingering for a second.
"Just ace the exam tomorrow.
Earn a spot for Sister Sarah and for me. Show the Sue family that it's not only their precious Tony who can join the government—our Johny can too!"
Johny felt a surge of resolve burning in his chest.
"You two just watch me!"
Authors Note:-
Chapter 6 done.
Hope you all enjoyed it.
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