Transmigration: On the Gossip Front
Chapter 500 - 501 Sister Flowers Educated Youth 18_1

Chapter 500: Chapter 501 Sister Flowers Educated Youth 18_1

Huo Lei saw Shen Jie taking out a book to read, originally assuming it was the Red Treasure Book.

But when he looked up, he realized it wasn’t at all what he had thought; it was a physics book. "You’re reading a physics book?" he asked.

Shen Jie hummed in affirmation, "Master math, physics, and chemistry, and you’ll have nothing to fear wherever you go."

Huo Lei and Zhao Yu were again stunned by Shen Jie’s response, at a loss for how to reply.

"But many people say that studying is useless," Zhao Yu murmured.

"Everyone has their own opinion," she responded. "They think it’s useless, but I think it’s a good way to pass the time."

"At least for someone who’s academically challenged, like me, reading such books is a sure way to fall asleep," Shen Jie said earnestly.

She really wasn’t lying; this was truly the case. When a poor student looks at a physics book, don’t they see it as an enigma?

Huo Lei and the others didn’t understand Shen Jie and didn’t know her grades, but Feng Dan did.

Hearing her spouting all that nonsense, Feng Dan struggled to suppress her laughter for a long time, pinching her own flesh to avoid bursting into giggles.

Huo Lei and the boys might not be familiar with Shen Jie, but seeing Feng Dan’s awkward expression, they were certain that there was a lot of exaggeration in Shen Jie’s claims.

"Although I don’t know your grades, I’m certain that you’re definitely not a poor student," Huo Lei thought of his own unfulfilled college dream and sighed to himself again.

If it hadn’t been for this movement, if the college entrance exams hadn’t been stopped, he would have probably been accepted into a university; but now, all that had turned to smoke.

"What’s the difference between a poor student and a top student now?" Both are high school graduates, and getting into college isn’t about grades but about recommendations.

The other three sighed softly, "Indeed, there’s no difference between poor students and top students."

"Then why do you still read books?" Huo Lei asked curiously, "Of course, you don’t have to answer."

"I just feel it’s boring on the road, and I can’t keep talking to people all the time, so I just grabbed a few books at random," Shen Jie insisted on her casual choice.

To grab a few books at random and coincidentally end up with high school physics books—Huo Lei, Zhao Yu, and the others felt that such coincidences often had a human hand behind them.

Recalling what their elders often said, you never fight a battle unprepared. The college entrance examinations may be suspended now, but it’s impossible for them to be halted forever, relying solely on recommendations.

Many of those who got into college through recommendations had connections and backgrounds, and their grades were often not something one could look at directly; can the future rest on such people?

Although they didn’t know when the college entrance exams would be resumed, they were certain that, if they were, the person most likely to get into a university was the one sitting across from them, the one spouting all sorts of nonsense.

Even though they didn’t know if they would be busy after arriving in the Northeast, they should still manage to find time to glance at a physics book or something.

Reading physics and chemistry books might invite some teasing, but at least it was safer than reading novels.

As for the Red Treasure Book, having already read it for so long, Huo Lei would rather not see it anymore if possible.

Right, when he got there, he would ask his family to send his high school textbooks by mail when he wrote back home to assure them of his safety.

Shen Jie never knew her casually uttered words were being taken seriously, but she just kept her head down and continued reading.

Huo Lei and Zhao Yu looked at each other, their many years of tacit understanding allowing them to know they each took Shen Jie’s words seriously.

Feng Dan was unaware of the thoughts of the two young men sitting across from her; she felt that Shen Jie was smart, having thought things through so thoroughly.

She herself had considered bringing a lot of things but ultimately decided against it, fearing that she wouldn’t be able to carry them all due to the sheer number.

Who could imagine that Shen Jie, so delicate, was actually carrying so much luggage, and she didn’t forget to bring her books along.

Maybe that was the reason Feng Dan had never performed as well as Shen Jie in her studies, a thought that weighed on her mind. She decided that when she wrote home later, she’d mention this.

But then again, she realized that even if her family received her letter, they probably wouldn’t mail her the books.

Besides the expensive mailing cost, there was still her younger brother at home who needed to study; at least this would save on the textbook expenses.

Forget it, Feng Dan thought. It was better not to bring it up, lest the books failed to arrive and her parents vented their frustrations in their letters.

She’d be better off waiting until she had worked for a few months and then use her salary to buy the books. She knew that reading more was beneficial.

Seeing Feng Dan idle, Shen Jie took a chemistry book out of her bag. "Want to read a chemistry book?"

"Yes." Feng Dan knew that because of Shen Xiaohui’s health condition, Shen Jie’s notes were always detailed and meticulously taken so that Xiao Hui, who studied on his own, could understand them.

Huo Lei glanced at the book Feng Dan had opened and noticed the dense notes scribbled all over the pages, which felt like a multitude of critical hits.

The handwriting was good, and the pages were filled with numerous words—it was clear to see that the owner of the book had been very attentive in class.

"Did you write this?" Huo Lei asked Shen Jie seriously.

He was certain that her grades must be good; after all, who could make such diligent notes during classes and not achieve decent results?

"Yes," Shen Jie replied casually, "Why do you ask?"

"I just think that your notes are really good," Huo Lei admitted, truly admiring someone who could take such excellent notes.

Shen Jie stared at Huo Lei for a long while after his unexpected praise. "Just because you’ve praised me, doesn’t mean I will give you the book."

That was absolutely impossible. This handwriting belonged to the original owner, a girl who had been so earnest and hardworking.

If it hadn’t been for Shen Yuan and Huo Huo’s sake, she would have definitely gone to university after the reinstatement of the National College Entrance Examinations.

Her life wouldn’t have been this way, and the fate of Shen Jianshe’s lineage wouldn’t be so bleak.

It was just a compliment or two, and unexpectedly, she responded with a guarded expression.

Although it seemed a bit unlikely, looking at Shen Jie’s reaction, Huo Lei felt that it was the case. "I, I didn’t mean anything by it."

"I was just expressing my admiration, I’ve really never seen notes taken so beautifully before."

"Having paid the tuition fees, of course I needed to listen attentively. My brother is unwell and studies at home. If I don’t pay attention during class and take proper notes, how can he study on his own?"

"My family has paid for two tuitions for only me to attend school. Naturally, I have to take it seriously—more than seriously, I have to make sure not even two people’s worth of tuition fees go to waste."

Shen Jie knew the textbooks they used in school should be okay, but still, she needed to be cautious.

If something needed explaining, she shouldn’t avoid it just because it’s troublesome; explanations must be clear.

She has a younger brother too, Huo Lei recalled when they had accompanied Shen Jie, that there was a young lad along; presumably, that was her brother.

Back then, they wondered why send a daughter to the countryside as an educated youth when there was a son of a similar age at home.

"Your brother is unwell?" Zhao Yu was straightforward and asked whatever came to his mind.

"Back then, I even thought, why not let the son become an educated youth."