Da Ge

Chapter 29
The captain gave the order, but no one moved.nncqdeBCGcNPoclSfzmhJZeWuAiXfy

aEiPLHwqZQTeqbL

In this small town, where there was hardly ever any action aside from catching petty thieves, everyone was now buzzing with excitement. Finally, a big case had come up, and everyone eligible for field duty had eagerly joined in. Little did they know, they were about to witness the most bizarre scene in the history of their careers.RjFdZBaaOhVJLicXZpdGCaJaayAMOx

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A group of people stared wide-eyed at their captain. Finally, a brave young comrade spoke up, “Captain, who should we take away? Who’s the main culprit?”xdWbLOAlVPXJplqJFBEanOFykwkkvQ

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The captain’s expression darkened, puffing up his chest defiantly, he shot back, “How the hell would I know?”tlaiwJDxtFPMquwpbJSUzKyzUTtYjY

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The comrades continued to stare, dumbfounded. Encouraged by a colleague’s supportive glance, the same comrade bravely voiced another question, “Captain, can you tell what kind of place this is? What are they doing?”lLBPkZLMWfRtiKmeXbeLCiFzbXedcX

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The captain’s face turned purple, his patience wearing thin, “How the hell would I be able to tell?”hYfbnwFheursCidAPZpRCfnIwvbPbP

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The young comrade felt a wave of despair, “Captain, can you at least tell us if this is a legitimate business or some unknown criminal organization?”MRfVUNcdKKAcjmeFPHousgjraOxaZB

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Internally exasperated, the captain could only roar in frustration, “How the hell can I tell you?”XviXBsYGHUIPRdRoxHRkWYCXlRnOQB

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The opulent decor of this private club perplexed them greatly. As they stepped into the lavishly decorated lobby, fueled by a sense of resentment towards the wealthy, the captain instinctively put on a fierce demeanor, brandishing his badge and demanding to see the person in charge.FPzsrfPBebrTGiYjUpBLzDLEcdPWLq

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The receptionists stared blankly at them, then suddenly, one of the security-looking individuals bolted as if possessed by a demon, his face drained of color.iGXpUudkLsGWeprEznNYVsEeoGBGrA

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The captain’s immediate reaction was to assume him as the culprit, bellowing, “Stop right there!”XCTXNQgCfROCPFfGjtskoKyojwhOwf

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The captain led the charge, and although others weren’t sure what was going on, they couldn’t lag behind their leader, so they dashed off in pursuit.PvoDklHewjGvgrEGvDgGooAemFWCpq

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This chaotic scene of fleeing and chasing quickly triggered a domino effect. Those who were initially composed suddenly became unsure of the situation and swiftly changed tactics, joining in the rapid strategic maneuvering.vgfKVDYXfGlSyDUqAfbWHsJIgeuIpq

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In the blink of an eye, the burly security guards resembled frightened rabbits encountering a gang of thugs, each one sprinting faster than a rabbit.FgAjeCEgUtQvPAzKLdXLEZZzXnwqPZ

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Only a row of well-dressed young women huddled together, looking pained and frightened.XXhfsOCUWGmAXBdymcuznBIQrqbSnB

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The one at the forefront coincidentally encountered the head manager patrolling the hallway. The head manager, a former high-ranking thug, mistook the situation for a brawl and drew his pistol from his waist—something not everyone would experience.UYMYSjhKJYWgEcNwusjtoPonFAPIfc

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About to reprimand the security guard who nearly leaped into his arms, the head manager was stunned to hear him exclaim, “Police! A bunch of police!”gNfEjPSSZnLBQgLmmCEioKSzrsBnUk

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The head manager retorted, “Impossible!”DQrWnGNakXhNeLXokVqvIbGqkeSCsY

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Several more came running after, shouting as if signaling the arrival of wolves, “Damn it, how come there are cops!”atzuwJIDHuSZsEEGBMEqfZTGIQHEAZ

