Chapter 21
Chapter 21
The reactions varied among the group. Xiao Bao understood rationally that this was a good thing, but emotionally, she didn’t see going to school as anything good. She was partly happy, yet also amused at the thought of her older brother being tied to a chair like her in the future, obediently listening to lectures and doing homework.EuUejymdRxtxVydbjehUbYwosYhxsF
Xiao Yuan, however, was much more observant. Even when Wei Qian dropped out of school all those years ago when Xiao Yuan was still young, he keenly sensed the despair and sorrow suppressed in Wei Qian’s heart. So, he looked up at Teacher Li with a hint of hope, his excitement resembling that of a rescued dropout.iXofBQLaTGBfrGQSnnjihxlneigddQ
wcXdmygjLNkcjCHBut the one with the strongest reaction was Grandma Song. Having lived longer than the three of them combined, she had experienced too much in life.WvvuPAaUGlVbkzuKOFaZbpoIQrXvrx
ySWsaWefTokqEfVShe noticed a change in Wei Qian’s demeanor as he sat in front of Teacher Li. He appeared polite, well-mannered, and much more mature than his peers. His handsome face, once obscured by a rough exterior, now revealed the innate charm and youthful vigor.fBidmUQkhdvjaCZouoWLwlnWnxlawq
RSgWOpzhdHPvIVXThe thought flashed through Grandma Song’s mind, and she made a decisive decision, thinking to herself, “This kid should go to school.”YDMKqnGqcWqwOizSxHbqEBcvsMXNjM
nipPzUCVAlnjgExHowever, Wei Qian, upon hearing Teacher Li’s words, simply paused for a moment. It was only after a brief moment that he lifted his eyelids and chuckled softly without looking up, responding calmly, “Thank you, Teacher, but… well, I’ve never been very keen on schooling by nature. Maybe I’m just not cut out for it…”mGUhsfPkjpsALZYuNVhGexCOGzrAQA
zpuJnfMBJACnwsj“Are you worried about not being able to afford the tuition?” Grandma Song suddenly interrupted him.NAkzZPzUIGcqZvJJzmiKfJRwhomMsT
yVAXBjgXhnbqxtyWei Qian frowned and cast a disdainful glance at his comrade who resembled a pig. If it weren’t for the inappropriate setting in front of Teacher Li, he would have slammed down his chopsticks. What did it mean to cry poverty in front of the teacher? Was he seeking sympathy or shamelessly exploiting her kindness for assistance? There had to be some limits to shamelessness, right?uZiqnfJtgKACuuAQZWiaxLXoKwaFpy
RtWHWqcNSCAUndKBut Grandma Song didn’t care. She was capable of doing anything, even rolling on the ground. Face? What use was face? Can you eat it?NTKIKunXnERAyubxLoKlOFxpnJhmPi
zuJaxUgzsSvHrTsSo, once again, she spoke up before Teacher Li, saying, “It’s fine, you go ahead and study. I’m not old yet, I can still work. I’ll stay at the crossroads and sell tea eggs. Morning or night, I can sell hundreds in a day. You do the math, that should earn quite a bit of money, right? They’re still young, not at the age to spend much. The miscellaneous expenses for elementary school aren’t much in a year, at most just some textbook fees. So, go study your books with peace of mind, don’t worry.”HbogkkfdismBxuyXPioyuYJchsxyVZ
PSioBccxgXJFYaBWei Qian glanced at Teacher Li’s expression, gritted his teeth quietly, and forced out a pure and harmless yet somewhat embarrassed smile, “No, it’s actually not because of financial reasons…”DIsrszWzKXZuHRULNXDnzQrNcTcsnb
XTnJoGQbbfNhanKHe tried to maintain his demeanor akin to that of a student council president, but Grandma Song took advantage of this once again, interrupting him with her loud voice that she had honed from street arguments, shouting at Teacher Li, “Teacher, thank you so much! You’re our benefactor. As long as you let this kid return to school, I, this old lady, will cover the tuition. In the future, when it’s time for college exams, we’ll be able to afford it. The child mustn’t be delayed, right? Ah… what you said, he really can…”FxJMRrzzIZJZOBlvBYISOBkQIXWFHW
