Chapter 18: Irreverence

Chapter 18: Irreverence

When Ming Yue returned, both families were already drunk from their festivities.

However, the New Year was approaching soon, and all those who worked or studied away would have to come back home. Thus, the road repairs could only be done after the New Year.

Ming Yue had been living a carefree life during this period, free from academic worries. She had recently taken her last university exam, which she had returned to campus specifically for, and her results were out—she ranked at the top as expected.

Her thesis was finalized, and she no longer had to worry about survival since she earned twenty thousand daily through basic tasks.

Ming Yue planned to inform her family in due time that her company had stabilized, and she intended to open a separate bank account for her parents. From then on, the daily earnings of twenty thousand would be transferred to their account for daily expenses.

The bank called, informing her to pick up her upgraded black card when she had the time. The person she spoke with would be her dedicated account manager going forward.

Since Ming Yue had returned, these matters could only be handled after the New Year.

As the year-end approached, students were on break, and her younger brother, Ming Chen, and her cousin, Ming Zhao, had come back.

"Sis"

Uncle drove them back, and since his hotel business was thriving at the end of the year, he didn't linger long before returning to the county town.

The two boys happily rushed over upon seeing Ming Yue; they had always been close to her and admired their consistently outstanding older sister.

Ming Yue took their suitcases.

"Sis, you don't need to."

A middle schooler, at the age where he believed men should stand tall and proud, felt embarrassed to accept help from a girl.

"Haha, how do you plan to move your stuff? You two have quite a lot."

Ming Yue laughed at Ming Chen's foolishness.

"Sis, thank you for the computer you bought me. I found out from my classmates that it wasn't cheap."

It was the first time she felt envious glances from her peers.

In the past, he thought being poor was fine since his parents loved him and his sister doted on him—he shouldn't crave more.

But after entering middle school and leaving the small village, he realized the world was vast, and he was merely a frog in a well.

Whenever his classmates excitedly discussed their travels, he would lower his head and pretend to do homework, fearing eye contact that might lead to questions from his enthusiastic classmates. The farthest he'd ever been was the high school in town, and he feared dampening their spirits or being looked down upon.

When his classmates complained about the exhaustion of extracurricular classes, though he didn't participate, he listened intently to their stories about dancing, art, and other interesting courses.

Humans inherently fear comparison. They say not to compete or compare, but once exposed to a better life, how could one not yearn for it?

Last time, a classmate mentioned that his family had bought a computer. Ming Chen, returning from the restroom, couldn't avoid the encounter.

"Ming Chen, my family bought a computer. Want to come over and play?"

"My sister bought me a laptop. You can also come to my house to play."

"A laptop? Do you even know what a laptop is? It's probably some no-name brand, right?"

In reality, it was an era where owning a computer wasn't uncommon.

Who knew many students came from villages where parents weren't incapable of buying one, but simply didn't think of it. They associated computers with internet cafes and gaming, not learning or research.

Compared to the town, conditions were relatively better, and computer ownership was widespread.

Ming Chen knew his sister had been accepted into Yan Jing University, and his parents had scraped together money to buy her a computer.

Most students knew each other's family backgrounds, so the student asking Ming Chen was clearly trying to embarrass him. However, he actually did have a computer at home.

"My sister bought it in Yan Jing. It's an Apple laptop. Don't talk nonsense."

Ming Chen's expression turned serious.

"You're just bragging. A laptop bought by your sister? Do you even know how much an Apple laptop costs?"

It wasn't a matter of affordability, but rather most families wouldn't spend such a large sum on a single computer—ranging from seven to ten thousand or more. For ordinary families, it was a significant expense, especially considering they knew Ming Chen's family was average, struggling to support two children's education.

"My sister works in Yan Jing, in a big company, with a high salary."

At that time, Ming Chen didn't know his sister had been fired, but he also knew there was no need to tell his classmates about her lottery win.

"What kind of decent job could earn that much money? It can't be just based on looks, right?"

A girl in the class said casually. She used to have feelings for Ming Chen but was rejected by him using the excuse that his sister wanted him to focus on his studies in middle school.

Ming Chen wasn't bad-looking, and she had bet with her girlfriends that she could win over this unattainable flower. She never expected to fail, which was quite embarrassing.

Thus, she developed a dislike for his sister as well.

Ming Chen flushed red with anger.

"What do you know? I heard Ming Chen's sister won a big prize. Their family has money now. What's wrong with buying an Apple product? Only you can afford it?"

A thorny student, who was sleeping at his desk, was annoyed by their noise and glared at them. He was from the village next to Ming Chen's and had heard rumors about the matter.

Ming Chen looked at Zhao Lang in surprise, not expecting him to speak up for him.

"Tsk—won a big prize? How much? To squander without working is truly the behavior of nouveau riche."

As the saying goes, someone who dislikes you will find fault in everything you do. This girl was a perfect example.

"It's unfortunate that my sister won the million-dollar lottery, making us just a tad wealthier than your family. I prefer easy gains, unlike you who enjoys working. We neither steal nor rob; I'm simply delighted."

Ming Chen couldn't bear anyone speaking ill of his sister. His feelings towards this girl shifted from indifference to disgust in an instant.

Now that his sister had finally returned, Ming Chen was determined to maintain peace and tranquility.

With Ming Yue at home, both Ming Chen and Ming Zhao were like having a private tutor, able to ask about any problems they didn't understand.

While it's often said that college students have forgotten most of what they learned, Ming Yue was different. Throughout her university years, she tutored in various subjects, taking on any tutoring job as long as it paid, ensuring that her previous knowledge remained fresh and firmly grasped in her mind.

The adults, returning home to see their children diligently studying, were overjoyed, their smiles stretching from ear to ear.

Villagers, noticing the positive atmosphere in their household, were keen to have their own children spend more time with them.

It was common to see many children sitting in Uncle Ming's courtyard, all doing their homework together, turning the scene into a beautiful spectacle for the village.

"What's happening over there?"

Today, town officials came down for an inspection, as the village had submitted an application for road repairs. The authorities were aware that this time, the villagers of Li'ao Village were funding the project themselves, ensuring the application would be approved.

However, the government still had to go through the motions.

"That family donated money for the road repairs, and now the children are all studying."