CH 17.1

Ji Zhile went to bed early the night before because he had to recharge his batteries. He is going out to pick up bottles tomorrow.

When the alarm clock rang the next day, Ji Zhile woke up. He sat on the bed, his slightly curly hair was a bit messy from sleeping, and his fair little face was also a little blush.

Ji Zhile sat blankly for a while without moving. He was reminiscing about the dream he had last night.

He dreamed that he picked up a lot of bottles and made a lot of money and his family was finally not poor.

Ji Zhile chuckled, and after washing, he went downstairs with his small school bag on his back. He was wearing short-sleeved shorts and a sun hat and he looked like he was about to go on a picnic.

Ji Ningyi also got up early. When he saw Ji Zhile’s outfit, he asked, “Zhile, where are you going?”

Ji Zhile rolled his eyes and said, “I’m going to play with Xiao Yuan.”

He can’t tell Brother the real purpose, otherwise, Brother will definitely tell Mom.

Brother and Mom are best friends. But when he makes money, they will definitely think that he is the most powerful person in the family.

Ji Ningyi said, “Did you tell Mom?”

“Yes.”

When eating breakfast, Ji Zhile ate very fast. After the meal, he filled his water glass with water, put it in his small school bag, and walked out in a bouncing manner.

When Ji Zhile arrived at Xiao Yuan’s house, Xiao Yuan was already downstairs waiting for him.

Xiao Yuan leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Let’s go out through the back door. The park is outside.”

Ji Zhile nodded. This is the location they decided on after discussing it. There is a park outside Xiao Yuan’s house. Xiao Yuan knows the way, so they don’t have to worry about getting lost. The park has the most mineral water bottles.

Full of energy, Ji Zhile took out a few garbage bags from his schoolbag: “We’ll put the bottles in here later.”

Without any hesitation, the two children started immediately, found a trash can nearby, and turned over.

The moment he opened the trash can, Ji Zhile covered his nose, feeling that he was about to faint: “It stinks.”

Xiao Yuan gave him a mask: “It won’t stink after wearing it.”

Ji Zhile put it on, covering most of his face, only revealing a pair of sparkling eyes, with a smart light shining inside.

“Really, Xiao Yuan, you are so smart!”

Xiao Yuan chuckled: “Of course, you have to be fully prepared when you come out to pick up bottles.”

While flipping through the trash can, Ji Zhile thought, the next time he picks up bottles, he should wear gloves so that he won’t get his hands dirty.

The two children turned over the first trash can, but there was not a single bottle in it, so they immediately rushed to the next one.

Ji Zhile feels that it is not easy to make money. Why are there no bottles in the park?

But in the next second, Ji Zhile turned over a mineral water bottle in the second trash can and there was still a small amount of mineral water left in it. Ji Zhile held the bottle in his hand, his eyes gleaming: “Xiao Yuan, look!”

His expression was so excited that his whole body seemed to be shining brightly.

Xiao Yuan also widened his eyes and clapped vigorously: “Zhile, you are so amazing!”

Ji Zhile happily unscrewed the bottle cap and poured the water into the sewer. Although he felt it was a bit wasteful, he would not want something that others had eaten.

Finally, close the lid and throw the empty bottle in the trash bag with glee.

With the harvest of the first one, both of them were greatly encouraged. After digging through one trash can, they went to the next one. Although they were very young, the two cubs closed the trash can politely and said goodbye.

Gradually walking to the center of the park, where there are so many people exercising and resting, Ji Zhile found six bottles in a trash can. Ji Zhile was shocked and went crazy with joy: “Xiao Yuan, there are so many bottles here. Ah…!”

At the same time, in the center of the park, a female voice speaking standard Mandarin sounded—

“After the completion of Xinfeng Park, it has brought great convenience to the surrounding residents and it has become a place for everyone to rest and exercise. The park is clean and tidy. The facilities are well equipped…”

The camera turned around and landed on the trash can, where two children who were not much taller than the trash can were struggling to pick up the trash next to the trash can.

The host is keenly aware that this is good material. Two three- and four-year-old children are actively maintaining the sanitation of the park and taking the initiative to throw the garbage that has not been thrown into the trash can. What a great irony for adults, especially those who like to practice garbage shooting, and finally calling on people to care for the environment.