oeqmczybBybFzynTeacher Li chuckled as he adjusted his glasses and said, “Auntie, rest assured. Having been a teacher all my life, with no power or influence, I can only manage to do so much. It’s a pity for such a good child. His grades were quite good back then, ranking in the top ten, right, Wei Qian? In a couple of days, I’ll have your uncle handle it. Once it’s arranged, you can enroll directly when the summer vacation ends. If there are any financial difficulties, you can talk to the teacher. You can always repay later when you succeed in the future.”jeZyTBHacOqxvQPTtpxgCWpTzDmLlu
civIPFgZHXsEOQxGrandma Song was overjoyed, almost rolling up her sleeves to bow to Teacher Li, “Oh! Is that so! Thank you so much!”lGlOwUdTLOISBSCFkTiCNEzQVcQVPA
HyeCbqMHDvchZGTGrandma Song’s loud exclamations completely dominated the conversation with absolute authority.UzwwjTiVyzaUuxFLsdnkWSyGRaLKqX
WGMaTUoMdsjzxoAXiao Bao only knew how to eat, while Xiao Yuan looked from one person to another, finally cautiously placing a piece of meat into his older brother’s bowl—he noticed the veins bulging on his brother’s forehead.bCPngJKCCTKTdHOhjuMABLtrnUDohf
FoNeuyBxNKlLKcqAfter finishing the meal, Teacher Li took his leave. Wei Qian had intended to walk her out, to properly thank her for her kindness and reject the absurd idea of “rolling back to high school.” But before he could even rise, Grandma Song, that wicked old woman, unexpectedly delivered a swift kick to his groin.TlDWYEJFoBvMApxIjaPkkimITFmcSh
CSANhwEggBYPWvsIn front of his younger brother and sister, Wei Qian, unprecedentedly, jumped up, legs clamped tightly together, like a rabbit startled by a sudden noise. Then, the door slammed shut in front of them with a loud bang. Grandma Song had already rushed out to see Teacher Li off, her movements swift and agile, hardly befitting a seventy or eighty-year-old lady.ywikbremVoPPiFKxfOznJjVApRlmIF
rRQFCpSjHXsvcMRAfter two seconds of silence, Wei Qian roared at Xiao Bao, “Is your grandma trying to get herself killed?!”rdLGTzaPBGfewxoiJdHqUXVcphMUtZ
JUfQZfMFtNvGnQlXiao Bao looked at him bewildered and innocent, wiping away the sweat from the meal’s heat, and said, “Brother, I want to eat an ice pop!”LgkpXdqGhJEelWWtFJdCnvwwIetsTV
nOLpkqgvMdEPRrIWei Qian snapped, “Eat what? Go wash the dishes!”cEUoHKbDowjcPIBGIqFHKQFCssqCMG
WnODnzenkkAcwUKReluctantly, Xiao Bao went to wash the dishes, while Xiao Yuan spoke up beside him, concerned, “Brother, does it hurt?”CsOfPaWpdZBiAgUHsabjMSmngHhigV
nAMYzSlldhWdvmMWei Qian remained silent.MFmBXluHHpGoVDoFfwSefhyHkKuKfE
mgtTRzdIghbQuvrSo, Wei Qian turned his wrath towards him, “Shut up and get lost! Go clean the table!”JTuXOUrGZFGAWXLNMRNCSGvBPfKXeW
VCAWNWiATZUOKqGXiao Yuan obediently went to clean the table. Before starting, he cleverly took the ointment for bruises and sprains that Wei Qian usually used from the bedside table, placed it in front of Wei Qian, sneaked a smile, and ran off before the storm broke on his brother’s face.uLjhLMUgAQvCyPRZYLLFTqEvYOyNJB
rnrGRVwSRLQgZvfWei Qian’s enraged expression gradually cooled. He sighed softly, leaning back in the chair Xiao Yuan usually used for homework. With his long legs and the short legs of the chair, he had to settle in uncomfortably.tNlhrDENedxjHYRyihdMObDxfHyNke
JxFVOYrJhAnDvmBAs his rapid heartbeat calmed, he knew deep down that if he truly didn’t want to go back, if he truly despised school as he claimed, he wouldn’t have brought Teacher Li home for dinner in the first place.rxpTJbQElNAgqhrkrStCCaUvUMiJNx
dBuLFbDHJvVOHczAs fierce as Grandma Song was, she couldn’t match his determination. If a young man truly decided to act, could Grandma Song stop him?UgwbJDMkJMwFeCMzoRXEyDAMZawiQN
