Chapter 35

Saturday.

The weather was fine and sunny.

The hospital seemed a bit lazier than usual.

As I walked out, I noticed two nurses standing under a rose bush at the entrance, chatting with their hands in their pockets.

One of the nurses must have said something funny because the other nurse bent over laughing.

I glanced at them and continued on my way, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by the heavy scent of the hospital.

I hurriedly made my way outside.

Nurses are highly regarded by the nursing assistants in the hospital.

They think nurses are great because they handle all the dirty and tiring work.

But my classmates in school look down on nurses. We attend a prestigious high school, and our goal is to go to university. Nurses usually graduate from nursing schools, which creates a hierarchy of disdain.

As usual, I slung my backpack over my shoulder and headed to the library.

On the way, I checked my personal interface:

Only 4 days left for the memory buff, 5 days for the language proficiency buff, and 28 days for the swimming buff.

I've gained new skills in long-distance running and singing. My strength has increased, my eyelashes have grown longer, my vision has improved, and I've even acquired an enhanced sense of smell. What's that for?

I absentmindedly pushed up my glasses and realized they were empty. I no longer needed them.

The world seemed a bit clearer, a bit brighter.

When I arrived at the library, I found someone sitting in my usual spot. Perhaps it was because it was the weekend, but the library seemed a bit more crowded today.

I continued searching and found a copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird" in its original English version.

While searching for books, I felt a bit lost.

Today, I suddenly felt a sense of desolation, a inexplicable low mood. Not even the smiles of the two nurses at the hospital entrance could lift my spirits.

I felt that my act of coming to the library to read was more of a formality, yet without reading, my mind felt empty, as if there was nothing at all.

I hadn't read this book before, but I had heard about it.

I picked up the book and also grabbed an English dictionary. Then I found a corner near the trash can, which was unoccupied.

Not far away, some parents were reading with their children. The children couldn't sit still, constantly shifting in their seats. They looked around, occasionally bothering others.

I envied those children. I had never come to the library with my father. He always had endless work to do, and even when he went into town, he had to calculate the time to catch the bus back. He never had the chance to accompany me to the library to read.

It felt like two completely different worlds. But the reason I could sit in the library and read was because of my father's efforts.

After I sat down, I opened the book, and my restless heart gradually calmed down.

At first, it took me a long time to read a page, and I had to consult the dictionary frequently. But as time went on, my reading speed increased.

Soon, the sounds of children running around disappeared.

This novel was published in 1960, several decades ago. Yet, classics are probably things that survive after being washed away by time.

I followed the protagonist in the book and entered that world.

At first, it was just a cheerful family, seemingly as ordinary as mine, with troubles and interesting anecdotes.

But as the story unfolded, it became more complicated.

The protagonist's father is a lawyer who defended a black man accused of raping a white girl. Despite finding evidence to prove his innocence, the black man is still found guilty due to the jury's prejudice.

Defending the black man brings about significant changes in the protagonist's family.

The protagonist is mocked and excluded by classmates at school.

This story was written quite some time ago, and some sentences may not be easily understood.

But as Su Xiaoqi, a student who comes from a poor background in the mountains, reads this story, she surprisingly feels a deep connection because she is sensitive in her own right.

In her own life, although there aren't explicit and extreme prejudiced remarks like in the book, there is still contempt present.

She vividly remembers a time when the head teacher asked to talk to her, hoping that she would focus more on her studies and not be too concerned about appearance.

At that time, she was wearing a new army green T-shirt and khaki shorts, an outfit that cost just over 70 yuan.

The head teacher was a middle-aged man, and she felt extremely embarrassed at that moment, her face turning red.

Compared to other boarding students, she might have been dressed relatively new, and she felt ashamed, as if the entire sky above her head had turned gloomy.

But similarly, the head teacher probably wouldn't say these things to other students because most students were dressed better than Su Xiaoqi.

Because she had applied for financial aid from the school, in the eyes of the teachers, she was supposed to be a financially disadvantaged student, not like this.

In reality, she was just a young girl who wanted to dress a little nicer, a bit fresher.

This kind of vanity, due to the head teacher's gentle criticism, made her feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.

Although compared to the prejudice in the story, it was insignificant, for Su Xiaoqi, it was a huge, huge matter. It seemed that since then, she couldn't walk with her head held high, especially in front of teachers, always keeping her head down.

But in reality, she wasn't such a self-deprecating and introverted girl at the beginning.

She grew up in Gumula Village, where the girls loved to laugh, their laughter loud and their voices clear like singing.

It was just this kind of school life that made her become self-conscious, cautious.

She felt somewhat fortunate that although her father wasn't a charming lawyer like the protagonist's father in the book, he was already very understanding and supportive compared to most of the other villagers.

Her thoughts drifted away for a moment.

If she couldn't change prejudice, she should change and improve herself, she thought.

The hair on her forehead fell down, and she casually grabbed an elastic band from her hand and tied up her hair into a small bun. Her vision brightened slightly, and she continued reading. She didn't know how long she had been sitting there until she realized that the little boy who had been fidgeting across from her had disappeared. The library had returned to its usual quietness.

Glancing at her watch, she was surprised to see that it was already one o'clock in the afternoon.

The library didn't close at noon; there were staff on duty, so she wasn't being rushed. However, if she wanted to borrow books, she would have to wait until they resumed work.

Time flies by, and when reading, it always feels exceptionally fast.

This book is very captivating; it was challenging at first, but then she gradually became engrossed in it.

Even the notebook beside her recorded many pages.

Closing the book and putting it back in its place, she tidied up her things, ready to go eat and then head to the gym.

"The host has engaged in immersive reading for more than 3 hours, combined with personal experiences for reflection, and has elevated her spiritual thoughts. Rewarding with a random study booster card, would you like to use it?"

Su Xiaoqi didn't expect another surprise.

"Use it."

"The host has successfully chosen to learn the culinary skills of the black chef Calpurnia. Would you like to proceed with the learning?"

Su Xiaoqi: ...I'm starting to get used to these random choices.

"Yes, I'll learn."

Instantly, her interface added a new option: Beginner's Guide to Culinary Skills.

Originally, she planned to go to the previous fast-food restaurant for a cheap and satisfying meal.

But as soon as she reached the entrance, a strong greasy smell rushed over, and she felt nauseous...

She had no choice but to find another place that looked cleaner.

She ordered two stir-fried dishes, one with meat and one vegetarian, a serving of rice, and a glass of juice.

It was half past one, not the peak dining hour, so there were fewer people.

The food arrived quickly.

Su Xiaoqi realized how hungry she actually was when she saw the dishes.

However, her etiquette buff was still active, so she ate slowly and deliberately.

She even ordered an extra bowl of rice, and finished all the dishes. This meal ended up costing her 98 yuan, and the glass of juice alone was 25 yuan. When she saw the bill, Su Xiaoqi felt a pang of heartache, especially when she noticed that the rice was priced at 5 yuan per serving...

Although the money on her interface kept increasing, she still couldn't shake off the mindset of being poor.

After leaving the restaurant,

Su Xiaoqi started to feel a bit tired and didn't want to go back to her aunt's place—it seemed troublesome.

So she decided to take a taxi.

Coincidentally, a taxi was parked right in front of her.

She asked the driver if he was going to the gym, and he confirmed.

Once she got into the car, she regretted it a bit. The taxi was narrow and had a strong smell compared to the comfort of a bus. However, the ride was uninterrupted, and they soon arrived at the gym.

Su Xiaoqi dozed off a little in the car and only fully woke up when she submerged herself in the swimming pool at the gym.