Making Money Just By Breathing

The world is a whore, only showing its beauty to the rich.

—

July 2015, Gujiao City, Mining Province.

Under the scorching sun, the city was as stifling as a steamer.

Wang Yanguang, bare-armed, lay in a wicker chair in the shade of his own courtyard, feeling so hot that he stuck out his tongue.

His stomach still ached faintly; he had vomited twice yesterday, and the aftereffects persisted until now. Feeling a bit hungry but unable to eat anything, he was in discomfort.

His phone, placed beside him, suddenly rang, and Wang Yanguang weakly answered.

“Hello?”

“Bro Wang! He Meng’s graduation celebration is scheduled for the 2nd. You’ll definitely come, right?”

Wang Yonglei’s excited voice came through the speaker, sounding as if he was about to burst with enthusiasm.

Wang Yanguang could understand Wang Yonglei’s excitement.

He Meng was one of the most beautiful flowers among this year’s graduating class at Experimental High School. Slim-waisted with long legs, fair-skinned and beautiful, she was the goddess in the hearts of many male students.

Thinking about He Meng’s attire and that charming face from yesterday, Wang Yanguang felt some kind of emotion stirring inside him.

However, his response was three words completely contrary to his emotions.

“I’m not going.”

“What?” Wang Yonglei was a bit bewildered. “Is it true? She’s a beauty! Every glance is precious, what are you thinking?”

“We’re not even on the same wavelength. Why bother going?”

“Tsk tsk— Bro Wang, did you get upset at Liu Weilong’s graduation celebration yesterday? I’m just saying, why are you so petty? It’s not a big deal…”

“Not a big deal?!”

It’s not you who felt wronged; it’s easy to say when it’s not you who are being teased, right?

Wang Yanguang originally didn’t want to go to Liu Weilong’s graduation celebration yesterday. Although they were classmates, they had their own circles in the class, with no significant interactions in the past.

Liu Weilong and He Meng were both from well-off families, while Wang Yanguang was just an ordinary farmer’s child. With a personality that never stooped to flattery, he couldn’t get along with them, so he chose to keep his distance.

However, since he was invited and Wang Yonglei kept pushing him, Wang Yanguang, with the idea of attending a classmate’s event and gathering less often as a reason, ultimately chose to participate.

The result was far from good.

Wang Yanguang’s red envelope was given according to the standards of an ordinary family, 200 Yuan, not much indeed. However, the other party’s return gift also only required 200 Yuan, just a form of reciprocity.

A normal consideration was ridiculed by a few snobbish people, and he was forced to drink and vomit twice.

Even now, remembering those taunts, Wang Yanguang still felt particularly aggrieved.

“Da Long arranged for a five-star hotel. Without counting the cost of drinks and venue service fees, a table of dishes costs over two thousand Yuan. And you only give 200 as a gift? You’re really interesting!”

“Are you here just for the food and drinks?”

“No matter, come, Da Long won’t care about your 200 Yuan. If the money isn’t enough, there should be some sincerity in the congratulations, right? So let’s have a drink till morning!”

Youngsters these days were prideful. Not having much of a choice, and refusing to lose face in front of his peers, Wang Yan complied. However, he was no fool. As soon as he reached home, he vowed not to attend any graduation parties organized by this bunch ever again!

Why should he?

Boasting about making it into a good college, bragging about having a pretty girlfriend, now even insulting him when he had already done what he could regarding the cash gift?

Do they have nothing better to do?!

Especially when Liu Weilong hypocritically said, “Actually, your choice of major is very wise. Although Xing City Normal University is a second-tier institution, the ratio of girls is high. Any kind of guy can find a girlfriend; no need to worry about being single.” Wang Yanguang really wanted to give him a slap.

The difference between us is just the amount of money that our parents have!

If I had even half of the money you got from your parents, I would end up far better than you!

After the unpleasant experience yesterday, Wang Yanguang would definitely not go to He Meng’s graduation celebration, doing so would only make himself feel uncomfortable.

He doesn’t fear any of those rich guys, he is just scared that he can’t stop himself from beating them to death when they run their mouths again.

As for He Meng, consider it as a high school dream…

Thinking that the three years of unrequited love were finally coming to an end, Wang Yanguang felt a bit melancholic but understood that it was inevitable.

Too lazy to argue with Wang Yonglei, he directly cut off the persuasion: “Enough! I’ll go if you treat me, but forget about He Meng and them. Can’t reach that high. Goodbye!”

After hanging up the phone, Wang Yanguang threw his phone aside, shook his head with a cold smile.

Really, no point in bothering.

What are you going for?

To be toyed with by those guys with inflated superiority, like a clown, just to chat with He Meng, then go home and daydream with the fragrance on her?

Gujiao is a mining city filled with upstarts, with high-rise commercial centers and scar-like urban villages intertwined. Our families are a microcosm of thousands of urban farmers, living in low shantytowns where sunlight can’t be seen during the day!

In such a money-driven society filled with restlessness, the gap between you and He Meng, the imbalance in the relationship, can’t be filled!

When you are poor, even the way you breathe is wrong.

You don’t understand, but I do.

There seemed to be a flame in Wang Yanguang’s chest, his mood angry and chaotic.