Chapter 5

"Is that enough? It's not a big deal," Wei Qian said without even raising his eyelids, speaking casually. "I know what I'm doing, no need for you to worry unnecessarily. Also, let Le Ge know that everything is fine."

After he finished speaking, he patted Wei Qian's shoulder firmly, looking at the bewildered youth, and felt that he had truly handled this matter with great subtlety and foresight. Such remarkable talent and ambition, if not realized in the future, would be utterly against the natural order.

Of course—he would not express such feelings. Wei Qian believes that as a "head of the family," it is appropriate for him to be a bit arrogant at home

After speaking, Wei Qian lifted Xiao Bao to a position level with his own line of sight and carefully examined the little girl's face, which closely resembled her father's. Even though they were blood relatives, he had to admit that San Pang was right; Xiao Bao's pitiful little flat nose truly looked as if it had no nasal bone at all

This fat man, who resembles the second uncle of Zhu Bajie, shamelessly likes to judge the beauty and ugliness of others. Every time he sees Xiaobao, he can't help but sigh, because this little girl is truly too unattractive.

The bald little boy, dressed in a cheap dress with frayed lace that belonged to a little girl, surprisingly does not appear out of place, which indicates that the boy has a good foundation.

Wei Qian observed him thoughtfully for a while, and with the remark that "a dog cannot spit out ivory," he made the following evaluation: "He looks like a person but behaves like a dog"

San Pang is aware of Wei Qian's true nature, knowing that he is completely devoid of substance, and does not wish to appear as a disgraceful grandson. Clearly, he does not want to bring up this matter in front of the two of them, so he goes along with Wei Qian's suggestion and whimsically says: "Alright, if your name is Wei Qian, then let him be called Wei Xu."

Brother Le is happy to name it, and Wei Qian is naturally willing.

Thus, the little boy stubbornly stayed behind

At first, he did not dare to get on the bed or the sofa, and by nightfall, he would curl up in the corner, sleeping on the ground like a little wild dog

San Pang, as if facing a formidable enemy, blocked Xiao Bao's ears and exclaimed: "Oh my goodness, please do not speak in front of the child. Otherwise, they might learn to stutter from you, and your old self could end up being minced into dumpling filling by their brother!"

Brother Le can see that this child is heavy-hearted and thin-skinned; such a person is unlikely to commit acts of ingratitude.

Le Ge deliberately paused for a moment, allowing him to feel distressed for a while, before leisurely speaking: "If you can trust me, why not leave this matter to me for now? What do you think?"

Many years later, when the boy recalled this event, he almost felt that he had accomplished an impossible feat

These words struck directly at Wei Qian's sore spot, and his previously cheerful heart felt as if it had been filled with a block of ice, sinking down with a dull thud.

Wei Qian: "It's nonsense, she is not my child."

Due to his limited talents, Mazi could never become sharp-tongued throughout his life, so he had no choice but to adopt a simple and honest approach. He listened without getting angry, patted his own head, and broke into a silly smile. He patted both Xiaobao and the boy he had brought back, then took out two pieces of candy, giving one to each of them.

For a moment, he could hardly speak a complete sentence. Wei Qian, feeling somewhat embarrassed, lowered his head and smiled, self-mockingly saying: "It's over, I'm almost infected by the stutter from the pockmarked one."

However, he still refused to admit that his sister was ugly, and thus argued irrationally, saying: "What’s wrong with a flat nose? Women with high noses don’t look good. Those with high noses... those with high noses don’t look like good people"

He himself said he is eight years old. Wei Qian said, "I don't think so, he looks about the same as Xiao Bao."

Wei Qian laughed and scolded: "Go to hell, 'stomach deficiency', and what about 'stomach pain' too"

Relying on their friendship, San Pang spoke frankly to Wei Qian—typically, whatever Wei Qian does not want to hear, he insists on saying.