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The head manager hesitated for a moment, torn between “confronting the police” and “making a swift retreat.” Eventually, he chose the latter, albeit with great reluctance.jndVoPbDlHdqmedXWEJYQviKGEpPKe

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This pursuit led to trouble.EvtprFtrbOZrTYOSJBEsctsWwKkZgx

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Ultimately, the blame fell on Zhao Laojiu. Zhao Laojiu was notorious for his criminal tendencies, a top-notch troublemaker under Boss Husi. If there was any illegal activity to be done, he was the man for the job, capable of things others couldn’t even imagine.AORJbFpWrnGainajPoLizMHmcSeeOk

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He looked down on anyone respectable and admired those with a criminal record—seeing the police, he instinctively assumed trouble.nIJfFfbXnRTXZcGJgDwurqlxtaXEZH

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Faster than them all were the guests. Whether they had shady backgrounds or were well-connected, they were all out for a good time and wanted nothing to do with the police. Slippery as eels, at the slightest hint of trouble, they dispersed on the spot.GSFrnIMeFNCuJgdjjbScibfWYxUpGN

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Zhao Laojiu had the same burning question in his mind, “Damn it, how come there are cops?”BqKGDpytQjxngvqncSGLmjkQNpznhr

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But he had to keep up appearances, couldn’t afford to act rashly. Zhao Laojiu wiped away a cold sweat, having received no prior warning. He racked his brain, couldn’t recall any slip-ups. What on earth were these cops doing here? Could it be overdue utility bills?EMvpmbcQaXJDXpBXrgEYnrEKmzLJWK

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He muttered to one of his henchmen, “Get everyone evacuated—obviously, start with the fighters. The guests are slippery as eels, thanks for the reminder, they’ve probably bolted already! Except for the female staff and those with shady backgrounds, nobody stays… Well, that leaves only the female staff. Get the business license ready, might have to accompany them for a bit later. It’ll be fine, don’t worry. Tell them to tidy up the place, especially the chips and ‘goods.’ Tell everyone outside that the models on the stage were hired for entertainment purposes, then immediately inform Boss Husi.”FvzFZxRSEXbLbaLwjDBxEcUSkxhYeB

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Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, the henchman asked in a hushed tone, “But… what if something goes wrong?”EIBVAIaceQqlMaiASovjEQrLtrtVxo

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Zhao Laojiu glared at him fiercely, “Stop talking bullshit!”PnBWOEJMSkEWGcZjhVAyrpQLINCTuu

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Just like him, the henchman broke into a cold sweat, dared not utter a word, and turned to make arrangements.KjvSQVLxAxZcIWVVxcxwZAwtdbqVud

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And just like that, Wei Qian was evacuated.cioijhORHObWVRiXXQPTFfvRfmtcAV

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When the tide recedes, only the smallest organisms can slip away unnoticed, and no one cares about them.CtIUgBtOpjxwKSVSsgVozOxwVQwUbp

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Wei Qian left the boxing arena and headed straight for the train station.tAOJMeUwteqEfhhjjvojHIVTYuJHoq

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As soon as he entered the station, he nearly stumbled over Wei Zhiyuan.PEiGjcSyeYZIRsvVGKASznqCtqEvEa

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San Pang and Xiao Yuan had been waiting for him here for the whole afternoon.qrKkwBSjlykXADlpBTBxmORchRWUGs

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Not long after noon, San Pang, drenched in sweat under the scorching sun, met Wei Zhiyuan. Upon seeing him, he anxiously asked, “Where’s your brother? Where is he? Huh? What kind of place did you send me to? What’s he doing there?”lfwNGuiZMPDEsZJxseiQoBIIHIqLIV

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Wei Zhiyuan: “They were doing underground boxing.”eKCvHBevArmYWWBfuIeEGdfdXMrNrn

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San Pang’s voice rose several octaves, “What? Damn it, you two! Can you two little brats help me live another two days?!”DobbgPOgyzEHzEpPMWaCfgBtLyXuCx

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Wei Zhiyuan looked at him in silence.CdGsvffTBVoUJiwAOGVwcEIzGQmXTU

