Chapter 2: Earning

I am not a good person

While waiting for the dishes to be served, Gangzi began to discuss serious matters with Yang Qicheng

Having just finished the exam and with no homework, Yang Jing returned to room 409, ate some instant noodles, watched television for a while, and then heard a knock at the door

Are you in this examination room

Yang Qicheng sat down opposite her, took out a cigarette and lit it, took a puff, glanced at Yang Jing, and then asked, "What happened to your face?"

As she walked to the street outside the school, she saw Liu Yixue bidding farewell to her companions ahead. Yang Jing quickly slipped into a nearby store, and when she came out again, the group had already dispersed, and Liu Yixue had turned right.

However, in the end, she was outnumbered. Her limbs were restrained, and she was pressed to the ground, her face against the cold floor tiles

Hello! Are you deaf?

It's okay

You are quite good

On the way back, the sky had turned completely dark. The lights from the roadside shops flickered in a line, illuminating the path ahead

Yang Jing smiled awkwardly, using chopsticks to pick out the okra from the egg bit by bit

Yang Qicheng let out a low grunt, "Are you going to take pity on him and bring him back?"

died when I was two years old

Yang Jing looked at her and said, "What does it have to do with you?"

The fat man is a barrel, known by the name of Cao Gang

The jar chuckled, "I am just curious, with your gloomy personality, it is surprising that you would do something good. I just want to see what abilities the girl possesses"

Moved

After finishing the meal, ask the waiter to clear the table and bring another pot of Pu-erh tea

Yang Jing "Oh" exclaimed.

Little Snow, give her a lesson!

The morning sunlight filtered down like a fine mist, and Yang Jing walked briskly, gliding through the corridor like a breeze

Do you still live in Bian Dan Alley?

Yang Jing nodded, stood up, and obediently said, "Thank you for your concern, teacher"

Yang Jing hurriedly said thank you.

Yang Jing was startled and quickly said, "I'm making a phone call."

Yang Jing

"What a load of nonsense—" after a pause, "Have you been beaten up again?"

Yang Jing got up from the ground

Li Yun nodded, looked at Yang Jing, paused for a few seconds, and then said: "Yang Jing, did you notice that Liu Yixue, who sits behind you, was absent yesterday?"

The man turned over the receipt for the bill, quickly wrote down a series of numbers, and handed it to Yang Jing, smiling as he said, "Sister, I am also your brother. If you need anything in the future, just let me know, I will take care of you"

Yang Qicheng glanced at Yang Jing and asked, "Who are you picking the okra for?"

Yang Qicheng lit a cigarette, "Hmm."

Liu Yixue was taken aback for a moment, furrowed her brows and raised her hand, but before she could pull it back, her wrist was firmly grasped.

Well

You should show some decency, the young girl is quite pitiful

No mockery, no sarcasm, and no resentment

That won't do! I, Master Gang, indulge in revelry every night; I cannot take responsibility for corrupting her.

Sanping Mountain

Last time they spoke was before Sun Li passed away.

Yang Jing no longer looked at her, turned back, moved the stool forward, and continued to recite the text

As they quickly approached the mouth of the alley, Yang Qicheng suddenly came to a halt, and Yang Jing hurriedly stopped as well

Yang Jing nodded briskly

When you were as big as your brother, you were already 1.6 meters tall. You only need to buy a child ticket when you get on the bus, right

Well

The figure vanished once again

Yang Jing packed her things at a leisurely pace. She saw her report card and, after some thought, decided to tuck it into her backpack. On her way, she stopped by the restroom at the end of the hall. As she was going down the stairs, a few people suddenly rushed out from below.

The dish was served, and a fish was placed into Yang Jing's bowl from the pot. "This dish is called Crispy Little White Dragon, a type of dragon head fish, known for its beauty and skin-nourishing properties"

Passing by a milk tea shop, she suddenly heard someone calling her from inside

During major examinations, seating arrangements are generally based on the previous year's grade rankings. Yang Jing is seated in the seventh examination room, in a position towards the back of the middle of the third row

The few individuals who were holding onto Yang Jing's hands and feet quickly released their grip. This staircase was quite secluded, and they had not anticipated that anyone would come. They exchanged glances and immediately scattered like birds and beasts.

