Chapter 14

At night, my younger sister secretly slipped me two hundred yuan.

“Where did you get the money?”

“Aunt gives me a hundred yuan every year during the Spring Festival. I’ve been saving it.”

See? Smart kids are always more likable and tend to enjoy privileges.

I convinced myself not to care: In college, I could work part-time. Surely, I’d have no trouble supporting myself.

But it wasn’t that easy.

There are many universities in the provincial capital. Two 985 Project universities, one 211 Project university.

In comparison, our humble Second Tier University was hardly worth mentioning.

When I applied to be a Tutor, people would reject me outright as soon as they heard the name of my university.

I could only hand out flyers on weekends or help fill the numbers at some newly opened shops.

These part-time jobs weren’t always available. Not only was the competition fierce, but the agencies also took a hefty cut.

Later, by a twist of fate, I found a night shift job at a Business Teahouse.

My shift started at five in the evening and ended at eleven thirty at night.

Our dormitory had an eleven o’clock curfew, so every month I bought some fruit for the dorm supervisor, and sometimes I’d bring her leftover but still fresh pastries from the teahouse.

She would then keep the door open for me.

Dinner was included with the job, which saved me even more money.

At first, I worked as an ordinary server.

Twelve hundred yuan a month. It was tough.

Later, I realized that the Tea Art Masters at the teahouse earned more and had a much easier job.

So whenever I had the time, I would sit in on classes at the Agricultural University. They offered courses in Tea Science.

Back then, I was really like a spinning top.

During the day, I shuttled between my own university and Agricultural University. At night, I worked at the teahouse.

I’d get to bed after midnight, and as soon as I closed my eyes, I’d fall asleep.

When I woke up, I was full of energy, ready to fight another day.

Compared to the college entrance exam, the Tea Art Master qualification exam was much easier.

I first passed the Intermediate Level, and my salary increased by six hundred yuan.

Then I passed the Advanced Level, and my salary increased by another six hundred yuan.

By the end of my freshman year, my base salary had already reached 2,400 yuan.

Some customers would buy the tea I recommended, which gave me extra commission. All together, I made about 3,000 yuan per month.

At that time, Senior Schoolmates who had already graduated from our major typically earned just over 2,000 yuan a month.

That year, my sister took the high school entrance exam and ranked among the top thirty in the county.

A prestigious high school in the provincial capital contacted my parents, offering my sister an opportunity.

County No. 1 High School, in order to keep top students, said they would waive her tuition and boarding fees.

Grandma and Aunt were adamantly opposed to going to the provincial capital.

“What is there to think about? She should definitely stay at No. 1 High School!”

“If she goes to the provincial capital, just the tuition and living expenses would be a huge burden. What if she doesn’t get into college in the end? Wouldn’t all that money go to waste?”