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San Pang continued to roar, “Stop pretending! Aren’t you taking me there to help him collect his corpse?”RuSVLdJqCOhiNpCJcHAtscVqnDdLvf

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Wei Zhiyuan calmly replied, “My brother won’t let you go find him.”CHNLKUaKQpOhJaTzafITmULnWSMPbd

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San Pang opened his mouth—then realized. Whether it was their communication or calling the police, it had all been done in secret. Wei Qian needed this whole incident to appear as a foolish coincidence, to muddy the waters, so he could maneuver freely.PYawFCOQydvkKtoJNVBEQbuXfYCqDm

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So as a stranger, San Pang absolutely couldn’t be seen by anyone. They couldn’t afford even the slightest hint of suspicion, it could blow their whole operation.aTXncwtZAdrqHHDgnLttZiuwDSqbqv

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San Pang asked, “Then where are we going?”DEzLtmbQFgvVIRHmwwcpGZXDYqjGZf

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Wei Zhiyuan raised his hand and showed the little turtle drawn on his hand to San Pang, teasing him, “Hey, it looks nice, just like your brother—this rascal, still drawing turtles on his hand at this age?”qGfoLDOQIpCYZmuDCxaDcmjuAWIUli

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Wei Zhiyuan pointed to the turtle shell, “My brother drew this. San Ge, take a closer look. The turtle shell is actually an inverted railway emblem. We’re going to the train station.”yXfrwINhPERWqCeuEGJYYVKLeuZgyb

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And so, San Pang and Wei Zhiyuan arrived at the train station. They waited under the scorching sun until the sun set, their impatience almost driving them mad. Finally, Wei Qian arrived, fashionably late.jEkrUeoXlZvxLRpoQCiVQEHVWRIGTS

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Wei Zhiyuan hugged his arm tightly, and from his clothes, he pulled out a book that he had tucked into his waistband. It was the old math textbook filled with drawings of turtles that Wei Qian had brought, its cover soaked with the sweat of children.mxIokkjItrLLmDAtFqABcQKQKfRKli

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Wei Qian held it in his hand, unsure of what to say.RgihOvbZqWXHRnLkvBvsbDljcvKjYU

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Initially, San Pang was even more excited than Xiao Yuan, almost uncontrollable, turning into a giant sprinkler, spraying Wei Qian with saliva all over his face.QOFgizXPfeeiIQvdRZRHVaClpqakCP

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Unfortunately, the warmth from that fat guy lasted only a few minutes. Once the excitement passed, he turned into a completely different person, making one truly experience the fickleness of “fat guys.”BZHnxmAGOqZSlyjhHrkHDUMEptQRnj

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He pulled Wei Qian into a secluded corner and, using both “presenting facts and reasoning” and “insulting ancestors and mothers,” he launched a barrage of attacks against Wei Qian. His role-switching was natural and seamless, as if he were not fighting alone.mIsmlCXphPHTtTMrjwgvhNXzTgeVmt

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In the end, San Pang concluded with a lengthy discourse what he believed to be a reasonable conclusion: “Wei Qian, today I’m going to tell you a major discovery in the scientific community—you’re a big idiot!”hVefXupIGetTdwSGZqnSGedBIECodm

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Rendered speechless by this “scientific” argument, Wei Qian had nothing to say in return, except to curse silently.HLdqTdyMVNOgGwpgfKitqblnpKrxhc

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All three of them had bought hard seats for the journey here, but they splurged a bit on the way back, purchasing sleeper berths.qDcNPGPhUZRbHavkFYiGrUMbbPQgLZ

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Unfortunately, the sleeper berth wasn’t much more comfortable than the hard seat, especially because Comrade San Pang’s snoring was like thunder, nearly shaking the train off its tracks several times. Yet, this fat guy remained blissfully unaware, sleeping early and waking late.vuOUEovBzIhotMYvYEKUDnfrdDcHEy

