Reading More Isn't Such a Bad Thing

(Brain storage area. The author has some brains, but not many, so the novel will be much the same. Please deposit your precious brains here.)

(This book is a slow burn. This humble author wants to write it with at least some brains. Thank you, esteemed readers, for going easy on me. I kneel in gratitude!)

The Wasteland Star System was a small stellar system. It lay so far out in the vast Styx Galaxy that even the space pirates looking to scavenge in this galaxy of death and despair could not be bothered with it.

Within the system, a not-so-large young star sped through the dark cosmos with several smaller planets in tow. Among them, a planet glimmering faintly blue looked especially beautiful amid the barren colors of the system.

"Child, what's wrong?"

An old woman gathering herbs in the mountains saw a child curled up on the dew-covered grass. Her heart, which had been on edge after this unfamiliar object suddenly appeared on a familiar path, finally settled.

Seeing the child's adorable face and his helpless eyes after being awakened, she sighed inwardly. Poor thing. Who knows which family had their adults taken away, leaving this pitiful child behind.

Just as she spoke, the boy looked at the old woman before him, her face covered in the marks of time, and suddenly smiled.

"Heh!"

The brief sound, barely even a laugh, immediately brought a happy smile to the old woman's tightly furrowed face.

She hesitantly raised her scratched right hand and slowly picked him up. After teasing him for a while where she stood, she took him back with some uncertainty.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten years passed.

"Yuan, you little bastard! Stop running! Get back here, you brat! When I catch you, I'll skin you alive!"

As he shouted, a limping man struggled after a boy who looked around ten years old, a long stick in his hand.

The boy seemed to know that he had truly enraged the man behind him this time. He quickened his pace, his face still full of mischievous grins.

"Jos, why are you so angry? It's not like that kid has never messed with you before. I've never seen you this mad."

"Hiss! Stop talking and come help me up. I'm about done for."

As he spoke, he began to topple sideways. His companion hurried forward and supported him.

"I mean, it's just hemorrhoids. Do you have to make such a big deal out of it?"

"What the hell do you know? That little bastard smeared mustard on the toilet paper I used to wipe my ass. I #@$#^@$%#^$^!" He immediately launched into a furious stream of curses.

Seeing the deep frown on the nearby man's face, it was obvious that Jos's insults were truly vicious this time.

"Hmph! I'd say you deserved it. Yuan is known around here for being well-behaved, cute, and filial. You must have said something disrespectful to Grandma Zorya again, right?"

"I..."

Seeing the argument growing louder, the person supporting Jos quickly waved his hand to calm them down.

"Enough, both of you. Jos, you too. You should have fixed that nasty habit of shouting nonsense after drinking a long time ago. Grandma Zorya is the only person around here who can treat illnesses now."

"Grandma never held it against you before, but now that Yuan is around, don't go causing any more unpleasantness."

As he spoke, he gave the silent people beside him a deep look.

"No one knows when the Kingdom's next conscription will come. It has not been long since the last one, but we still have to prepare early."

"It was already a death sentence, so nothing can go wrong. Otherwise, none of us will end well. Even if she is not that capable, having her is still better than having no one."

At the mention of the Kingdom's conscription, everyone present shuddered a few times and fell silent. The atmosphere immediately turned cold.

"Ah, forget it. How long has it been since the last time? Let's not talk about such depressing things now. Let's talk about Jos instead. Why do you always get hemorrhoids? Is there something wrong with you?"

"Bullshit. Eating this disgusting crap every day, do you think I can shit easily? I have to squat there forever."

As they talked and laughed, their figures gradually disappeared into the still-misty village.

After watching Jos get taken away by the others, the boy stopped running as well and returned home with a grin.

"You went and provoked Jos again?"

Though it was phrased as a question, Zorya's gaze at Yuan was utterly certain.

"Hehe, Grandma, that guy had it coming. I let him off easy this time. If he gets drunk and starts making a scene again, I'll replace the paper with a stick next time."

