A Young Woman's Heart

"Things like that lose their meaning once you have a cheat code. The reason why something is something to pursue is because it is something that is not easy to achieve at present."

"That's not necessarily true. Some people don't have high aspirations."

“That’s just because life isn’t happy enough.” Mo Xueyao kicked a soda can at her feet as she walked forward. “Once you reach a certain point, you’ll definitely want to do something bigger—like saving the world or something.”

"Everyone is different. Perhaps some people, when faced with that situation, would actually want to destroy the world?"

"Well..." Mo Xueyao kicked the can far away with force, "If Wanyan also had the ability to change reality, which one would you want?"

"Having money is enough," Li Wanyan replied simply and unpretentiously.

"Tsk, no dreams at all—if it were me, I'd definitely want invincible hacking abilities! That way I could do whatever I wanted in that virtual world!"

Li Wanyan simply smiled and did not answer.

"I wonder when there will be such a realistic game. Even if it's just controlled with a keyboard and mouse, I really want to experience a game that simulates the real world."

"Isn't the King of Fighters game that Haruka plays realistic enough?"

"Not realistic enough!" Mo Xueyao walked a distance forward, then kicked the can that she had just kicked far away, and carried it far away again. "I want a game where I can do whatever I want, with a real background that I can go to, instead of just a texture. There are stories happening everywhere, just like in real life. Ideally, I could also work and go to school like in real life."

"Then why does it have to be implemented in a game?"

"Because only in games can you experience a completely different life!"

The two chatted enthusiastically and soon returned to the fruit shop.

The father was preparing to close the stall, sorting the nearly rotten fruit into boxes and selling it at a lower price than fresh fruit.

Sometimes he'd be too lazy to sort them, so he'd put all sorts of fruits that were about to rot or even partially rotten together and sell them at a uniform price.

Of course, someone would buy fruit that's about to rot.

It might not even sell for the cost, but it's better than just throwing it in the trash.

"Oh, so you've finally come back, my girl who forgot about her father because of the movie? You're back so late, have you finished your homework?" the father teased with a hint of sarcasm.

"Oh no!"

“I think you should sleep here tonight. You’ll be finishing your homework very late, and you might as well use the time you would have spent on the way back to sleep a little longer.” The father wrote the price on a piece of cardboard and threw it on the cardboard box next to him.

The cardboard sign read: "Sesame Bananas - Price: 0.3/jin (0.5 catties)"

Mo Xueyao didn't have time to argue with her father, so she quickly took out her homework from her schoolbag and started writing it on the folding table where they ate.

She didn't even have time to tease Su Tang, who had jumped onto her lap. Doing her homework was more important right now, otherwise she would have to do it at school tomorrow.

Although she could probably finish writing it at school, Mo Xueyao has developed a habit since the second year of junior high school: "What needs to be done today, must be done today."

If you put off until tomorrow what you can do today, you probably won't even be able to sleep peacefully.

So she would rather go to bed later than miss a day and rush to finish her homework.

"Write carefully, don't just scribble something down because it's late," the father instructed.

"Nonsense, I might as well not write it at all."

Li Wanyan was stunned for a moment after hearing Mo Xueyao's words. Mo Wenli noticed this and immediately smiled at her: "Haha, Wanyan, do you think Xiaoyao is being disrespectful?"

"...a little bit."

"That's how it is in our family. We're all friends, so there's no need for those formalities like respecting the elderly and caring for the young, or filial piety."

“Yes, this is good, at least it’s easy.” Li Wanyan nodded. “Uncle, I’m going to do my homework now.”

"Go ahead, go ahead. If you get hungry tonight, just have the leftovers for a midnight snack." Mo Wenli pointed to the small refrigerator next to him. It was bought to sell drinks, but it's not necessary to keep it on since it's getting cold, so it's usually closed. Today, it was turned on to store leftovers.

Leftovers were placed on the bottom shelf.

When the brain is working at high speed, it feels like time slows down.

Even amidst the cacophony of the streets, I felt a profound sense of peace within.

Not to mention that the street in front of the fruit shop at ten o'clock is already very quiet.

Apart from the occasional car passing by, there are basically no pedestrians.

Even at its noisiest, all that's happening is the sound of ambulances sirens blaring as they drive by.

"Boss, is this the kind of banana that costs three cents?" a middle-aged woman dressed in somewhat tattered clothes asked, carrying a large bag of plastic bottles.

“Yes, it doesn’t look very appealing, but it’s not rotten at all. In fact, this kind is the tastiest,” the father strongly recommended.

"Where's the apple?"

"This one is 1.2 yuan, and this one is 0.8 yuan. The 0.8 yuan one doesn't actually have much rotten part. You can eat it after you cut off the rotten part."

Every day, the fruit shop has some fruit that's about to rot. The quantity isn't large, but there's a good variety of it.

