This is just a simple story, told without any literary flair. As for elegant language or fancy expressions, there's none of that here, so please don't criticize. Then again, it seems no one would both
Zhang Xuan was raised by his grandfather, who poured his heart and soul into ensuring Zhang Xuan grew up well. In his final year before graduation, his grandfather fell ill. With no money for treatment, his grandfather passed away, leaving Zhang Xuan alone.
Later, Zhang Xuan succeeded in the provincial civil service exam and became a government official. Everything seemed to fall into place, as if fate had arranged it all. He believed that one could only rely on oneself, so he worked diligently at his job, saving every penny over four years until he had managed to put aside a small sum.
He dreamed of settling down in the small county town, imagining a peaceful and happy life. In his spare time, without letting it interfere with his main responsibilities, Zhang Xuan took on all sorts of part-time jobs—waiting tables, doing online tasks, testing online games, and more. Game testing was the most common; he spent countless hours reviewing browser games. He also played popular games of the time, from competitive shooters to strategy games inspired by the Three Kingdoms.
Life in the small county was fulfilling. Through game testing, he learned and grew, whether it was paper-making, iron-smelting, oil refining, or even feng shui—skills used within the virtual worlds. Though most of this knowledge was theoretical and gleaned from game mechanics, it was, in a sense, an accumulation of experience.
But fate is unpredictable. When bad luck strikes, even a sip of water can choke you, and a walk down the street can bring disaster.
Just after paying the do