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The other passengers practically treated him as a class enemy. In the end, everyone resorted to lying flat on their beds, covering their ears, and burying their heads in pillows, enduring the long night of sleep in a posture akin to dodging bombs.nJekYFaNxbvruUJZXCvUdAMJWjlcbE

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When Wei Qian couldn’t sleep, he would lie there, calculating his family’s finances. This trip had been relatively low-cost, and with what he sent home, along with his meager savings, he now had a total of thirty thousand yuan.dlmBnGSUYaDFtbXrEnAQXrGxmrAZfz

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His family of four could live quite comfortably on five to six hundred yuan a month. Over the course of a year, as long as there were no unforeseen expenses, their tuition and living expenses combined wouldn’t exceed six thousand. If he could find part-time work during the holidays and weekends, he could even save up eighteen hundred extra to support his mom and siblings.FscJmYuqCfjNElHsCCuUILqOIHBuLC

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For now, Wei Qian could breathe a sigh of relief.RqGTWRqBlexYPkypXkezRMClpHccTK

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Just as Wei Qian was meticulously contemplating his livelihood, the bunk above him suddenly stirred, and a small head peeked out from the darkness, dangling upside down to look at him.OjSyTwYvTZYnOVoqnWgLIzxHmAZZcM

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Wei Qian inadvertently looked up and was startled by the bright eyes on the small head. He scolded, “Wei Zhiyuan, what are you up to? Go to sleep!”BalQJLIqorawQdTDhfxEKLEThAwVxI

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Wei Zhiyuan received the scolding but didn’t seem bothered at all; in fact, he appeared rather pleased as he withdrew his head.hxLrzBybDAVaZJAzDsYOZxKXLUfMRc

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Wei Qian refocused his thoughts. These past few days, he had been mentally strained, and his energy was somewhat depleted. Accustomed to the noise, even with the thunderous snoring nearby, he gradually felt a hint of drowsiness creeping over him. Just as he was about to doze off, the little head from the upper bunk sneaked out again, as if up to mischief.wLiRSOvEuLyMdGuJZlrSmyeffiPwci

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Wei Qian, annoyed, half propped himself up and leaned out to the upper bunk, “Are you full of mischief? Why are you always staring at me?”lAFftRWpKbagnjiTdPuYouryTfxXKa

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Wei Zhiyuan immediately obediently lay back down.lerbKNtZJeSzJOULKBRwuxtOjuubra

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Thinking it was perhaps the child’s first time on a sleeper berth and finding it fascinating, Wei Qian casually pulled his blanket and lowered his voice, “If you can’t sleep, plug your ears, and if that doesn’t work, give that fat guy a kick.”jdoFmLGUWVtjJBLyYQmBXUXoisWPoK

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Wei Zhiyuan softly responded and continued to stare at him.XWfocByWutdEmeKUBcHLXTmtApQyek

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Wei Qian climbed down, followed others’ lead, plugged his ears, buried his head in the pillow, and closed his eyes, trying to get some rest.ypGFbWJAOTavEfDBLCkOfuiXilIbuA

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After a while, Wei Qian suddenly realized in the darkness that Wei Zhiyuan wasn’t being mischievous; he had been sticking his head out to see if Wei Qian was still there.egJbnguRjjxCUuBZLRCeulYWmjNGJQ

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Poor kid must have been scared, Wei Qian thought. I shouldn’t have brought him along.ZwbUcmJVtuvPQQdBAaEGFbPxGsWwEi

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When the two brothers returned home, they naturally faced a barrage of questions and complaints from Grandma Song. Wei Zhiyuan played dumb and stayed silent, leaving Grandma Song’s verbal barrage directed solely at Wei Qian, “Where did you get so much money? Where did you go? Did you do something bad? Speak up!”bVdKixJRukBVifWhvUDLgpJkwbyoVk

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She buzzed around him like a giant fly, incessantly pestering him. Unable to bear it any longer, Wei Qian stormed out of the house, deposited the remaining twenty-five thousand yuan into the bank, without telling his grandmother to spare himself further nagging.yKqMlMJsQcRAcWmpPvIizpPosqXqeS

