Songcheng Second Industrial Park, Building 5, Apartment 301. Three people sat around the dining table.
“Xueyan hasn’t come back so late today. Did the organization give her some important task? I seem to recall she’s a team captain of some sort…”
The middle-aged man in an 87-style military uniform spoke. He was Xueyan’s father.
“Look at your memory, drink less alcohol—our daughter is the Captain of Songcheng’s Defense Team. The young lady from the Magic Committee told me that there’s a labor reform convict they’re assigning to us, and Xueyan will be bringing that convict home.”
The woman sitting next to Xueyan’s father spoke. She wore an apron patched up with many repairs and had just come out of the kitchen.
She was Xueyan’s mother.
The white-haired elderly man sitting across the table looked thoughtful.
“A labor reform convict… Little Xue, didn’t I remember you used to be with the Reform Committee? Why would you bring a labor reform convict home? Isn’t there a special agency to handle that?”
“That’s right. It’s been so many years without any labor reform convicts, the reform prison was long shut down. I don’t know where this convict suddenly came from. Our society conditions are so good now—how could there still be people with improper thoughts? I must educate her well!”
Xueyan’s mother rolled up her sleeves. Although middle-aged, she was still full of energy.
“A labor reform convict… definitely needs education! A bunch of lazy backward people need to learn the hardships of labor.”
The old man nodded approvingly.
After waiting a long time, the food was almost cold when they finally heard a knock at the door.
Xueyan’s mother opened it and saw Xueyan standing straight outside, with a shy-looking white-haired girl behind her.
“Xueyan, you’re back. And this young lady behind you is…?”
“She’s the labor reform convict I brought back! Mom, you have to educate her well!” Xueyan smiled.
She glanced back at the evasive gaze of Ciyue behind her with some pride, muttering softly, “Hmph, let Mom educate you properly!”
The middle-aged woman before her scrutinized Ciyue sharply.
“I haven’t done anything wrong, right… I was just captured, why am I being treated like a bad kid…”
“Ahem… Every labor reform convict claims they’re not a bad kid. Little girl, you’re a magic girl, aren’t you? How did you fall so low as to become a labor reform convict? Auntie will have to do some serious ideological work on you!”
Xueyan’s mother said.
“I’m not…” Ciyue tried to explain.
Xueyan mimicked her mother’s tone: “You are!”
“Alright, come in, little girl. What’s your name? Tell Auntie how you ended up as a labor reform convict.”
Xueyan’s mother invited the two inside.
She brought an extra stool so they could both sit at the dining table.
The soldier sitting at the table, like Xueyan’s mother, also scrutinized the entering Ciyue, and the white-haired old man across the table watched her with suspicion.
“My name is Ciyue…” she said.
Xueyan introduced her family to Ciyue: “This is my dad, this is my grandfather, and the one who just talked to you is my mom.”
“Dad, Mom, and Grandpa, this person is someone that the Chilian Xingluo Consul specially entrusted me to take good care of!”
“Is she a magic girl?” Xueyan’s grandfather asked.
“Yes, but she can’t use magic now.”
Xueyan’s mother brought out a small bowl from the kitchen and placed it in front of Ciyue.
“Little girl, have something to eat first. It’s getting late.”
Xueyan’s mother said kindly.
Ciyue hurriedly waved her hand to refuse. “No need, thank you, Auntie, I’ve already eaten…”
“How can that be? When you come to our house, you’re family’s guest. No matter about the labor reform convict, we’ll talk about that tomorrow. Eat something first, it’s no good if only we eat.”
Xueyan’s mother patted Ciyue’s shoulder.
“Alright then…”
Dumplings, stew, cold dishes, and steamed buns with sauce. Xueyan’s family’s meal was simple, not much meat, quite similar to northern inland home cooking.
Though Ciyue said she had eaten, she was barely filled. She picked up a dumpling, bit into it — it was chive-filled, and tasted quite good.
“You have to dip dumplings in sauce!” Xueyan loudly reminded.
“Dumplings without sauce have no soul!”
Xueyan’s mother laughed. “Xueyan, where did you learn that?”
The soldier—Xueyan’s father—asked, “Miss, your name is Ciyue, right? Are you from inland?”
“Yes. I was captured and brought here, then somehow, without understanding how, I became a labor reform convict…” Ciyue explained.
“Inland?” Xueyan’s grandfather frowned, then put down his chopsticks and said sternly, “Inland people? They’re just a bunch of cowards afraid of death, with no collective spirit. Inland people must be properly reformed!”
“Well, I can’t argue with that…”
Xueyan’s mother quickly stopped him, “Alright, alright, let’s treat Miss Ciyue as a guest for the day, shall we?”
“Mom, why are you being so polite to her?” Xueyan complained.
“Eat quickly, don’t say nonsense. Don’t you have training tomorrow? Rest early.”
“Oh.”
Xueyan’s father asked, “You’re a magic girl from inland? That’s not a simple identity. What organization do inland magic girls belong to?”
“Below A-rank, they’re managed by the Magic Administration Bureau; A-rank and above, S-rank, it depends on the situation.”
“Magic Administration Bureau, huh? I heard your inland magic girls have little freedom and live pitiful lives.”
“Pitiful? Not really. In terms of freedom, most magic girls actually have quite a bit of freedom. Except in special circumstances, it’s like a regular employee with clock-in and clock-out.”
“In special situations, like when the Beast Crisis approaches, they get soldier-like treatment. But no matter what, they must obey orders and never disobey superiors.”
“What kind of freedom is that? That’s just slackness!”
Xueyan’s grandfather interjected.
“That’s not wrong…” Ciyue said wryly.
“Do you have unemployed magic girls over there?” Xueyan’s father continued.
“Yes, definitely. Magic girls who aren’t strong enough can be dismissed because becoming a magic girl disrupts their studies and makes it hard to find work—though it’s gotten better recently, with subsidies allowing them to return to school.”
Ciyue thought of Yuying, the poor girl.
Xueyan asked, “I heard your magic girls can also become singers or actors. Is that true?”
“We generally call them ‘idols’. There are many cases like that. Some magic girls go into those careers, even abandoning their original duties.”
“You could say they’re focused on making money… But that’s pretty good, no risk to life.” Ciyue explained.
“Depraved!” Xueyan’s grandfather scolded.
Xueyan looked somewhat wistful. “That’s not so bad. I want to become an idol too. It’d be just like the older sisters in the Arts Troupe, being liked by many people.”
“One more question, Miss Ciyue, what rank magic girl are you?” Xueyan’s father asked lastly.
Xueyan answered quickly, “She’s S-rank! Just like the Chilian Xingluo Consul.”
“What!?”
Xueyan’s family spoke in unison.
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