Chapter 82: How Can Sparrows Comprehend the Aspirations of a Swan – Fourth Update

Xia Ning’s delicate body trembled lightly, her fingernails digging into her palm, her face lowered.

“In my heart, all the sweet nothings and solemn vows of love can’t compare to even a tenth of what you just said.”

She grabbed Jiang Yu’s hand and placed a safety knot in his palm, murmuring, “You gave me a bracelet, so I’m giving you a safety knot. It may not be as precious as your talisman, but it’s the best I have to offer.”

Jiang Yu looked down to see a beautifully crafted knot resting in his palm, a red string attached, just the right length to wear around his wrist.

“I’m going to bed,” Xia Ning said, quickening her pace, fleeing the scene as if escaping.

Jiang Yu smiled slightly and tied the safety knot around his wrist. The delicate knot seemed out of place with his attire.

Upstairs in the villa, Xia Housheng stood quietly in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down. After a long moment, he sighed softly.

...

The next morning, Jiang Yu arrived early at the gates of First High School.

As the grand ceremony for the graduating seniors, the athletic field was packed with people. Many had dressed with special care, eager for this most important of days.

Every year, well-known companies would attend the graduation ceremony, and as a result, numerous recruitment booths had been temporarily set up on the field. This year, there were more than a hundred, all eager to absorb fresh blood from all over Yun City.

In other words, this job fair wasn’t only open to First High School, but to all graduating seniors in Yun City.

Many parents accompanied their children in search of work. For a single position, people pulled every string they could, displaying all their talents and connections—everyone striving for their child’s future. They leveraged networks, backgrounds; for their children, parents left no stone unturned.

There were even scandals, like the one in 2007, where a family of three knelt before a recruitment team for the sake of a single job.

Ordinary families, when facing famous companies, could often only look on from afar. Such jobs were already spoken for long before the process began, reserved for those with connections, and the day’s interviews were little more than a formality for most.

Standing in the crowd, Jiang Yu watched the fresh, inexperienced faces and sighed inwardly. These were children from ordinary families, whose grades weren’t enough for top universities. Their only choice was to secure a job today, one that could support their families.

A salary of three thousand a month was common, five thousand was rare, and anything over ten thousand was almost unheard of.

“I did it, I passed!”

A boy’s excited shout drew the attention of many, Jiang Yu included. The boy had just passed an interview for a major company, starting at ten thousand a month. The HR manager stood with a smile, extending a hand: “Congratulations. If you can, please report for work in three days.”

Dozens of envious glances fell on that boy, boys and girls alike.

“Wow, ten thousand a month!” a girl exclaimed, her eyes reddening.

Someone nearby said with a wry smile, “No point envying—get your own resume out there. Every application is another chance for us.”

Jiang Yu lit a cigarette, standing before the HR booths, watching those who met rejection after rejection. They would pause, shake their heads, and move on to the next company.

Before long, the sound of crying could be heard.

A pretty girl, unable to stand the harsh rejections and insults, squatted on the ground and wept. People glanced over before turning away, indifferent.

Dozens who heard her cry didn’t offer a word of comfort.

After a few minutes, the girl wiped away her tears, gathered her scattered resumes, and continued on to the next booth. She was just one among the thousands of job-seeking graduates.

“In my eyes, a single word could earn me untold wealth. Yet these people, exhausting all their abilities, can barely secure a passable job. If I hadn’t seen this with my own eyes, I might never have understood what this world is like.”

Jiang Yu shook his head, deeply moved.

“Jiang Yu?”

A surprised, delighted voice came from nearby.

He turned to see Kong Xi in a cartoonish white dress, waving at him. Beside her were Zhao Xiaoqian, Yang Duoduo, Zhou Die, and Tan Li. They looked at Jiang Yu with contempt, and if not for Kong Xi’s greeting, they would have ignored him completely.

“Are you looking for a job too?” Jiang Yu asked out of curiosity.

