Chapter One Jiang Le

  Ding Dong Dong!!

  With a sharp bell ringing, the classroom of Class 37, No. 3 Middle School in Qingyang City suddenly became lively and noisy.

  The teacher on the podium was oblivious to this, stopped his mechanical lecture, closed his textbook, turned around and walked away, as if they were people from two different worlds, each minding their own business.

  In every school, there is a class where the teacher wants to end the lesson earlier than the students.

  The students here are either unlearned and untalented, rebellious and willful, or have poor aptitude and cannot learn.

  These are the inferior students left behind after being picked over by the elite classes.

  This kind of student is specially integrated into a class by the school, which will not disturb the study of other good students, is convenient for management, and can also enrich the school's atmosphere, killing three birds with one stone.

  It's just such a class, but it's hard on the teacher.

  Teaching such students, at the end of the year, apart from the basic salary, promotion bonuses or teacher evaluations and all that, are just empty promises.

  Fortunately, the school has additional financial compensation for teachers of such classes, which is why this type of class can survive.

  Jiang Le also quietly closed the book and secretly let out a sigh of relief.

  Compared with other classmates who have not learned at all, he is considered good. He listens attentively in class and takes very good notes, a model of a well-behaved student.

  However, he seems to have no talent for this kind of formulaic learning from birth. From elementary school onwards, no matter how hard he forced himself to study, the knowledge he learned today would be forgotten by tomorrow, and over time, his learning progress couldn't keep up with others.

  This state made Jiang Le very distressed, he felt that there was a 360 automatic software deletion function in his brain, which started working every time he fell asleep.

  Such a state made Jiang Le extremely want to give up learning.

  Just thinking of his ailing mother's longing gaze makes him feel heartbroken.

  In this world, the only relatives, the only requirement for oneself is to study hard.

  In her mother's mind, only studying can make one stand out from the crowd.

  ……

  Jiang Le packed up his books and left his desk, quickly walking out of the classroom.

  He has half an hour before going to work and he must hurry up or else his salary will be deducted.

  As a single-parent family, life is also very difficult. The family relies on his sick mother to do some manual labor to make a living and support himself in school, with great pressure. So he also works part-time during the school breaks, supplementing his family's income every month.

  The wages of this temporary job are not high, but it is the biggest return he can make for his family so far. So Jiang Le attaches great importance to this hard-won job.

  Just out of the school gate, a familiar figure approached. This was a slightly chubby boy with glasses, Yang Fan, Jiang Le's only friend in San Zhong.

  Yang Fan was a student in the top class, and before Jiang Le's slow learning progress was discovered, they were in the same class because of their shared hobby of writing brush calligraphy, and became good friends. Later, Yang Fan found out about Jiang Le's studies, tried to tutor him, but unfortunately it ended in failure.

  However, the friendship between the two did not become distant due to the class split, but instead became closer, and even Yang Fan heard that Jiang Le had to go to work after school, directly asking to accompany him to work, showing great camaraderie.

  Looking at Yang Fan, Jiang Le smiled slightly and said: "Let's go, if we're any later, Old Jin will deduct our wages."

  Yang Fan hesitated for a moment and awkwardly said: "Jiang Le, I may not be able to work with you together anymore."

  Jiang Le's footsteps came to an abrupt halt as he asked in astonishment: "What's wrong?"

  Yang Fan smiled bitterly: "Now is the most critical time for high school, my family is very concerned about my studies. I've been going home too late recently, and various reasons have made them suspicious. They asked the teacher at school to inquire, and exposed my lie. I had no choice but to tell the truth. This matter dissatisfied the old man, he demanded that I quit my job and focus on studying."

  Jiang Le's face relaxed, and he smiled: "This is correct, the college entrance exam is just around the corner, it's the final sprint, we must work hard. I've advised you before, but you didn't listen, insisting on working with me. Now that your old man says so, I fully agree."

  "But you..." Yang Fan's face showed difficulty.

  Jiang Le grabbed Yang Fan's shoulder, his face serious: "Yang Fan, as a brother, listen to me. Your current task is to study hard. I'm helpless now, otherwise I would also work hard to learn. Now, brother doesn't ask for anything else, just hoping you can bring my dreams with you to university."

  Yang Fan smiled and nodded heavily: "Okay, I will definitely get into a good university."

  "That's settled then. You go back first and review properly. As for work, you also know that old Jin's place is a mess, the work is simple, I can handle it alone."

  Watching Yang Fan's receding back, Jiang Le's smile gradually disappeared, replaced by a hint of melancholy.

  He had just spoken from his heart.

  If possible, he also wants to work hard and study well, strive to take a good university entrance exam, and make his mother proud.

  What a pity...

  He turned gloomily around, alone and by himself, and walked into a street.

  Jiang Le's workplace was in Qingyang's famous antique street. At first, he chose this place because of the treasure-hunting fantasy that existed in his young mind, thinking that if he could just pick up one valuable item, his family's life would change dramatically.

