18. Wild Grass in the Crevices of Stone

When it came to the man on the basketball court, he was something of a well-known figure at the University of Commerce and Industry, though his fame was rather unusual.

Bu Chunsheng hailed from a remote region in the southwest and had managed to get into the university despite his impoverished background. Affording his living expenses as a student was utterly out of the question, so one of his teachers helped him come up with a roundabout solution: first, enroll as a student to secure his place, then join the army. After serving for two years and being discharged, he would receive a compensation payment for veterans.

Additionally, the state offered various preferential policies and financial support for university students returning from military service—not only paying a portion of their student loans, but also reimbursing their tuition fees each year.

In other words, Bu Chunsheng exchanged two years of his youth for an opportunity that was invaluable to him.

That’s exactly what he did. Relying on the state’s compensation, his own part-time jobs, and even collecting and selling discarded items, he survived with the tenacity of wild grass growing between the cracks of fate’s stones.

The year Chen Ling and his classmates entered university happened to be when Bu Chunsheng returned from the army. At the time, Bu’s story was even used by the school as a motivational example, so juniors and seniors all knew him and would lend him a hand when they could.

Chen Ling’s family was not well-off either, so he had once silently admired Bu Chunsheng, but with his rebirth, he had long since forgotten these things—seeing Bu now brought it all back to him.

Since the right person was right before his eyes, Chen Ling didn’t need to search any further. He turned and entered the basketball court, heading straight for Bu Chunsheng.

“Hey, Brother Sheng!” Chen Ling called out.

“Hey, you’re here!” Bu Chunsheng had just crushed a drink bottle and tossed it into his woven sack. He turned around cheerfully, but seeing Chen Ling’s empty hands, he couldn’t help but frown. Some thoughtless students sometimes teased him, but Bu didn’t mind and simply nodded at Chen Ling, returning to his search for discarded bottles.

“Wait, Brother Sheng, don’t go—I have something to discuss with you,” Chen Ling hurried to catch up.

Bu Chunsheng looked puzzled. “What is it?”

“Come on,” Chen Ling dragged him aside to a quiet spot, saying, “I’ve started a small business with some classmates. We’re short-handed, so I wanted to ask if you’d like a part-time job?”

Bu Chunsheng’s eyes lit up at first, but then he said wryly, “Of course I want to, but I don’t know the first thing about business. I’d hate to hold you back...”

“It’s nothing complicated,” Chen Ling hastened to explain. “If you can use a computer and chat on QQ, that’s enough. The key is, it’s a bit tiring, so you have to be able to endure hardship.”

“No problem there! I learned computers in the army, and as for hardship, that’s what I’m best at. Heh.” Bu Chunsheng had long since come to terms with his poverty; shame, weakness, complaints, and discouragement were useless. Dignity is earned with your own two hands and sweat—this was one of the truths he’d gained from his two years in uniform.

So Chen Ling’s offer didn’t just touch his heart—he was determined to do the job well, to do it beautifully.

Chen Ling led Bu Chunsheng toward the dorm, chatting as they walked. “Brother Sheng, there’s something I’ve always been curious about, but I’m worried you might mind...”

“Then don’t ask,” Bu Chunsheng replied, catching Chen Ling off guard.

Then Bu looked at him and burst out laughing. “Just kidding! If you want to know something, just ask. No need to worry—I’m a soldier, not so fragile or sensitive.”

Chen Ling laughed as well. “So you have a sense of humor! Glad to hear it. I was just curious—besides collecting bottles, there are plenty of things you could do. Why choose the toughest, and, well, the most... how should I put it...”

“The most humiliating, right?” Bu Chunsheng finished for him. “Actually, you all don’t know—picking up bottles isn’t a bad way to earn money. Big bottles from drinks like Jihuo, Jiao, and Maodong can fetch fifteen or even twenty cents each; even water bottles are worth ten cents.

Everyone at the courts knows me and looks out for me. In one afternoon, I can get two or three hundred bottles, sometimes three or four hundred—that’s dozens of yuan, over a thousand a month! Together with the campus jobs the school gives me, if I didn’t have to send money home, I’d actually have more spending money than most students!

As for humiliation? I don’t think so—if anything, it’s the opposite. I’m pretty well-known at school because I’m always out collecting bottles. That’s a kind of wealth in itself, isn’t it? Look, you came to me yourself!”

As he spoke, there was a touch of pride in his voice—the pride of earning with his own hands.

Chen Ling listened and couldn’t help but feel a wave of respect. A life pressed to the limits by fate—he was reminded of the final moments of his previous life. Bu Chunsheng lived more thoroughly and bravely than he ever had.

“By the way,” Bu Chunsheng asked in return, “what exactly do you need me to do?”

After Chen Ling explained the job and the commission, Bu Chunsheng was a little puzzled. “I know about phone credit top-ups. Usually, there’s only a few yuan of profit per transaction—it’s all about volume. If you’re giving me eight yuan per order, won’t you be losing money?”

“You’ll understand when the time comes. Just don’t worry about fairness,” Chen Ling replied with a smile.

Bringing in another person did relieve the group’s workload, but naturally, it also diluted the profits. For Chen Ling and Zhang Peng, it didn’t matter—they were taking the lion’s share and didn’t care about a few yuan here and there. But it was different for Bao Zhenhai, who worked on commission; Bu Chunsheng’s arrival would inevitably cut into his income, so lowering his commission by two yuan was a way to keep things balanced.

Chatting as they went, the two entered the dorm building, and Chen Ling led Bu Chunsheng into Room 310.

“Back so soon?” Zhang Peng glanced at the door, then slapped his forehead. “Brother Sheng! Look at us—we almost forgot about you! Good thing Chen Ling brought you in. What a relief!”

Bu Chunsheng smiled at Chen Ling. “See, didn’t I tell you? That’s a kind of wealth in itself.”

At that moment, Bao Zhenhai stood up, a bit nervous, glancing at Chen Ling for reassurance.

“Brother Sheng will get eight yuan per order working with us,” Chen Ling announced, immediately restoring Bao Zhenhai’s smile. He hurried over to shake Bu Chunsheng’s hand. “You’ve come at just the right time—finally, we have another pair of hands!”

As the four laughed and talked, Yuan Hui suddenly pushed open the door. Seeing Bu Chunsheng inside, he frowned, grabbed a couple of shirts, and said curtly, “I’m on duty the next few days, so I won’t be staying here,” before turning and leaving.

Bu Chunsheng scratched his head awkwardly. “Did I upset him by coming here?”

“Not at all!” Zhang Peng quickly replied. “You heard him—he’s on duty. Just sleep in his bed for the next few days, and we can chat more. Of all people, I admire soldiers who defend the country the most! If my dad hadn’t stopped me, I’d have joined up myself!”

“Ha, that’s right. The army’s training is tough, but there’s a lot of interesting stuff too,” Bu Chunsheng said, warming to Zhang Peng. “Alright, I’ll go get my quilt—we can have a proper chat.”

Watching Bu Chunsheng fit in so easily with the others, Chen Ling finally relaxed. The entire operation line was now complete, and he could finally turn his attention to more important matters.