A Sister Sold for His Future

After finally carrying all the customer’s goods outside, the girl dragged a small table out from under the counter and plopped down onto it.

She immediately slumped against the stool, refusing to move another inch.

“A Ning, your big sister is seriously exhausted.”

“I just stood there stirring a wok for a whole hour, and right after that I got called to carry things.”

“I’m dead tired.”

Her complaining voice suddenly stopped, replaced by a soft, satisfied sigh.

“Ah…”

The boy who had been sitting beside her reading had started kneading her shoulders.

“As expected of my little brother, you’re still so good at taking care of people.”

“I’m sorry, sis.”

“My body is weak, and I’m half-blind.”

“Even though I’m the man of the house, I can’t help you when it matters.”

This girl was none other than Mu An’an, who years ago had used a basket of eggs to ask a tutor to name her younger brother.

And that younger brother, having received the tutor’s name, was officially registered as Mu Ning.

But although Mu Ning had been given a good name, his body did not live up to it.

With such a frail constitution, it was hard for a boy like him to achieve much.

No wonder that, despite being the only son, it was his sister who helped their parents run the family business.

“That’s not right.”

Hearing this, Mu An’an suddenly pushed his hands away and jumped to her feet.

“A Ning, you’re amazing.”

“Ever since you entered the county school at six, which teacher hasn’t praised you for being smart?”

“Your grades are always the best.”

“You win scholarships every year—you don’t even need the family to pay your tuition.”

A rare smile appeared on Mu Ning’s usually expressionless face.

“It’s thanks to you, sis.”

“If you hadn’t saved the money you were going to use to buy hairpins for yourself…”

“How would I have found something I could do?”

“Not just something you can do—you’re excelling.”

“Letting you study was obviously the right decision.”

“Maybe one day you’ll score high in the imperial exams—become a top scholar, or at least rank among the best.”

“Our whole family will be relying on you then.”

“Everyone has their strengths.”

“Everyone has a chance to prove their worth.”

As if to encourage him, Mu An’an even gave his shoulder a firm punch.

“You just focus on studying.”

“I’ll handle all the dirty and tiring work at home.”

“That’s the best way you can help me.”

Mu Ning listened, fully aware that she was comforting him.

With that reassurance, the shadow of past failures—times when he had only made a mess while trying to help—seemed less significant.

He had once thought himself useless.

But now, he had finally found something he could do.

That alone was a kind of fortune.

“I’ll listen to you.”

“If I study hard, there will be a way out.”

“I’ll give all of you a better life.”

Mu Ning knew that ten years of study would ultimately lead to the capital, where the most important examination of all awaited.

That single exam could determine a person’s entire life.

Those who succeeded would rise step by step.

Those who failed would simply continue trying, trapped in an endless cycle of examinations.

Of course, one could also choose to give up.

Or, through sheer effort, break free from that cycle.

Mu Ning was intelligent, so his results were consistently good.

After passing several rounds of preliminary examinations, he arrived in the capital for the final trial of his fate.

Because he was confident, he was far less nervous than his peers.

He even allowed himself moments of relaxation.

But his idea of relaxation was not indulging in pleasure houses or distractions.

Instead, he wandered through the capital’s modest shops.

Despite his poor eyesight, this sensible young man was thoughtful and filial.

Even in his free time, he carefully chose gifts for his family.

For his parents.

And for his sister.

He knew his sister was beautiful.

But in a poor county like Longxing, it was hard to find decent accessories.

In the capital, however, such small items were easy to come by.

When the final results were announced, his ranking was neither outstanding nor poor.

But it was good enough for him to pursue his ambitions.

Considering he had no connections, this result was already impressive.

However, when he returned home, what awaited him was not celebration—

But mourning.

By the time he finished the examination and was on his way back, his sister was already dead.

The first thing Mu Ning saw upon entering the courtyard was a coffin placed in the center.

Ignoring everyone who tried to stop him, he pushed the lid open.

Inside, beneath a white cloth, lay his sister’s broken body.

“Why… did my sister end up like this?”

Though Mu Ning had poor eyesight and always needed glasses, when he became serious, the intensity in his expression was terrifying.

Even his parents—who had secretly prepared their daughter’s funeral before his return—were frightened by him.

Despite their evasive answers, Mu Ning pressed them relentlessly.

Eventually, he learned the truth of what had happened during the year he was away.

Although the Mu family ran a small roasted goods shop, it barely earned enough money.

Yet Mu Ning’s participation in the imperial examinations required significant funds.

Everyone knew that preparing for the exams consumed both energy and money.

It was a burden the entire family had to bear together.

Since their legitimate business couldn’t provide enough, they had resorted to other means.

“The young lord of the Longxing Marquis’s household took a liking to An’an.”

“It was her fortune.”

“Becoming his concubine—she wouldn’t earn that blessing even in death.”

Facing Mu Ning’s questioning, his mother merely wiped away a few tears.

His father, however, spoke as if it were perfectly justified.

“We raised her for over ten years.”

“What’s wrong with her repaying us like this?”

Mu Ning understood.

Because this sister was not their biological child.

She had been a beggar girl, taken in before his birth by parents who had no children at the time.

He had heard this truth many times before, whispered in gossip among neighbors.

So he knew—

There was nothing strange about it at all.