Chapter 1 (Bug Fixing) Reading is nowhere near as fun as making money. ...

Autumn of 1912.

A western suburb of Shanghai.

It was still four o'clock in the afternoon, and the sky was still early.

A sixteen-year-old girl was running quickly down the street, weaving through the bustling crowd.

They soon stopped in front of an ordinary house and pushed open the door.

Before anyone could be seen inside, the girl's clear voice rang out.

"Brother Ning, I received ten yuan in wages this month. One yuan was an extra yuan the store manager gave me in advance because he saw how hard I work. I'll get a raise starting next month!"

She finished work early today and was very excited, eager to share her joy with Ning Yiwen.

But the courtyard was empty.

Ning Yao still had a smile on her face, but the smile in her eyes had faded.

Is he not here?

Strange, she heard Ning Ge say yesterday that he was taking a break today.

"Brother Ning! Are you home?" Ning Yao called out as she closed the door.

Ning Yiwen was reading in his room when he heard Ning Yao's words. He was charmed by the girl's liveliness but did not reply.

He felt that shouting like that was uncouth.

Ning Yao walked to the door of Ning Yiwen's small house, somewhat uncertain, "Brother Ning? Are you home?"

"Yes." A short reply came from inside the room.

Ning Yao cheered up when she heard the response.

He immediately lifted the gray curtain in front of the house, stepped inside, and saw Ning Yiwen leaning against the windowsill, reading a book in the sunlight streaming in from outside.

Ning Yao paused for a moment, her excitement subsiding, and said softly, "Brother Ning, are you reading a book?"

"Hmm," Ning Yiwen replied briefly, turning a page of his book.

Ning Yao pouted; she wanted to speak, but Ning-ge was reading a book.

Ning had told her before that if she saw him reading, she shouldn't disturb him.

She didn't want to disturb them, but she wanted to talk to Brother Ning right now.

She would wait until Ning finished reading the book, and she also had something very important to tell Ning.

Thinking it over, Ning Yao sat down on the spot, gently placed the small cloth bag slung across her shoulder on the ground, bent her legs, rested her delicate chin on her knees, and obediently sat down.

He quietly watched Ning Yiwen.

Ning Yiwen was wearing a dark blue robe today. She had thick eyebrows and bright eyes, and her lips were slightly pursed as she looked intently at the book in her hands.

Ning Ge is really handsome.

Ning Yao sighed inwardly.

She couldn't understand how Ning Ge, who was a year younger than her, could be so amazing.

Ning's mother passed away more than two years ago. At that time, she was fourteen years old and Ning was thirteen.

After Ning's mother's funeral, Ning took her to the city, sold their house and many other things in the village.

She remembered that Ning told her that the people in the village were bullying her and her two widows, and that there was no need for them to stay any longer. They should go to the city, where he would go to school.

When Ning Yao first heard it, she found it absurd. The village's property was ancestral property, so how could it be sold?

But she couldn't go against her wishes.

Moreover, Ning's mother had taught her since she was a child that she should always put Ning Yiwen first.

Therefore, even though Ning Yiwen was younger than her, she always called Ning Yiwen "Brother Ning" at Ning's mother's instruction.

Later, she followed Ning Yiwen into the city.

When she first arrived in the city, she didn't even have a place to stay. It was Brother Ning who helped her find a small, dilapidated house with a roof to stay in for a few days.

Soon, Ning found a job, which also provided accommodation and even helped her find another job.

The two settled down in the city.

Less than six months after settling down, Ning took the money the two of them had saved up and said, "It's time for us to go to school."

Go to school?

Ning Yao had never been to school and couldn't understand those Chinese characters, but she had seen children from her village who had gone to school when she was young, and she had heard that if they didn't do well in school, they would be punished by having their hands slapped.

She was afraid, but she would never refuse Ning Yiwen. She would just ask instinctively, "If we're both in school, who will earn money?"

Ning Yiwen was also a bit troubled. It wasn't about making money, but rather that the money they had saved was only enough for one person to go to school.

"It's alright, I'll figure out how to make money. You can come with me to register and pay tomorrow."

He can try to see if he can pay the tuition in several installments.

Ning Yao understood Ning Yiwen's predicament and used the opportunity to find an excuse.

“Going to school costs money, so Ning-ge, you go by yourself. I… I’ll teach you when you get home after school.”

Ning Yiwen was still hesitating.

