Chapter 25: Wei Xiaofan, the Diligent and Thrifty Learner (Please Vote for Me)

Inside the private room of the Human Division at the Universal Transmigration Consultation Office, Wei Xiaoping and Yang Zhijin remained transfixed, as if addicted, their eyes unwaveringly fixed upon the magical mirror on the wall. The mirror continually displayed shifting scenes like those in a film, each image dissolving into the next. With every change in the magical mirror’s display, their expressions transformed as well: at times, their mouths stretched wide, like taut rubber bands, deepening the lines of their faces; at other moments, their features elongated suddenly, as if a slightly inflated balloon had abruptly deflated.

Yang Zhijin, standing nearby, kept explaining to Wei Xiaoping the meaning behind the ever-changing images in the mirror. His explanations were nectar to Wei Xiaoping’s ears, who would now and then shower Yang Zhijin with praise.

“Brother Yang, in my previous life, Wei Xiaoping wanted to become a ‘lifelong companion’ with Wei Xiaofan. What does that mean? Why must they look almost identical, and even share nearly the same birthdate?” he asked.

“Really? You don’t remember what a ‘lifelong companion’ is, even though you experienced it in your previous life?”

“That previous life was the life before the last, so much time has passed, of course I don’t remember. Besides, after death, when one is reborn or crosses into another world, very few souls can recall their former lives. I’m just a wandering spirit, temporarily detached from my unconscious body in the world of the living. Remembering what happened in the current life is already quite remarkable.”

“Ah, you’re right, I forgot you’re now reviewing the life before your previous life. ‘Lifelong companion’ was a kind of superstition in our past lives, meaning two people—men or women of similar age—would become as close as siblings after forming a deep bond, supporting each other throughout life.”

“So that’s it. In that earlier life, my relationship with Wei Xiaofan was akin to that of brothers?”

“Perhaps it was precisely because you and Wei Xiaofan were so close in that life, that after your deaths, the King of the Underworld arranged for both of you to transmigrate or be reborn together in another world, continuing your bond.”

Hearing this, Wei Xiaoping felt that his connection with Wei Xiaofan in this life was truly rare and precious. Being born as twins in the same family was no coincidence. “I must cherish my hard-won brother even more,” he thought to himself.

“Brother Yang, why did Li Bufan slander Wei Xiaofan in that previous life? Didn’t you say Wei Xiaofan never offended him? Li Bufan had only just transferred to Lianzhi Middle School, and the two barely spoke.”

“When you and Wei Xiaofan were sent away by Wu Wenbin, we couldn’t see their conversation, so we don’t know the reason. But if we keep watching, we’ll find out. After all, there’s no causeless love or hatred. We just haven’t finished viewing the video of your previous life yet, so we don’t know.”

“Then let’s keep watching. My body in the living world is still unconscious, and my soul cannot return yet. I’d like to see how Wei Xiaofan and I ultimately died, and what happened to my family in that previous life,” said Wei Xiaoping.

“Then adjust the magic sphere again,” Yang Zhijin replied.

Wei Xiaoping resumed manipulating the magic sphere, moving the paused scene forward.

The magical mirror resumed, displaying the ever-shifting images:

Afternoon. Wei Xiaofan and Wei Xiaoping went shopping.

Wei Xiaofan had attended Lianzhi Middle School for over two years, but in all that time, he rarely went shopping with classmates. In his memory, he’d only ever gone shopping once.

He recalled that first shopping trip was at the start of his first semester in junior high. It was his first time traveling far from home to study in the city, and he brought only a small cabinet weighing several dozen pounds. He knew it was a wedding dowry from his grandmother to his father and birth mother.

The cabinet was coated with a transparent yellow varnish, much of which had peeled away, giving it an aged appearance. Yet his father claimed it was the family’s most precious possession.

Inside were only some raw rice, salt, peanut oil, chili sauce, and a few articles of clothing and shoes, all made from his father’s old garments. There were no other household items.

After registering at school, he went with a newly acquainted classmate to the street to buy necessary items: toothbrush, toothpaste, a mat, a lunchbox, pens, paper, exercise books, and so forth.

Family finances were tight, so Wei Xiaoping tried to save as much as possible, buying only what was absolutely necessary or choosing the cheapest options.

The entire family lived off about ten acres of land. The money for his junior high education was partly borrowed from his uncle, and with younger siblings still in elementary school, their hardships were obvious.

He remembered searching several streets at the start of junior high, finally finding a shop about to close down that was selling goods at discounted prices.

The prices were already low, but Wei Xiaofan bargained with the shop owner, hoping to save a few more coins. He haggled for several minutes.

Eventually, the shop owner lost patience and snapped, “Buy it or leave. I’m already selling at cost. Your price doesn’t even cover what I paid for these goods. How can you shop like that?”

The owner’s loud voice startled the nearby shoppers, who all turned to look.

Wei Xiaofan realized his bargaining had angered the owner and felt embarrassed under the gaze of the crowd. He wished he could hide somewhere, but these were essentials, and that shop had the lowest prices. So Wei Xiaofan forced a smile and said:

“Alright then, sir, bargaining is normal for customers, but since you can’t go any lower, I’ll buy at your listed price. Times are tough for everyone.”

The owner, hearing this, looked closely at Wei Xiaofan’s clothes—clearly altered from adult garments—and seemed to understand his circumstances. Touched by Wei Xiaoping’s maturity, the owner quietly wrapped up his purchases and even threw in a few extra useful items.

Wei Xiaofan tried to refuse, but the owner insisted, “I always give one or two cheap items to customers as a gesture of thanks. That way, they’ll come back in the future.”

Thus, Wei Xiaofan accepted the extra goods and thanked the owner several times, wishing him prosperity.

Because he happened to catch the shop during its closing sale, the goods were genuine and durable; some would last for years. Later, when a teacher’s family opened a small convenience stall at the school gate, Wei Xiaofan chose not to buy unnecessary things, and if he needed anything, he bought it there—saving both money and time for reading.

Now, two years later, he was breaking his routine to shop again with Wei Xiaoping, this time to buy gifts for their trip home the next day.

Wei Xiaoping knew about Wei Xiaofan’s family situation and hoped he wouldn’t spend money on gifts or would buy them himself and let Wei Xiaofan carry them. But Wei Xiaofan’s pride wouldn’t allow it; he saw that as insincere, disrespectful, and an affront to his dignity as a country boy. So he refused Wei Xiaoping’s suggestion.

Seeing Wei Xiaofan’s stubbornness, Wei Xiaoping had to let him decide for himself.

On the way to the street, however, Wei Xiaoping kept offering suggestions to help him save money, nagging constantly.

Wei Xiaofan, seeing Wei Xiaoping fuss like an old granny, couldn’t help but laugh from time to time.