Lin Bei lay on the bed in his rural clay-brick house, his mind filled with countless thoughts. Over the past fifteen years, he had endured many hardships and setbacks. Since childhood, he had carried the heavy blow of losing both parents, and it was his grandfather's selfless love that had raised him into adulthood.
During his growth, Lin Bei became introverted, insecure, and suspicious. He often felt inferior, lacking the confidence and courage to face life's challenges. Although he studied hard, his grades remained average, which left him feeling lost and helpless.
In his dreams, Lin Bei chased after the figure of his mother, only to find himself unable to get closer. When he realized he was losing her, he cried out, trying to grasp that figure that drifted farther away. No matter how hard he tried, her image blurred in his vision, eventually disappearing into the vast crowd.
This sudden awakening made Lin Bei's heart race. He sat up, breathing heavily, trying to calm the panic and unease within him. The darkness surrounded him, with only faint moonlight streaming through the window, casting a patchy light on the floor.
The echoes of his cries in the dream lingered in his mind, and a glistening tear slid down the corner of his eye.
That dream once again stirred up his grief and longing for his lost loved ones. He shut his eyes tightly, trying to push those emotions back down, but they surged like an unstoppable tide, impossible to suppress. After a long while, Lin Bei's emotions finally calmed.
He knew that the calls in the dream were just expressions of his deep-seated yearning for his deceased family members.
With a soft ding, the Unmatched System activated. The scene before Lin Bei changed abruptly, and his soul was transported into a vast space, surrounded by endless scenery with no apparent boundaries. In this quiet space, Lin Bei felt lost and afraid. After wandering around and trying various methods, he finally figured out how to exit.
With a thought, he withdrew from the space. When he tried to re-enter the system space, he found he couldn't. He guessed that it was limited to one entry per day.
Just then, the loud crow of a rooster sounded from outside the window. The sound of a light switching on came from beside him. "Grandpa, you sleep a little longer. I'll get today's luggage ready," Lin Bei said with concern.
Grandpa smiled kindly. "Alright, you prepare the luggage; I'll go make breakfast." With that, he got up and headed to the kitchen.
Watching his grandfather's aged figure, Lin Bei felt a pang in his heart. All these years, it had been Grandpa silently giving everything for him.
Lin Bei quickly dressed and got out of bed, retrieving the large bag he had prepared under the bed yesterday. He began packing the clothes and supplies he would need for school. Walking to a corner of the room, he picked up a small iron trowel leaning against the wall, then approached the foot of the bed and gently dug into the slightly damp soil on the ground.
Lin Bei picked up the ancient-looking box inside and carefully opened it. Before him lay an old photograph. He gently lifted the photo, treating it as if it were a fragile treasure. His fingers lightly traced the edges, afraid that even the slightest force might damage it.
His gaze settled on the photo, deep and focused, as though he could see into the past through this thin piece of paper. His brow furrowed slightly, and his expression held a faint sadness. His fingers gently caressed the face in the photo, the person who was no longer by his side. His heart filled with longing and nostalgia.
Finally, he slowly set the photo down, taking a deep breath, trying to steady the sorrow within him. Looking down, he saw the stack of banknotes tightly wrapped in a plastic bag. He picked up the heavy money pouch and opened it slowly. Only 2,351 yuan remained, all in national currency.
Over the years, he had relied on this compensation for his parents' deaths to get by, and now it was almost gone. Every time he thought of the pain of losing his parents and the gradual depletion of this fund, Lin Bei felt an overwhelming sadness and helplessness.
"Lin Bei, it's time to eat," came his grandfather's kind voice from the kitchen.
"Okay, I'm coming," Lin Bei responded, walking to the kitchen to join his grandfather for breakfast.
After their meal, as the night gradually faded, the sky began to lighten with the faint white of dawn. The sun had yet to fully rise, casting a soft, orange-red glow on the horizon. A gentle breeze blew, bringing a slight chill that dispelled the remnants of the night's cold. Leaves swayed lightly in the morning wind, producing a pleasant sound, as if whispering the tale of a new day.
"Go on to Uncle Lin's house and head to school with your classmates," Grandpa said as he gathered the dishes.
"Mm," Lin Bei responded, gently closing his packed bag, his eyes reflecting a trace of uncertainty about the future. He shouldered his heavy backpack, took a deep breath, and turned to say goodbye to Grandpa.
Grandpa was sitting on a stone bench outside the house, looking up at his grandson with a kind smile. "Bei'er, remember to take good care of yourself and don't let Grandpa worry," he said, his voice slightly hoarse but filled with love.
Lin Bei walked over, crouched beside him, and held Grandpa's hand. "I will, Grandpa. You take care too, and wait for me to come back."
With that, he stood up and started walking towards Uncle Lin's house.
Uncle Lin's home wasn't far from Grandpa's, so Lin Bei soon arrived. He knocked on the door, which quickly opened to reveal Uncle Lin's warm smile.
"Uncle Lin, I'm here," Lin Bei said, offering him a gift—a bamboo craft he had made himself. "I made this; I hope you like it."
Uncle Lin took the gift and examined it closely. "Oh, Bei'er, your craftsmanship keeps getting better. Thank you; I really like it."
Just then, Uncle Lin's son, Lin Hu, came out of the room. "Dad, everything's ready; let's go! Lin Bei, you're here too—let's head to school together."
"Alright, Brother Hu, I'm ready," Lin Bei replied, hoisting his backpack.
The two climbed into Uncle Lin's tractor, which slowly pulled out of the village, heading toward the school in town.
The scenery along the way gradually changed, shifting from fields to streets, from the quiet countryside to the bustling town.
"Lin Bei, it's already time for the high school entrance exams this year. Time flies! We have to make sure we both get into City No. 1 High School," Lin Hu said excitedly.
"I'll work hard, too," Lin Bei replied shyly.
Before long, the tractor stopped at the school's main gate. Lin Bei and Lin Hu got off and walked into the campus, parting ways as they headed to their respective classes.