Ning Yao stepped forward and shook Ning Yiwen's arm. "Brother Ning, please say yes. I really don't like studying."

Ning Yiwen looked at Ning Yao and said, "Studying is very important. There is a big difference between going to school and studying at home."

Ning Yao shook her head: "But unlike you, Brother Ning, I don't know many words. I don't recognize a single word now. What's the use of me going to school?"

Ning Yiwen was eventually persuaded by Ning Yao.

“Then I’ll go to school, and you can start learning to read at home.”

Ning Yao spent two years at the school, thus enjoying a few more years of time at school as she had wished.

She enjoys her life now. Her work is easy, everyone takes good care of her, and Ning Ge's studies seem to be going well. He also continues to take care of her.

Ning Yao hopes that these days can continue forever.

Moreover, she will be sixteen tomorrow, and her mother told her that she can get married at sixteen.

She was Ning's childhood sweetheart, so they should get married.

Ning Yao smiled as she thought to herself.

She looked down and fiddled with the strap on her coarse cloth shoulder bag, occasionally glancing up to see if Ning Yiwen had finished reading the book.

But no.

Ning Yiwen only put away his book after the sun had set and the light from the window had dimmed considerably.

Turning around, I saw Ning Yao sitting on the ground, hugging her legs, her head tilted to the side, her knees pressed against her chest, already asleep.

Ning Yiwen shook her head; she really was a stubborn little thing.

He got up and went to Ning Yao.

Ning Yiwen stood there, looking down at Ning Yao.

The room was dimly lit, but that did not diminish Ning Yiwen's high nose bridge, thin lips, and distinct features.

Even his coarse, old-fashioned dark blue long gown seemed to have a more refined feel.

Ning Yao, sitting on the ground hugging herself, appeared even smaller due to her slender figure.

The fifteen-year-old boy had unfathomable amber eyes and a maturity beyond his years.

He looked at Ning Yao helplessly; she was still just a child.

Ning Yiwen knew what Ning Yao wanted to bring up. It was around this time in his previous life that Ning Yao had brought up marriage.

He didn't agree then, and he certainly wouldn't agree now.

Moreover, he didn't want Ning Yao to hand over the rest of her life so carelessly.

Even if it's him, it won't work.

"Ning Yao," Ning Yiwen called softly.

A deep voice echoed in the small room, reaching Ning Yao's ears.

Ning Yao opened her eyes, still sleepy, and the dim lighting in the room made it difficult for her to figure out where she was.

He looked up and met Ning Yiwen's gaze—dark, deep, and unfathomable eyes.

Ning Yao immediately regained consciousness.

"Brother Ning... how did I fall asleep?" He subconsciously touched the corner of his mouth.

"Go back to your room and sleep if you're tired," Ning Yiwen said softly.

He turned and walked to the table, took out a kerosene lamp, and prepared to light it.

Ning Yao tried to stand up, but she felt a sharp, tingling, numb pain in her legs, as if pricked by needles.

He had no choice but to remain seated on the ground and said, "I'm not sleepy anymore. Brother Ning, I have something important to say."

As the lights came on, Ning Yiwen, standing in front of the table, appeared even taller. In Ning Yao's eyes, his imposing figure blocked not the candlelight, but the marks of so many years of hardship and adversity.

Ning Yiwen paused for a moment while lighting the lamp, but quickly resumed fiddling with the wick. "I also have something to say to you."

"Ah, then Brother Ning, you go first." Ning Yao never competed with Ning Yiwen for the first time.

Ning Yiwen didn't stand on ceremony with her. His clear, cold voice rang out: "I've already registered you. Starting tomorrow, you'll be going to school with me."

Ning Yao was caught off guard by the notice that she had to go to school. She clenched the strip of cloth in her hand, her mind went blank for a moment, and she forgot most of what she wanted to say.

She didn't dare to refuse, but she still subconsciously showed her resistance, "But I just got a raise, and I have to go to work tomorrow."

She really, really, really didn't want to read.

She gets sleepy every time she sees densely packed Chinese characters.

This book is completely meaningless.

It's better for her to work as a waitress in a restaurant. There are more people, it's more lively, and the conversations are more interesting. More importantly, she can earn money.

Reading costs money.

A multitude of reasons surfaced in Ning Yao's mind, and she pouted, her face full of resentment.

