Classmates

This was the price Xu Xi had figured out. She currently earns three points per piece of writing. Once the academy officially starts classes, she'll dedicate all her time to studying, and she estimates she can easily earn sixty or seventy points a day. The more proficient she becomes, the higher her points will be. News from all over the country, regardless of difficulty, will earn her three hundred points in just two or three days.

But the system won't allow it!

"That won't do." It seemed quite agitated. "I'm not mentally challenged, don't try to fool me."

"..." This guy has actually become shrewd. This is a bit tricky.

Xu Xi stroked his chin. "How about I give you fifty points for each item?" He then warned, "That's the limit I can offer. Let me tell you, although you're the seller, I'm your only buyer. If I think it's too expensive and don't buy, you won't sell a single point. Not only will you not sell the information, but I won't even want the Agility Pill. Anyway, what's the point of an Agility Pill for a salted fish? To make a quick turn over? It's much more comfortable to lie still."

"No, this can't be done!" The system was almost in tears. "I went to the trouble of checking the information, and that costs energy, okay? We can't calculate it by area, we have to calculate it by difficulty."

"Then draw a line," Xu Xi added, "Anyway, I won't buy it if it's too expensive."

"..."

Knowing that its rogue host might actually decide to stop farming points altogether, the system thought for a while, then said with immense frustration, "Things vary in difficulty. Easy things, like finding out where the dog hole is in this mansion, are easy for me to find, so I'll charge you fifty points. If you want to know where the dog hole is in the palace, that's a bit more difficult, so I'll charge you one hundred points. Another example is investigating your background from fourteen years ago; that's very difficult in terms of time, space, and secrecy, so it will cost fifteen thousand points."

"Two hundred!" Xu Xi immediately paid the money on the spot. "Also, I want to clarify that I have no interest in dog holes."

"I don't even know about the dog hole..." The system almost led her astray, so she quickly got back to the point, "No, fifteen thousand is the lowest I can go. Any less and I'm quitting. You can be a couch potato if you want."

"Fine, then I'm going to be a couch potato. You can go cool off somewhere else and don't bother me again." Xu Xi said coldly. "Don't think I need you. The old lady has already made her move; she'll find out about my background sooner or later."

"Once I make some money, I'll hire a dozen or so servants. If anything comes up, I can have them find out. Unless it's something extremely important, I won't need to buy information from you anymore."

"..."

The system was silent for a moment, then said, somewhat frustrated, "Then... then two thousand it is."

"Two hundred, or else forget it."

Sensing the resolve in Xu Xi's words, the system sighed deeply and looked up at the sky speechlessly, "Fine. But this is a discounted price for you; there won't be such a cheap deal again. This time, you can't earn points in peace without thoroughly investigating your background."

"Okay, sure." Xu Xi couldn't be more satisfied with the price. Two hundred points, she could earn that in a few days by grinding.

The next day, Xu Xi headed to the academy with high spirits, determined to rack up points.

Xu Xue was already waiting at the entrance of the academy, just as Xu Xi had instructed her to do yesterday.

"Why are you alone?" Xu Xi asked.

Given how much Xu Yongyi and Madam Xie doted on Xu Xue, they couldn't possibly let her come to the academy alone.

"My dad brought me here. He's busy at home, so he went back after dropping me off here," Xu Xue said. "My dad said he'll be making preparations these next couple of days, hoping to open the day after tomorrow."

"Then I'll wait for the good news that Uncle is making a lot of money."

The two went inside together.

It was only 7 AM, but classes at the academy didn't start until 9 AM. The two arrived half an hour early, and the academy was still quiet. However, there were old women guarding the main gate and patrolling the road, so the academy was quite safe.

Xu Xi had already asked Shimo about the classroom where they would be taking the exam yesterday; it was the same classroom where they were taking the exam.

During the exam, various tests were to be conducted along the way, so a side gate was deliberately chosen for entry. Potted plants were also moved to create obstacles, forcing everyone to walk along the most winding path, making it seem longer. However, from the main gate, walking along the central axis, it only takes Xu Xi seven or eight minutes.

Upon entering the classroom and seeing the empty room, Xu Xue asked, "Sister, why did we come so early?"

"Let's choose seats," Xu Xi said, pulling Xu Xue to sit in the first row of the middle section.

These days, there are no blackboards or PowerPoint presentations. Teachers write the questions directly on paper and hold them up for everyone to see. Demonstrations are also done on stage, and if you're sitting far away, you can't see anything. Xu Xi, being a top student, still really enjoys sitting in the front row.

Xu Xi told Xu Xue about the benefits, then pointed to the seats at the back. "Look, if we arrive late, we'll let you sit in the last row. Would you be willing?"

Xu Xue shook her head vigorously, "No, no. We can't even hear what the teacher is saying in that place. If he writes anything up there, we won't be able to see it at all."

She looked at Xu Xi with admiration. "Sister, how did you think of everything so thoroughly?"

Xu Xi smiled but remained silent.

This is, of course, experience gained by the previous generation after more than ten years of being students.

"You don't need to come so early tomorrow. Just come a little earlier, don't be late. And when you arrive, you don't need to wait at the door, just come straight in."

Xu Xi spoke, he took out the Four Treasures of the Study from his book bag, spread out paper, ground ink, and began practicing calligraphy, making the most of every second to earn points.

Seeing this, Xu Xue also ground ink, frowned as she chewed on the pen tip while looking at a blank sheet of paper, pondering the outline Xu Xi had written for her.

The two were focused on their respective tasks, and the classroom was very quiet.

After some time, a woman entered the church building. Seeing that there were already people inside, she paused for a moment, then a smile bloomed on her face, "Wow, you're here so early!"

She walked to the table behind Xu Xi and sat down, smiling, "My Zhang Lu." She pointed to the person who had just walked in from outside, "Her name is He Yuqi." Looking at Xu Xi and Xu Xue with a bright smile, her attitude was sincere and warm, "I haven't yet asked your names."

Xu Xi smiled slightly, "My name is Xu Xi, and her name is Xu Xue. She's my younger sister."

"Sisters?" Zhang Lu smiled brightly. "That's wonderful, sisters can keep each other company."

Seeing that He Yuqi was still standing there and not coming over, she quickly waved to her, "Yuqi, come and sit down quickly. Someone will be here soon." Before she finished speaking, someone else entered the classroom.

He Yuqi walked over to Zhang Lu and smiled shyly at Xu Xi and Xu Xue, saying, "Hello." Compared to Zhang Lu's outgoing nature, He Yuqi was much more reserved.

"Do you live at home? I didn't see you in the dormitory," Zhang Lu asked after they had exchanged greetings.