The Shen family's debts were paid off one after another after the show aired. Grandpa's medication received a dedicated subsidy, and the Jiang family covered Shen Yuxing's tuition and living expenses. Overnight, more than half the burden on Shen Wangjing's shoulders was lifted.
But he went straight to the mine.
When others refused to go down because the tunnels were too deep and dangerous, he went.
When others squatted at the entrance for a smoke after hauling two loads, he hauled four.
When others clocked out at five sharp, he crouched beside the mine carts, waiting for the night-shift workers to finish dinner so he could catch a ride with them and work another round.
A coworker squatted on a pile of rubble, chewing a steamed bun. When he saw Shen Wangjing emerge from the tunnel pushing another cart piled high with ore, he nearly dropped his bun. "Shen, have you fucking got a death wish? Working over ten hours a day-do you think you're made of iron?"
Shen Wangjing didn't stop. Sweat streamed down his temples, washing a pale groove through the mineral dust coating his face. He raised a hand to wipe it away and kept pushing.
He just wanted to save money.
At least enough to make a trip to Capital City, at least enough to stay there for a few days, at least enough that he wouldn't seem empty-handed when he stood before Jiang Xun.
Enough to treat Jiang Xun to a meal, to buy him something. He knew Jiang Xun didn't lack those things, but he still had to be able to afford them.
Only when he could afford them would he have the right to stand before Jiang Xun.
The heat inside the mine was stifling. Fine stone dust drifted through the air, scraping