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When he returned after a long walk, he found Grandma Song still stern as ever, showing no signs of letting up. Finally fed up, Wei Qian impatiently said, “I sold blood, okay?”BEiLgmMoxxYsVOCKckQodFbXymLQkJ

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Grandma Song was taken aback, “S-sold… sold what?”UtBSBzmBnnlozKFpwGVieWGavBoROS

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Wei Qian’s attitude turned even more hostile, “Sold two pounds of blood and a kidney. Are you satisfied now? Can you leave me alone?”DMxveKWEfuPXHSzRwKnkWUhzkhxuhJ

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While it was obvious nonsense, Grandma Song didn’t see it that way. Illiterate and unfamiliar with the intricacies of selling blood, she couldn’t distinguish between truth and fiction, especially after seeing Wei Qian’s pale and emaciated face, which only fueled her wild imagination.OBzPYDXSRdDqstHJsrmoJMlmoEjtJZ

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Wei Qian’s intention was to get Grandma Song to stop bothering him, but he hadn’t anticipated this outcome.riFKnXYdbPeEmZRKZKXSJIKgDUMFhN

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As Grandma Song let out a wail that could be heard for miles around, crying with all the dramatic effect of someone about to beat their chest and hang themselves, Xiao Bao and Xiao Yuan exchanged glances, then both turned their bewildered gazes to their eldest brother. Wei Qian’s expression remained blank for a good half-minute, with Xiao Yuan noticing a twitch at the corner of his eye.zytlnbwKsGnsCWciQgwstMugpGPouY

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Wei Qian crouched beside Grandma Song, cautiously extended a finger as if testing an electrical switch, lightly poked her, then quickly withdrew it, clearing his throat, “Um, please don’t cry.”MWQaYqtFbscBYUFoTebdsoCCeXVkgb

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Grandma Song’s face was a mix of snot and tears, “I’m useless! I’m just a rural old lady… I don’t know anything! All I do is cause trouble! Letting the children sell blood and kidneys, is that something a human being does? Why am I still alive… what’s the point…”lWxzxaetvnBPATTwuMmRBCcHWsqfdQ

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Though not completely at a loss, Wei Qian felt powerless. He silently listened to Grandma Song’s tearful tirade, finding it somewhat amusing in a twisted way. He thought to himself, thankfully he hadn’t told her he went to fight in the underground boxing matches, or she might have been scared to death.pKgCOwoiLNVPyeIjZMSzNRFjFZBVCS

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Amidst this bizarre mix of amusement and absurdity, he felt a strange sense of comfort.ZILvEidjuhfBwqqWxubEDAcleabvSA

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The phrase “letting the children sell blood and kidneys” struck a chord in his heart. From childhood to adulthood, few people had ever called him “child.”QvDSKnZLCwhVCJdGfmiXZrTbJGxkCw

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To Wei Qian, the term “child” wasn’t just a neutral term for a certain age group. He believed neutral terms should be more like “brat.” Instead, “child” seemed to represent a special kind of care, tolerance, and affection from adults or elders.jvhEZvBtXzLuCkIlgeXuPirqSXEPgE

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…a sentiment he had never received.BzZDJSgDoDpXFDcReNNPEBrHqZGIps

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Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Wei Qian waited until Grandma Song’s crying subsided slightly before retrieving a roll of tissue from under the table and handing it to her, “Hey, please don’t cry. I was just joking earlier, pulling your leg.”TpnNGcYgEzJjjxnQobCoBJPjjmVgWk

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Sniffling, Grandma Song cursed between sobs, “You little brat! What exactly have you been up to?”oCPegUlYHFoLLTYVeBuoywBMPuOPlx

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Wei Qian fabricated a story on the spot, not even bothering to draft it, “A friend of mine had some connections and dragged me along to transport goods down south. I made a few trips in a big truck…”uNjlIdUlTNEPugtoZLtEkSNJttANbG

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Grandma Song interrupted, “Nonsense! Why don’t you take a good look at your complexion?”QbEvLCXxAnbYNaansCnHXiTgqIqBSk

