Chapter 187 Yaozu in the Mountain Village (Part Two) *Beep!* The campaign to be a good person is underway...
Song Ce stood at the door of Class 19, listening to the conversation coming from inside, and sighed inwardly.
"Song Xi, have you thought this through? Are you really going to change your application? Trust me, with your grades, you'll definitely be able to get into Beijing Medical University! Think about it, after graduating from Beijing Medical University, you can choose to pursue postgraduate studies or go directly to a hospital for an internship. As long as you perform well, you can become a doctor in a few years. Isn't that great?"
As soon as Teacher Yao finished speaking, Song Xi lowered her head and said timidly, "Teacher, I've discussed it with my family, and my dad said... supporting two college students is too difficult, he can't afford it."
"What's there to be afraid of? If your family is having financial difficulties, you can apply for a student loan. As long as you can repay the principal within the first three years after graduation, the interest will be waived. Song Xi, your teacher hopes you will think this through carefully and not jeopardize your future, okay?"
Hearing Teacher Yao's concerned words, Song Xi could no longer hold back her tears.
“Teacher, it’s not that I… don’t want to, but my dad said that going to Beijing Medical University would take five years, and if I want a good future after graduation, I’d have to take the postgraduate entrance exam, which my family simply… can’t afford. If I go to a junior college teacher training college, I can go out and earn money after graduation…”
Upon hearing this, Teacher Yao sighed deeply, "Song Xi, it's such a pity that you can only go to a junior college teacher training school with your grades."
"Teacher, I'm sorry, I... I can't help it," Song Xi said, choking back tears.
Teacher Yao shook her head and asked, "When will your dad have time? I'd like to talk to him in person and try to help you."
"Teacher, my dad..."
Before Song Xi could finish speaking, Song Ce raised his hand and knocked on the door.
Teacher Yao looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall, thin boy with fair skin standing calmly at the classroom door.
"Excuse me, who are you?"
Upon seeing Song Ce, Song Xi quickly wiped away her tears, stood up, and forced a smile, saying, "Little Ce, have you been waiting anxiously? I'll be revising my application soon, just wait a little longer."
Upon hearing this, Teacher Yao immediately realized that the boy in front of him was Song Xi's younger brother, Song Ce. He snatched the application form from Song Xi's hand, strode to the door, and said earnestly, "Student, it's such a pity that your sister has such excellent grades and is giving up Beijing Medical University! I know about your family's difficulties, and we can try to find a solution. Like student loans, scholarships, and student aid funds from kind-hearted people in the community..."
Song Ce listened quietly, his gaze fixed on Song Xi's swollen eyes.
Song Xi turned her face away, pretending to tidy up the stationery on her desk, but her trembling shoulders betrayed her emotions. Song Ce pursed his lips and said softly, "Teacher, I understand what you mean. I rushed over here to persuade my sister not to change her college application."
Teacher Yao was stunned. Song Xi also suddenly raised her head, looking at her younger brother with teary eyes, "Xiao Ce, what did you say?"
"Sister, I'm telling you, don't change your application." Song Ce repeated, smiling slightly, "You should still apply to Beijing Medical University."
"But our family..."
“No buts.” Song Ce interrupted Song Xi, saying, “Sister, only I know how hard you’ve worked to get into a good university. 365 days a year, you study diligently until the early hours of the morning every day, without a single day of slacking off, all for the sake of getting into a good university… I don’t want you to give up so easily. Besides, there are still almost three months until university starts. With so much time, surely we siblings can earn enough tuition fees?”
Looking at the siblings, Teacher Yao nodded with satisfaction and said repeatedly, "Good! Good! It's good that you have this determination. Song Xi, I'll keep this voluntary change of application form for you, okay?"
Seeing her younger brother's encouraging look, Song Xi hesitated for a long time before finally nodding.
The siblings walked out of the classroom and strolled side by side along the tree-lined path. A gentle breeze blew by, causing a few willow branches to swirl softly.
"Xiao Ce, what you just did... Sigh, it's my fault for being so confused. Tuition fees aren't so easy to earn." Song Xi's voice was still trembling with tears, and her eyes were still red.
Song Ce reached out and patted his sister's shoulder reassuringly, and said with a smile, "Sister, trust me this once, okay? There's always a way out, and there's always more solution than problem."
Song Xi stopped and looked at her beloved younger brother, her nose tingling with tears. For the first time, she felt that all her sacrifices and efforts since childhood had been worthwhile.
"Yes, Xiao Ce, I believe you."
The county's No. 1 Middle School, where the siblings studied, wasn't far from home; it was only a half-hour bus ride away. Song Ce simply told Song Xi to go home first, and then found an excuse to go to the antique street on the west side of the county town.
The summer sun slanted down, and Song Ce stood at the street corner, looking at the stalls filled with antiques, some real and some fake. The stall owners sat under parasols, calling out to the sparse customers with their local accents.
Song Ce casually walked to a stall, his gaze sweeping over each antique, testing the basic antique appraisal function he had drawn from the sixth world. The older the item, the longer its age.
Porcelain plate, seventeen years ago.
Lady Figure Painting, 6th year.
Copper coins, forty-two years.
Bronze cup, twenty-three years.
The book, 658 years.
Because the basic antiquities authentication function is not yet perfect, it can only provide some rather vague information. Unless the technology can be upgraded, these authentication results can only serve as a rough reference.
The owner behind the stall was a middle-aged man in his forties. He wore gold chain glasses and secretly sized up Song Ce through the lenses.
"Young man, is there anything you like? I'll give you a discount," the shopkeeper said with a smile.
