Fail to Work Hard While Young

Fail to Work Hard While Young

Aunt Chen winked at Xia Chujian, set down the huge bundle on her back, and whispered, "Yes, I went hunting again. And let me tell you, winter's almost here. The animals over in the Exotic Beast Forest are putting on their last layer of autumn fat—they're fat as can be!"

As she spoke, she looked around to make sure no one was nearby before pulling things out of the huge bundle.

"Chujian, this is Red Pine Forest Ginseng. It's especially good for restoring strength. Your aunt is so weak; she'll definitely need it."

"This is Old Banyan Wild Honey. The old banyan trees in the Exotic Beast Forest have probably become spirits. The wild bees that can build hives on them must have become spirits too. Take it and eat it—I've heard it's especially good for girls..."

"And this—Wild Rhinoceros Pig ribs from pigs raised on wild Black Truffle. I remember you especially like them, so I saved you another rack. The Black Truffle Wild Rhino Pig we caught This Time was especially huge. It was already butchered outside the city, and all the meat was sold to restaurants in town..."

As Aunt Chen spoke, she took out many things and gave them to Xia Chujian.

Xia Chujian felt terribly embarrassed and hurriedly waved her hands in refusal. "Aunt Chen, it isn't easy for you to make a trip to the Exotic Beast Forest. You really don't need to give these to me. During the three years my aunt has been hospitalized, you've cared for me like my own aunt. I can't keep taking your food for free..."

Aunt Chen put on a stern face and pretended to be angry. "Chujian, are you looking down on your Aunt Chen?! I may not have a steady job, but every month I go to the Exotic Beast Forest to pick up leftovers, and I make more than your Uncle Chen earns! Besides, these things didn't cost me anything—they were all picked up in the Exotic Beast Forest. If you won't take them, are you saying you think I'm collecting trash?"

Warmth filled Xia Chujian's heart.

"Aunt Chen, the Exotic Beast Forest is fraught with danger. How could that be collecting trash? If I looked down on it, I'd truly be ungrateful..." Seeing that she could not refuse, she had no choice but to accept them.

Besides, Red Pine Forest Ginseng really was excellent for restoring health. It cost a fortune at pharmacies outside, and even then, there was no guarantee it was genuine. Xia Chujian truly wanted to get some good ginseng to nourish her aunt.

And now she was no longer without money. She did not have to keep accepting other people's things for free.

If Aunt Chen had a Smart Bracelet, Xia Chujian could have transferred the money to her immediately.

She made up her mind that after returning from the hospital, she would withdraw cash and give it to Aunt Chen.

"That's more like it! We're neighbors, and you're also my girl's classmate. Before your aunt got sick, she took good care of my girl too. She even tutored her. Either way, I ought to look after you." Aunt Chen laughed heartily, nodded at her, and tied up the bundle again.

Xia Chujian also needed to take the things home.

As she packed them up, she asked curiously, "Aunt Chen, is the Exotic Beast Forest really that good?"

It seemed to have so many rare birds, alien beasts, and rare plants she had never even heard of.

Aunt Chen's hands paused. She looked away and said somewhat awkwardly, "The Exotic Beast Forest is far too dangerous. The first time I went, I suffered a big loss too. Later, I only dared to wander around the edge of the Exotic Beast Forest near Mulan City and pick up a few things other people didn't want."

Seeing Xia Chujian's obvious eagerness to try, Aunt Chen earnestly tried to dissuade her. "Chujian, Aunt Chen isn't trying to scare you. Do you know why it's called the Exotic Beast Forest?"

"...Because there are alien beasts inside?"

"That's right. And they aren't ordinary wild animals! Have you ever seen a tiger Ten Meters Tall? A python coiled up like a mountain? There are flying squirrels that breathe fire, golden pheasants that release poison, and as for the grass, thorn bushes, and Great Trees, any one of them can kill you if you're not careful!" Aunt Chen quietly told Xia Chujian about the dangers of the Exotic Beast Forest.

"And the most dangerous part of the Exotic Beast Forest is in the Land of the Far North. The core region of the Land of the Far North is called the 'Restricted Life Zone'! I've never heard of anyone who went to the Land of the Far North and came back alive! Think Carefully!"

Aunt Chen finally finished packing the huge bundle. She raised a hand and rubbed Xia Chujian's hair. "A young girl like you should study hard, get into a good university, and find a stable job. Otherwise, when you get older, you'll only be like Aunt Chen, risking your life at the edge of the Exotic Beast Forest to make a living. This is what happens when you don't work hard while young—you end up collecting trash when you're old!"

Xia Chujian blinked. "Aunt Chen, university tuition is so expensive now. You know my family's circumstances. If I want to attend university, I have to save up for tuition too."

"Actually, your aunt's illness is terminal. It can't be cured at all, so why waste so much money? You need to think about yourself too." Aunt Chen looked at Xia Chujian sympathetically and advised her in a low voice.

Xia Chujian pressed her lips together, smoothed her hair with her hand, and said seriously, "It isn't wasted money. If it can save a life, then no matter how much it costs, it's worth it."

"But you've already sold your house. You're renting now. If your aunt knew..." Aunt Chen sighed. "Also, you'll be taking the College Entrance Exam next year. I heard you've often been absent from school these past few days. You've been going to the hospital to care for your aunt, right? What about your studies? Do you still want to go to university?"

Aunt Chen's daughter was Xia Chujian's classmate at the same high school. She had probably heard about Xia Chujian's situation from her daughter.

Xia Chujian knew Aunt Chen meant well, but their circumstances were different, so they could not be treated as the same.

