Night of the Broken Gliph

Mouth slightly open, dull eyes and a giant backpack; Chui Yim, who was standing in front of the class, looked just like an idiot. 

His huge backpack contained a few sets of clothing, some daily necessities… Oh, and some pocket money too. 

It was an awkward sight. Some classmates even burst out laughing on seeing Chui Yim’s stance.

“What a country bumpkin.”

“Haha. He looks stupid. Really stupid.”

“All of you, quiet.” The huge man boomed, furrowing his thick eyebrows.

Immediately, the class turned so silent that one could hear a pin drop. It was apparent that the man was a frightening figure to the children. 

The man turned around to find that Chui Yim was still dazed. Unsure of what to do with him, he let out a sigh and pulled him out of the class. “Self-study time. I'll be back soon.”

As if a walking corpse, Chui Yim followed behind the man aimlessly. 

Soon, they arrived at a three-storey tall building designed to accommodate a large number of residents. 

“This is the school’s dormitory. It’s where all students and teachers stay unless they prefer to stay elsewhere,” the man started speaking as he pulled Chui Yim into the building. After some walking, they stopped outside a room. “Block D, room nineteen. This’ll be your room. Don’t worry about the rental fees and all, they’re included in the school fees. I understand that you must be anxious to leave home for the first time.

“So I’m allowing you to take a day off today. Lessons will start tomorrow for you. Take this time to rest well.

“I’m Chor Shing Chit, your class teacher. You can come to me if you have any problems; I’ll be in the staffroom. Rest well, and I hope to see you in class tomorrow.”  

Chor Shing Chit put the key in Chui Yim’s hand and patted his head before he left. 

Chui Yim opened the door with his key, still befuddled.

Instantly, he was welcomed by plumes of dust and a funky smell. He could even see rats scampering in and out of the room. It was a small, square-shaped room around ten square-metres large. 

Two beds took up more than half of the room, along with a wooden table and two wooden chairs. However, the furniture was covered with dust, droppings and bite marks from the many rats. 

Chui Yim’s backpack slid off his shoulders as he stared at the room, stunned as the thought of him spending six years of his life with the other annoying children continued to haunt him. 

Outside the academy. 

Chui Tin grinned from ear to ear as he looked at the signboard of the Riding Clouds Academy. 

The Riding Clouds? A really good name indeed.  

But most importantly… Cheap.  

Chui Tin let out a laugh and left happily. I can save so much just by enrolling him in this academy. But if Scarlet Lady knew about this… Chui Tin froze on the spot. He shook his head and wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. 

This child needs to suffer to know how fortunate he has been! 

Now, Chui Yim already understood how fortunate he was. 

Now living his second life, Chui Yim definitely knew how to take care of himself. However, he was too used to being pampered by Chui Tin for the past six years. 

Chui Tin would prepare a coat for him when the weather turned cold, ice pops for him when it was hot, and food for him whenever he was hungry. Not only that, but there were a few times that Chui Yim fell asleep in the yard due to exhaustion, and Chui Tin carried him back to bed. 

Now, it sucked to have to live alone and be independent. 

He opened up the small window in the room for ventilation and tied a piece of cloth to his nose, getting ready to clean the room. 

He fetched a bucket of water and started scrubbing the floor. Afterwards, he went to tidy both beds. I can only sleep in one bed, but this is my room, after all. 

 When he was done, he threw away the old sheets and went to collect the new bedsheets. 

Half the day went by just like that. 

When Chui Yim returned, the room was still as small as before, but it was much cleaner. 

He wiped away his sweat and sighed in relief. Luckily I never stopped training my body, or I’d die just from all this!  

Thanks to Chui Yim’s strenuous workouts, he didn’t even break a sweat today. His lung capacity is now huge enough for him to perform many activities without getting a heart attack, other than those that are really intense, like fights.

When Chor Shing Chit reached Chui Yim’s room, the sight of Chui Yim cleaning the room surprised him. He had thought that Chui Yim was a spoiled brat, but apparently, he was cleaning the room alone, unlike most students whose parents or servants would do so for them. 

An interesting kid. Chor Shing Chit thought to himself and silently left without attracting Chui Yim’s attention. 

Chui Yim arrived at the canteen with his pocket money. 

Due to his training regimen, he had a huge appetite. 

To become stronger physically, I need to replenish the energy that I’ve lost immediately. 

He ordered without looking at the price.  

Chui Yim got a bowl of rice with stir-fried beef and vegetables, a small plate of roasted pork, and a cup of hot tea. 

It was a simple meal, but it cost two silver taels. 

Chui Yim counted the silvers left in his pouch; he was at a loss for words. 

Every week, the academy had lessons for five days. Except for breakfast, he had to eat twice a day, and each meal cost two silver taels. 

And he was only given twenty silver taels as pocket money. 

Chui Yim gritted his teeth. I know that I have to go home for pocket money, but going home means that… I’ll have to learn to be a doctor from Chui Tin!  

I can’t believe this. Where did that kind father of six years go? Why is he such a calculating devil now?  

However, Chui Yim wasn’t aware of the trauma he left on Chui Tin. 

Ever since he was three, Chui Tin tried many ways to convince Chui Yim to study; he didn’t wish to force Chui Yim into studying but to no avail. 

However, it worked as soon as he tempted Chui Yim! 

So why wouldn’t Chui Tin change his ways of dealing with Chui Yim? 

As soon as Chui Yim put a piece of beef in his mouth, his expression changed drastically. He had to withstand the urge to spit it out. 

What’s this?  

Is this even food? 

He looked around the canteen, raising an eyebrow. Students were eating the same thing as him, but they were all enjoying it. What’s going on? 

Chui Yim decided to give the roasted pork a chance, but it was just as bad as the beef.  

Since he bought the meal for two silvers, he had no choice but to finish the meal. 

When he returned to the dorm, he was worn out. He didn’t want to do anything but rest. The day had been too traumatising for him. 

The next day.  

Sunlight streamed golden through the window, radiating warmth into the room. 

The streets of Southary came to live together with the morning sun. Chattering and hawkers rang across the streets. 

 Chui Yim walked around the academy like a zombie, asking for directions to thegrade one classroom.   

He didn’t sleep well last night; the bed was just too uncomfortable.  

It finally dawned on him that he had led too good of a life for the past six years, to the point that he had turned into a child raised in a greenhouse, the kind he hated the most in his past life.

This can’t go on anymore! But I do need some time to get used to this new lifestyle… Chui Yim comforted himself.