After a while, Yang Jing said: "Brother Cheng, we will be rehearsing for the cultural festival program next week, and I may not be able to return home until 10 PM."

Oh, then I will not interfere; I do not hit women

Are you alone

The three individuals did not let her go, surrounding her even more tightly

Yang Jing made a sound of acknowledgment.

Impressive, Yang Jing, even more carefree than I was in my youth

The other teachers have either not yet arrived or are supervising the students during their morning reading, leaving only the two of them in the office

People of Dan City

Yang Jing calculated that her grades were not much different from the end of last semester, still remaining neither high nor low

Yang Qicheng let out a hum from his nose

Yang Jing shook her head again, "I did not perform well on the exam, I do not want to go"

It was Yang Jing, who gently smiled while covering her head that had accidentally bumped against the stairwell partition, "I... I forgot to ask, Brother Cheng, which kind of Huanghelou do you want"

Yang Jing cast a sidelong glance

That is also a one in seven, Brother Bing is currently looking for someone to inquire about you

The twelve or thirteen-year-old girl mimics the tone from the TV dramas, doing so with remarkable precision

Li Yun opened his mouth, hesitated to speak, and finally waved his hand, "You go back to the classroom."

Yang Qicheng pried her hand open, took a glance, and frowned—both sides of her face were swollen, with several red finger marks.

Aren't they all surnamed Yang? What a great fate this is, don't you think, little sister?

Yang Jing was silent for a few seconds, "He will not come."

Chen Jun paused for a moment and asked, "Do you have an older brother?"

However, if a woman is unfortunate and is burdened with an excessively beautiful appearance, it may not necessarily be a good thing

After the exam on Thursday, the test papers will be distributed on Friday afternoon, along with the announcement of scores and rankings. On Friday, the teachers will be grading papers, and many classes have been changed to self-study sessions. The class teacher, Li Yun, occasionally comes to inspect, which keeps the classroom in a constant state of noise. Some bold students from other classes sneak over and form a circle with the students from our class in the back row, playing music through an MP3 amplifier

Who did it

Yang Qicheng was momentarily at a loss for words, contemplating the face of Yang Jing's mother. To be fair, although her demeanor was rather gaudy, her appearance was indeed quite good.

Just as Liu Yixue was about to take further action, a sudden sound of footsteps came from above

Do not be picky with food

The few people behind were also momentarily taken aback, and soon after, in the quiet stairwell, a series of "thud thud thud" footsteps sounded, and Yang Jing was surrounded by a group of people.

Yang Qicheng held a cigarette in his hand, the sparks flickering intermittently.

Are you still studying

Yang Jing ignored his mockery and simply asked, "Is it okay?"

Purple and soft

Li Yun let out a sigh

Yang Qicheng, I curse your grandfather, can you not undermine my authority

Yang Qicheng took a sip of beer and looked at Yang Jing, "What abilities do you possess?"

I have heard that it was one against seven, not a scratch was inflicted, impressive indeed, my brother, but unfortunately, I was not present at the time

"No need," Yang Jing said, "This time I did not suffer a loss."

In the last class of the afternoon, just as the history teacher stepped out of the classroom, the homeroom teacher, Li Yun, walked in right after. "Please take your seats, I have an announcement to make"

Yang Jing showed a look of surprise, "Could it be? Is she injured?"

Yang Jing returned with cigarettes, and Yang Qicheng and Gangzi each finished a cigarette, preparing to disperse and go home

The jar asked with a smile: "You can cook at such a young age?"

Li Yun watched as Yang Jing's figure disappeared, his expression gradually becoming complex

Yang Qicheng searched for cigarettes in his pocket, but found none. He took out two banknotes and handed them to Yang Jing, saying, "Go buy a pack of Huanghelou."

Ten o'clock is too late and unsafe

She followed Liu Yixue for an entire week, gaining a thorough understanding of the surrounding circumstances and completely mastering Liu Yixue's daily routine

Yang Jing was unsure whether Yang Qicheng was joking or serious. She glanced at him and said softly, "I can do housework"

"The next time someone hits you, just hit back. As long as you don't put your life on the line, it's a guaranteed profit"

Gongzi had heard Yang Qicheng briefly mention the matter regarding Yang Jing's mother, and with a light cough, he called out: "Hurry up and eat! Make sure to eat more vegetables!"