Le Ge casually chatted with him for a few moments, without mentioning the issue of tuition fees. Regardless of the circumstances, the household registration was something Wei Qian could not manage. The young man could still accept this, but he could not bring up the matter of tuition fees, as doing so would likely hurt the young man's pride.

Wei Qian, this young lad, even if born into a somewhat poorer ordinary family, is destined to achieve great things in the future. Yet, fate has been so neglectful of him, which could not please Brother Le more. Brother Le feels as if he went out to stroll through the flower and bird market to buy stones, only to stumble upon a priceless antique.

Wei Qian anxiously contemplated in his heart that in the future, he must ensure that she takes good care of her eyes and must not become nearsighted; otherwise, this small flat nose might truly be unable to support even a pair of glasses.

Mazi had long dropped out of school, not because of a lack of money, but the reasons are truly difficult to articulate. Until the fifth grade of elementary school, Mazi could only count up to ninety-nine; he was unable to comprehend three-digit numbers. The teacher, infuriated, punished him by making him copy all the numbers from one hundred to two hundred in order one hundred times. He diligently and meticulously completed the task without any hint of cheating or cutting corners. However, when the teacher checked his work, to his dismay, it was all jumbled up!

He patiently cleaned the little fellow, fearing he might have lice, so he shaved the boy's head completely and found an old piece of clothing belonging to his little treasure for him to wear

Indeed, Wei Qian felt a stir in his heart; Wei Zhiyuan had gained a great reputation, yet he remained a veritable "black man".

Le Ge was contemplating, the only issue being that Wei Qian was somewhat difficult to manage. Although he rarely showed any respect towards others, he was absolutely unwilling to ask for help.

Le Ge affectionately patted his head, leisurely waiting for his response

At that time, Wei Qian was still young and not so cunning. Although he had one foot in the world of various teachings and professions, his age and limited experience prevented him from fully understanding the rules of adult society, and he did not truly know what kind of person Le Ge was.

Brother Le asked again: "How big is that little thing now?"

The foolish person asked: "Le, Brother Le asked me to inquire, do you have your tuition fees settled yet?"

But that year, after observing for several months and persistently coaxing for several weeks, he actually succeeded in moving this hard-hearted bastard.

Wei Qian was momentarily taken aback: "I... I... this... this matter is so..."

San Pang exhibited an early concern for the marital status of others, to the extent that Wei Qian concluded that this fat man, endowed with exceptional talent, would inevitably become a pimp in the future

Wei Qianxin thought to himself that there was a ghostly presence, but he did not want to lose face in front of the two foolish childhood friends. Therefore, he feigned indifference, waved his hand in a mysterious manner, and said, "Oh, no rush"

Ma Zi felt anxious for him, and despite wanting to say more in a whimpering manner, the more anxious he became, the less clearly he could express himself, and in the end, he was interrupted by San Pang.

Three Fat continues to wail: "Your brother speaks nonsense with his eyes wide open, is there really someone with such small eyes who is also so charming?"

After Wei Qian's mother passed away, Le Ge took care of them a lot, helping whenever there was a need and shouldering responsibilities when necessary. Wei Qian once felt that he was practically his own brother

Wei Qian asserted confidently: "What’s wrong with having small eyes? Our faces are small too. Are your eyes big? Even with your pancake-like face, it still looks like a narrow sky."

However, Wei Qian thought that perhaps everyone looks quite good when they are young, possibly because they are still small, with no worries in their hearts, which makes their eyes clean and capable of reflecting light

After the little boy settled down at Wei Qian's home, he gradually regained his ability to speak, yet most of the time he remained very silent, seemingly worried that his presence would be too strong, attracting others' dislike and abuse

He said this because his mother has a straight and delicate high nose bridge, which is the king of facial features, making her look incredibly spirited and leaving a deep impression on others. However, Wei Qian always harbors resentment towards all of his mother's traits—whether they are beautiful or ugly

The big fool San Pang said: "Oh baby, I beg you, it's already this time, so please stop pretending. This matter cannot be delayed! The school year is about to start! Just tell me how much is lacking, say a word, and we brothers will help you find a way... You see, our group of people, each one of us is destined to have no connection with school, and you are the only successful one. If one person lends a hand, we must push you up!"

