From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

When I got up the next morning, Su Qing was already sitting on the stone bench in the yard.

The morning light slanted in from outside the courtyard wall. She lowered her head and gently turned the bracelet on her wrist with her fingers.

Sunlight streamed through the bracelet, casting a warm halo around the stone tabletop.

I walked over to her, stretched while gazing into the distance, and called out to her:

"Up so early?"

She put the bracelet back on, looked up at me, and said:

"I had a nightmare last night, dreaming that I lost the bracelet again. It woke me up in a fright and I couldn't fall back asleep."

I smiled faintly: "Since you care so much, then keep wearing it and don't take it off."

She nodded, examined her wrist for a moment, stood up, stretched, and casually asked:

What should I eat for breakfast?

"I'm cooking noodles. There's a bunch of scallions left over from yesterday's kitchen."

"Okay, then you go cook."

I shook my head helplessly: "So you're starting to order me around again, aren't you?"

"You go cook, and I'll just watch from the side. Is that alright?"

I couldn't be bothered to argue with her, so I turned and went into the kitchen.

The small courtyard kitchen is fully equipped, with all the pots, pans, and utensils readily available.

Su Qing followed me in and stood quietly to the side watching me work.

I grabbed two cloves of garlic and handed them to her: "Since you're bored, help me peel these garlic cloves."

"Okay, I'll do this little thing."

She reached out and took it, then squatted down next to the trash can and carefully peeled the garlic.

Looking at her like this, I felt a strange sense of emotion.

It's hard to connect the girl squatting on the ground peeling garlic with the arrogant and willful Miss Su who used to threaten to jump off a bridge.

She has really changed a lot, so much so that it feels unreal and surreal.

A month ago, she was the one standing on the overpass in a tank top, acting like she was going to die; now she's squatting next to a trash can peeling garlic.

The garlic was quickly peeled, and she stood up, asking curiously, "I've seen some people eat garlic raw, can you do that?"

"What's wrong with that? Garlic can be eaten raw anyway."

Su Qing made an exaggerated expression: "Isn't it spicy?"

"Fortunately, it can also kill bacteria, which is good for the stomach and intestines."

Her eyes lit up: "Then open your mouth and eat one so I can see."

Without hesitation, I opened my mouth, and she fed me a clove of garlic.

I crunched away, my expression unchanged.

Su Qing stood opposite me, her brows furrowed, staring at me with disbelief.

After finishing the food in a few bites, she asked curiously, "You seem to be eating so calmly, is it really not spicy at all?"

"It's alright, why don't you give it a try?"

Su Qing hesitated for a moment, then carefully took a small bite.

The next second he immediately spat it out, his face contorted in pain as he gasped for breath.

"My God, it's so spicy and you say it's nothing? You're deliberately trying to trick me!"

"Watch closely who's deliberately trying to trick you."

As I spoke, I picked up another clove of garlic and started chewing it.

"Who did that on purpose? Just you wait, I'll eat another one to show you."

As I spoke, I picked up another clove of garlic and started eating it.

Su Qing still felt uncomfortable watching it, and after a while she exclaimed, "You're really something, I can't handle it, it's burning my heart."

I smiled and said, "You'll get used to it after a while if you eat it a lot."

She quickly took half a step back, looking disgusted: "Don't come near me when you talk to me, you're so arrogant!"

"You were the one who offered me the food, and now you're complaining about my bad breath?"

Su Qing stuck her tongue out at me and stopped arguing.

Once the noodles were cooked, we took them to the stone table in the courtyard and sat down to eat while gazing at the morning view of the river.

Su Qing suddenly spoke up: "How is it? Is it comfortable living in our little courtyard? Doesn't it have more character than those expensive river-view apartments?"

I have to admit that it's really comfortable here.

The night is quiet and peaceful, far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Although the location is remote, renting it at this price is an absolute steal.

I suddenly remembered something and turned to ask her, "By the way, where did you see this apartment listing?"

"I randomly called the rental ad posted on a utility pole by the roadside to ask about it."

After she finished speaking, she raised her chin to show her approval: "How about it? Aren't you going to praise me?"

I smiled and nodded: "Okay, so how do you want me to compliment you?"

She rolled her eyes at me: "You're so dense, do you need someone to teach you how to compliment someone?"

I was both amused and exasperated, and was trying to think of something to say to comfort her when she changed the subject again:

"By the way, are you planning to go out and look for work today?"

I sighed softly, "We definitely have to find someone, what else can we do?"

"Then I'll go with you."

I was utterly exasperated: "What are you coming with me for? There's a high chance you can't handle the work I can do."

"Tell me what you plan to do first, so I have a general idea."

I paused for a moment, my tone somewhat bewildered: "To be honest, I have no direction. I don't have a high level of education, nor do I have any marketable skills. After entering the workforce, I first worked on construction sites, then in factories, and then as a food delivery driver... After going around in circles, all I know is these manual labor jobs. I can't figure out any other path in the short term."

Su Qing frowned slightly, thinking seriously: "Now that you mention it, it seems there aren't many options left."

"That's why I said you simply can't handle those kinds of jobs."

She thought quietly for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Have you ever thought about starting your own business again? Like you did when you ran the courier station before?"

I gave a bitter laugh: "What am I going to use to start a business? Fang Heng has already blocked that path in the express delivery industry. Besides, starting a business requires capital everywhere, and I'm currently penniless. Where would I get the funds to try anything?"

"Didn't headquarters compensate you with money when the courier station was taken back?"

"That little bit of money is a drop in the ocean. These days, without a minimum of several hundred thousand, it's very difficult to make a name for yourself in any business."

Su Qing fell silent upon hearing this, then sighed softly in disappointment: "So you're just going to give up like this?"

I shook my head and smiled faintly, "You're wrong about that. My life is already tough enough, so there's no question of giving up or not."

Su Qing pouted: "But in your current state, how can you even talk about dealing with Fang Heng?"

That sentence hit the nail on the head, and I was instantly speechless.

She's right.

Right now I have nothing, no money, no connections, and no bargaining chips.

After a brief silence, I teased, "What's wrong? Were you originally waiting for me to find a chance to retaliate, but now that you see I'm in a difficult situation, are you starting to feel disappointed?"

"That's true to some extent. But not entirely. Mainly, I've always felt that you're a person who refuses to admit defeat and is very ambitious."

"How do you know I'm ambitious?" I asked her curiously.

She said in a serious tone, "Think about it, Fang Heng has tried every means to suppress you, but you have never bowed your head and admitted defeat. On the contrary, you have become more courageous after each setback. Isn't that what it means to be ambitious?"

I was speechless for a moment.

I wouldn't call myself ambitious; I know in my heart that I have no right to stop.

If the medication is stopped, there will be no way to pay for the mother's continued medication.