Chapter 7: Fragmented Writing

A week later, the 480,000-fold future did not arrive as expected. Starving and with eyes turning green from hunger, Song Han looked at his deskmate, who was eating breakfast in the classroom, and put on an eager expression:

"Brother Hao! I need your help desperately!"

"Speak!"

"Do you know if any internet cafes are hiring part-time workers lately? I'm about to starve to death!"

"Didn't you buy a computer some time ago? You spent thousands of yuan just like that. No one in our class is richer than you. How come you're about to starve to death so soon?"

Song Han replied with frustration, "It's because of that computer! Now I don't even have money for food. Brother Hao, I'm not lying to you, I've been eating nothing but steamed buns for a month!"

Li Hao looked at the two buns in his hand, thought for a moment, and then broke one in half, offering a portion to Song Han.

"Brothers for life! Here's half a meat bun to tide you over. I'll keep an eye out for you when I go to the internet café in a couple of days!"

With tears in his eyes, Song Han swallowed the half bun in one bite and embraced Li Hao's shoulder boldly.

"Alright! When I get my paycheck, I'll treat you to a 'Maozi'!"

Li Hao thumped his chest with bravado, but after a moment, he turned to Song Han with a question:

"What's a 'Maozi'?"

The next day, Song Han saw Li Hao sneakily reading a novel in the classroom and hurried over.

"So, Brother Hao? Any news?"

Li Hao awkwardly closed the novel and said:

"Recently, there's been a bit of a financial hiccup. I might have to wait until my living expenses come through in a couple of days before I can go to the internet café to get information for you."

Hearing this, the hopeful glint in Song Han's eyes dimmed.

"What are you reading?"

Li Hao chuckled sheepishly:

"Well, with the economic crisis and all, since I can't go to the internet café, I'm just killing time by reading some novels."

Song Han took the novel and looked at the cover, puzzled. "Buddha is the Dao"?

Buddhist scripture? Religion? Mythology?

"What's this novel about?"

"It's a mythical fantasy novel about the primordial times, really popular right now!"

"Really? What's primordial?"

As Song Han flipped through the table of contents, a synopsis of the story began to form in his mind.

It was a tale that started from the Big Bang, weaving together historical myths, religious legends, and cosmic expansion.

It was a story of the transition from mythical civilizations to technological civilizations.

Different cosmic eras, different cosmic environments, all giving rise to distinct cultural threads.

Song Han looked at the table of contents of the novel in his hand, his thoughts churning as he recalled the information in his mind.

Suddenly, a bold idea emerged in his thoughts.

"I can replace that!"

No sooner said than done!

As soon as he got home from school, Song Han immediately opened the novel website. After registering an author account, a novel that even he couldn't quite categorize began to appear on the site.

After a frenzied week of typing, an unfamiliar call came through to Song Han's PHS phone.

"Hello, is this Mr. Song?"

Looking at the unfamiliar number on his PHS, Song Han asked curiously:

"This is Song Han, who is this?"

"We are the editors from the novel website. We noticed that the novel you've been updating on our site has reached our signing criteria. Since you haven't responded to our site messages, we decided to call you."

"Signing? Can my novel be published?"

"Yes, as long as you follow the instructions in the site message to sign the contract, we can arrange for your novel to be published."

"Great! Great! I'll go check it out right now!"

Hanging up the phone, Song Han excitedly waved his hand, even losing the desire to go to school. He turned around and ran home.

However, as he looked at the information requirements on the printed contract, he scratched his head in frustration.

"Minors under 18 need a legal guardian's signature?"

If his parents found out that he wasn't focusing on school and was instead messing around with this kind of stuff, he'd probably be beaten to death, right?

Yet, staring at the contract in his hand and the two steamed buns on the table that served as his dinner, Song Han couldn't bring himself to give up on the contract.

After a long internal struggle, Song Han nervously picked up his phone and dialed:

"Dad! My junior high teacher asked us to submit a copy of our parents' ID cards. They said it's for some academic records needed for the high school entrance exam."

"Alright, I'll send it to you later! How's your study progress lately? Have you been focusing on your schoolwork?"

His father's question immediately made Song Han blush with guilt.

"Not bad, my grades are just so-so..." 

