Ning An's Wild Wish System

The saying goes:

College students are the only welfare of this era.

Countless college students support teachers, feed Tony, sustain small vendors...

It’s not even an exaggeration to say that they have promoted economic internal circulation.

Because apart from them, no one else can get an extra penny from their frugal and thrifty parents.

Just like now, it’s still early, but outside the university town, all kinds of stalls are already set up.

To facilitate college students and earn more money, many businesses even operate twenty hours nonstop; internet cafes are one prime example.

The old man looked around and quickly determined the direction, heading towards an internet cafe.

”Wanyun was raised by me since childhood. He’s very close to me, tagging along and calling out ’Grandpa... Grandpa...’ as a little kid.”

”He was timid as a child; every time he couldn’t see me in the morning, he’d anxiously cry and run around... He loved to eat the old lady’s fried pastries, could eat five or six at a time...”

The old man muttered to himself while walking:

”Unfortunately, his mother doesn’t quite like me, but it’s understandable, really. Sometimes I think that if I were retired and had a pension of several thousand a month, maybe his mother would like me, this old man.”

”But Wanyun is filial. Whenever his mother furrows her brows and clashes with us, he’d stretch out his little arms and stand between us, saying to his mother: ’Aren’t you afraid that I’ll learn from you and treat you the same way in the future?’”

”Haha, it made his mother couldn’t help but give him a good spanking.”

”Later, whenever there was a conflict with us, he’d protect us like a little tiger. Ultimately, his mother was just venting; it’s not like she’d actually not feed us.”

”...”

Talking about his grandson, Zhang Weimin couldn’t help but smile, feeling like his grandson was the best in the world, smoothing out many of his deep wrinkles.

But as he continued, his mood became somewhat downcast:

”But later, when Wanyun was about to go to school, his mother bit the bullet, took out a loan, and moved to the city to rent a two-bedroom apartment.”

”The city is ultimately a big melting pot. Wanyun soon didn’t like coming back, nor did he crave the old lady’s fried pastries anymore.”

”But it’s understandable, given that it’s the city, full of knowledge and opportunities. Plus, kids grow up and have their own opinions, naturally having little to say to uneducated people like us.”

”But it’s actually irrelevant as long as he’s happy and can live a good life in the future, I and the old lady are satisfied, truly satisfied.”

”...”

The big black dog rubbed its head against Zhang Weimin’s head, as if indicating it was still there.

Looking at the big black dog underfoot, the old man smiled again:

”Honestly, after he left, the old lady and I were sad for a while, but luckily we later met Xiaohai.”

”That was when the old lady and I were picking up plastic bottles in the city. It was left beside the trash can, so small, drenched by rainwater, shivering; the old lady felt sorry, broke it a piece of dry food which it wolfed down, then followed us everywhere we went. Even when I tried to scare it away, it wouldn’t leave, just kept following.”

”We thought, dogs are easy to raise in the village, it’s just another bowl of food, keeping it also means a companion.”

”We took it home, very well-behaved, could even cheer up the old lady, better than any of my children.”

”They say raising children is for old age, some advocate fewer births for better quality, and now it’s about having more; words go in and out of official mouths, but none of it matters, the old lady has only had Xiaohai carrying us through these past few months...”

Zhang Weimin spoke casually, his mood and expression unchanged, as if his life was someone else’s story.

”Wanyun, it’s Wanyun and his classmates finishing up.” Suddenly, Zhang Weimin excitedly shouted.

Following Zhang Weimin’s gaze, three university students walked side-by-side on the road, dark circles under their eyes, but their tone brimmed with excitement.

They excitedly talked about how absurdly unbalanced the new hero was, how poor the skin feel of certain heroes was, and how some people’s skills needed improvement...

”Wanyun.” Zhang Weimin raised his hand and shouted excitedly.

The three of them, hearing the call, looked towards the direction.

The leftmost student frowned slightly, speaking coldly: ”It’s almost dark, why did you come here.”

”Is this your grandpa?” Replied the other two softly.

”Uh... you guys go on ahead.”

Feeling awkward, Zhang Wanyun scratched his head, tossed his backpack to one of them, and once they left, he walked over quickly.

He pulled Zhang Weimin to a dimly lit area, angrily saying: ”Didn’t I tell you not to come to our school? What are you doing here?”

Zhang Weimin didn’t mind his grandson’s tone, smiling kindly: ”It’s alright, have you had dinner?”

”At this hour, a normal person should have eaten.” Zhang Wanyun answered impatiently: ”I told you not to come; it’s a long way, why did you come all this way.”

”I just wanted to come see you.” Zhang Weimin smiled.

”Now that you’ve seen me, hurry back, it’s almost dark.” Zhang Wanyun replied irritably.

”You mentioned last time you got a girlfriend, right? Your mom’s money wasn’t enough, take this as grandpa’s early red packet for your future wife.” Zhang Weimin said, pulling out a plastic bag and stuffing it in his hand.

”No no, you keep it, I broke up with her, it’s useless.” Zhang Wanyun rushed to push it back.

”Then buy a new phone or keep it on hand; boys should have some savings while they’re out and about.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Weimin hesitated but found another reason to shove the money back in his hand.

”What about you? What will you do, you don’t need money?” Zhang Wanyun asked, looking at the plastic bag in his hand.

Zhang Weimin smiled: ”I don’t need it, there’s not much to spend on in the village; the vegetables we grow in the courtyard and the crops in the fields are enough.”

”Now that grandpa’s seen you, I won’t hold you up, I’ll be going.”

Zhang Weimin said this and was about to leave.

”Wait a moment.”

Unexpectedly, Zhang Wanyun said, his tone somewhat awkward: ”You haven’t had dinner, have you?”

Zhang Weimin shook his head.

”Then hang on a bit.”

Zhang Wanyun ran to a place selling buns, bought seven or eight large buns, and packed a serving of porridge, quickly returning.

”Don’t just eat dry food on the road, it’s hard to digest.”

Zhang Wanyun stuffed the buns and porridge into his hands and then checked his pockets, pulling out ten here, twenty there.

About a hundred yuan in change, he handed it to Zhang Weimin, saying:

”It’s late now, don’t be stubborn, go get a cab, and if you want to see me, just call me; your frail body shouldn’t be walking this far.”

After saying this, he turned towards the entrance: ”Hey, you two are heartless, going so fast, wait for me!”