Book 2 Chapter 4 – Renewed Disappointment

　　Original and most updated translations are from volare. Please don’t read elsewhere and stop supporting theft.

　　After a hasty ordering of his room, Li Yiming marked the start of his new life with Bai Ze. Aside from having a penchant for snacks, Li Yiming was relieved by Little Bai Ze’s tractability, since she ate just about everything and it did not take much food to fill her up completely. However, little did he know that she did not need to eat anything all all. Owing to her bloodline, she could simply absorb the essence of the heavens and the earth, and of the sun and the moon.

　　In the afternoon, Li Yiming went to the market on an errand to buy a few sets of clothes for Bai Ze. After swapping her Dao robe for a normal attire, her ostentatiousness finally settled down. A week flew by and the end of August marked the arrival of an important day for Li Yiming: he would know today whether he was hired or not for the interview he had taken earlier.

　　Li Yiming sat in front of his computer and entered the address of the local school board in his browser with strong expectations. He quickly found the notice on the front page. ‘…And down into despair…’ Li Yiming checked the list carefully three times but was unable to find his name. ‘I wasn’t chosen? But I finished first in the theory exam, and I was eleven points ahead of the guy in second place! Seven candidates retained and I’m eighth? Wow, my interview must have been complete trash. I remember the people at the interview asking me a bunch of follow-up questions and even some personal ones. They seemed pretty satisfied, but why…’

　　‘This has to be nepotism…’ Li Yiming was bitterly disappointed. ‘I’ve been blinded by overconfidence after the good results I obtained on the theory exam. I thought that there would be no problems at all. But seriously, how much in this world is decided by competence? Three percent capability, seven percent luck, ninety percent connections…

　　‘I was too naive… Even the world cup has cheating referees, so why would I expect anything different from such a small job offering? I wouldn’t be surprised if you told me that a lot of these inst.i.tutions don’t hire people based on the demand, but rather based on what kind of person is looking for a job. Creating a position because someone needs it, ha, what a ba.n.a.lity. These teaching jobs might not be as highly esteemed as public officials, but at least there’s less public scrutiny and thus more opportunities for manipulations.

　　‘A stable job and long vacations. Not the best income or benefits, but a perfect retirement job for the relatives of those who do not need money.’

　　“What is it?” Bai Ze noticed Li Yiming’s disgruntlement as he stared at the computer screen and threw a glance at him, temporarily s.h.i.+fting her attention away from the game she was playing on his cellphone.

　　“I’ve lost my job,” said Li Yiming, visibly disheartened.

　　“Why would you need a job?” Bai Ze lowered her head and resumed her game. ‘This game is hard. I know that I’m better. I know it, but why can’t I just beat this guy?’ 1

　　“I need money to feed you.” Li Yiming stood up in displeasure.

　　“Don’t we have domains? How about we just grab some money on the way next time.”

　　“Yes, but we’ll probably die of hunger before we can even make it to the next domain.” Li Yiming quickly s.n.a.t.c.hed his cellphone away from Bai Ze.

　　“What are you doing?” Little Bai Ze was annoyed.

　　“Looking for a job!” Li Yiming strode in exasperation towards the balcony.

　　“Pfft…” Little Bai Ze quirked her lips in dissatisfaction and ran toward the computer: at least the game was available there as well.

　　Li Yiming lit up a cigarette on the balcony. The habit had slowly crept into him, as it did with many other smokers. Li Yiming first thought of it only as a way to entertain himself a little and did not mind it very much, but eventually it became a preferred outlet for venting out stress. So, every single time Li Yiming was irritated, he would always seek the reprieve from a cigarette out of habit. And then… And then nothing. A habit once formed was hard to change, and rather than claim that he was physically dependant on it, it would be more accurate to call it a mental routine. 2