The most valuable thing is brainpower.

No, it’s the knowledge stored in the brain.

Knowledge was most precious. She could spot errors because of her exceptional math skills. Wrong numbers jumped out at her immediately. Following Li Dongliang around, she learned things quickly and earned his recognition – not because she was smarter than everyone else, but because she had studied hard since childhood. Having conquered the college entrance exam, learning other things wasn’t so difficult. Knowledge accumulates bit by bit, and quantity transforms into quality, like martial arts novel protagonists unlocking their meridians – when knowledge accumulates, learning methods become interconnected!

Yang Yonghong left the finance room looking dazed.

Yang Jie pulled her aside, “Sister, just send my wages home, keep yours.”

He wondered if his sister hadn’t received much money, but didn’t want to upset her.

His sister was the family’s most capable member. University students received different respect than manual laborers. His sister’s future job wouldn’t be at messy construction sites. She would work in an office – the first urban resident in the Yang family!

Yang Jie’s words snapped Yang Yonghong back to reality.

She pushed her envelope into his hands, “Let’s send it all home to Mom and Dad. Wait, let’s keep 20 yuan and send 400 yuan home.”

So Sister got 200 yuan?

Yang Jie was happy for her.

Yang Yonghong looked at her brother and wanted to cry.

The renovation workers’ high wages were earned through hard labor – look how exhausted Yang Jie was this month!

In comparison, her work running errands for Li Dongliang was much easier.

She wasn’t working as hard as Yang Jie but earned more… Yang Yonghong grabbed the crucial point, clutching Yang Jie’s hand: “Promise me, after we save the bride price money, don’t get married yet. Study for another year and take the exam again next year, or the year after if needed! You underperformed last year – your usual scores could get you into university. Jie, you must attend university, a good one!”

Yang Yonghong spoke from her heart.

Earlier in the finance room, Liu Yong had mentioned wanting to hire capable university graduates.

He didn’t mind paying high salaries – he worried about attracting talent.

This exposure to society showed Yang Yonghong how differently educated and uneducated people were treated. Her fate and Yang Jie’s would diverge dramatically.

Jie wasn’t stupid – another year of study would surely get him into university.

Yang Jie kept his head down, silent.

Yang Yonghong was so anxious she wanted to hit him:

“You must study again, or I’ll quit too! Don’t worry about money. Two months at Yuanhui will cover your bride price, use the rest for studying. If it’s not enough, I have scholarships and living allowances. I’ll work however hard needed to support you. Listen to me – a few tough years now means a better life for our family later!”

Yang Jie usually obeyed Yang Yonghong, but on this issue of continuing education, he remained opposed despite her passionate plea.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to study or didn’t understand a graduate’s prospects – it was the family situation…

Seeing Yang Jie’s silent resistance, the usually optimistic Yang Yonghong cried in frustration.

When Xia Xiaolan saw her, Yang Yonghong’s eyelids were red and swollen.

“Senior, what happened? Wasn’t it payday?”

Was the salary calculation wrong?

Impossible – Yang Yonghong was very reasonable, and Liu Yong would only overpay, not shortchange her.

Yang Yonghong surely knew this.

So why was she crying?

Xia Xiaolan could handle arguments and fights, but not tears.

Of course, she’d be pleased to make awful people cry. But Yang Yonghong was her dear roommate!

“Xiaolan, don’t misunderstand – I wasn’t mistreated. Uncle Liu told me today I could earn 400 yuan monthly, which made me very happy. He said my salary was high because I’m educated and smart… After graduation, the state will assign jobs, units will provide housing, and my household registration will become urban – that’s my future. But what about Yang Jie? He’s not less intelligent than me. Another year of study would get him into university. I don’t want him staying home, marrying young, having children, forever farming! But when I urge him to study, he’s like a sealed bottle – silent resistance no matter what I say!”

Yang Yonghong spoke painfully.

Someone like her wouldn’t cry for herself.

Only family could make her cry.

Xia Xiaolan listened silently.

“Senior, Yang Jie must have his reasons. The workers say he learns quickly – I believe another year of study would get him into university. Even a vocational degree would be better than just high school.”

Someone could succeed like Liu Yong even without much education.

But not everyone was Liu Yong, and Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t push everyone into business.

It depended on personal willingness, personality, and most importantly, opportunity.

Some people failed at everything, defying explanation.

For ordinary people, education was the lowest-risk, lowest-cost path to changing their fate.

But why did Yang Jie refuse to study again?

The Yang family’s finances were a major issue.

But surely not the only one.

Yang Jie knew renovation workers earned well – 300 yuan monthly meant 3,000 yuan yearly in Pengcheng, enough for several years of study and university. Like Yang Yonghong at university, they not only not spending family money but also sending money home… What was Yang Jie worried about?

Yang Yong hong’s expression hardened as she rubbed her eyelids fiercely:

“I won’t let Jie give up this opportunity to improve himself. I’ll nag him daily until he changes his mind. Oh right, Xiaolan, did you need something?”

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t sure whether to say it.

Zhou Cheng happened to be in Pengcheng too.

Since learning her boyfriend was “Instructor Zhou,” Room 307 had been clamoring for Zhou Cheng to treat them.

The treat request was mostly joking, but Yang Yonghong wasn’t just a roommate but a friend. Xia Xiaolan wanted to properly introduce Zhou Cheng to Yang Yonghong – not as “Instructor Zhou” but as Xia Xiaolan’s boyfriend!

“I wanted to say Zhou Cheng is here – let’s have a meal together.”

Yang Yonghong hiccupped, quickly covering her mouth.

“Sorry, I’m just surprised. Since military training, you’ve kept Instructor Zhou under wraps. Finally giving him official status?”

Zhou Cheng was handsome, from a good family, and personally excellent.

Yang Yonghong didn’t envy such a good match at all.

Xiaolan was already the most outstanding girl Yang Yonghong knew, even surpassing Ning Xue – of course, she should date someone like Zhou Cheng!