"Study hard. If you need money, call me, and I'll transfer it to you. Out of the three of you brothers, you're the one with the most potential in academics. Strive to get into university!" 

Over the phone, Song Han stammered his responses. Only after hanging up did he let out a long sigh of relief. 

Seven days—waiting for his father, who was working by the coast, to mail the ID card copy. Another seven days—sending out the contract and waiting for it to be signed and finalized. 

When the novel website started promoting his book, Song Han looked at the exploding private messages and comments in the backend. He knew that starting next month, he wouldn't have to survive on steamed buns anymore. 

Concepts that would become popular more than a decade later, sci-fi ideas ahead of their time, and a well-constructed fantasy system that defined an era. 

Even with clumsy writing and descriptions as immature as a middle schooler's, the novel's groundbreaking technological vision and complete mythological fantasy system still propelled Song Han to instant fame!

In September 2010, the new school year began. 

Sixteen-year-old Song Han walked into the unfamiliar school with his head held high, under the blazing sun. 

A new school, new classmates. 

At this moment, there were 997 days left until the college entrance exam! 

The bold reminder on the blackboard about the exam made Song Han realize that he was no longer the under-sixteen-year-old kid from a year ago. 

Now, he was a sixteen-year-old high school student with his own ID card! 

... 

After school, lying on the sofa in his newly rented, well-furnished two-bedroom apartment, Song Han clumsily typed on a slim laptop, working on his novel. He had already updated 500,000 words based on his memories, but now he had to come up with the rest himself. 

Just then, a text notification about his living expenses being deposited disrupted his thoughts. 

Hearing his family's concerned voices over the phone, asking if the money had arrived, Song Han slapped himself hard. 

"My family is still struggling, how can I live so carelessly?" 

A year of writing had filled Song Han with a sense of idealism and purpose. 

Picking up the phone and listening to the caring voice on the other end, Song Han said proudly: 

"Mom, I have money now. You don't need to send me any more. Later, I'll transfer some to you. Check your account. From now on, you don't have to work so hard."

"Tell my elder brothers to stop working and come back to continue their studies! 

Whether it's vocational school or technical school, anything is fine. I'll support them! 

Having a diploma is always better than them working in factories like this." 

"Silly child, what are you talking about! 

You're in high school now, stop thinking about those messy part-time jobs. Your homeroom teacher has already called. Your main focus should be studying hard and aiming to get into a good university! 

We'll take care of the tuition and living expenses. There's no need for you to worry!" 

Song Han listened to the admonitions over the phone, his lips moving silently, unable to say anything. 

After hanging up, Song Han wiped his slightly reddened eyes and immediately ran to the bank. 

He had thought his family would call him back right away, but it wasn't until a month later that he finally received their call. 

"Xiao Han, did you transfer 500,000 yuan to me??" 

His mother's voice on the other end of the line was filled with shock. 

"Did it only just reach you now?" 

If he hadn't double-checked that the transfer was correct, Song Han would have thought his money had gone to waste. 

"Where did you get so much money?" 

"I earned it from writing novels." 

"Writing what?" 

"Novels!" 

"So my son is a writer now?" 

"Well... you could say that!"

"You're amazing, son! Your dad and I are so proud of you! We'll save this money for you and keep it for when you get married!" 

Upon hearing this, Song Han immediately opened his mouth wide. 

Save it? If I wanted it saved, why would I transfer it to you? I could just buy some stocks or a house, and the returns would be much higher than the measly bank interest! 

Wait... actually, I can't buy stocks or a house yet... 

Song Han shook his head and said, 

"Mom, this money is for you to spend. I've kept some for myself, so don't worry about me! 

You're still renting a place while working out there. Use this money to buy a house, pay the down payment, and the monthly mortgage will be covered by the rent you save. Isn't that enough? 

If it's still not enough, there's always me. Let me tell you, money will only become less valuable over time! You need to convert it into assets as soon as possible!" 

"Silly child, how can money ever become less valuable! 

Money should be saved carefully, not spent recklessly! 

When you need it in the future, you won't have to scramble around in desperation!" 

Song Han patted his head in frustration. His short life experience made it hard for him to understand his parents' frugal habit of stretching every penny. 

After all, in his view, isn't money meant to be spent? 

What's the point of earning money if you just save it all and live on scraps?