Song Ce smiled and pointed to the tattered old book on the wooden shelf in the corner, asking, "Boss, how much is that book?"
The shopkeeper looked at Song Ce, who had a student-like appearance, curled his lip, and said, "Young man, you have a good eye! This is a unique copy from the Three Kingdoms period, the only one of its kind in the world! Since you're a student, I'll sell it to you cheaply, two hundred yuan and take it!"
Song Ce paused, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Boss, I sincerely want to buy it, so please give me a fair price."
The shopkeeper slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Young man, I'm an honest man! You're lucky, I'm selling it to you for 180 before I even open for business!"
Song Ce smiled faintly, then got up and left without any hesitation.
"Hey! Young man, wait a minute! The price is negotiable! One hundred! One hundred is alright, isn't it!"
Song Ce didn't stop walking and continued forward.
"Seriously! Fifty! Fifty is fine, isn't it?"
"Hey young man, come back here! Thirty! I'll sell it to you for thirty!"
As soon as the stall owner finished speaking, Song Ce slowly turned around and walked back.
Fearing he wouldn't make a sale today, the shopkeeper chuckled and said, "Young man, you've struck gold today! I'm not bragging, but you've definitely got a great deal on this book!"
The stall owner next to him couldn't help but burst out laughing upon hearing this.
"Old Li, they look like students! You have the nerve to swindle money from students? That's really..."
"Get lost! You're just jealous that I made my first sale today! Young man, I'll wrap up this book for you. It's a deal, thirty, not a penny less!"
Song Ce nodded, and without saying a word, took out a few crumpled banknotes from his pocket, counted them, and handed them to the stall owner.
To avoid attracting attention, Song Ce bought several more tattered ancient books. Before leaving, he bought a broken wooden box from the outermost stall to carry the books, and then left the antique street.
When he got home, Song Xi was busy cooking at the stove. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and greeted him with a smile, "Xiao Ce, you're back? Go wash your hands and come eat."
Song Ce glanced at the specks of oil on her apron, gave a soft reply, and turned to put the wooden box back on the desk in the room.
For several days in a row, Song Ce did not go out, but stayed at home to repair the ancient book he had found on the antique street.
This ancient book, titled *Yi Zhun Jing Lue*, isn't very thick, only sixty-five pages including the cover. The lower half is in relatively good condition, with minimal damage. However, the first dozen or so pages are riddled with wormholes, and there are also issues with pasted pages and yellow stains, making restoration extremely difficult.
Song Ce had to do everything by himself, from removing the stitches, numbering them, dusting, cleaning, to reinforcing and patching the holes. Each repetitive task honed his skills and patience. Wearing gloves, he carefully picked up a thin patch with tweezers, about to attach it to the wormhole, when he suddenly heard a heavy thud coming from the yard.
"Song Xi, what's going on?"
Mr. Song's face was flushed. Holding up a mobile phone he had borrowed from someone else, he roared, "I noticed you've been acting strange these past few days, absent-minded, so I had your third uncle's daughter, Mingyue, check your college application. Tell me! Why did you still apply to Beijing Medical University? Do you think what your old man said is just a fart?"
Song Xi's face was pale, and she instinctively knelt on the ground.
Song Ce quickly put down the tweezers, walked over and helped Song Xi up, and said softly, "Dad, don't be angry. I asked my sister to apply to Beijing Medical University."
Upon hearing this, Song's father's neck veins bulged: "So! You two siblings teamed up to deceive me? You said you'd change your college application, but you still applied to Beijing Medical University! Five years! Tuition alone will cost 30,000 yuan! Do you think our money grows on trees? Huh?"
Song Xi bit her lip, tears falling to the ground. She forced herself to say, "Dad, I'll work as a waitress at a restaurant this summer to earn some money. As for tuition, student loans can help..."
"waiter?"
Mr. Song sneered, grabbed a broom from the corner, and was about to hit Song Xi with it. "Can you earn 30,000 yuan in two months as a waitress? How many times have I told you? Your younger brother still needs to go to university. As his older sister, can't you be a little more sensible? Tomorrow I'll go to school with you to change your college application! If you dare to cause any more trouble, I'll beat you to death!"
Upon seeing this, Song Ce rushed over and used his back to shield Song Xi from the attack.
"Dad, my sister's college application can't be changed, but I can earn the tuition fees."
"You?"
Seeing his son, who had always been on his side, turn around and help Song Xi, Song's father trembled with anger. "I think you've gone stupid from studying too much! A student who doesn't have any strength, no construction site would hire you to carry bricks!"
Song Ce said calmly, "In short, I have other ideas."
"Fine, fine, fine!" Song's father said angrily, his face ashen. "You brat! Who do you think I made your sister change her college application for? You know our family's situation. If your sister goes to Beijing Medical University, she probably won't earn a single penny back in seven or eight years! We'll have to invest in her! You'll have to go to college too, and I don't want your future to be ruined because of your sister! I'm doing all this for you! You ungrateful wretch!"
“My sister and I are family. Her future is my future.” Song Ce sighed and continued, “Dad, I’ve seen how much my sister has suffered for me and for our family. Now that she finally has a chance to change her fate, I can’t just watch her give up. When my sister and I go to university, we can apply for scholarships or work part-time. We can complete our studies no matter what.”
"Fine, I see you've got too big for your britches! If you're so capable, then you can earn your own tuition!"
Mr. Song spat angrily, threw down the broom, and turned to go inside.
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Author's Note: Daydreaming is a professional activity for me! [Cat emoji][Cat emoji]
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