Reborn in the ’80s as a Group Favorite Bigshot – Chapter 23

Chapter 23: So this is where you were waiting for me.

The dinner was still snake meat. Today, Song Lao Er went to learn a new stir-frying method from Old Zhao （Zhao Di）, and he made it at home.

After the meal was ready, Song Chu went to deliver Gu Yue’s portion first.

The people at the Educated Youth Point were already used to her delivering food to Gu Yue recently. Every time it was around this time, Educated Youth Jiang and a few other female educated youths who used to badmouth Song Chu would hide in their rooms.

This time, when she entered, Gu Yue wasn’t reading, but was sitting at the table writing something.

Song Chu walked over and took a peek, discovering that he was writing an article.

“You’re submitting articles too?” No wonder this guy’s family had someone sent down, yet he still lived relatively well as an educated youth, not seeming to lack money. He probably had royalties to supplement his income.

Hearing her speak, Gu Yue put down his pen. “Yes, earning some extra income.”

“You’ve attended high school before, right?” Song Chu placed the basket on the table.

Gu Yue put away his manuscript and took out the food. “I’ve already graduated from high school.”

“Then you must have been a ‘study god’ level student before.” Song Chu discovered that this guy wasn’t just good at science and engineering, but also had good writing skills.

It was the first time Gu Yue had heard this term. “Study god?”

“It means someone who can crush everyone around them in their studies, always getting first place in every exam, and can learn a concept in an instant while others need a long time.” Song Chu explained.

Gu Yue smiled and said, “If that’s what it means, then I guess I am a study god.”

From elementary school to high school, he had never gotten second place, and the gap between him and his classmates was quite large.

Song Chu smiled and said, “Gu, the Academic God, I have something I need your help with.”

Gu Yue chuckled. “So all this build-up, this is where you were waiting for me.”

“Not really, I genuinely admire you as a study god.” Song Chu was also a study god level student before the apocalypse, the typical “other people’s child.”

“Tell me, what is it?” Gu Yue said and started eating.

He had just heard from Song Lao Si at noon that Song Chu always delivered his food first before going back to eat herself, so he didn’t want to waste time.

Song Chu told him about going to the county town to press oil and wanting to buy an oil press today. “They agreed to sell us three, but they are old and outdated models. The technicians in the county town probably won’t help us repair them because it’s too much trouble, so I thought of you.”

Gu Yue swallowed the food in his mouth. “I have studied the structure and principles of many machines, but I haven’t studied oil presses. I can’t guarantee that I can repair them.”

“If I show you a book about the principles and structure of the current model of oil press, can you repair it?” Song Chu asked.

Although she was also a top student in science and engineering, she was more inclined towards biology and botany. She knew something about machinery but wasn’t proficient in it.

Gu Yue was taken aback. He looked up and asked, “Your half of the library has books on this?”

“That’s right. I have a book specifically on machinery, which includes this type of oil press, as well as updated versions of this model, and even more advanced ones.”

Song Chu said with a grin, “If you master it, I think we can not only repair the oil press but also tinker with it to create a newer model based on the original machine.”

This was her real purpose in seeking out Gu Yue.

Repairing the machine was only temporary. Modifying and creating a newer model would be long-lasting. Otherwise, the old machines would be too prone to breakdowns and have a short lifespan. They might break down after a while, which would be a waste.

Gu Yue was very interested in what Song Chu said. “No problem. If I master the machinery book you provide, I believe I can create a new one based on the original.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll come over tomorrow after lunch. I can stay with you for a longer time, and you can quickly go in and read.” Song Chu said.

Gu Yue nodded. “No problem.”

◈◈◈

When she returned home, the family was just starting to set the table for dinner. They were all waiting for her.

After the family finished eating, Song Chu brought up the matter of having her eldest maternal uncle buy an oil press.

The family was very surprised and felt like their minds couldn’t quite process it.

Tang Feng couldn’t help but ask, “Yaobao, why do you want your eldest maternal uncle to buy an oil press and share the oil with the whole village?”

“You discovered the oil tea. Our family can just pick it, take it to your third sister-in-law’s brother to press the oil, and then secretly sell it to make a lot of money.”

She added, “Then we can use it for your dowry.”

“…” Song Da Sao, who was initially very happy, instantly changed her expression upon hearing this.

Lao Taitai’s heart was simply too biased. Nowadays, who would give so much dowry when their daughter gets married?

Song Lao Er and Song Lao Si immediately said, “That’s right, Little Sister. It’s better if we press it ourselves and sell it.”

It’s already good enough that they don’t take advantage of the village. Why should they actively let others take advantage of them?

They thought their little sister was sick in the head, and seriously ill.

“Our family is so poor, Little Sister, you can’t be foolish. We should keep the pressed oil for ourselves.” Song Da Sa put aside the dowry issue and focused on making sure the oil pressing matter was kept within the family. She still wanted to send a few bottles of oil to her maternal family.

Song Chu looked at her family. Her father and eldest brother were henpecked and didn’t have a say, but this time even they showed disapproval.

She knew that trying to reason with these extremely selfish people was useless. Even her mother was used to taking advantage of others. Letting them be taken advantage of was like cutting their flesh.

So she had to use a different approach to persuade them.

Song Chu said, “I’m not doing this to let others take advantage of us. I’m doing this for the good of our family.”

“What do you mean?” The whole family looked at her, not understanding.

Song Chu explained, “Our family’s image in the village is too prominent, and mostly in a negative way. So we need to change everyone’s impression.”

“I’m going to take the exam for a university in the capital in the future. I heard that they check family background and history, and they also inquire about one’s behavior in the village. If someone says bad things about me, I might not pass the review, and you’ll all lose face too.” She had to exaggerate to persuade them. Anyway, her family didn’t know about these things, and only this could make her mother come around.

She changed the subject and continued, “If we succeed in this, our family will be the heroes of the village. Then they’ll have to look to us for guidance. Just think how great that would be.”

“With a good reputation in the village, our family members won’t be gossiped about when they go out. We can walk with our heads held high and be the envy of the whole village.” This was a key point for the face-conscious family.

The villagers often gossiped about their family behind their backs. There was no doubt that their image as extremely selfish people was deeply ingrained.

Hearing Song Chu’s words, Tang Feng thought for a moment and, suppressing her heartache, made the decision. “Alright, we can’t hinder your future university prospects. You go do it.”

She didn’t care about the gossip, but she couldn’t harm her daughter’s bright future.

Besides, if they really did this, they would have face when they went out. Those people wouldn’t dare to talk bad about their family behind their backs anymore. Whoever dared to speak would not get any oil. Hmph.

Additionally, she could go out and show off her daughter properly. The more she thought about it, the less her heartache became.

11:30 to be continued~