"What do you mean?" Zorya looked at Yuan in confusion.

"Nothing, nothing. Grandma, is there anything to eat? I'm starving." With a mysterious smile, Yuan headed toward the kitchen behind the house to find something to eat.

"Ah, you child. It's still heating. You need to wait a little longer."

That was right. This boy was the one Zorya had found years ago.

There had never been anyone else in Zorya's home, and she had never told Yuan whether she had any family. Yuan seemed to have guessed something, and he never asked about it.

The only question he had ever taken the initiative to ask was, "Grandma, why did you name me Yuan? Unlike them, I don't have a full name with so many characters."

Zorya's answer stunned him for a moment. Her exact words were, "When I was young, I remember listening to a teacher's lecture. From what they said, I felt that the character 'Yuan' seemed very impressive, so I gave you that name."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that!"

What Yuan did not know was that after Zorya settled on that character, a faint golden glow appeared in her eyes.

Countless images flashed through them like slides. After a long while, she closed her eyes with a smile.

From then on, Yuan never asked Zorya any more questions. As for this grandson who gave her very little trouble, Zorya would occasionally have long talks with him.

Before long, two bowls of simple breakfast were placed on the somewhat battered table. Calling it breakfast was generous; they were really just two bowls of rice paste. Yuan did not hesitate. He picked up his bowl and began wolfing it down.

"Yuan, you're thirteen now. It's not good to stay in your room reading all the time. Why are you always unwilling to go out and play with the other children?"

As she spoke, she lovingly brushed back Yuan's slightly curly hair.

"They're too young, and I don't want to play with those idiots."

"Yuan, don't insult people." Zorya's expression turned stern, but then she asked with concern, "Why do you say that?"

"They actually throw shit at each other for fun. Can you believe it?"

That was right. After his grandmother talked him into it last time, Yuan reluctantly went into the village and found those children. He planned to put on an act and play with them for a bit before calling it a day.

But unexpectedly, when the little troublemakers saw that Yuan was finally willing to come out and play with them, they all cheered and insisted on holding some kind of welcome ceremony.

So, somewhat curious himself, Yuan followed them to their so-called secret base and began the welcome ceremony that would give him nightmares for days.

"What the hell!"

Watching several children pull lumps of black stuff from small holes, their brows furrowed but their faces full of delight, Yuan felt waves of shock crash through his heart.

"You call this a welcome ceremony? What kind of ceremony is this?"

"Hey, Yuan. You don't understand the joy of it. Come on, you'll understand soon enough."

As she spoke, a girl named Maji slowly walked toward him.

"No, absolutely not. You can keep that joy all to yourselves. My life is hard enough already. You can enjoy something so 'wonderful' on your own."

As he spoke, he raised one foot and slowly backed away.

"Hey, don't leave."

Maji seemed to grow anxious and quickened her pace toward Yuan. Watching all the children in front of him close in, Yuan's face filled with misery.

"You... don't come any closer!"

"Ugh! Why did you throw that at me? Haven't I already gone through this?" After a lump of black stuff splattered across her face, Maji immediately gagged.

"Sorry, I tripped over some grass. Ow! What are you doing?"

"Sorry, I tripped too."

"Fine, fine, so that's how you want to play? Eat my fist!"

Thus, thanks to the deadly entanglement of a few blades of grass, the scene immediately spiraled out of control. Black and yellow objects flew everywhere, and a strange stench rose into the sky. Yuan said nothing, only covered his nose and ran forward for his life.

After hearing Yuan's explanation, Zorya fell silent. She then lowered her head, picked up the bowl on the table, and began eating. Though it was a little disgusting, food here was hard to come by, and she did not want to waste it.

"Actually, reading more isn't such a bad thing. I have some more books under my bed. I'll give them to you later."

"Mm."

After that, both of them fell silent, quietly staring at the paste in their bowls.

"They really know how to have fun!"