Chapter 4: Hard injuries also give the protagonist an advantage

  "Good fellow, come buy a candy. It's very cheap, only 50 cents each!" As he spoke, the old man also took out an exquisite small box, implying that the candies were inside.

  "I'm telling you, old man, do I look like an idiot to you!" Zhou Yun retorted fiercely, with a tone that seemed to want to teach the old man a lesson. Damn it! This old thing, really has no respect for age, not only did he scare people, but also sold a piece of candy for 50 yuan and said it was very cheap? Can't swindle people like this!

  A piece of candy sells for 50 yuan, isn't that too much? Even with rising prices, it shouldn't be this expensive.

  The old man nodded his head and began to flatter incessantly: "It's not like! It really doesn't look like it! I see that your skeleton is extraordinary, your face is elegant, you have the appearance of an emperor..."

  "Alright, alright, I know...". Zhou Yunke didn't have the patience to listen to the old man's story. This kind of cliché, even a three-year-old wouldn't believe it. And yet he still had the nerve to pretend to be surprised, the old man was probably treating himself like an idiot. Out of respect for tradition and virtue, Zhou Yunke didn't bother to argue with him.

  "Hey." The old man smiled awkwardly, realizing he had overdone it. He hobbled up to Zhou Yun: "Young fellow, I said all that just because I wanted you to buy a piece of candy."

  "Old man, your leg..." Zhou Yun only then discovered that the old man was actually a cripple. His left foot had a wooden prosthetic, and when he walked, it made a 'creaking' sound.

  "No big deal, no big deal. Young man, let me tell you, eating this candy will have unexpected effects. Buy one and try it, I guarantee you'll experience an unexpected surprise! Let me whisper to you, this candy is as rare as a celestial treasure, hard to find in the mortal world...". The old man's nature was hard to change, after flattering Zhou Yun, he began to praise his own candy. Until Zhou Yun felt dizzy and was about to faint, he slowly said: "How about it? Have one?" That sly smile on his face was just like a creepy uncle trying to trick little girls.

  Zhou Yun shook his head, he really couldn't withstand the old man's verbal attack. This old guy was really too good at nagging, even better than Tang Seng. Fortunately, Zhou Yun wasn't Wukong, otherwise he would have swung a stick over by now.

  "Go! Go! Don't say I won't buy it!" Zhou Yun kindly agreed. Why is he kind? Zhou Yun bought the old man's sugar, not because he could talk, but because he saw that the old man was advanced in age and had a lame leg, probably with no children at home, which is why he came out to beg. As for selling sugar, it was just an excuse, 50 yuan per piece, who would want it?

  "Really? Great, great. Young man, I have three here, you pick one." The old man excitedly handed the box to Zhou Yun, ready for him to carefully select one.

  However, Zhou Yun unexpectedly snatched the box from his hand and then forcibly stuffed over 300 yuan he had snatched from Qiang Ge into the old man's hands: "I've taken everything. Here are 300 yuan, be frugal and it will last you for a while, take care of yourself."

  Zhou Yun patted the old man on the back and turned to run towards the exit of the alley. Being a hoodlum and a small vendor, he had been delayed for so long without returning home, his father would definitely misunderstand that he was fooling around outside.

  "Hey! Hey! Young man! Wait! I only sell one piece of candy per person! You're a rascal! Robbery! Give me back my candy!!"

  When the old man came to, he quickly shouted loudly and limped after Zhou Yun with a "kaka" sound. Unfortunately, Zhou Yun had already run home and was gone. Looking at the more than 300 yuan in his hand, the old man couldn't help but reveal a wry smile: "This kid... Alas, it's okay. Although it's not as expected... Good people will be rewarded, everything is fate..."

  What's going on? Why would the old man say that? If Zhou Yun were still here, it would have raised some questions. Unfortunately, he rushed home to report and had already disappeared at the intersection.

  One person only sells one? This old guy is quite professional. On his way home, Zhou Yun couldn't help but think that although the old man used candy to deceive people, he only sold one per person, and it wasn't that he could deceive as many as possible. It seemed that his conscience was not at peace. This made Zhou Yun even more certain that the old man was a lonely and helpless person who had no choice but to resort to such tactics due to his difficult life.

  Thinking of this, Zhou Yun, who was still regretful for losing 300 yuan for no reason, suddenly felt relieved and cheerful. That old man is quite pitiful, it's okay to help him once. It's robbing the rich to help the poor anyway, the money was stolen back in the first place, so even if it's lost, it won't be a pity.

  At noon, Zhou Yun sat down with his parents to eat as usual. What was originally the warmest time for others was the most unbearable moment for Zhou Yun. During meals, Zhou Qingyang, aka Zhou Yun's old man, would always ask some very embarrassing questions. Therefore, every day when eating, Zhou Yun would frantically devour his food like a starving ghost, using a quick battle strategy to fight back. His intention was to eliminate all the food in front of him before his old man could ask any questions.

