“Just kidding. Don’t take it seriously.”
Looking away from the counter, Chen Yu said solemnly, “I don’t need money or cigarettes. I’m asking for you to do only one thing for me.”
“What is it?”
“School.”
“…”
Perhaps few words are more powerful after all.
When the lady boss of the cigarette shop heard the word “school,” she was inexplicably moved.
She took a drag on her cigarette and slowly exhaled. Through the hazy smoke, she looked deep into Chen Yu’s eyes and said, “That’s all you want?”
“Sitting for the College Entrance Examination is all I want.”
“…you were expelled from No.2 Middle School. I don’t have what it takes to get you back in.” The lady boss leaned back in her chair and said, “I sell cigarettes. I’m not someone who has ties with a principal.”
“Other schools will do too. As long as I can sit for the College Entrance Examination.”
“Are your grades good?”
“Enough to attend university.”
“Is that so.” The lady boss was noncommittal.
She didn’t believe that a student with the potential to attend university would be expelled for smoking.
“Hmm…”
After pondering for some time, the lady boss pinched out her cigarette and said, “If you ask for something else, I won’t give you even a single cent. But if it’s attending school… I can give it a try, but I can’t guarantee you success.”
Yes!
Oh yes!
Chen Yu was immediately overwhelmed with joy. But on the surface, he remained calm and said, “Thanks a lot, then. Good people will live a peaceful life.”
After saying this, he turned around, making to leave the cigarette shop, ready to find an empty alley and have a good laugh.
Life’s ups and downs were really too exciting…
“Wait.” The lady boss suddenly spoke. “You’re homeless, aren’t you? Where are you going?”
Chen Yu turned around, “I’m gonna find a bridge hole to spend a few nights.”
“Stay here.”
Chen Yu: “?”
“You can stay here in the shop.” The lady boss stood up and walked over to Chen Yu. “No. 341B Space Portal has just opened. There are many outsiders here. It’s not safe to sleep outside.”
1
Chen Yu was shocked. “Am… am I hearing things?”
“You’re not going to live here for free, though. I need you to work for me. I’ll have you look after the shop.” The lady boss pointed at the counter nearby and said, “Pricing of each brand, cigarette stocking list, transporting goods, displaying them; you’ll be responsible for all these things.”
“No problem!” Chen Yu agreed without hesitation.
If he didn’t seize this unexpected blessing, wouldn’t that make him insane?…
“When I find you a school, you’ll leave at once. And there’s no salary for you.”
“No problem… but what about food?”
2
“That’ll be provided.”
“Alright, all good.” Chen Yu gave an OK gesture. “Where will I be sleeping?”
“In the living room upstairs. Lay down a floor mat yourself.”
Chen Yu: “No bed? I’m used to sleeping on a bed. I have a bad habit of coughing whenever I’m not sleeping on a bed.”
An odd expression passed over the lady boss’s face. “You were about to go sleep in a bridge hole, and you’re complaining about sleeping on the floor?”
“But this place doesn’t have the right conditions, does it?” Chen Yu pointed at the ceiling and said, “Good environment, well renovated; but the floor isn’t all that pleasant.”
“Just kidding. Don’t take it seriously.”
Looking away from the counter, Chen Yu said solemnly, “I don’t need money or cigarettes. I’m asking for you to do only one thing for me.”
“What is it?”
“School.”
“…”
Perhaps few words are more powerful after all.
When the lady boss of the cigarette shop heard the word “school,” she was inexplicably moved.
She took a drag on her cigarette and slowly exhaled. Through the hazy smoke, she looked deep into Chen Yu’s eyes and said, “That’s all you want?”
“Sitting for the College Entrance Examination is all I want.”
“…you were expelled from No.2 Middle School. I don’t have what it takes to get you back in.” The lady boss leaned back in her chair and said, “I sell cigarettes. I’m not someone who has ties with a principal.”
“Other schools will do too. As long as I can sit for the College Entrance Examination.”
“Are your grades good?”
“Enough to attend university.”
“Is that so.” The lady boss was noncommittal.
She didn’t believe that a student with the potential to attend university would be expelled for smoking.
“Hmm…”
After pondering for some time, the lady boss pinched out her cigarette and said, “If you ask for something else, I won’t give you even a single cent. But if it’s attending school… I can give it a try, but I can’t guarantee you success.”
Yes!
Oh yes!
Chen Yu was immediately overwhelmed with joy. But on the surface, he remained calm and said, “Thanks a lot, then. Good people will live a peaceful life.”
After saying this, he turned around, making to leave the cigarette shop, ready to find an empty alley and have a good laugh.
Life’s ups and downs were really too exciting…
“Wait.” The lady boss suddenly spoke. “You’re homeless, aren’t you? Where are you going?”
Chen Yu turned around, “I’m gonna find a bridge hole to spend a few nights.”
“Stay here.”
Chen Yu: “?”
“You can stay here in the shop.” The lady boss stood up and walked over to Chen Yu. “No. 341B Space Portal has just opened. There are many outsiders here. It’s not safe to sleep outside.”
1
Chen Yu was shocked. “Am… am I hearing things?”
“You’re not going to live here for free, though. I need you to work for me. I’ll have you look after the shop.” The lady boss pointed at the counter nearby and said, “Pricing of each brand, cigarette stocking list, transporting goods, displaying them; you’ll be responsible for all these things.”
“No problem!” Chen Yu agreed without hesitation.
If he didn’t seize this unexpected blessing, wouldn’t that make him insane?…
“When I find you a school, you’ll leave at once. And there’s no salary for you.”
“No problem… but what about food?”
2
“That’ll be provided.”
“Alright, all good.” Chen Yu gave an OK gesture. “Where will I be sleeping?”
“In the living room upstairs. Lay down a floor mat yourself.”
Chen Yu: “No bed? I’m used to sleeping on a bed. I have a bad habit of coughing whenever I’m not sleeping on a bed.”
An odd expression passed over the lady boss’s face. “You were about to go sleep in a bridge hole, and you’re complaining about sleeping on the floor?”
“But this place doesn’t have the right conditions, does it?” Chen Yu pointed at the ceiling and said, “Good environment, well renovated; but the floor isn’t all that pleasant.”