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“Well…” Wei Qian couldn’t help but chuckle at her exasperation, “Do you know how long we spend on the road each day? Over ten hours on the highway in a big truck, eating and sleeping in the truck, exposed to the elements. Who could have a good complexion under those conditions? I’m no immortal.”EIPfbazvKErNQdayfYmUbDtSVpylsM

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Grandma Song regarded him skeptically.gnqRGmrbeLhcGWEuNoVnXeQfKvbrSc

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“It’s true,” Wei Qian spun his tale convincingly, “Big Brother Three went too. Don’t believe me? Ask him. We transported goods from a factory in Guangdong directly to the north, and the prices multiplied several times over. What’s a few thousand yuan in labor fees to me?”cJuOHUGJRieQboqCgSVXJeGisDuJca

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Besides, Big Brother Three would cover for him.lJKWTmSgbOEggLUwmSDFBRTVPvvYak

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Grandma Song became somewhat skeptical at this point. After a moment, she said, “Well… then, lift your clothes and let me see. They say people who sell kidneys have a scar on their lower back.”ANnnyMQFZQPpxMEZvteyGrLSZXgrsb

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With that, she reached out to personally lift Wei Qian’s clothes.kDTBcpXEAyqxXUmLFfSwGZPRRnctSV

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Wei Qian jumped up from the ground, taking a step back, “What are you doing? There’s a boundary between men and women! You’re of such an age, have some dignity, will you?”aiqiEcSPQnJeeqqyWOGfTbKoGfKdAu

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As Wei Qian’s words grew more impertinent, Grandma Song grabbed a book nearby and started hitting him all over, “I let you talk nonsense, and you’re not being honest…”EjRQWlWrVqQlokFKVYkrRZigzzGUxy

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After a thorough scolding, she finally forgot about inspecting Wei Qian’s clothes. That hurdle was passed.zCswkXhPSBTqmfwwByKSXlUyVWKHNt

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The summer vacation flew by quickly. Song Xiaobao, the irresponsible one, started frantically catching up on his homework again. Big Brother Three often came by for a visit, and Grandma Song went out to sell things during the day. The three of them would each find a corner, quietly engrossed in their studies, as if their once noisy household had transformed into a large study room, filled with an academic atmosphere.RZQNhBVAARvxXTgcYREeEEwAsxDbNa

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Sometimes, Big Brother Three felt a bit uncomfortable staying for too long.ausCQmxTzjvMwuPdyyTqYSOoWxJKsc

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Wei Qian changed into a clean white T-shirt, his hair neatly groomed. When his mind was clear, the gloom between his brows dissipated, making him look like an ordinary high school student.AQXeCMJWJIqPJIzzxoLKOZBKWurAoc

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In September, he finally returned to the campus he had been away from for over three years, resuming a regular and fulfilling high school life.EgFJRHSozidnwNoxQxywVMKmTrSFll

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Every morning, he would first ride his bike to take Grandma Song to the spot where she sold eggs. Then, he would scoop a corn and an egg from her pot, taking them to school to eat. He would rush through eight classes each day, then quickly leave during dinner time to ride his bike and take Grandma Song back home. After grabbing some food from home, he would hurry back to school in time for evening self-study.jpTRmnWoLBQYOlMGzwWlUmZVqWkbyE

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With an adult taking care of the household, Wei Qian was able to unload more than half of his burden, and he felt grateful to his grandmother.vLdwJtiCrfYnClOtTatzOyChwTjsEQ

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In fact, Wei Qian hadn’t even finished his first year of high school, but to save time, he directly entered the second-year class taught by Teacher Li. Despite studying throughout the summer vacation, his performance in the first monthly exam was still not ideal, barely reaching the middle-lower level.eyZhipdekjeheppRmDcHxhSnPHirOW

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However, Wei Qian didn’t think it was a big deal. Not being at the bottom meant he was keeping up. By the time of the midterm exam, he had moved up from the middle-lower level to the middle-upper level.BtwWTLnFiPYsifzUQVxnrLLjCkCExX

