SWNOVELXO Chapter 9:
Chapter 9: I Want To Be An Official:
After walking more than ten miles, Lin You checked the time—it was already past noon. He estimated it would take another three to four hours to reach his destination.
Feeling hungry, he sat by the roadside, removed his worn shoes, and shook out a few small pebbles before slipping them back on. Taking out the plain steamed bun he had bought earlier, he ate it in one swift bite, swallowing it dry.
‘Damn, I forgot to buy water.’ He thought, frustrated.
After satisfying his hunger, Lin You resumed his journey. A few miles later, he managed to catch a ride on a farm vehicle that took him over thirty miles before letting him off. By the time he arrived at Dinghui Temple—the small, dilapidated temple where he had grown up—it was already four in the afternoon.
Xuanzhi, his adoptive father, had called his younger adoptive siblings, Jueming and Minghui, back from their boarding schools. When Lin You finally arrived, they were waiting for him. From a distance, Jueming spotted Lin You’s tired figure and hurried to meet him. Grabbing the worn backpack from Lin You’s shoulder, he scolded him gently.
“Brother, why didn’t you call me? I’ve got some money saved from delivering food during the winter vacation—over 2,000 yuan. Why walk so far?”
Jueming stood tall at 1.78 meters, making Lin You, with his frail and undernourished appearance, seem like the younger brother. His robust build starkly contrasted Lin You’s worn-down frame, a clear testament to the hardships Lin You had endured over the past few years.
Jueming, also known as Jiang Ming, was named by Xuanzhi based on documents left with him as an infant, including his birthdate and father’s surname. Minghui, their youngest sibling, rushed toward Lin You with tears in her eyes, throwing her arms around him.
“Brother, don’t go back to that family,” she sobbed. “We’re doing fine here. Rich and noble people are not meant for us.”
She wiped her tears and added, “I’m already earning money. Last month, I made over 4,000 yuan tutoring my classmates. I even treated Master with it.”
Minghui, formally named Jiang Minghui, had also been named from the information left with her as a baby. Lin You smiled gently, brushing her hair back. “Huihui, you’re amazing. Your brother has been useless and made you all suffer.”
At that moment, Xuanzhi approached, coughing lightly. A warm smile spread across his face. “You’er, it’s good to have you back. We’re a family, and a little hardship doesn’t matter.”
“Everything is fate,” he continued. “When fate brings us together, we meet; when it ends, we part. But for now, let’s focus on the present. I even bought two kilograms of minced meat to make dumplings tonight.”
Xuanzhi, a devout monk and vegetarian, never imposed his dietary restrictions on the children. The four of them entered the modest temple, which consisted of a main hall, two side halls, and a few small rooms. Dinghui Temple had once housed several monks, but over the years, some had returned to secular life or transferred to larger temples. Now, only Xuanzhi remained.
In the kitchen, Xuanzhi had already prepared minced meat and vegetable fillings for dumplings. As usual, the three siblings ate the meat-filled dumplings while Xuanzhi enjoyed the vegetarian ones. Within half an hour, steaming dumplings were served.
Traditionally, the first plate went to Minghui, then to Jiang Ming, followed by Lin You, with Xuanzhi serving himself last. But today, Minghui insisted that Lin You take the first bowl. Under her eager gaze, Lin You accepted and took a bite.
The rich, familiar flavor, coupled with the warmth of family, washed away years of gloom and suffering.
“Is it good, Brother?” Minghui asked, her big, sparkling eyes fixed on him.
“It’s delicious,” Lin You replied, almost swallowing his tongue in his enthusiasm. For the first time in years, he felt truly alive. Living with the Lin family had been nothing more than existing—a fly trapped in a glass case, surrounded by a façade of brightness but with no real future.
Minghui grinned proudly. “I made those!”
“You’ve got the makings of a chef,” Lin You said, nodding.
Soon, Jiang Ming and Minghui received their plates, and Xuanzhi joined them with his bowl of vegetarian dumplings. He watched with a contented smile as his children devoured their food.
After dinner, Lin You stood to clear the table, but Jiang Ming stopped him. “Brother, sit down and rest. I have something to talk to you about later.”
Unable to refuse, Lin You sat back and watched as the others tidied up. Jiang Ming washed the dishes, Minghui swept the floor, and Xuanzhi dried the utensils.
Later, Lin You stepped into the courtyard alone and sat on a bench near the incense burner, gazing at the sky. Moments later, Jiang Ming joined him, sitting silently by his side.
After a while, Jiang Ming asked softly, “Brother, do you think there are gods up there?”
Lin You smiled faintly. “Probably not. Being a god must be boring—no family, no desires, no everyday struggles like cooking or budgeting. Living forever might even be painful.”
Jiang Ming shifted his gaze to Lin You’s face. “Brother, you don’t have to say it. I know they hurt you.”
Lin You patted his shoulder. “It’s nothing, Brother. Just a few minor injuries. Who hasn’t been hit as a child?”
“That’s different,” Jiang Ming said through gritted teeth. “You’re sixteen, not a child. They brought you back just to mistreat you. Is that even human?”
He clenched his fists. “You were taller than me when you left. Look at you now—you haven’t grown, and you’re even thinner than when you lived here.”
His voice hardened. “Brother, I’ve made up my mind. When I grow up, I want to be an official.”
Lin You was taken aback. “An official? Why?”
Jiang Ming’s eyes burned with determination. “No reason. Look at you, look at Master. In this world, the poor fear the rich, and the rich fear officials. I want to make sure no one bullies us again.”
He sighed. “After the Bureau of Culture and Education canceled our subsidies, Master and I went to argue with them. The way they looked at us… It was disgusting. One day, I’ll make them regret it.”
Lin You patted Jiang Ming’s hand. “It’s good to have dreams, Brother, but don’t let them consume you. Do your best and leave the rest to fate.”
Jiang Ming nodded. Noticing Minghui peeking from behind a bush, he stood and patted Lin You’s shoulder. “That little girl hasn’t seen you in over six months. I’ll leave her to you. I need to finish my homework.”
As he turned to leave, Lin You called after him. “Wait. I bought you a pair of sneakers. Size 40, right? They should fit.”
Jiang Ming took the sneakers, comparing them to his feet. “They’re great, Brother. Thank you!” Smiling, he walked back into the house, leaving Lin You with Minghui.