She smiled faintly. "I understand. I'll think about it. You're busy, Aunt Chen. I have something to do, so I'll be leaving first."

Her aunt, Xia Yuanfang, had been hospitalized at Imperial Official Hospital No. 892 in Mulan City for three years.

Carrying an insulated lunchbox, Xia Chujian took the Inner City Maglev Train to the ward where her aunt was staying.

It was a private room—not the most expensive or luxurious VIP room, but one with dedicated care twenty-four hours a day.

It cost over ten thousand a year.

Three years ago, Xia Chujian had made the decision to sell their cheap family home. Only then had they obtained enough money for her aunt to receive the best care Xia Chujian could afford.

Standing outside the ward, Xia Chujian had just raised her hand to knock when the door opened.

Her aunt's attending physician, Shen Junyi, was about to come out.

Xia Chujian quickly smiled and greeted him. "Doctor Shen, are you making your rounds?"

Shen Junyi was a refined middle-aged man with a fair complexion, deep eyes that were bright and alert, and pronounced lines at the corners of his eyes.

He wore a White Coat, his brow always slightly furrowed, as though he were constantly burdened by worries.

When he saw Xia Chujian, he nodded in greeting as well. "Chujian, you're here. Your aunt is still the same as before. She hasn't woken up."

Xia Chujian glanced into the ward and said seriously, "I have something to tell you. Oh, and I brought you fresh pork rib congee. My aunt taught me how to make it. It's your favorite flavor, and you can have it for breakfast."

Shen Junyi did not refuse. He took the insulated lunchbox from her, nodded, and stepped aside to let her in.

Xia Chujian walked in quietly and came to Xia Yuanfang's bedside.

After years of illness, her complexion was wan and pale, without the slightest trace of color.

Her hair was dry and yellowing, and quite a bit of it had fallen onto the Pillow.

She was so thin that she was little more than skin and bones, utterly lacking the graceful, gentle, scholarly elegance she had once possessed.

Xia Chujian carefully tucked Xia Yuanfang's blanket around her, then quietly walked back out.

The caregiver assigned to twenty-four-hour care was already waiting at the ward door.

Xia Chujian politely nodded to greet her before following Shen Junyi away.

Shen Junyi took her to his office to talk.

Opening the insulated lunchbox, Shen Junyi ladled the congee into two bowls and handed one to Xia Chujian. "Come, let's eat together."

Xia Chujian truly had not eaten real food in a long time, aside from that terribly unpalatable Low-Level Nutrient Solution.

She licked her lips, unable to resist the fragrance of normal food. She silently took the bowl and began to eat slowly.

As Shen Junyi ate his congee, he spoke to her.

"Chujian, I'll say what I said three years ago. Your aunt's illness is actually a genetic disease. In our Beichen Empire, it's terminal. It cannot be cured. You don't need to keep wasting money."

He looked calmly at Xia Chujian, with a faint, almost imperceptible pain in his eyes.

He had known Xia Chujian's aunt, Xia Yuanfang. Seeing her in this state now saddened him deeply as well.

Xia Chujian said nothing. Uneasily shifting in her seat, she asked softly, "...Is there really no way at all? Please just tell me. Whatever medicine is needed, whoever we need to find, or even if she has to be sent to the Imperial hospital headquarters on Beichen Star, I'm willing! You don't need to worry about the money."

Beichen Star was where the Imperial Capital of the Beichen Empire was located.

She had just come into a Huge Sum of Money. Even in a high-cost place like Beichen Star, it could accomplish a great deal.

Shen Junyi looked at Xia Chujian in some surprise.

He knew very well the financial situation of this aunt and niece.

Ever since Xia Yuanfang had suddenly collapsed three years ago, she had never woken up.

Because of that, she had lost her job and her Medical Insurance.

Every bit of the medical expenses had been paid by Xia Chujian in hard cash.

He also knew that to give Xia Yuanfang the best treatment, fourteen-year-old Xia Chujian had resolutely sold the aunt and niece's only asset three years ago—their cheap house—for thirty thousand.

Xia Yuanfang had remained unconscious the entire time.

Xia Chujian was still a minor, so when the house was sold, Shen Junyi, as the attending physician, had written proof that the owner, Xia Yuanfang, no longer possessed legal capacity. Only then could Xia Chujian, her sole relative and still a minor herself, be qualified through a lawyer to sell the house.

But that money was only enough to keep Xia Yuanfang in the hospital for three years.

He knew she had no extra money to seek other treatment options, which was why he had urged her to consider giving up treatment.

"Where did you get the money?" Shen Junyi could not help asking.

Xia Chujian's gaze drifted, and she did not answer. She only persisted, "Doctor Shen, tell me, is there really not even the slightest way?—I heard that Li's Medical Group claims it can treat any illness. They overcame those cancers long ago, so why are genetic diseases terminal?"

In the Beichen Empire, Imperial hospitals were hospitals established by the government for ordinary commoners. Aside from them, there were also some extremely expensive private hospitals.

Most commoners in the Beichen Empire could not afford private hospitals.

Li's Medical Group operated the most elite private hospitals in the Beichen Empire.

As usual, a reminder to vote with Recommendation Tickets, Monthly Tickets, and Xiaoxiang Tickets. And please save the new book and add it to your reading list. (#^.^#)

I watched "The Wandering Earth 2" yesterday, and it was so shocking! It felt like it was over in the blink of an eye, just like Pigsy eating Ginseng Fruit—I hadn't even had time to savor it! As soon as it ended, I bought another ticket to watch it again next Tuesday!

I've never gone to the theater to watch a movie twice before, but The Wandering Earth made me make an exception. (^▽^)