Kong Xi smiled, “We’re here to help Duoduo and Zhou Die look for work.”

Jiang Yu was puzzled—hadn’t Yang Duoduo and Zhou Die already secured jobs? One was set to be a department manager at Sifang Group, the other had been accepted by Liuyang Enterprises, both with starting salaries of twenty thousand.

Among their peers, their achievements already inspired awe.

Seeing his confusion, Kong Xi explained, “Even though Duoduo and Zhou Die have offers, they still have to go through the motions and submit a resume.”

So that was it. Jiang Yu glanced at the printed resumes in their hands, saying nothing more.

Zhao Xiaoqian sneered, “Jiang Yu, what are you doing here?”

“Just looking around,” Jiang Yu replied calmly.

She snorted, “Without connections or background, the best you could hope for is a job paying a few thousand a month. Forget buying a house, even a car would be out of reach for years without help from your parents.”

Harsh as her words were, they rang true.

Indeed, with a few thousand a month, after living expenses, there’d be little left to save in a year. Even a modest car would take years of scrimping.

Seeing Jiang Yu here, everyone assumed he was secretly looking for a job. Remembering how he’d refused Kong Xi the night before, they decided he was just too proud for his own good.

Jiang Yu was about to reply when a woman in a professional suit, mature and attractive, approached purposefully with a folder in her arms.

“Miss He,” Jiang Yu said with a wry smile.

He Bing’s pretty face was cold as she grabbed Jiang Yu’s ear. “You! You’ve barely attended school, already taking a long leave, and now you’ve vanished for months!”

She let go, trembling with anger. “And now, suddenly, you remember you’re a student at First High?”

As his homeroom teacher, she was exasperated. All semester, Jiang Yu had been as elusive as a dragon.

“I’ve already secured your admission to Peking University, and got you a scholarship—enough for you to graduate. If you need more for living expenses, I’ll help you out.”

Her tone was earnest; she’d lost sleep for days over this.

Hearing this, Zhao Xiaoqian and the others looked at Jiang Yu with even more disdain. So he couldn’t even afford living expenses. And yet, last night he’d pretended to be so upright.

Zhao Xiaoqian said with a laugh, “Teacher, maybe you didn’t know—last night Jiang Yu actually turned down a job with a thirty-thousand monthly salary.”

He Bing was stunned, looking at Jiang Yu in confusion. Had he lost his mind?

Kong Xi’s face darkened. “Xiaoqian, that’s enough.”

Zhao Xiaoqian huffed and fell silent, annoyed that her friend was now siding with an outsider.

Jiang Yu looked apologetically at He Bing. “I’m sorry, Miss He. I told you, once I graduate high school, I’ll leave school. My ambitions don’t lie in academics. But thank you, truly, for all you’ve done.”

He Bing’s eyes widened, her voice rising. “Jiang Yu, do you even know what you’re saying? Without education, what future do you have? Look around—see how many people are humbling themselves for jobs paying four or five thousand.”

“Without a prestigious university on your resume, finding a good job is nearly impossible. I don’t want you to waste your talent. You’re just an ordinary person, do you understand? Without connections, you can’t afford to be willful.”

Her chest heaved with anger, drawing the attention of Tan Li.

Hearing Jiang Yu’s refusal, He Bing felt a rush of frustration. He was clearly gifted, but insisted on dropping out. She simply couldn’t understand.

“Jiang Yu, no matter what, I’m determined to see you attend Peking University. Can’t you see reality? The Jiang family has disowned you. From now on, they’ll do nothing but feed you—they won’t give you a cent.”

“If you want to stand out, you have to rely on yourself. Graduate from Peking University, and you could land a job paying tens of thousands a month.”

Jiang Yu said calmly, “Miss He, I’ll repay your kindness. But sparrows cannot comprehend the aspirations of swans. My ambitions are beyond your imagination. What if I simply refuse to go?”

He Bing said, “Fine. Give me one reason not to go, and I’ll never force you again.”