Your uncle's son

The classroom for the first year is located on the third floor of the teaching building, where Yang Jing sits by the window in the third-to-last row at the back.

After the class meeting concluded, all the students, except for the duty students, rushed out of the classroom like birds released from their cages

Yang Jing was sitting at the table, engrossed in her homework, "I will go down to buy food right away"

He will not come

Yang Jing was also very calm.

Yang Qicheng frowned, "Why are you inquiring about me?"

Yang Jing turned her head and asked, "What are you doing?"

Yang Qicheng lifted the bamboo curtain and said, "I have a reservation under the name Cao."

Chen Jun scratched his head, somewhat awkwardly returned the book to her, stood up, and said, "Then I will head back to the examination room, good luck with the exam"

After observing for another two weeks, Yang Jing remained very calm, but Li Yun couldn't calm down.

Some people pull their hair, some people kick their ribs, and the whole body is in pain everywhere.

Yang Jing understood what he wanted to say, "I don't know, I only have his phone number."

After Yang Qicheng returned home, he took a shower and changed out of his clothes that smelled of smoke.

The girl lowered her voice: "I heard your mother passed away?"

At that time, Li Yun exchanged a few words with Yang Jing, who appeared very calm.

I have observed countless people, when did I miss her? Pay attention to her eyes and nose, she is a perfect beauty.

Yang Jing was taken aback

Yang Jing did not speak, and Chen Jun took it as an affirmation, "That's good, I was quite worried."

Until the first two weeks, Yang Jing was absent from class for several days. It was only then that Li Yun learned that her mother had passed away.

Come back and write later, go out to eat with me

Yang Jing paused for a moment, pretending not to hear, and continued walking without stopping

She went out shopping on Sunday night and was kidnapped by a few thugs

A blood-red setting sun still lingers on the horizon, as Yang Jing slowly walks forward in the direction of the sunset

Milk tea "pa" fell to the ground, and the palm wind came straight at me.

Yang Jing, feeling impatient, reached out to push, but her arm was suddenly grasped by a fleshy hand.

Yang Jing whispered: "It is 1.4 meters now"

Yang Jing averted her gaze

Yang Jing hurriedly said, "I can also cook, and I cook very well."

What a joke, they can't even guarantee their own safety.

How are the grades

Where does your grandfather live

Female

Not at all, I was just locked up for four or five hours, which scared me.

It's okay.

Are you just going to let her hit?

All that has come are pus-filled sores

After a moment of silence, Chen Jun glanced at her hand and asked, "Have you reviewed well?"

There is not much left

Yang Jing looked at her, against the sunlight, her gaze cold and indifferent, her pupils resembling two glass beads. "Do you want to do it again?"

During the day, the two individuals are each preoccupied with their own affairs, and in the evening, they continue to be busy with their own matters. After a week, they surprisingly coexist without any issues

Yang Jing: "... I don't like eating this, it's slimy and disgusting"

The jar asked: "Did you hear it?"

... ...

At table 18 sat a stout man, waving at Yang Qicheng, his eyes nearly disappearing with a smile, "Old Yang, over here!"

Yang Jing followed to the entrance of a residential community, watched Liu Yixue enter a building, and then turned to leave

The jar asked again: "How old are you?"

Yang Jing ignored.

Yang Jing hadn't had time to react, and her other arm was tightly bound as well.

Yang Jing didn't even think about it and quickly caught up.

Who did you move in with?

No moving?

What program?

Yang Qicheng did not commit himself, "Can your school provide accommodation? Inquire about it tomorrow."

Um.

Oh.

Chen Jun laughed and said, "Teacher Zhu asked me to call two students to the office to help with the total score. Are you going or not?" Teacher Zhu is a math teacher who happens to teach the two classes where Yang Jing and Chen Jun are in.

As soon as the words were spoken, there was a "thud" sound at the stairway landing.