  It's a pity that I only worked here for two months, and came and went in a hurry. Not to mention picking up leaks, there was no time to go out and stroll around properly.

  Jiang Le worked for a small antique shop called Jin Lao Tou Antique Shop, whose owner was a widowed old man over seventy years old. Few people knew his real name, and most addressed him as Old Man Jin.

  In Antique Street, Jin's antique shop is very small and the facade is old and worn out. The antiques on display are scarce and not particularly valuable. Generally, people looking to buy antiques wouldn't give this place a second glance, thinking that a small store can't possibly have any treasures.

  In fact, since Jiang Le went to work, he hasn't seen a single antique being sold, which makes people who earn meager salaries feel embarrassed to take their pay.

  Rushing into the store, checking the time, it was just right, which made Jiang Le couldn't help but smile happily.

  Here is the translation:

  As a temporary worker here, his main task was to collect stolen goods, wipe antiques and antique shelves, with a monthly salary of 300 yuan.

  Old Jin had a strange temper and disliked people being late. For every time someone was late, he would deduct 10 yuan.

  If you're late every day, it's equivalent to wasting a whole month.

  It's not easy for a middle school student to find a part-time job, especially one that is relatively easy. Jiang Le cherished her current job very much.

  Looked around, didn't see Old Jin, probably went out for a stroll. Jiang Le also didn't dawdle, put down his backpack and started the daily repetitive work.

  Sweep, wipe, tidy up.

  Although the store is swept by itself every day and no one visits it, looking very clean, Jiang Le still does a good job.

  He is a responsible person, since he has taken someone else's salary, he should make corresponding efforts.

  These tasks were completed in less than half an hour.

  Jiang Le's part-time job is two hours a day. There is also half an hour.

  As usual, Jiang Le naturally found a chair and prepared to take out his book for review.

  Although it has proven to be a waste of effort, he still refuses to give up.

  For his mother, he will stick to it until the end.

  Just as he was about to review, Jiang Le heard a crashing sound of porcelain, and he slightly froze, turning his head to look behind him.

  Behind is the back door of an antique shop.

  Isn't there some precious porcelain inside that was knocked over by a mouse or something? This is a huge loss! Jiang Le felt heartbroken, even though it wasn't his own, he still felt heartbroken. It's all money!!!

  But looking at the back door, Jiang Le thought of a question.

  The antique shop wasn't big, but what was behind the back door, Jiang Le didn't know.

  When he was just hired, Old Jin had solemnly warned him that his work area was the front door of the store, and the back door was off-limits. If he opened the back door, a month's salary would be gone, and he would also have to pay an additional 300 yuan.

  For Jiang Le, anything over three hundred or thirty thousand is a huge sum of money, so he has always been on guard against himself, never daring to touch the back door, even if it's unintentional.

  But today it doesn't feel right, there's clearly something broken inside, and now Old Jin is not around. When he comes back, will he think I sneaked in and knocked it over?

  If that's really the case, then it's gone bad. A broken antique porcelain can't be settled with just 300 yuan, even if I sell myself, I won't be able to make up for it.

  Jiang Le couldn't help but turn slightly bitter.

  How did I run into such bad luck?

  After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Le bit her teeth and stood up.

  Hiding is useless, I had already written down my address for Old Jin when I applied for the job. You can run away from a monk, but you can't run away from a temple.

  Then just go in.

  Catch that mouse or whatever small animal, it may be a childish act, but believe it or not, it's up to Old Jin, as long as you have a clear conscience.

  Put the book away, Jiang Le picked up a feather duster and quietly pushed open the back door.

  The next moment, a quiet little courtyard appeared before his eyes.

  The small courtyard is not big, the green grass is lush, the stone road is paved with gravel, and in the middle is a thick and short willow tree, its emerald branches swaying gently in the breeze.

  Under the tree is an ancient stone table and stool, which looks very picturesque.

  Jiang Le couldn't help but stare blankly.

  Behind the door of this old antique shop, there is actually such a elegant small courtyard. It's really beyond expectation.

  But such a yard, it seems there's nothing worth hiding, right? Why did Old Jin say it was forbidden land?

  Jiang Le couldn't help but feel a little curious, and after thinking for a moment, she stepped into the small courtyard, walked along the gravel path, and came to the door of the house.

  This house has only one room, with green tiles and moss growing on the walls, showing that it was built for a long time.

  The door of the house was half open at this moment, with a faint light flickering inside, seemingly candlelight.

  Jiang Le was shocked.

  There is light, which means there are people inside. Is Old Jin in there?

  The old man is so old, won't something have happened?

  Jiang Le's heart was racing with anxiety.

  Although Old Jin was a bit eccentric, he took him in as an employee when others refused to accept him, which made Jiang Le very grateful.

  After all, after being together for so long, even if you don't get along, there will be some feelings involved.

  Jiang Le hastily pushed open the door and then he found a figure lying on the ground. It wasn't Old Jin, so who was it?