"You wouldn't understand the world of the rich," Old Martinez laughed. "They say a few hundred years ago, the wealthy used to train hawks for fun. Now hawks are too big and dangerous, so they've settled for sparrows instead. Just look at how fierce this sparrow looks—rich people love this sort of thing."

Jason Carter thought for a while. So, even when most people still couldn't get enough to eat, there were already some who were training sparrows for amusement...

"But if it's alive, that'll cost extra," Jason Carter said. "When this thing's alive, it could scratch someone to death if you're not careful! Way too dangerous!"

At that moment, Jason Carter suddenly wondered: the refugees outside were polluted, so had these sparrows never been polluted? Or did the refuge barriers only need these refugees to work for them, and the walls themselves naturally divided people into classes?

"Fortune favors the bold," Old Martinez said with a sly smile. "If you can stay up all night training them, it means you're not ordinary. If you put in a bit more effort and catch a live one, maybe you won't have to do anything for half a year. And haven't you thought about saving up some money to get yourself a wife or something?"

"Get a wife, my ass!" Jason Carter replied irritably.

Old Martinez put on a mysterious air. "The girl next door from Old Thompson's family and your brother Brian both go to the academy. She's a proper young lady..."

"If that's the case, shouldn't I just sell this sparrow directly to Old Thompson? Why do I need your introduction?" Jason Carter turned to Brian Cooper. "Are you classmates with Old Thompson's daughter?"

"Yeah," Brian Cooper nodded. "She's really sturdy."

"Go on, go play somewhere else," Old Martinez said, annoyed. "Just pretend I never said anything. Good intentions wasted on the ungrateful!"

Seeing that Jason Carter and Brian Cooper were about to start a comedy routine, Old Martinez quickly cut them off and changed the subject: "Remember, if you ever catch a live one next time, you must come to me."

"Alright," Jason Carter nodded. Actually, catching a live one was dangerous, but not impossible. He looked around the general store. "How much for the cotton-padded jacket?"

"The jackets are new arrivals, 500 each! You know the price—I bought them for 490. I'm not making any money on these," Old Martinez said. "If one less person freezes to death, that's good enough for me."

"You're quite the good Samaritan," Jason Carter said offhandedly. "I'll take one. See what size fits Brian."

"Bro, you should get one too," Brian Cooper said quickly.

"Kids shouldn't interrupt when adults are talking," Jason Carter frowned. "I'm not cold."

Money is a good thing. The corporations controlling each refuge barrier issue currency to ensure the flow of goods. It's convenient, but without money, you can't get anywhere.

Winters here are very cold, but money had to be saved for emergencies. There was still over a month before winter. If he could catch another sparrow, Jason Carter thought it wouldn't be too late to buy a jacket then.

The key thing was, Brian Cooper had to pay his school fees—once a month.

Jason Carter glanced around the general store again, his gaze suddenly stopping at the counter behind Old Martinez. "How much for the antibiotics?"

"You want to buy medicine?" Only then did Old Martinez notice the bloodstained cloth wrapped around Jason Carter's hand. "You're hurt? You'd better get some medicine, or an infection could kill you!"

"I asked how much!" Jason Carter said impatiently.

"210 per pill," Old Martinez replied. "You have to take antibiotics for three days straight, so three pills for 620. I'll throw in a free application of iodine. I've only got ten pills left."

Jason Carter thought for a moment. "Can you round it down a bit..."

"If you're thinking of dropping the zero at the end of 620, you can forget it," Old Martinez said, annoyed.

Jason Carter smacked his lips and reluctantly looked away. "Forget it, I won't buy it. You don't usually get infections in winter anyway."

He turned and took Brian Cooper to school. On the way, they passed the grain store, and Jason Carter went in to buy a long, black loaf of bread. Who knows what was mixed into this bread—it scratched his throat painfully as he swallowed.

Chewing on the black bread, Brian Cooper said, "Bro, why don't you pay tuition and go to class too, since you want to study so much?"

"I still have to go out hunting," Jason Carter replied. "From what Old Martinez said just now, there are quite a few well-off girls at your academy. Don't you go falling in love too early."

"I heard people used to get married at thirteen or fourteen," Brian Cooper retorted. He hadn't really thought about relationships, but bickering with Jason Carter was just fun.

Finding joy in hardship is probably one of humanity's greatest strengths.

Jason Carter playfully tapped the back of Brian Cooper's head. "How can things be the same as before? You're still young. Any girl you date now will end up being someone else's wife..." At this point, Jason Carter smacked his lips. "Someone else's wife... why does that sound kind of exciting..."

"Bro, what are you talking about? I don't get it..." Brian Cooper blinked.

"Get lost, stop pretending to be clueless," Jason Carter said irritably.

...

The academy was the cleanest and tidiest place in the whole town, and the only residence with its own courtyard.

Walking in from outside, you could see the yard was planted in neat rows with... green onions, garlic sprouts, potatoes, cabbage...