Yang Qicheng put a little bit of each dish into her bowl, and then added two pieces of dragon head fish, filling the bowl to the brim, "You can't go back until you finish it."

Money is useless, Yang Qicheng exhaled a puff of smoke, "Even if I'm dead, what's the point of taking it with me?"

Li Yun looked at her and comforted, "Yang Jing, don't be nervous. I just want to understand the current situation of your guardian."

Read first year of junior high school.

Yang Qicheng: "Peh."

Yang Jing tightened the straps of her backpack, "What's the matter?"

Cousin.

Are you still performing in plays? What are you performing? Little Radish Head? Xi'er?

After a moment of silence, Yang Qicheng asked, "Where is your father?"

The night shift pays more.

Yang Qicheng wore a serious expression and asked, "Are you done yet?"

Yang Jing lowered her gaze and said, "Hmm, my mother was busy before"

Exiting the school gate, one will pass through a street lined with small shops on both sides, selling stationery, snacks, and trinkets

Yang Qicheng led Yang Jing to sit down, and the jar smiled at Yang Jing, "You are the younger sister that Old Yang just recognized?"

Not very convenient.

Yang Jing immediately covered it with her palm, "It's nothing."

Yang Jing usually gets up at six thirty in the morning on time. After washing up, she goes downstairs to buy two breakfasts. Regardless of whether Yang Qicheng gets up or not, they eat breakfast at 6:45 on time, leave at 7:00, arrive at school at 7:30, and start morning reading at 8:00.

Yang Jing followed behind Yang Qicheng, walking through the streets and alleys. After about ten minutes along the moat, they arrived at a restaurant

Yang Jing tidied herself up, sat in the room for a while, found the note that the jar had left for her, and then went down to the grocery store

Yang Qicheng and the jar immediately turned to look back

The key point is that Yang Qicheng looked at her with very calm eyes

This time, we made a significant profit

Chen Jun waved to her, walked into the examination room, and sat down in the empty seat in front of her

Boss Zhao glanced at her and asked, "What are you doing?"

However, after taking just two steps, three girls rushed out, with Liu Yixue, who was sitting behind her, leading the group. The three quickly surrounded Yang Jing, blocking her path.

Someone kicked her chair

"I tarnished her reputation? If her reputation is not good, it is not I who ruined it..."

Yang Qicheng thought for a moment, "Nine thirty."

However, the girl behind leaned her upper body on the table, leaning forward and said, "Hey."

That is still good

Yang Jing remained silent.

Yang Qicheng lit a cigarette and asked, "Was it a man or a woman who hit you? Do you need my help?"

Yang Jing certainly does not need to perform in a play

After some thought, she is only thirteen years old after all; how much can one expect from a thirteen-year-old girl

Yang Jing shook her head.

Chen Jun shook his head, "No, I just happened to see you."

Yang Qicheng shook his wet hair and said, "I'm going out to eat."

Chen Jun, "Yang Jing raised her eyes, 'I will carry it myself.'"

Yang Jing didn't even blink, "My brother wasn't home those days."

Yang Qicheng felt inexplicably annoyed by her submissive appearance with lowered eyebrows. This person is very clever and knows how to read people's expressions very well. Occasionally, she has a temper, but somehow, when encountering major events, she becomes obedient and compliant.

The boy's clean and slender hand took away her Chinese textbook from her hand, "Then let me test you, 'Buy a good horse in Dongshi', what's the next sentence?"

Yang Jing's book was open to the page of "The Ballad of Mulan" in her hands, and she didn't move for a long time.

The setting sun still has half left, the warm orange-red light seems to have smeared a layer of semi-flowing putty around, and there is a scent of flowers and dust in the evening breeze.

She saw Yang Qicheng hesitating and immediately took a step forward, "The summer vacation is coming soon, and we cannot stay in the school. We have mid-term exams next week. I won't be able to sleep well in a new place... Can I at least stay until the next semester starts?"

Thirteen years old.

Chen Jun looked at her and asked, "Have you been well during this period?"

A week later, during an early self-study session, Yang Jing was invited to the office by Li Yun

Yang Qicheng sat for a while, and when his hair was almost dry, he extinguished his cigarette and asked her: "How much homework do you have left?"

