1836: I Became a Literary Giant in Great Britain

Meanwhile, just as Michel was deeply affected by William's death and began writing intensively, the letter he sent home from London finally reached his family after a long journey of nearly a week.

Wilkesworth, a town in Derbyshire, south of the Peak District.

In stark contrast to the gloom and hustle of London, this place is surrounded by limestone hills, offering fresh air and beautiful scenery.

The history of this town began long before the Romans conquered this land.

However, the atmosphere at the LeBron family home was completely out of place amidst the beautiful scenery.

Since the family workshop went bankrupt, this once respectable middle-class family in town has fallen into complete despair.

The family's shops had long been mortgaged to creditors. Michelle's father, Charlie Leblanc, once a prominent workshop owner in town, now only had a job as a clerk in the town hall. Not only was his eyesight deteriorating rapidly, but his meager salary was also a drop in the ocean compared to the mountain of debt.

The creditors who come to collect debts from time to time are making life unbearable for this family.

In just one month, Michelle's father, Charlie LeBlanc, seemed to have aged ten years.

"Bang bang bang!"

Another rapid knocking sounded at the door, making Bella LeBlanc, who was preparing lunch in the kitchen, tense up and almost drop the potatoes she was holding.

Bella was a haggard middle-aged woman. Although time had etched many marks on her face, the beauty of her youth was still faintly visible.

"Are those debt collectors again?"

She looked nervously at her daughter, Anna.

Anna was in the prime of her life. Like Michelle, she was tall, with bright blue eyes and long, silky hair. But because of the recent situation at home, a worry lingered on her beautiful face, giving her a melancholic beauty.

Anna frowned, then quietly walked to the door, peeked through the crack, and a hint of joy appeared on her face.

"It's the postman! Perhaps it's a letter from Michelle!"

She quickly opened the door, thanked the postman, and took a heavy letter from him. The familiar handwriting on the envelope was from her younger brother, Michel.

Upon hearing that it was a letter from her son Michel, Bella quickly dropped the potatoes she was holding. She hastily wiped her hands and hurried over, her face filled with worry.

"Quick, open it and see! How is he? Has he suffered in London?"

Anna carefully opened the envelope and took out the letter.

As her gaze swept quickly across the words on the letter, the expression on her face changed several times within a few minutes.

From initial anticipation and worry, to a near-disbelief and astonishment.

"What's wrong, Anna? What did the letter say? Has something happened?"

Seeing her daughter's expression, Bella's heart leaped into her throat. She knew her son too well; like herself, he would never let his family worry unless absolutely necessary.

Anna looked up, her lips trembling slightly, but her previously troubled face seemed to regain its radiance.

The contents of the letter were so astonishing that she needed to organize her thoughts before she could recount them to her mother, Bella.

"Mother...my brother Michelle..."

"What's wrong with him? Tell me quickly!" Bella was so anxious she was about to cry.

"My younger brother is firmly against that marriage."

He said, "I don't need to sacrifice my happiness for anyone."

Anna finally spoke her first words. After she finished speaking, a long-lost smile appeared on her face, revealing a radiant glow that should belong to a girl her age.

Bella paused for a moment, then sighed, a hint of helplessness and bitterness appearing on her face.

This was to be expected. She knew her son too well; there was no way he would agree to something like this.

Anna continued, her voice tinged with excitement.

"My brother said he's already writing for the London Express!"

"What? Writing an article?"

"Writing for a newspaper? How could a grammar student like him know how to write..."

Bella was shocked by the news and could hardly believe it.

He said his income was quite good and told us not to worry about the family debt, that he would find a way! And...

Anna's eyes lit up. She turned the letter over and carefully poured out a pile of coins.

"Ding ding~"

The shimmering silver shilling landed on the table with a crisp sound.

"And he even sent money back! A full twenty shillings!"

Twenty shillings!

Upon hearing this number, Bella's voice abruptly stopped.

She stared blankly at the pile of silver coins on the table, their gleam seemingly more dazzling than the sunlight outside the window.

For the LeBron family right now, this is definitely a timely help.

"My God."

Bella stepped forward, her hands trembling as she picked up a shilling and examined it closely. She even instinctively wanted to put it in her mouth and bite it, but then felt it was inappropriate.

The shillings are genuine. My son writes for a newspaper in London and even earns money!

A huge surprise welled up in Bella's heart, making her feel dizzy for a moment.

"That's wonderful...that's wonderful! My Michelle has made something of herself!"

Overjoyed, she wept, holding Anna's hand, too moved to speak for a long time.

Anna was equally pleased. Her brother had not only not suffered in London, but had also found a way out through his talent, which put her at ease more than anything else.

When she saw her brother's words, "Anna doesn't need to sacrifice her happiness for anyone," she was almost moved to tears.

However, after a brief period of excitement and ecstasy, a sense of doubt crept into Bella's mind.

"But Anna, can you really earn that much money writing for a newspaper? I've heard that all those writers are impoverished."

She stopped crying, and her expression became serious.

"At least that's what the letter said... Michelle said it was an advance payment for the manuscript." Anna was a little uncertain for a moment.

"Advance payment?" Bella was unfamiliar with the term, but she realized the key point.

"Michel has only been writing for a short time, why would the London Express pay him so much money in advance? Could he have done something bad and is lying to us?"

Even when real money and silver shillings were sent back, she did not dispel her worries.

In fact, the mother's concerns were not unfounded.

A college student who suddenly had to drop out of school and was penniless suddenly became a writer in London, able to contribute articles to newspapers and even receive a substantial advance payment.

This whole thing sounds so unreal.

The more Bella thought about it, the more uncertain she felt.

She feared that this was just a lie her son had made up to appease his family and stop his sister's marriage.

However, she was more afraid that her son would take risks in London to earn money, and that the words in the letter were just an excuse.

"No, I have to see it with my own eyes." Bella stood up abruptly, her expression resolute.

"Where are we going?" Anna was startled by her mother's reaction.

"Let's go to London!"

"I need to see Michel with my own eyes to truly confirm the veracity of what he wrote in his letters before I can be at ease!"

"But... the cost of the trip to London..." Anna hesitated.

Bella glanced at the twenty shillings on the table, then rummaged through the pocket of her apron for a while, managing to scrape together some loose copper coins.

"This money is enough to buy two tickets to London."

Anna looked into her mother's resolute eyes and knew she couldn't persuade her otherwise. Similarly, she herself was filled with curiosity and worry about what her younger brother Michel was saying.

She also wanted to know what kind of life her brother Michel was living in London. Was it the same as he described in his letters?

"Okay! Mom, I'll go with you!" Anna nodded.