Le Ge let out a sound of contemplation, furrowing his brow: "So have you thought about what to do in the future? He has no household registration, and having a name is of no use."

Wei Qian observed his behavior and could not help but recall how, when he was as small as this little one, he had also cautiously sought to please his stepfather. He understood the significance of those actions and, instead of finding the boy strange, secretly developed a certain hidden emotional connection.

The three of them had a playful scuffle, and after enjoying a meal with their own packed food at Wei Qian's house, they each went their separate ways

Wei Qian frowned; obtaining a local household registration is not so easy, and he truly has no solution to this matter

San Pang: "Get lost, does your family need a griddle as mighty and handsome as your third brother? Your leader, huh? Hey, it's not that I'm saying anything, whether the eyes are big or small is not the issue. Just look at our sister's nose bridge—this little flat nose, it's so distressing, it looks like it has been hit by a door. Qian Er, why do you think our sister doesn't look like our mother? If she looked like our mother, you wouldn't be worried at all!"

Wei Qian pondered for a moment; since Le Ge had inquired about him, he felt it necessary to meet him in person, otherwise it would seem rather inconsiderate. For the sake of pocket money, Wei Qian had mingled with a group of societal misfits since childhood, and Le Ge was the leader of their gang, the most formidable figure in the vicinity. He was older than them, had been involved for many years, came from a well-connected family, and was known for his loyalty. He treated these younger brothers with sincerity and was not pretentious. Le Ge was the leader of their gang, the most formidable figure in the vicinity, older than them, had been involved for many years, came from a well-connected family, and was known for his loyalty. He treated these younger brothers with sincerity and was not pretentious.

At this moment, even if Brother Le were to pass gas, the fourteen-year-old Wei Qian would find it profoundly philosophical

Although Le Ge is young, he is an ambitious individual, and his ambitions tend to take a crooked path

In Wei Qian's heart, as long as Song Xiaobao does not resemble their mother, even if she were to grow up to be an ugly creature with a face full of blemishes like a pockmarked person, he would still find her adorable

Then he quickly changed the subject: "Oh, by the way, that little brat, I asked him what his name was, and he told me he is called 'Little Kid'. What kind of ridiculous name is that for a child? I've been thinking these past few days about giving him a proper name."

Wei Qian snatched Xiao Bao back and said: "Get lost, we call that being stylish in the dark"

At that time, the household registration system was much more lenient than it is now. As long as one had connections and was willing to spend some money, there were still some possibilities for maneuvering. However, even with such possibilities, it was beyond Wei Qian's capabilities. Therefore, after some consideration, Wei Qian did not foolishly refuse and secretly noted this down for Brother Le—this was all a matter of personal debt that needed to be repaid.

To support a teenager in high school, there isn't much money—given Le Ge's current financial situation, even sending a child abroad for studies wouldn't cost much—he values the sentiment of providing timely assistance, and he is not afraid that Wei Qian will end up in a dire situation in the future

In fact, if it weren't for that damn client of Wei Qian who got drunk and pretended to be kind-hearted, Wei Qian would definitely be a "black man" now

He is quite scheming, suspicious, and knows that in order to achieve success in the future, he must have his own loyal followers. In the process of paving the way for himself, he took a liking to Wei Qian. Firstly, Wei Qian is of the right age, around fourteen or fifteen, which is a time of partial understanding; he is sensible yet not fully aware. If treated well, he would easily become devoted. Among so many younger brothers, Le Ge only had eyes for Wei Qian, also because Wei Qian is capable, can fight, and is willing to take risks. Having these three traits is already rare, not to mention that he can also read.