The middle-aged woman seemed a little unsure, so she simply asked, "One yuan... can I have one of each?"

"One yuan? Uh... then I'm afraid I can only give you one grape and one longan."

"Give me a little more."

The middle-aged woman clutched the one-yuan coin tightly in her hand.

"Fine, I'll give you all these loose grapes for a dollar."

"Add bananas and apples?"

“Of course not.” Mortensie shook his head. “That’s impossible.”

"Anyway, if you can't sell them, they'll just rot..."

“That’s not how it works. If milk prices have dropped, why would dairy farmers rather dump it than sell it?” My father said firmly. “There’s a reason why businesses operate this way.”

"Then give me another small banana."

“…Never mind, here’s one, but not next time.” Mo Wenli shook his head helplessly and put the scattered grapes and a banana into the bag.

She wasn't given the smallest one; on the contrary, it was actually the largest one.

The banana looks completely black with hardly any yellow parts. Although it's actually at its sweetest at this time, its appearance is so bad that most people wouldn't buy it.

"Thank you." The middle-aged woman gratefully placed a one-yuan coin in Mo Wenli's hand. "My son wants to eat fruit, but besides meals, this is all the money I have, so I want to buy as many different kinds as possible..."

"Here you go, consider this longan a gift from me."

"Thank you, thank you." The middle-aged woman, carrying a large bag of plastic bottles, turned and walked away unsteadily, looking somewhat tired.

"It's getting dark, be careful," Mo Wenli called out from behind. Then, as if remembering something, he sighed, peeled a ripe banana, ate the yellowish-brown flesh in a few bites, and then tossed the banana peel into the trash can next to him.

"Dad, why don't you just give her all the nearly rotten stuff? It's useless anyway," Mo Xueyao asked, putting down her pen and looking up.

“Hehe… Of course not. You can’t be a pushover in business. You have to have principles no matter what.” Mo Wenli shook his head. “If we always do that, no one will come to buy from us. Then we’ll be waiting to pick up rotten but still edible fruit for free. How are we supposed to do business then?”

"How could it possibly develop like that? People who want to buy good fruit will still buy it."

"Even if it doesn't turn out that way, Xiaoyao, do you know what 'a little kindness is appreciated, but too much kindness breeds resentment' means?"

"Well……"

“And another one.” Mo Wenli placed a fresh banana on Mo Xueyao’s table, then picked up another and went into the small room of the fruit shop. His voice came from the small room, so it sounded a little softer. “How can you be sure that what she said is the truth? Maybe she just wants to gain people’s sympathy and get something for free.”

"Dad, you think too badly of people."

"This isn't as simple as good or bad. Society is far more complex than a little girl like you can imagine!"

……

Chapter 109 Midterm Exams of the First Semester of Grade 11

1999 11 Month 5 Day.

The midterm exams on Friday arrived as scheduled.

It was a sunny day—that's what Mo Xueyao was looking forward to.

Unfortunately, after the sudden shower in the morning, there was a continuous drizzle.

The rain was neither heavy nor light, lacking both the gentleness of a drizzle and the torrential downpour, making her feel quite uncomfortable.

There are only two midterm exams a semester, so they are conducted very formally, with all students in the grade being dispersed to various exam rooms.

Basically, there are only a few classmates in an exam room, and there is a high chance that they are far apart.

The exam room where Mo Xueyao was taking the test was in a rather unfortunate situation.

In the entire classroom, besides her, the only other classmate was a girl she didn't know very well.

Although Mo Xueyao wasn't very familiar with her and didn't even remember her name, she knew what her nickname was.

The main reason is that everyone in the class calls me that, and it's so easy to remember, so I accidentally only remember the nickname...

"Mo Xueyao, it's just you and me in the same exam room." She said to Mo Xueyao with a smile as she entered the classroom.

She has a mature charm, or rather, she looks rather mature.

They don't seem like high school students at all; they're more like senior college students who have already done internships in the workforce.

"um, yes."

Good luck on your exam, Mo Xueyao.

"You are also... Aunt Xuan."

That's right, Aunt Xuan is her nickname.

Even now, Mo Xueyao still hasn't remembered that her real name is Xuan Anyi.

Xuan Anyi was even mistaken for a student teacher when school started, and because of the homonym of her name, she has been called "Aunt Xuan" ever since someone gave her that nickname.

Although she initially protested strongly, she gradually got used to it over time, and now calling her "Aunt Xuan" is considered a sign of affection.

Xuan Anyi smiled slightly, cracked her knuckles, winked at her, and then sat down in her seat according to the numbered paper.

"Everyone, put your bags in front of you. The exam is about to begin." A bearded teacher walked into the classroom, immediately eliciting sighs from several students.

"Principal..."

"It's actually the principal..."

"It's over..."