Yang Jing did not know how to respond, so she could only lower her head and drink tea

I cannot do it; Old Ding has something on that day, and I am temporarily replacing him

Yang Jing glanced up at him and lied, "Accommodations cannot be arranged in the middle of the semester"

Li Yun picked up a piece of chalk, turned around, and wrote a few lines on the blackboard: "The midterm exam is next Wednesday, everyone should review well"

"It's just ahead at the Youth Palace for rehearsal, not far away." Yang Jing observed his expression, "I'll give you a call before I come back, is that alright?"

Yang Jing looked up and gazed out the window; it was Chen Jun

Where is it

Chen Jun helplessly said, "Alright then, please call your class's math representative for me."

Liu Yixue walked up to her, one hand resting on the railing, "Has the lesson from last time been taken lightly?"

Yang Qicheng carried a scent of sweat and alcohol on him. He first went to the bathroom for a quick shower. Upon returning, he noticed a piece of paper on the table. He picked it up and glanced at it, "... ... You scored only 63 in math?"

Yang Jing, perplexed, set down the book and walked over

Did Chen Jun contact you a few days ago

Yang Qicheng is certainly not a good roommate, with a bad temper, explosive like a firecracker, igniting at the slightest provocation; he is also particularly lazy, always loving to order her around to do this and that

Yang Jing came to a halt

Yang Jing smiled broadly and quickly followed along.

Yang Jing did not look back.

I still hope to have a conversation with your brother as much as possible

The setting sun sinks lower and lower, and the sky grows increasingly dark

Our class's overall ranking this time is not satisfactory, and several students have experienced a significant decline in their grades. Next week, I will specifically have discussions with some individuals. Please take the report card home for your parents to sign, and I will collect them on Monday to review.

"She was scared by her mother, and she becomes timid at the slightest scare"

Did you help Bing Ge check the night show last time

Yang Jing couldn't help but laugh, put down the remote control, and sat over, "Cheng Ge, the teacher asked for your signature"

There was a sentence she did not say out loud: when Liu Yixue was discovered, she was hysterically shouting "Yang Jing, I am sorry".

Yang Jing followed behind him, the wind blowing from ahead carried the smell of smoke into her nostrils, strong, yet it seemed not as unpleasant as she remembered.

Then shall I find a time to visit your home, is that convenient?

She took a bag of instant noodles from the shelf, paid for it, and gazed at the public telephone.

Yang Jing opened her lips and spoke plainly: "Do you want to mourn?"

Gongzi smiled slightly, his expression becoming more restrained, "To speak frankly, I think it is inappropriate for you to take her in. Although the young girl is still small, she is already thirteen years old and has experienced some things. You are not related to her, yet you are living under the same roof; isn't that damaging to her reputation"

Yang Jing mumbled a few words and then buried her head in her meal

Yang Jing wore a pained expression

Yang Qicheng raised his voice, "Did you hear that?"

drama

A teacher from another class came down and, seeing Yang Jing with her hair disheveled, paused for a moment and asked, "Which class are you from?"

Liu Yixue behind her scoffed, "Pretentious."

Yang Jing whispered, "I passed."

Go take a look, you can know the score in advance

The man asked her again, "Miss, where are you from?"

Sanping Mountain is the largest prison in Dancheng

The scenery at this location is excellent, making it suitable for daydreaming

There is an uncle

Yang Jing's gaze lifted, fixing on her face. A delicate face, subtly adorned with mascara, her pupils slightly dilated out of curiosity

Yang Jing followed Liu Yixue at a leisurely pace, passing through a bustling district. After a ten-minute walk, they entered a narrow street, where the road was quiet and dimly lit, flanked by tall camphor trees.

What else can I do? I can help you keep an eye on the night events in the future

Returning to the tenement building in Biandan Alley, it was already 7 PM. Fortunately, Yang Qicheng had not yet returned; otherwise, I would inevitably face another scolding.

Um.

Are you out of your mind? Hurry up and change your shoes

Yang Jing lifted her gaze.

Is there no one else at your home

Why

Yang Jing started doing things from a young age, taking care of household chores without feeling that there was anything wrong with it.