RFBlsBbAtQhiMwzThat was impossible.zTWvVxlDEFstflmDPiFtLXxBRQYhDB
dHqrdshcLHkvCLiDeep down, he truly wanted to return to school, even though the childhood dream of the laboratory had shattered beyond repair. Education remained an elusive goal for him.nfUCqVdzCIDmjPVwcTUKuaRKtMZYZj
mdXGKLalvyLVqqzRegardless of the caliber of the institution, even if he ended up in a rundown university, having that diploma in his hands would put him on the same starting line as the majority of the world, allowing him a chance to strive like everyone else. He didn’t expect much else; he just wanted to board the train that could take him to that starting line.LXvbKlmIBjYbwUSfWUmopAMezJthyq
AJxFzlYAsqDHvmzRunning on two legs alongside the wheels on the tracks was too difficult.ZPhkqgqmqlGzMdfzuZczlcpNhZkVEG
aKQdGIAoYZqNMDDHe just wanted that tiny glimmer of hope.dgiedFjvPWCSAJLGgDxdnHAdvJtrTD
DbmNYKogoixxQuDBut if he left, who would support the family? Who would make ends meet?msLoMhVpegaCKbNdLLqiufKbakdGGK
SCOGOejJLtOtcVMIn less than half a year, Wei Qian would turn eighteen. In the eyes of society, he would be considered an adult capable of supporting himself. With hands, feet, and strength, no one would sympathize with him due to poverty, nor would anyone offer him aid—there are always more people in need of assistance than there are funds available.qgKDYNUBHiHlipPkQgxGeekFzpcbch
qOPZXmiqaSjMiSWRelying on Grandma Song’s earnings from selling tea eggs and collecting scrap for schooling? He couldn’t bring himself to do it, not even if he were forced.irhRUFkYvhrftaUtjWuTVcQwRwkWYa
OOyXiHCClrpWDUoEven if, by some chance, Teacher Li was genuinely willing to help him, it would be sheer luck. But did Teacher Li have an obligation to take care of his family, to secretly provide financial support for his mother?YgCPGOrlcBtECfqSSEbHMJJpibDBjS
JjsebiBOVGmjfdBAbout twenty minutes later, Grandma Song returned. The moment the door was pushed open, Wei Qian had already prepared a torrent of curses to unleash upon her.krBCdtXHWvkrMyvNsiOjICNtyBWzMr
jgDaQLVdnecisOTHe had intended to say, “You’re not my grandmother, who the hell do you think you are? What right do you have to meddle in my affairs? This is my house, I call the shots here, so stop pretending to be all righteous in front of me!”IKtDjsimXTJwXEAzZwxLSQATLoxFqi
tAoUMkFFuPakEcyGiven that this sentence was rather long and required him to say it all in one go, Wei Qian had taken a deep breath. However, when he saw the lingering joy on Grandma Song’s face as she entered through the door, he couldn’t even utter a single word.mPxwczIDDHCKNrzbTbWzIVoroscbUp
UsQeTeYoCHafSOHGrandma Song believed that going to school and studying was an extremely honorable and dignified endeavor. In their hometown, the most educated person she knew was the village committee secretary from the eastern end, who had a middle school education.ASCcGbdfGXodefNgvUPqsNAwIJEQtX
bYvPVwFAHUxrnWjShe was attempting to be kind to him, albeit in a very rough and uncouth manner.kMzFbSbyJmQMQkfWvpdklvcoBxAugW
FkunFuEsqzTGAsVWei Qian finally exhaled the breath he had been holding, releasing not just the air but also the pent-up aggression that seemed to linger in every organ of his body, sounding more like a sigh.EYYExjnzzzqDIDmWdgijNYOjvzmhfE
MoNwNhtzELdojTjHe waved to Xiao Bao and Xiao Yuan, sending them off to the small cabin to work on their summer homework, each with an ice pop in hand.XSXDByvPsbJzxBGMbsMWRjApkyeiYx
hEWlimZICAeetsrXiao Bao was initially unhappy about having to do homework on the first day of summer vacation, but upon hearing her older brother include Xiao Yuan, she immediately forgot her reluctance and looked up at him cautiously.IgRyiITFxJpIBaHSLYxCeWyNYLiZid