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He approached his studies with the same focus and dedication as when he used to fight for Lao Ge, and his achievements were remarkable. What people called “hard work” was simply getting up before dawn to study late into the night, reading more books and doing more exercises than others.rSAUBmqhiGLNEzSvLLeygXdStHNgNy

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For Wei Qian, this kind of “hard work” was nothing.KNuPGhixFbZGxtnQykFIhMWUkKyXPj

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By the time of the final exams, Wei Qian had risen from the middle-upper level to the top, becoming an easygoing, taciturn, and handsome top student in the school—a status that was unimaginable just half a year ago.vnyuWuTaPebwRwfWyjnekslToPzpRC

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Unfortunately, at home, he was the unquestioned head of the household. Grandma Song was busy with her small business, working tirelessly from dawn till dusk, and the two brats didn’t dare to ask too much about his grades. Wei Qian also felt that boasting about his achievements would undermine his authority as the head of the household.UAzSQuKbqBzZNwtsMSBytYQEVgFRcn

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But it really got to him.zhCRNEdtVFJaPNveAmuTyXgyozrYbB

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He held it in until Chinese New Year, when Grandma Song handed out red envelopes and cooked dumplings. It was at the dinner table that she finally remembered to ask Wei Qian, “Hey, how’s your studying? What place did you get in the exams?”CHaeWjEXcoGCccqWHpfHmtnYqQCyTJ

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Wei Qian, awkwardly holding his first red envelope ever, casually replied, “You seem really concerned about it.”VJEfJucRWCNqfOhcurxKSgsxFzNWHP

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Grandma Song laughed and scolded him, “You rascal, speak properly!”MpSbOnIbpgzVuivIdiyAEPTLKYBrdp

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So, Wei Qian casually reported his grades and ranking, as if they were trivial matters not worth mentioning, only reluctantly acknowledging them because she insisted on asking.AJgCDRglnqMsghGYUycfGhEYpzKBPh

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Grandma Song’s hand, stirring the boiling water in the pot of dumplings, suddenly stopped. After a while, she cautiously asked, “So… this is enough to get into university, right?”vbFbOMEnoAXknwNSZaUHjXCcQQszYn

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Students from key high schools never considered “getting into university” a big deal; their goal was always to get into the “best” university possible.ZoRJqDsyHGsXAvndphRnQxBvlWYUcZ

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However, Grandma Song had limited exposure to educated people. The students and white-collar workers who frequented her business were treated as a different class altogether, and she had never imagined that her own family could produce… that “class” of person.tuuXENKXgmhpsUbSVGXsfYcvArPyCR

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“In her mind, ‘going to university’ was a humble and distant dream.”QrOJZiwWaMiSntFEuCNeNdWDanOyye

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Wei Qian absentmindedly murmured, “Yeah.”jFMEazEdzYCtmTTWJBxFiHikgjmqnT

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Grandma Song’s heart was boiling with excitement, unable to express it. It wasn’t until many days later, when Wei Qian was about to start school again, that he heard her boasting with excitement to her workmates while he rode his bike to pick her up from her afternoon job, “My grandson is in a key high school. The teachers say he’ll have no problem getting into university in the future.”TUoDjtHWwkmxSyAKOAnbzpmopHoLsc

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Wei Qian heard her from a distance and muttered, “Old lady really knows how to pat herself on the back. Who said I’m her grandson?”AJekiVQEDjDsnxnOmKXPcyBEPtnebu

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But despite saying this, as he pushed his bike closer, he casually said, “Grandma, let’s go.”KPobaLtzejKXBiwYsJeQWvsJZLtZqj

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All the hardships and burdens, at their end, flowed away like clouds in the sky.cMYhZPIaLywmJCkUKImHrHPqOWyvdh

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“You can have nothing, as long as your spirit remains.” – Graduation speech by the president of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2013.POmJUvNLwnTHIimvjdUnaBmixkhNCa

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