After hesitating for a while, Li Xiaonian said solemnly: "Li Xiaoyue, listen, the reason why I blackmailed… No, the reason why I asked the proprietress to pay high compensation is that she is a bad person, so we don't have to show any mercy to her, but there are still more good people than bad in the society. When we encounter innocent good people, we should be lenient, understood?"
Li Xiaoyue made a face at him. "I'm not stupid."
Li Xiaonian tapped on his sister's head and continued. "Don't tell Mom what happened today. Just tell her the virtual helmets were given by Brother Bai, OK?"
Brother Bai, Li Xiaonian's classmate, whose name was Ling Baifei, had a rich family. Li Xiaonian was on good terms with him. There wouldn't be any problem taking him as an excuse.
Li Xiaoyue's face became stiff. "Li Xiaonian, are you teaching me to lie? You said before that children must not lie."
"This is a workaround, not a deception. Besides, you are no longer a child. Do you want Mom to feel uneasy?" Li Xiaonian threatened viciously, "If you tell Mom what happened today, I'll confiscate your virtual helmet."
"Okay, okay, I get it. I won't say anything."
Between honesty and a virtual helmet, Li Xiaoyue struggled for a long time and finally chose the latter.
Xinyue Community.
This was the community where Li Xiaonian was living. It was so densely packed with buildings that the lighting was rather poor. In addition, due to the limited parking spaces, the buildings were intersected with cheap vans and motorcycles.
It could be said that capable families had already moved out of here, and the rest were poor ordinary people.
Li Xiaonian's family had been paying the 30-years mortgage for 20 years, and it was still 10 years away.
They took the elevator.
Room 04, the 24th floor.
Then, they pushed the door open.
Li Xiaoyue held the birthday cake in her hand and shouted excitedly, "Mom, we're back."
In the kitchen, sitting in a wheelchair, Mo Lanhu looked back at her excited daughter and smiled. "Okay, I'm making your favorite pork belly. It'll be ready in a moment."
Ten years ago, when his sister was only one year old, Mo Lanhu was out shopping for groceries. In order to hurry home to take care of her children, she accidentally fell while taking the stairs. The injury seemed to not be serious, but she went to the hospital for examination and was finally diagnosed with coccygeal nerve damage, and since then, her lower body was paralyzed.
In order to treat the paralysis, Mo Lanhu visited famous hospitals all over the country and owed a large debt, but there was still no cure. Therefore, all the burdens of the family had fallen on his father, Li Zhong.
With monthly family living expenses and housing loans, Li Xiaonian's family could hardly make ends meet.
"Pork belly, yeah! Mom, I love you." Li Xiaoyue jumped up excitedly.
Li Xiaonian looked at his mother in the wheelchair, tears rolling in his eyes uncontrollably: It's been five years. Now his mother is still alive. That's great.
In order to prevent his mother from seeing his tears, Li Xiaonian entered the bathroom and washed his face. Then he walked out of the bathroom and said, "Mom, I'll make dinner. You watch TV for a while."
"No."
Li Xiaoyue yelled in horror. "I want to eat the pork belly made by Mom, not by you. Mom's cooking is the best."
In Li Xiaoyue's eyes, the dishes made by her mother were the most delicious. After all, her mom stayed at home every day. In order to pass the time, she spent all her energy on cooking. As time went by, even the simplest Water Boiled Cabbage she made was very delicious.
Li Xiaonian glared at his sister and threatened, "Are you sure that the pork belly I made is not delicious?"
"I… I…today is my birthday." Li Xiaoyue was aggrieved.
Watching the two of them bickering, Mo Lanhu smiled. "Let me cook it. I'm idle now. You watch TV first."
Suddenly, Mo Lanhu spotted the three cardboard boxes next to Li Xiaonian. She frowned imperceptibly and asked with a smile, "What are these three cardboard boxes?"
"It's three virtual helmets." Li Xiaonian simply confessed and made up a story. "We've graduated from school and Bai originally planned to run a "Star Wind" game studio, but in the end, his plan failed. I encountered him today and he happened to be disposing of these second-hand virtual helmets, so he gave away three of them to me. I refused, but he said today was Xiaoyue's birthday and these virtual helmets were his presents for Xiaoyue… So I can only accept it."
Li Xiaoyue gaped in surprise.
Is this really Li Xiaonian, her simple-minded brother? Look how he is good at bullshit, and he even rubbished her!
Mo Lanhu's heart shivered, but her face didn't change at all, and she nodded. "Then just keep them. I'll give you some money later, you can pay back part of the money to Bai, and we'll pay back the rest little by little. Even if they're second-hand goods, the price won't be much cheaper. The gift is too expensive."
Although she rarely went out, she knew that even the cheapest virtual helmet would cost 10,000 yuan, which was not affordable for everyone. This was an important reason for the resurgence of Internet cafes.
"Okay." Li Xiaonian responded obediently.
He knew very well that his mother who was of high self-esteem had been very self-blaming over the years. Mother would not easily accept gifts unless she had to.