aUbOvuDQfedHiEzThough Xiao Yuan remained expressionless, Wei Qian sensed his reluctance. So, he raised his voice slightly and said, “Go on, pick whatever flavor you like and behave.”QcUtruzCYDOYBRgbAqfcvHPJsSLyVC
dDiEVxRRdspEgZYKnowing that his older brother and sister had something to discuss and not wanting to eavesdrop, Xiao Yuan refused the ice pop Xiao Bao offered him, turned, and walked into the kitchen. He closed the kitchen door behind him and loudly declared, “I’m going to cut watermelon!”lyfoEQvdstwQjijEIOIgFEvANbLQQH
adoqyiIWNwuOZbFXiao Bao was deeply disappointed. She stood at the kitchen door with the ice pop in her hand for a while, but she was ultimately rejected by the flimsy, crooked door. Helplessly, she turned and went back to her own room, feeling like even her favorite ice cream wasn’t enjoyable anymore.zhVhTmhcUPaIwsDLnsWXwtxlMkIKcZ
yhXSiNYmkwjLzEbWei Qian sighed again, this time for real. Both his siblings were so difficult to deal with—his brother was stubborn to the point of being unyielding, and his sister… well, let’s not even go there. She was simply a creative mess.UtSsyDZdnLwouVaxPsIifZFvaxQGFB
XDcHjYZujdMXrhsWithout him, how could they possibly get by?bXaHVtPSAtdBJUScOeaBeSPFMQzsFF
OgCdgfKsFbbHdMKWei Qian lowered his legs, arched his back, one hand gripping the chair’s armrest while the other covered half his face. In a rare, calm tone, he said to Grandma Song, “Do you know how much our school fees are for a year?”krMkIUjgTHoBMWKwWecCQhxdUNYZWi
sEdALjWRnFXWcfWGrandma Song held up four fingers. “Your teacher said it’s four hundred a year, and we have that.”iRVezaKCrluBhVyWMtRHRbHTDpZGxB
EuBzfDrzxwcgCLBIndeed, they had that money. When Wei Qian worked as an enforcer for Le Xiaodong, he received fifteen hundred a month, free to spend on whatever he pleased. He had some savings, and four hundred for school fees was feasible. But tuition fees were just the tip of the iceberg. What about other expenses?WghJEeFdkvDIWtvjpMjiKjHYKiGwFY
VBSMFTNTCtVKyBGWei Qian rubbed his fingers together. Right now, he really wished he had another cigarette.IfsedTzOjhzwgYFDUkRjVMJclOnwlB
oAMidrNuVvCtbcN“At our old school, lunch breaks were short, and we had evening self-study sessions. It was a closed system, and we spent twelve to thirteen hours a day at school. Working part-time while studying was impossible. We requested to have all three meals at school. Even at the most frugal estimate, it costs a hundred and fifty a month, not including textbook fees, which are also a significant expense. Let’s put that aside for now. At home, you three buy groceries and meat—yes, I know you cook at home to save money, but how old are those two brats? They’re at the age where they need proper nutrition, and food costs definitely can’t be skimped on. Add in utilities and other miscellaneous expenses, it’s two hundred a month, and you’re barely scraping by.”JrjdMmTSOMBPBdWTqPQGkRuPbtdzOn
PSFtomKYCjPXTINWei Qian lifted his gaze. “So tell me, where are you going to get that three hundred and fifty? After deducting costs, utility bills, can you earn five cents selling an egg? Can you sell seven thousand tea eggs a month? Do you really think your eggs come from a hen that lays golden eggs?”txOQnxOYyHcgGtTKlONWVGrbgrxnHb
GClJSDuOTuteperGrandma Song was speechless. After a moment, she weakly argued, “I sell plenty every day, a few hundred at least…”FWNiCHBNoyEvosiOlnQhxCGQXlxsDB
OHzsFyXzTvgqkdP“I’ll buy a few hundred eggs from you.” Wei Qian chuckled bitterly. After his lengthy explanation, his throat felt dry. He spoke softly to Grandma Song, “Stop trying to be clever. I know the market. From morning to night, if you can sell sixty or seventy, you’re doing well.”ORLWcefTmyDsygRLSgtPulOlNTtHgW