San Pang understood the background of his family situation and, surprisingly, did not argue with him. He took the little treasure from Wei Qian's arms and pinched her nose gently, intermittently. Later, as she grew up, her nose bridge was not as flat, likely due to the manual shaping by her brother, the chubby one. While pinching, San Pang kept murmuring: "Oh, my sister, my sister who cannot get married..."

The third brother looked at his clumsy and unattractive sibling with a sense of sorrow, then murmured, "Oh, my brother, I am unable to marry a wife, oh my brother..."

After his reckless older brother's wings had hardened, he increasingly showcased his unparalleled reckless traits, possessing a heart as hard as iron and stone by nature. He has always been resolute in his words and actions. Sometimes, the boy wonders if there is anything in this world that could change Wei Qian's mind

Wei Qian felt as if a fiery hand had squeezed his heart for a moment. For a second or two, he was at a loss for words, his lips subtly trembling twice. However, in the next moment, he still managed to exert his utmost willpower to restrain himself, maintaining his unpleasant and rigid inner self along with the appearance of a big-tailed wolf

Wei Qian felt quite distressed about his friendships. Ma Zi was a fool, and San Pang was a big fool. Caught in between, he almost experienced a sense of tragic clarity, as if "the whole world is filled with fools, and I alone understand."

It seems that as long as there is a roof that can provide shelter from the wind and rain, along with a few sources of clean food and drink, he is already content

But Brother Le is not in a hurry; he can see that Wei Qian genuinely wants to study, otherwise his grades would not be so good. So he waits, knowing that one day Wei Qian will come to him on his own. Before leaving, Brother Le meaningfully says to Wei Qian: "Why be polite with me? Qian'er, remember this: whenever you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come to me. Did you hear that? As long as it is within my ability, I can help you carry it even if the sky falls. Don't keep it to yourself; after all, we are good brothers."

This absurd view was outright rejected by San Pang, who stated that beauty is beauty, and ugliness is ugliness; both are innate and have nothing to do with age.

San Pang, Wei Qian, and Ma Zi grew up together, sharing a deep bond since childhood. San Pang is three to four years older than Wei Qian, while Ma Zi was born in the same year as Wei Qian. They played in the mud together as children and grew up to become delinquents. Although they have never done a good deed together, their friendship is very strong

Upon reaching puberty, Wei Qian grew taller and thinner, while San Pang grew wider. By the age of seventeen or eighteen, he had already developed the undesirable physique of a middle-aged man. As for Ma Zi, his height and weight were of little concern; his face, covered in pockmarks and closed comedones, made his head resemble a bumpy little asteroid, capable of frightening a few people at first glance in the evening, to the extent that his other characteristics were overlooked.

Whenever he arrived at Wei Qian's house, San Pang would lament and hold Xiao Bao up for a thorough inspection, exclaiming theatrically: "Sister, my unfortunate sister, how can your little face be so dark? You could be lost in a coal pile and no one would find you!"

When Le Ge first heard that this kid could actually participate in the high school entrance examination and achieve such remarkable results, he was utterly shocked. Even though Le Ge could be considered a local figure, he was still a big thug who had risen from a childhood of delinquency, having never had any connection with the concept of "studying".

At this moment, Mazi pushed the door open and cheerfully said: "Three, Third Brother, Seven Seven Seven... Qian'er, Little, Little Bao Mei."

Le Ge remained cordial towards him, first exchanging a few pleasantries with Wei Qian, then saying: "I have also heard about your family. This little one has come to us, and who knows how far he has traveled. For such a small thing, it is not easy to have survived until now. I think he might become someone significant in the future, perhaps even surpassing us in his journey. Otherwise, we might as well call him 'Little Yuan'. Wei Yuan? Hmm... not very pleasant to the ear. Let's add a character and call him 'Wei Zhi Yuan', how about that?"