025: Parents' Smiles

Night fell.

After evening study hall, Sun Yiying called out to Tang Jian and handed him a White Card.

Tang Jian's heart skipped a beat when he saw the series of "$$$$" symbols on the Card, and a look of delight spread across his face.

This was a white-quality Bank Card, produced and issued by the Federal Bank. Its manufacturing technology was kept secret, making it impossible for ordinary people to counterfeit.

The "$"-shaped Card pattern seemed to contain a peculiar magic. Even if a similar shape could be carved, it lacked the essence and wasn't recognized by the Star of Glory, thus preventing it from forming a truly usable Card.

In a sense, the Bank Card possessed a characteristic of rare Cards, being difficult to produce artificially.

However, this type of Card was actually very easy to obtain, so it couldn't be called rare. One only needed to deposit over five thousand Federal Currency into the bank to get one.

Holding this Card allowed one to deposit and withdraw money at the bank.

"Money grubber. There's twenty-five thousand Federal Currency in here. You can use it at any store with a card reader in the Federation," Sun Yiying glanced at Tang Jian and then chuckled.

"Your teacher thinks highly of you, but in our school, you're not the only one practicing cultivation techniques. There are several well-off students in the Rocket Class who've also learned cultivation. And their Card Energy is much stronger than yours. If you can catch up to them by the college entrance exam, your teacher has another reward for you."

Tang Jian gave a wry smile. "Teacher Sun, I heard that the two strongest guys in the Rocket Class have over a hundred Card Energy. The gap is too big; I can't catch up."

He thought to himself, I can catch up, but if I really do, wouldn't it be too astonishing?

Sun Yiying rolled her eyes at Tang Jian. "No ambition. I have faith in you, but whether you can get the reward I've prepared is up to you."

Tang Jian chuckled foolishly. "Teacher Sun, can you tell me what the reward is first?"

Tang Jian liked to plan carefully, considering the pros and cons before deciding whether to take a risk.

Sun Yiying's lips curved into a smile. "If you can really catch up to them, you'll also have a chance to get into a prestigious university. The school will give me a generous bonus then, and I can give you thirty percent of it."

Tang Jian felt a rush of blood, almost dying of excitement, and his expression was somewhat stunned.

Sun Yiying thought that highly of him?

"It's late, hurry home," Sun Yiying waved her hand, turning to leave, her small black dress fluttering as she walked away.

Tang Jian watched Sun Yiying's retreating back, his brows slightly furrowed. After a moment's thought, he put on his backpack and chased after Yang Mao and the others waiting for him by the stairwell.

Sun Yiying thought so highly of him; he wondered if it was just empty encouragement or if she genuinely saw something in him?

Could it be that after his rebirth, he naturally possessed the aura of a protagonist? Standing anywhere, he'd stand out from the crowd.

Tang Jian couldn't quite figure it out. When he reached the school gate, he saw his father, Tang Lin, waiting with a radiant face.

"Xiao Jian, your Teacher Sun called me today and said you joined the intensive training class she organized? And you even got five thousand in bonus money?"

"I never thought I'd see the day my son was so promising. It's truly a blessing from heaven."

Tang Jian was depressed. "…"

What did he mean, a blessing from heaven?

Tang Jian looked at his father, Tang Lin's, flushed, excited face and the pride in his eyes. All his own depression vanished, replaced by a sense of emotion and joy.

No matter what, being able to make his dad feel proud and happy was worth everything.

In his previous life, only when he became a Card Master did he change his parents' fate, allowing them to slightly escape the lowest social class.

However, by then, his parents had worked for a long time, their bodies were not what they used to be, and they had contracted serious illnesses.

And even though he later became a Card Master, he was only a low-level Card Master at the time, and there were too many places where money was needed. Therefore, his parents didn't really enjoy any blessings.

In this life, being able to make his parents happy and proud early on made Tang Jian himself very happy.

He made up his mind that he must become strong as soon as possible and give his parents and sister a good life.

On the way home, Tang Lin kept chattering, trying to act strict and warn Tang Jian not to get arrogant just because he achieved something. But his tone itself revealed pride and excitement, which Tang Jian found quite helpless.

Upon returning home, his mother, Chen Lianrong, naturally pulled him aside for another round of questions.

When Tang Jian took out the Bank Card, both his parents smiled proudly.

His sister, Tang Yueyue, was also awake today and joined in the happiness.

"Brother, I never thought you could be so promising. In novels, this is what they call a 'loser's comeback'."

Tang Yueyue praised him without reservation.

Tang Jian's face darkened, and he pinched Tang Yueyue's cheek. "What are you saying? Is your brother a waste?"

Chen Lianrong also scolded Tang Yueyue disapprovingly. "I told you to read fewer novels all day. Now you can't even speak properly? Look how great your brother is. Even his teacher said he can definitely join the Rocket Class. Let's see if you can get into the high school Rocket Class then."

Tang Yueyue pouted, her eyes glistening, almost crying from grievance.

"Alright, Mom, Yueyue's just joking. By the way, why don't you two take this bonus money from the Card and use it first?" Tang Jian quickly interjected.

Tang Lin's expression became serious, and he pushed away the Bank Card Tang Jian offered him, stating sternly, "Your Teacher Sun and I already talked today. You keep the money in this Card for yourself. It's only five thousand pieces of money. You can manage it yourself, eat and drink well, and buy some review materials."

Tang Jian was stunned. He hadn't expected Sun Yiying not to mention the twenty-five thousand Federal Currency in the Card. It seemed she trusted him a lot?

But then again, it made sense.

If she had said she gave him twenty-five thousand Federal Currency, his parents might have found it hard to accept, and he might even have exposed the secret of the Three-Point-One-Line Technique.

"Brother, you got five thousand. Why don't you give me five hundred to use? I have my middle school entrance exam soon, so I need to eat and drink well too."

As soon as Tang Yueyue heard about the money, she stopped feeling wronged and stared at Tang Jian.

"Don't be silly," Chen Lianrong chided Tang Yueyue, then pulled five Federal Currency from her purse and handed it to her. "You're still young, so just use this small amount. Your brother earned that bonus himself, and he needs it to prepare for the college entrance exam, so don't get any ideas."

Tang Yueyue pouted but quickly took the five Federal Currency. Her face immediately broke into a smile as she headed upstairs.

"Mom and Dad, I still need to craft Cards and cultivate, so I'm going up now," Tang Jian said, grabbing his backpack as soon as he saw the coast was clear.

"Go on, go on," Tang Lin urged quickly. "Take care of yourself, don't work too hard."

"Will do."

"Yueyue, your brother needs to study, so don't make noise up there and disturb him," Chen Lianrong called out as a reminder.

Tang Yueyue flopped onto her bed as if sulking and hummed, "I know!" She mumbled inwardly, Maybe I really am adopted!

Tang Jian smiled as he walked upstairs. He glanced at Tang Yueyue's tightly closed door, shook his head, and went into his own room.

Now that he'd shown a bit of talent in Card Cultivation, his parents' attitudes at home had begun to change.

He'd felt this change in his previous life too, after he became a Card Master, but experiencing it again in this life still filled him with emotion.

It was clear just how revered Card Cultivators were in this world.

After returning to his room, Tang Jian first took out fifteen One-Star Blank Energy Cards from his backpack.

He had bought all fifteen of these Cards during dinner with the money his parents gave him today.

Crafting Cards himself took time.

But buying Cards was much more convenient.

Now that he was about to join the Rocket Class, Tang Jian was willing to spend money without hesitation to quickly improve his strength.