Li Xiaoyue happily took out a virtual helmet and logged in to "Star Wind".
Li Xiaonian didn't stop her. There were two areas in "Star Wind", which were adult and underage areas. His sister was only 11 years old and could only enter a specific study area.
Li Xiaonian was worried about his mother, so he went into the kitchen to help her wash and process vegetables.
Both his mother and he were silent for a long time.
Suddenly, Li Xiaonian's eyes lit up and he smiled and said, "Mom, now we have three virtual helmets. You can also play games in the future. I heard that one can earn at least a few hundred yuan in a month in games as long as he is proficient enough and doesn't spend much money in games."
Mo Lanhu paused for a moment and then shook her head. "Playing games can make money? It must be a stunt of game companies." Then she looked at Li Xiaonian. "And are you really not going back to school to try the National College Entrance Exam again?"
Li Xiaonian who was washing vegetables paused and shook his head. "Mom, didn't you promise me not to mention this again? I know what I'm doing."
He clearly remembered that his total score in the college entrance examination was 553, only 10 points less than the entry score of first-class universities.
Fate made a joke with him. On the first day of the college entrance examination, he lost the admission ticket and missed the Chinese Language exam.
For Li Xiaonian, everything would be in vain as long as he failed to get the top pick.
The reason was simple. The college entrance examination champion would get a large bonus, but after the scores were released, he knew that even if he got the full mark in the Chinese Language, he wouldn't be able to win the championship because this year's champion got the terrifyingly high score of 733 points.
"Xiaonian, it's Mom's fault." Mo Lanhu sobbed.
Seeing his mother crying sadly, Li Xiaonian was at a loss. "Mom, you don't have to feel guilty. It's not your fault. I just don't want to continue studying. Nowadays, there are too many college students and a diploma is not as important as you think. Now there is still one month before the new semester starts. I've set myself a goal, which is to earn 20,000 yuan this month."
If the time trajectory remained unchanged, he had already obtained the space battleship [Shadow]. With the assistance of [Shadow], plus the game experience he gained in his previous life, earning 20,000 yuan a month was simply a breeze.
Mo Lanhu stopped crying, wiped the tears on the corners of her eyes, and smiled. "Are you kidding me? Money isn't so easy to make. Your dad has been working for more than 20 years, and now he only earns about 5,000 yuan a month."
Li Xiaonian chuckled. "Mom, you underestimate your son. I promise you that if I make less than 20,000 yuan in a month, I will listen to you and go back to school to try to get enrolled in a prestigious school."
"Really? Are you serious?" Mo Lanhu asked happily.
Her son had been sensible since he was a child. Once he had made a decision, no one could change his mind. For her, it was better than anything if her son agreed to go back to school.
It wasn't that easy to make money these days. Her son had no skills, work experience, or diploma. It would be a miracle for him to make 20,000 yuan a month.
"Of course, you have my word. I'll never deceive you." Li Xiaonian promised.
…
After they celebrated Li Xiaoyue's birthday after dinner, Li Xiaonian couldn't wait to return to his room.
He plugged in the power of the virtual helmet.
Slowly putting the virtual helmet on, he secretly cheered himself on. "Come on, Li Xiaonian. You must earn 1 million yuan in two months so that you can take your family to move out of the Xinyue Community and ask your father to quit his current job. Only in this way can you avoid those gangsters."
Ding...
System: "Welcome back to "Star Wind". Wishing you a good time."
Looking at the familiar novice base, Li Xiaonian couldn't wait to open the personal attribute bar.
Player: [June]
Occupation: war doctor
[Special Title]: Captain of the Shadow (Space Battleship).
Level: lv1;
Health Point: 10/10;
Mental Power Point: 8/8;
Energy Point: 1/1;
Merit: 2/10; (Improve personal rank or skill level)
Attack Power: 1~2;
Defense Power: 0;
Attributes:
Constitution: 1; (Increase health point)
Strength: 1: (Increase attack power)
Dexterity: 1; (Increase attack power (slightly), speed and accuracy)
Intelligence: 1; (Reduce negative control effects)
Skill: Healing lv1 (For every 1 point of mental power cost, 10% of the target's health points are restored;)
Equipment slot: None;
Item in the package: [Shadow (Space Battleship)];
Balance: None;
…
At this time, a mini space battleship was lying quietly in the package.
[Shadow]
A super space battleship in the sealed state. It has a strange power of invisibility and can transform into any shape freely. Without special circumstances, this item cannot be traded and won't drop.
Grade: Universe;
Firepower:??? (Sealed)
Defense:??? (Sealed)
Internal independent space: 100,000 cubic meters. (Usable)
Remarks: The Shadow ran out of energy and its hull is seriously damaged. It has entered a self-sealed state and cannot be used normally. Providing energy to the battleship will be rewarded with the corresponding rare materials inside it.
…
Looking at the familiar [Shadow], Li Xiaonian clenched his fist excitedly. "Great, the Shadow still exists. In this life, I will definitely not be so mediocre. Shadow Guild? Humph, let's wait and see."