Just Give Me the Cash Equivalent

Throughout their conversation, Yan Xiao actually found it rather dull.

Most of the time, he was simply explaining knowledge about Earth that he had learned from the system.

Zhao Xiaolei, however, grew more excited the longer they talked.

He realized that even if Yan Xiao hadn't written "Research and Preliminary Exploration of Insect Phototaxis," he would surely have won an award with a paper on another subject.

To give the simplest example,

the way he classified insect pests alone was incredibly impressive.

It started as one question, one answer,

then became everyone asking questions and him answering them all.

Yan Xiao fielded all sorts of questions, while Lin Fangxin watched him with sparkling eyes.

He's so outstanding!

That's just like you!

Is this the man who's about to conquer my heart?

How embarrassing...

Principal Guo Zhaofu and the other school administrators also listened in amazement.

They hadn't expected Yan Xiao, whom Dean Wu and Dean Gao had foisted on them, to be so outstanding.

Not only were his grades better than anything they had ever seen,

but he also had such a deep understanding of agriculture, a field that was extremely obscure to most people these days.

He's not planning to apply to Ji City Agricultural University, is he? Guo Zhaofu worried.

However you looked at it, Ji City Agricultural University lagged quite far behind Jida University and Jinghua University.

Granted, it ranked first in agricultural science.

But...

it just wasn't prestigious enough...

What if Yan Xiao came first in the Gaokao too,

and the top scorer in all of Ji City chose an agricultural university?

Sure, people weren't supposed to discriminate between professions, but that was just a slogan. You said it and moved on. Who actually believed it?

In the end, Zhao Xiaolei asked the very question Guo Zhaofu dreaded most.

"Have you considered studying at Ji City Agricultural University? After your bachelor's degree, you could go straight into a master's and then a doctorate under me. What do you think?"

To Guo Zhaofu, that invitation was downright wicked.

Please, no...

He wailed inwardly, but couldn't let it show on his face,

so he could only sneak glances at Yan Xiao's reaction.

Yan Xiao pretended to ponder the offer.

He genuinely had no interest in Zhao Xiaolei's invitation. Choosing agricultural science would take him further and further from his dream of lying back and counting money. That was out of the question.

After a while, Yan Xiao finally replied, "I'm sorry, Professor Zhao, but I can't accept your offer. Although my future career plans are connected to agriculture, they aren't actually in agriculture."

That was what he said aloud. What he didn't say was, Whatever field I work in, I'll still need to eat rice, vegetables, fruit, seafood, and meat. That counts as an indirect connection, right?

Zhao Xiaolei wasn't upset by Yan Xiao's refusal.

He had originally intended to arrange guaranteed admission for Yan Xiao.

If the data in "Research and Preliminary Exploration of Insect Phototaxis" was authentic, applying for guaranteed admission would be easy.

But,

the problem was that without concrete evidence, Zhao Xiaolei didn't dare do it.

Nor did he have grounds to.

He decided to wait a little longer.

Guo Zhaofu was very pleased with Yan Xiao's answer.

Having one of our Jida Affiliated High School boys go to Jida University would be the perfect ending.

It's just...

He hasn't spent much time at our school.

If only he could take the Gaokao this year, then skip university and repeat a year here before taking it again.

Top scorers two years running, even if they're the same person.

That would still be an unprecedented, never-to-be-repeated feat.

Guo Zhaofu indulged in one lovely daydream after another.

The discussion continued until one thirty in the afternoon, with no sign of ending.

Guo Zhaofu had his secretary order food,

and they ate while continuing their conversation with the judging panel of the National Agricultural Science Essay Competition.

As they were nearly finished eating, the secretary suddenly gave Guo Zhaofu a meaningful look.

Taking the hint, Guo Zhaofu stood and stepped outside, closing the conference room door behind him.

"What is it?"

"Take a look. This is a new report." As she spoke, the secretary handed Guo Zhaofu a newspaper.

"Man in His Seventies Marries Girl Fifty Years His Junior: Real-Life Grandfather-Granddaughter Romance Shocks the World!"

Guo Zhaofu: "..."

He didn't know how to respond.

He honestly had no particular opinion on something like this.

After thinking for a long time, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence.

"I neither support nor oppose it. After all, it's their own business."

"You neither support nor oppose it? Shouldn't this be recognized?" The secretary was confused too.

"Recognized? Why should it be recognized?" Guo Zhaofu couldn't understand why his secretary had called him outside to discuss this.

"It's such an impressive achievement. Doesn't it deserve recognition?" the secretary muttered softly, lowering her head.

"We really can't recognize something like this. Although a grandfather-granddaughter romance does break through certain conventional constraints, I don't particularly encourage it. Personally, I still advocate growing old together and remaining devoted to each other."

The secretary: "???"

"What is it?"

"You're looking at the wrong side. It's the front-page story," the secretary said, pointing at the newspaper.

How awkward...

Guo Zhaofu coughed twice, widened his eyes, and flipped the newspaper with a loud rustle.

Once he had it the right way around,

he took a good look: !!!

"Yan Xiao, Senior at Jida Affiliated High School, Completes Translation of Newly Excavated Oracle Bone Script"

You again!

It's always you!

How is it you again?!

How many more surprises do you have in store for me?!

I can't bear to let you leave!

His hands trembling slightly, Guo Zhaofu read the headline carefully once more. Thinking it over, there seemed to be only one senior at the school named Yan Xiao.

And then,

his happiness shot straight to the max!

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" His three exclamations were so loud that everyone still chatting inside was startled.

None of them knew what had made the principal so happy.

"Recognize him! Do it immediately! Give him every top award the school can offer!" Guo Zhaofu urged his secretary to take care of it at once.

As the secretary turned to leave, he added, "Allocate some money from the activities fund and buy a few prizes young people like."

"Yes, sir."

After the secretary left, Guo Zhaofu returned to the conference room, unable to hide the delight on his face.

Finally, at three in the afternoon, Zhao Xiaolei and the judging panel of the National Agricultural Science Essay Competition rose to take their leave.

Guo Zhaofu stood as well, intending to see the judges out.

Before leaving, he told Yan Xiao, "Stay a little longer. I have something to discuss with you afterward."

With that, the group went out and headed toward the school parking lot.

Only Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin remained in the conference room.

Once again, Lin Fangxin couldn't resist asking, "How do you know so much?"

"I just read all sorts of random books in my spare time. I have an incredible memory, so I can instantly remember anything I read. Once I've read enough, all that knowledge automatically comes together into a coherent whole."

"That's so nice. I wish I had a memory like yours." Lin Fangxin was both admiring and envious.

"I'll head out first. I'll wait for you at the school gate. Come have beef noodles with me later. I didn't get enough to eat at lunch."

"Sure. I'll treat you to beef noodles later, and we can get a few meat skewers too. How's that?"

"Then it's happily settled!" Lin Fangxin gave Yan Xiao a great big smile and left the conference room.

Yan Xiao actually wanted to leave with her,

but considering that the person who had asked him to stay was the principal,

he felt it was best to show the man a little respect.

After only ten minutes or so, Guo Zhaofu returned.

As soon as he entered the conference room, his first words were, "Yan Xiao, excellent work! What prize would you like?"

Yan Xiao said, "No need to go to all that trouble. Just give me the cash equivalent..."

Guo Zhaofu: "..."