  "Xiao Yun, the college entrance exam is approaching, how's your study going recently? Can you still keep up with the pace?"

  "Hmph……cough, cough, cough……" Just then, afraid of what might happen, Zhou Yun, who was eating his rice desperately, was suddenly startled by Zhou Qingyang. He didn't even think about it carefully, no matter how fast he ate, when Dad asked questions, he still couldn't avoid them. Some things that were destined to come would still come anyway.

  "Slow down, dear, don't rush." Yang Xiujun said with a gentle smile, immediately pouring a glass of water for Zhou Yun.

  "Thanks, Mom..." Zhou Yun swallowed the plain rice and took a sip of water before looking at his dad hesitantly and saying: "It's...not bad..."

  Zhou Yun's average score is less than 40, and he still dares to say it's okay. This "okay" is really extremely bad.

  As it happens, Zhou Yun didn't want to lie, but facing Zhou Qingyang's sparkling and expectant gaze, he really couldn't bear to tell his dad that he hadn't learned anything at school.

  Actually, Zhou Yun didn't not want to study hard, but he had wasted too much time in junior high school. When he entered high school, apart from Chinese, history, politics and geography, which were still somewhat interesting stories about understanding the country's native culture, math, physics, and English were like a book without words. Those strings of formulas and letters looked like tadpole script, just looking at them made people dizzy.

  "That's good, that's good. Come on! Eat some fish to nourish your brain, studying must be very tiring lately." Zhou Qingyang enthusiastically picked up a large piece of fish and put it in Zhou Yun's bowl, also smiling encouragingly at him. Looking at his father's smile with a face full of wrinkles, Zhou Yun couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

  I'm clearly not doing well with self-study, but I deceived Dad into thinking it's fine. Thinking about when Father exposes my lie, he'll surely be even more disappointed.

  Suddenly, Zhou Yun put down the bowl and chopsticks in his hand, and a class struggle took place in his heart. Finally, with shame and seriousness, he said: "Dad, I'm sorry, actually...I don't understand any of my current courses at all. What I told you before was all lies. However...from now on, I will definitely work hard to study."

  Zhou Yun finally made up his mind and told the truth. He didn't want to continue deceiving himself and others, which would only bring more harm to his family. As a parent, how could he not know his own abilities? Every time there was a parent-teacher conference, his father would go with enthusiasm but return in disappointment; how could he not know his own situation?

  "You're indeed my child, brave enough to face the facts! Xiao Yun, you've grown up." Zhou Qingyang had always been an optimist. Upon hearing Zhou Yun's confession, not only did he not get angry, but instead patted his head: "It's not too late to mend one's ways after a mistake has been made. As long as you're willing to put in the effort to learn, it's still possible now."

  "Dad... I'm sorry." Zhou Yun lowered his head, not daring to meet Zhou Qingyang's gaze directly. He knew how capable he was in his heart, and even if he were to repeat a year, it wouldn't necessarily make a difference, let alone with the college entrance exams less than two months away.

  Three years in junior high school plus three years in senior high school, the courses that have been dropped are really too many. The knowledge of six years is not something that can be made up for just by saying so. However, since I promised my father, I cannot let him down. As long as I do my best, even if I end up failing and not getting into university, I believe my father will understand.

  No one knows a child better than his father. Zhou Qingyang saw Zhou Yun's silence and guessed that he was worried, so he hugged him: "Good kid, don't worry, you're still young..."

  "Alright, you two stop being mushy, let's eat quickly. The kid still has school this afternoon...” Yang Xiu smiled and rolled her eyes, it had been a long time since such a warm scene appeared in their home. Maybe what Zhou Qingyang said was true, the kid really did understand things now.

  "Alright, let's eat! Eat up! Take a good rest this afternoon and listen carefully to the lesson. " Zhou Qingyang patted Zhou Yun's shoulder and started first.

  After a lunch, Zhou Yun suddenly felt much more relaxed. Since he had made up his mind to be a good learner and make progress every day, he couldn't slack off like before and indulge in computers all the time.

  Back in his room, Zhou Yun flopped onto the bed, a nap would help him feel more spirited for his afternoon classes. Just as he lay down, he discovered that there seemed to be something in his pants pocket, which was pressing against him uncomfortably. He reached in and took a look, it turned out to be the box of candies he had bought from the lame old man.

  At first glance, the candy box was exquisite, better than any packaging Zhou Yun had ever seen. It's estimated that the old man had carefully designed it to deceive people. With nothing to do after eating his fill, Zhou Yun leaned against the bed in boredom and opened the candy box. Inside, he saw three crystal-like candies that resembled pearls, occasionally wafting a faint sweet fragrance.

  Today's lunch is the most and most satisfying meal that Zhou Yun has had in recent days. Now his stomach is bulging, and he can't sleep at all. It's said that eating sugar after meals can help with digestion, but I don't know if it's true or not. But trying it out won't hurt...