Chapter 62: Chapter 62: The Village’s Reward

An Ning’s eyes widened slightly. ’For me?’

Sun Dazhuang didn’t keep her in suspense and got straight to the point.

"An Ning, that machine you made was a huge help. The village council discussed it and decided to give you one hundred work points as a reward. We’ll also compensate you for the cost."

An Ning hadn’t expected this. A troubled expression appeared on her face.

Seeing her reaction, Sun Dazhuang tried to persuade her.

"Let me tell you, if they’re giving it to you, just take it. Otherwise, the next time you contribute something, people will just assume it’s what you’re supposed to do."

"That’s just how people are. A small favor earns gratitude, but a large one creates resentment. No matter how much you give, no one will appreciate it. It’s better to make things clear from the start."

Sitting to the side, An Sancheng nodded repeatedly. He stood up and chimed in, "That’s right. The captain is thinking long-term, and it’s for your own good."

Standing across from the two of them, An Ning’s troubled expression turned to one of confusion.

"Captain, Dad, why are you trying to persuade me?"

"Huh? We don’t need to persuade you? Then why do you look so unwilling?"

An Ning had thought it was fair from the very beginning and had never considered refusing. She didn’t expect them to misunderstand.

"I don’t know how much money I should ask for. I spent money on the plastic tubing and parts, and I spent five yuan at the scrap station. The machinery factory gave me the other parts for free."

At this, An Ning sighed, looking especially troubled. Her expression grew serious as she looked at them.

"I’m trying to figure out how to calculate the cost of those parts."

An Ning’s response was not what Sun Dazhuang and An Sancheng had expected.

Before An Ning had returned, both of them had been trying to figure out how to convince her to accept the reward.

They truly hadn’t anticipated this situation.

An Sancheng helplessly nudged Sun Dazhuang with a finger. Sun Dazhuang immediately spoke up, "An Ning’s right. It should be calculated. Yes, that should be part of the calculation."

The three of them reached an agreement. Sun Dazhuang told An Ning to let him know once she’d calculated the cost, and he would have the village pay her.

As for the An family’s invitation to stay for dinner, he couldn’t be persuaded.

The An family only started dinner after Sun Dazhuang left.

They were eating a bit late today; even An Guoping had returned.

Carrying his backpack, An Guoping ran into the house in a few strides, his eyes meeting everyone’s inside.

"What’s the special occasion? Why’d you all wait for me?"

"Don’t get a big head. Hurry up, wash your hands, and eat."

Lin Cuihua said this without pausing as she carried over a basin of rice. The others also went about their business, and only An Ning kept her eyes on An Guoping.

"Is everything at school settled?"

"It’s all settled, Sis. They all apologized to me and explained everything. They even had to write self-criticisms."

An Guoping put down his schoolbag, washed his hands, and sat down to eat with his family, a rare occasion.

"What happened at school?"

An Sancheng asked, and An Guoping recounted the whole story without holding anything back.

"Dad, let me tell you, my sister is incredible! She took on five boys by herself without even breaking a sweat. A few quick slaps—WHAP, WHAP—and those guys were on the ground."

An Guoping described it vividly, even swinging his own hand around as if he couldn’t wait to re-enact the scene for everyone.

"Sit down. You needed Little Sis to help you in a fight? How embarrassing."

An Guoqing said with utter disdain. "You’re an embarrassment."

An Guoping did look a little sheepish, but he defended himself, "Well, it hadn’t gotten to the point of actually fighting yet! I’m not Second Brother. Even if I can’t take on five guys, I can handle three."

An Guoming, who had caught a stray bullet, wanted to retort but held his tongue.

’When it comes to fighting, nothing I could say would make me look good. Better to just eat.’

The meal ended amidst laughter and conversation.

As for An Guoping’s problem, An Ning had handled it well, so no one asked any more questions.

After dinner, An Ning took out her dictionary again and had An Guoqing and An Guoming join her to practice characters. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The three of them, each on a small stool, sat in the courtyard, making the most of the last sliver of daylight.

After An Ning had read from the dictionary twice more, she was about to leave when An Guoming called out to her.

"Little Sis, um... I want to make a suggestion. Is that okay?"

An Ning, who had stood up, sat back down.

"Second Brother, am I scary? Why do I get the feeling you’re a little afraid of me?"

"Heh heh heh, of course not! You’re seeing things."

How could An Guoming possibly admit it? It wasn’t "a little" fear; it was a lot, okay?

An Ning doubted herself for a second, but quickly pushed the thought aside and asked An Guoming, "What did you want to say, Second Brother?"

An Guoming glanced at An Guoqing, seeking support.

"Has nothing to do with me," An Guoqing said. "It was his idea. I think Little Sis teaches just fine."

An Guoqing’s expression was dead serious, the very picture of a staunch An Ning supporter.

An Guoming shot a dark, inscrutable look at An Guoqing—the same An Guoqing who had plotted with him late into the night, promising he wouldn’t back out and would present a united front. An Guoming’s teeth itched with frustration. The worst part was, he couldn’t even win a fight against him!

Across from them, An Ning got the feeling that something had happened between them that she didn’t know about.

"Second Brother, what is it?"

"Well, it’s like this... you see... um..."

An Ning, who had been listening intently, lowered her head and started flipping through the dictionary in her hands.

"Take your time, Second Brother. I’ll just study some characters. When you’ve figured it out, you can tell me. I’m not in a hurry."

An Ning’s nonchalant attitude finally spurred An Guoming to make up his mind. He blurted it all out in one breath.

"Little Sis, we don’t want to learn characters with you anymore."

An Ning, who had been looking down, looked up.

She looked at An Guoming, whose body had gone a little stiff, and first reflected on herself. ’Was I too strict with Second Brother?’

"Second Brother, don’t be discouraged. Learning slowly doesn’t mean you’re stupid."

Across from her, the rigid An Guoming had an ’I knew it’ feeling. This was classic An Ning.

"That’s not it, Little Sis. Eldest Brother and I are different from you. We don’t need to know every single character. There’s no way the two of us can memorize this whole dictionary."

"I was thinking... maybe we could just go through elementary school textbooks and learn the characters in them. You can memorize the dictionary yourself."

An Ning closed the dictionary in her hands and seriously considered what An Guoming had said.

"Okay."

"You agree, Little Sis?"

An Ning, who was already getting up, turned to look at An Guoming, and at the eavesdropping An Guoqing. She asked, puzzled, "Why wouldn’t I agree? I think what Second Brother said makes perfect sense."

An Ning left, taking with her the dictionary that had been giving her two brothers such a headache.

"See, Second Brother? Little Sis is so nice. And here you were, making me all nervous."

An Guoqing clapped An Guoming on the shoulder, stood up feeling completely relieved, and left. He was finally free from late-night character drills.

Of the three small stools, two were now empty, leaving only An Guoming.

"How did this end up being my fault again?"

Resigned to his fate, An Guoming picked up the three small stools.

"Second Brother."

An Ning’s sudden call made An Guoming drop the three stools in his hands with a CLATTER.

An Ning watched as one of the stools hit the top of An Guoming’s foot. ’That looks like it hurt,’ she thought.

"Second Brother, I just wanted to ask, did you go for your run today?"

"Also... does your foot hurt?"