The soreness and numbness in her legs had subsided, but she didn't want to stand up.

I might as well just sit here and wait until the end of time.

As long as she's not allowed to study.

Ning Yiwen pulled out the stool and the one next to it at the same time. Without turning his head, he patted the empty stool next to him and said, "Come and sit down."

Orders must be obeyed without question.

Ning Yao stood up with her head drooping, moved to the bench Ning Yiwen had mentioned, and sat down.

Then I noticed a small, grayish burlap sack on the table, along with several pieces of paper.

Ning Yiwen pushed the small sack in front of Ning Yao, "This is what I earned. I made money from writing a few articles."

Ning Yao's eyes widened, and she grabbed the sack with her small hands, shaking it as the sound of coins clinking together rang out.

There are quite a lot!

Ning Yao could hardly believe it. She untied the drawstring of the small burlap sack and poured out all the silver coins inside.

One, two, three...

Twenty in total!

Twenty yuan!

Ning Yao's eyes widened as she looked at the twenty silver coins on the table, then at Ning Yiwen. "Brother Ning, this... this is more than two months' salary for me."

Earning so much money from just a few articles...

Ning Yao took a deep breath and asked curiously, "Brother Ning, will it take a long time to write these few stories?"

She thought that if this article would take several months to finish, it would be better for her to work as a waitress.

But Ning Yiwen shook his head, ruthlessly shattering her expectations: "It only took me three days."

It just takes some time from reviewing the manuscript to publication and payment of royalties, but there's no need to emphasize that.

Ning Yao was dumbfounded.

"Brother Ning is amazing..."

Ning Yiwen continued, "So, you don't need to work as a waiter to earn money anymore. Starting tomorrow, you'll come with me to school."

Ning Yao: "..."

Ning Yao pursed her lips, lowered her head, and her eyes darted around under her drooping eyelids.

My mind works incredibly fast.

It's over.

What other excuses are there...?

But Ning Yiwen noticed her rolling eyes and trembling eyelids.

His tone remained unchanged, "What? Don't you want to go?"

Ning Yao whispered, barely a whisper: "Is it okay?"

Ning Yiwen chuckled and picked up the coins on the table one by one with his slender fingers, putting them into his small cloth bag.

"Then tell me, if you're not needed to earn money now, and you don't want to go back to school, what else can you do?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Yao suddenly raised her head, the light from the kerosene lamp illuminating her eyes, her eyes, brighter than candlelight, staring intently at Ning Yiwen.

"Brother Ning, I can have a baby for you at home!"

Ning Yiwen, whose mental fortitude far surpasses that of ordinary people, was stunned by these words. His hand loosened, and the silver coin he had just picked up fell back onto the table, colliding with the other silver coins and making a sound.

His face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.

After an awkward silence.

Ning Yiwen suddenly stood up and collected all the money on the table in one go.

He said in a deep voice, "Who taught you to talk like that?"

He placed the collected money in front of Ning Yao and said, "Starting tomorrow, you will go to school!"

There was absolutely no room for maneuver in his words.

Ning Yao understood.

Her small mouth pursed, and her eyes stared blankly at Ning Yiwen, seizing one last chance: "Can it be next month? I just got a promotion..."

She was so reluctant to leave; after working for so long, this was the first time she'd received a raise.

Moreover, the shopkeeper praised her today, saying that she was quick and efficient.

"No way!" Ning Yiwen didn't even turn her head. She turned around, lifted the curtain at the door, and strode out.

Ning Yao sighed heavily, looking at the small burlap sack in front of her. She pinched the rope binding the sack with her index finger and thumb, watching the sack sway back and forth.

Pointing at the small sack with his other hand, he said, "How could you let Brother Ning get it so easily?"

What should I do?

read.

Ning Yao glanced back at the stack of books in Ning Yiwen's room and rolled her eyes.

I can't read a single word.

Studying is nowhere near as fun as making money.

At this moment, Ning Yao had completely forgotten about her initial intention to propose marriage to Ning Yiwen.

Her mind was filled with thoughts of how to dissuade Ning Yiwen from sending her to school.

A note from the author:

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The story of a child bride's journey to adulthood during the Republic of China era. If you like it, please consider saving it! [Lop-eared rabbit head][Lop-eared rabbit head][Lop-eared rabbit head]

It's a fictional story, very fictional. But some basic aspects of life will still be based on the settings of the Republican era.