cyLadKKPLnvuLPqGrandma Song retorted, “Oh, you think you know everything! I can make money even selling scraps—wrappers, cardboard boxes… Yes, even bottles, aluminum cans…”rNipadYqXxyOjnkYXwNyRIqUfzDwWI
gpbYQQuqkEVEchq“Even if you manage to scrape together this three hundred and fifty a month by working yourself to the bone, what if something else comes up?” Wei Qian interrupted her. “You’re not getting any younger. I’ll be blunt—if you have an accident and end up in the hospital, do you have health insurance? And what if there’s some school event, like a spring outing or a sports day? Other kids get new clothes and snacks, but what about your two? Can they just make do? Xiao Bao is a girl. It’s not a big deal now that she doesn’t understand, but in a year or two, when she becomes more aware of appearances, do you want her to feel ashamed in front of her classmates because she’s poorly dressed?”JMgUwXIDfvTuIImFLmxRVbtmbEyXeb
IzjZcrtjGAUVPjOUpon hearing this, Grandma Song inexplicably blinked, and tears welled up in her eyes.BhHiDNgASZUZOuszEWkparyhEIMCCs
fdMQkRXPouYrvqKWei Qian was right, she realized. This was the city, not their impoverished hometown. In their hometown, everyone was from the fields, and everyone’s family had their share of hardships. No one was more dignified than anyone else. But in the city, people drove luxury cars, wore stylish clothes, and being poor left you with no options.lhLZIhBtyperRaaLznWtRdIXcjKxAa
aZwBrPLqwGRUVeoHow much hardship was this child enduring?TKEwuvAclyoRlSdzttXmgcyMNgneev
rgGLBVezgEVJIycAnd she was just a lonely old widow with no skills to speak of. Her greatest talent was gardening, but in this city of concrete and steel, she couldn’t even find a two-foot-wide plot of land to plant vegetables.aOXjTzdgnRRKIILLniDNeGnPLPiwzk
mwoDpGtCFVVlCPkWei Qian was initially bewildered and lost, but when he suddenly noticed Grandma Song’s tears, he found himself momentarily speechless.AkmQxlvFnbTpcndaaNGcRQERtbivCA
xdJAYgQHfkyTKsHSoon after, the young man calmed down at an astonishing speed. He silently stood up, grabbed a roll of tissue from the table, tore off a piece, and handed it to her. With the composure of a true head of the household, he said, “Stop crying. Everything I told you is true.”yyBwONQHlNxVirxlkLkOkjhTLeudTe
UjMXXNpIDvkrpcEGrandma Song’s sobs grew louder.trYQTToahUfPYvebkZudDUBjVcvFQm
aeoxIHhhCYNouZWWei Qian let her cry for a while, but eventually grew impatient. “Auntie, that’s enough. What’s the point of crying? It’s bad luck, you know? If you have something to say, say it. What’s there to cry about?”SxudXUMgcfTprgpuLPdpFzmezcKEkc
shyqzBWilxtMhIyGrandma Song, hearing his loss of civility, reverted to her previous disrespectful tone and bent down to pull off her shoe. Holding the sole in her hand, she vigorously struck at Wei Qian, shouting, “You ungrateful brat! You heartless little brat, I’ll beat you to death! You want to be a thug, don’t you? You want to be a laborer, don’t you? I’ll beat you to death!”NyVzkgSCdJoKfWizJmuvlOZGINnYHl
NFHiwHayVwjtHrhOf course, Wei Qian couldn’t be beaten to death with a shoe sole, and he couldn’t be bothered to dodge. He simply hunched his shoulders, using his arms to shield his face as she struck him, letting her vent her frustration.QxAeXujoliRvNOYAgpEGrWMmjfcXOg
gMPoyhKUJsGUlvXAt the same time, he had no intention of indulging her meaningless emotional outburst. Amidst the chaotic background noise, Wei Qian racked his brain, desperately seeking a way out.qKRbfMtAHGSFFoODIzKyuCkECfXmXD
LctkBCVMmfibJjPThe ground was littered with thorns, and hope was like a fleeting horse, with only its tail barely within his grasp.HbweWewwMOaILMiYePotvDvrKwDzCg
ZTtCeQsZfZMgQZvCeEjqRIINNOkOewrlEdLvlenSFfHko