Chapter 154: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 154: This Is Perhaps What Is Called the Generation Gap

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Confused teenagers in puberty, under the influence of hormones, always give rise to this or that kind of sentiment.

Wang Xiaohua is no exception.

He actually has a secret crush on a female classmate, though it can't really be called a secret crush — it's more like admiration.

That female classmate not only has excellent grades, but is also very good-looking, with a very fair face, no acne, and most importantly, very good and straight teeth.

This forms a sharp contrast with Wang Xiaohua's short, ugly, and poor situation, making him feel extremely inferior in front of that female classmate, to the extent that even though they are in the same class, up to now he still hasn't said a single sentence to that female classmate.

His inferiority has already been deeply engraved in the depths of his inner heart; he hates that he cannot be confident and generous like other classmates, hates why he is so inferior and ugly.

He eagerly wants to make a change, not only to not feel inferior in front of the female classmate he admires, but also to be able to shape a brand-new self before entering high school, so that he can have a brand-new life in high school.

It's just a pity that his parents' lack of understanding and lack of support make him completely powerless to change the cruel reality.

He still has no economic capability whatsoever; he can only obey his ignorant and stubborn parents.

In the end, Wang Xiaohua failed to get the opportunity to straighten his teeth as he wished.

Because of this matter, he was depressed all the way until the high school entrance exam; even when returning home on weekends, he no longer spoke much with his parents.

Once back home, he would lock himself in his room; apart from eating meals, he would not come out again.

Seeing Wang Xiaohua like this, Li Xiulan felt this wasn't a solution, so she had Wang Erhai go persuade him.

Wang Erhai took Wang Xiaohua to play basketball.

Wang Xiaohua felt staying at home on weekends was also quite stifling; going to play basketball with Second Brother was better than being together with his parents.

So for the next several weekends, he went to play basketball inside the village primary school together with Wang Erhai.

Wang Xiaohua's body became somewhat stronger, and his basketball skills increased rapidly, but his height was still that short, as if he had already stopped growing taller.

"Second Brother, what exactly is wrong with Dad and Mom? Before, when I said I wanted to sign up for an English tutoring class they weren't willing; now I say I'll straighten my teeth after the high school entrance exam, and they're still not willing — could it be that us biological sons are still not as important as the few thousand yuan in their hands?"

After the two finished playing ball, they sat on the chairs beside the basketball court chatting.

Wang Xiaohua's face was full of bitterness as he spoke his heart's worries.

"Don't think like that; I feel Dad and Mom definitely regard us as more important than money, it's just that the older generation's thinking is different from ours — them not letting you straighten your teeth might be because they feel a mouthful of healthy teeth is more important than a mouthful of straight teeth."

Wang Erhai explained it this way.

Actually, in his inner heart he also couldn't understand his parents' various behaviors.

In his view, his parents' many behaviors were very bizarre, very laughable.

This is perhaps what is called the generation gap.

"With me like this, so short, so stunted, and the family still poor, I definitely won't be able to get a wife in the future."

Wang Xiaohua sighed.

"You're worrying just over this? Honestly telling you, Second Brother me — do you have a girl you like?"

Wang Erhai started gossiping.

As young people of the same generation, Wang Erhai saw through Wang Xiaohua's thoughts at once.

Wang Xiaohua's face reddened slightly; he denied it flatly:

"Where would there be? It's just... I really don't understand why Big Brother is both tall and handsome, Second Brother you're not bad either, but how come I'm both short and stunted? Sometimes I even suspect whether I'm really biologically related to you guys."

Wang Erhai laughed and said:

"Don't think nonsense; looking at your face shape, it's practically cast from the same mold as Dad — how could you not be biologically related?"

Then he also comforted him:

"You just haven't developed much yet; wait until you enter high school and develop, grow into your frame, and you'll definitely become both tall and handsome!"

Wang Xiaohua sighed: "Hope so... it's just, if my teeth aren't corrected, they can't be changed; these teeth are too ugly — sometimes when I look in the mirror I want to take pliers and pull out the teeth in my mouth."

Wang Erhai patted Wang Xiaohua's shoulder:

"Don't think so much; study well now. Dad and Mom aren't willing to give you money to straighten your teeth — then after the high school entrance exam, we'll go do a summer job ourselves to earn money, use our own money to fix it, and they surely won't have any objections then, right?"

Hearing this, Wang Xiaohua also felt it made sense.

"Right, they won't give money for me to fix it — then I'll go earn money myself to fix it!"

Under Wang Erhai's persuasion, the powerlessness in Wang Xiaohua's inner heart gradually faded.

When it comes down to it, fate is ultimately still grasped in one's own hands; he has already grown up, he cannot let his parents help with everything, and even more cannot let them dominate his fate.

They have been failures their whole lives; if they are allowed to dominate his fate, he will only follow them into the cycle of failure.

Wang Xiaohua no longer worried over his teeth.

He threw himself wholeheartedly into his studies again.

His goal became clear: first, do well on the high school entrance exam; once the exam ends, he'll go find a summer job, earn money from the summer job, and then go straighten his teeth.

Additionally, he secretly resolved in his inner heart that from now on, no matter what problems he encounters, he will no longer go ask for his parents' opinions.

Time flew by; several months passed in the blink of an eye.

The high school entrance exam finally arrived.

After Wang Xiaohua finished taking the high school entrance exam, without waiting for the scores to come out, he wanted to go find a summer job.

But the ideal was beautiful, reality was cruel.

He suddenly discovered that in this remote little town, there was simply no one who wanted summer workers.

And if he went to the county town to find a summer job, he would still have to find a place to live in the county town.

He didn't have a single penny; how could he afford to rent a house?

He thought about working at the factory, but he was still underage and short in stature, so surely no factory would want him.

Wang Erhai comforted him:

"Don't be sad if you can't find a summer job; once you're in high school, you can just look for part-time work."

Wang Xiaohua was dispirited and could only accept this reality.

Wang Erhai said again:

"I'll go check the factories near County Town to see if they'll hire me; if they do, I'll let you use the money I earn first."

Hearing this, Wang Xiaohua was deeply moved.

"Second Brother, no matter the result, I thank you!"

Wang Erhai laughed and said:

"We're like brothers; why are you saying this to me!"

Wang Erhai made a trip to County Town, strolled around the city, but in the end still couldn't find work; he was still underage, and ordinary factories dared not hire him.

The newly opened McDonald's in County Town was hiring part-time workers, and the hourly wage was decent at twelve yuan an hour, but it required a Health Certificate and working until very late at night before getting off duty; Wang Erhai had no money to get the Health Certificate, and since he couldn't get home if he got off too late, nor afford to rent a house in County Town, he could only give up the job.

Wang Erhai returned home and told Wang Xiaohua about this matter.

Wang Xiaohua had no complaints about this; he still thanked his second brother for his efforts.

Wang Erhai said with a face full of guilt:

"If only I were a year older, then a factory would hire me; it's a pity I'm only seventeen."

Wang Xiaohua said:

"Second Brother, this isn't your fault; you've already done your best."

Then he said in a deliberately light-hearted tone:

"If we can't find a summer job, let it go; we can play to our heart's content at home for the whole summer vacation, which isn't a bad thing either!"

At this moment Wang Erhai suddenly had a flash of inspiration:

"Right, I have another way to earn money, though it's a bit hard; I don't know if you, little brother, are willing to give it a try?"

Wang Xiaohua was stunned and hurriedly asked:

"What method?"