Yang Jing thus began her days living with Yang Qicheng and resumed her studies

Yang Jing lowered her eyes, "I asked him a question."

Lì Yún asked Yang Jing to sit down and first asked, "Why isn't the midterm exam report card signed?"

Yang Jing lowered her head without speaking, and her toes lightly brushed the ground.

He seems to have something on his mind, having not taken a single puff for a long time

Yang Jing did not answer, tightened the straps of her school bag, and ran with her head down, "thump thump thump".

Yang Jing raised her eyes, "What happened to her?"

How much? I will give him a call

Brother, your sister.

In the last class, Li Yun returned to the classroom to hold a class meeting. She is only twenty-five years old this year, quite young, and this is her first year as a homeroom teacher for this class, making it somewhat difficult for her to manage the situation.

After a while, the jar said, "You know, she is actually quite good-looking."

The jar chuckled and said, "You are right in a way; I am also the emperor who is not anxious, but the eunuch is. After all, you are in deep debt, and with so many lice, one need not worry about the itch"

My brother

Yang Jing paused for a moment, "... ... He is very busy, he has to work during the day"

Yang Qicheng took a sip of tea and said, "Hearing it is one thing, but it doesn't mean it's wrong."

He called the waiter to order, specifically ordering a sundae for Yang Jing

"The next time someone hits you, just hit back. As long as you don't put your life on the line, it's a guaranteed profit"

Yang Jing was sitting and reading for a while when she suddenly heard someone calling her. She looked up and saw Chen Jun standing at the door

Yang Qicheng looked at her and said, "Yang Jing, the jar is right; it is not suitable for you to live with me."

She had not paid much attention to Yang Jing in the past, because although Yang Jing came from a single-parent family, she had always been like most students in the class, with average grades and no unusual behavior.

The jar looked at Yang Qicheng, with a smile that was not quite a smile, saying, "He is a bit young for this age."

Liu Yixue was holding a cup of bubble tea and said, "Is there something wrong with your ears? Every time I call you, you can't hear me."

Liu Yixue furrowed her brows and said, "Yang Jing, do not be unappreciative of kindness."

Yang Jing hurried home without glancing sideways

After much hesitation, the note became damp with sweat from my palm

Yang Jing broke free from his hand, "Classmate."

What did I say to you

Yang Jing is packing her backpack, then stops and looks up at the podium

She went there very early, opening the textbook to silently memorize ancient poetry.

Gongzi watched Yang Jing's figure disappear at the stairway, withdrew his gaze, and said with a smile, "This young girl is quite interesting."

You are truly capable, not even a full set of hair has grown, looking like a skinny monkey, and you can still discern whether it is good-looking or not

Yang Qicheng said: "Are you fucking working part-time as a household registration inspector?"

Yang Jing doesn't want to argue with her, "Step aside."

Indeed, with Chen Jun's performance, it is highly unlikely that he could end up in a place like the seventh examination room

Second floor, go straight up the stairs, turn right, table 18

During her time at the normal university, she studied psychology and always felt that Yang Jing's reactions resembled those of post-traumatic stress disorder. Logically speaking, a child of that age who has lost their closest relative should be sad and dejected for a while, yet Yang Jing did not exhibit any of the expected signs of grief after losing a loved one

Yang Jing has not performed well academically and has not made much effort to study, consistently lingering in the middle tier. For the midterm exam, she reviewed symbolically and then went to the examination room.

After a long while, Yang Qicheng discarded his cigarette butt, stepped on it to extinguish it, and turned to walk into the alley, saying, "You really have a lot of issues, don't you"

The delicate face immediately crumpled into a frown

Has your brother returned now? I would like to invite him to the school for a discussion

A wail of lamentation

"... ... You eat my food and live in my house, is it too much to ask to have her do a few things for me?"

Yang Qicheng glanced at her and said nothing more

The jar looks at him, "Then are you still trying to scare her?"

The jar chuckled and said, "Just kidding, just kidding!"

However, Yang Jing did not spare others either. With her strong grip, she would seize the opportunity to pinch someone's flesh, instantly causing them to cry out in pain. Alternatively, she would bite down without any mercy.

In the afternoon, the exam papers were distributed one by one.