So, the host approached and asked kindly: “Kids, what are you doing?”

Ji Zhile raised his head, his small face was reddish due to exercise, and wearing a mask revealed a pair of round eyes with clear black pupils.

Even the photographer thought the kid was so cute, even with a mask on, he looked photogenic, like a starlet.

Ji Zhile said, “We’re picking up bottles.”

Xiao Yuan said, “There are a lot of mineral water bottles here.”

The host was stunned for a moment. This answer was different from what she had imagined, but since they were all interviewed, she could only continue to ask: “Are you picking up bottles for recycling?”

Ji Zhile shook his head, his eyes sparkling: “It’s for selling money!”

Xiao Yuan said: “This garbage accidentally ran out, let’s put it back.”

The host was shocked. These two children are less than ten years old together. How could they pick up bottles and sell them for money? Are today’s children so precocious?

Ji Zhile took the initiative to ask: “Sister, are you doing an interview?”

From the TV he watched, he knew that those with cameras and microphones were doing interviews.

The host smiled: “Yes.”

Ji Zhile asked again: “Then can others see our interview?”

“Yes.”

Ji Zhile opened his eyes wide and excitedly waved at Xiao Yuan: “Xiao Yuan, come quickly, we are going to be on TV!”

The two children were very excited and Ji Zhile raised his hand actively, very politely.

The host also smiled and asked: “Do you want to say something, kid?”

Ji Zhile said: “Sister, can you ask the adult who threw the bottle to drink the water in the bottle before throwing it away, so as not to waste it?”

The host did not expect Ji Zhile to be able to speak in such an orderly manner at such a young age, smiling at the camera: “Saving resources is everyone’s responsibility.”

Ji Zhile nodded. He had a sense of the camera, stared straight at the camera, and said seriously: “If you don’t save money, you will become very poor, just like our family.”

He generously used himself as an example: “I ordered too much food at KFC, so our family has no money and my mother doesn’t have a beautiful dress. Now I can only eat carrots.”

“So kid, did you come out to pick up bottles to make money?”

Ji Zhile nodded, his tone was firm: “I want to make money!”

“What about you?” The host asked Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan said: “My mother said that if you don’t study hard, you can only pick up bottles when you grow up. I want to try picking up bottles.”

The host could not hold back a smile but said professionally: “The main task of children is to study. It’s grown-ups who make money.”

Ji Zhile shook his head: “No, everyone in our family can do it, not just adults. Because we are all members of the family.”

“Sister, will your interview be broadcast on TV?” Ji Zhile asked.

The host said: “Yes, it will be broadcast on the city channel.”

Ji Zhile’s eyes widened: “Then will my mother see it too?”

“Yes.”

Ji Zhile immediately covered his eyes: “Don’t let my mother see it!”

“Sister, we are leaving. If my mother finds out, she will beat me up.” Ji Zhile pulled Xiao Yuan and wanted to run away.

But he added the second half of the sentence in a very low voice: “It hurts my mother to beat someone.”

The two children ran away, and when they stopped, Xiao Yuan asked out of breath, “Why can’t your mother know that we are picking up bottles?”

Ji Zhile frowned, he did not really know the reason, he just said: “Anyway, I can’t let my mother know. If she knows, she won’t let me come out to pick up bottles, and you don’t want your mother to know, right? ”

Xiao Yuan nodded. He felt that he was preparing for the future. If he did not want to study, he just picked up the bottle in the future.

Ji Zhile comforted himself again: “Fortunately, we were wearing masks just now. Even if my mother saw it, she wouldn’t recognize us.”

Xiao Yuan felt that what Ji Zhile said was right: “Zhile, you are so smart! Take a look, how many bottles have we picked up?”

Ji Zhile shook the garbage bag and the collision of the mineral water bottle made a pleasant sound. The garbage bag was already full. He took off his mask proudly and wiped the sweat from his face: “It’s too much, let’s take it and sell it!”

Xiao Yuan also nodded excitedly and took Ji Zhile to the garbage collection station.

*****

Translator’s Comment:

Well, can you guess how much money Zhile makes from selling the bottles? (✦ ‿ ✦)