Reborn in 1977, I will no longer be my brother's blood bag.

By the time the bell rang to signal the end of the workday, it was almost dark.

My colleagues gradually packed up and went home.

"Xiuhe, I heard they're reinstating the college entrance exam?" The girl with the braided hair peeked out while locking the counter. "Are you taking it too?"

"Yes, let's read a book." Lin Xiuhe nodded.

"Oh my, that would take a lot of effort." The woman with the braided hair shook her head, her tone carrying a hint of wisdom from someone who'd been there before. "What's the point of us working so hard when we have stable jobs at the supply and marketing cooperative? But if you really do pass the exam, don't forget your sister."

"I heard that many people are preparing to sign up, and the educated youth from the city have also returned, so the competition will definitely be fierce."

Lin Xiuhe smiled and said, "We have to give it a try."

"That's true." The female colleague sighed. "If I hadn't dropped out of junior high, I would have wanted to give it a try too."

After saying that, the two left the supply and marketing cooperative together and parted ways at the entrance.

Night gradually fell. Lin Xiuhe didn't return to the warehouse, but instead turned onto another road—a scrap metal recycling station.

In my past life, after the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination came out, the price of textbooks changed every day. At first, no one paid attention, but later, when everyone realized it, an old textbook could even sell for several yuan.

And now is the cheapest time.

Thinking of this, she quickened her pace.

Twenty minutes later.

A junkyard. The iron gate was half-open, and the yard was piled high with old newspapers, scrap metal, and broken furniture. An old man was sitting at the entrance smoking a pipe.

"Uncle Li." Lin Xiuhe recognized him. She had been here in her previous life.

"Hey, is that Xiao Lin from the supply and marketing cooperative? Here to sell something?"

"No, I want to look at some old books."

"Old books?" Old Li was taken aback. "Why are you looking at those things?"

"It works." Lin Xiuhe smiled. "Can I take a look?"

"Go ahead, go ahead, there are plenty of them in the back, nobody wants them."

Nobody wants it.

Upon hearing those three words, Lin Xiuhe's heart stirred slightly. In her previous life, two months later, the books here would have been sold out. Now, however, they were piled up like a mountain.

She walked in quickly.

Sure enough, there were several stacks of old textbooks piled up in the corner—Chinese, math, politics, physics, and even high school English.

Lin Xiuhe squatted down and began flipping through the books one by one. The more she read, the happier she became.

It's so comprehensive! Even more comprehensive than she imagined!

"How much are these?" she asked, turning around.

Grandpa Li tapped his cigarette ash: "Waste paper price, one cent per pound."

Lin Xiuhe stopped turning the pages of the book.

She looked up, staring at Grandpa Li's wrinkled face, afraid she might have misheard.

"How many?"

"One cent." She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the smile on her lips, and casually kicked the pile of books at her feet. "Alright, weigh it for me."

One cent per pound. In my past life, these books were once incredibly expensive, selling for two or three dollars each. But now, one cent per pound—it's practically free.

"I'll take them all," she said immediately.

Grandpa Li was stunned: "You want them all?"

"Yes, I'll take as many as you have."

"Why did you buy so much?"

"Review."

"Oh." The old man suddenly realized, "That's true, more and more people have been asking about books lately. But you're the first one to buy so many."

Lin Xiuhe did not explain.

This isn't spending money, it's picking up money.

Half an hour later, she spent less than two yuan to buy two whole bundles of books.

When she picked them up, she could barely see where she was going. But she didn't feel tired at all, because these books would become opportunities, and even money, in the future.

Just as I stepped out of the scrap yard, a voice suddenly came from behind me.

"Buying so many books?"

Lin Xiuhe paused and turned around.

Zhou Zhiyuan stood by the roadside, not knowing how long he had been there.

"What are you doing here?" she asked instinctively.

"Just passing by."

"Passing by again?" Lin Xiuhe looked at the people on the roadside with a half-smile.

Zhou Zhiyuan paused slightly, his gaze falling on the book in her arms, but he didn't respond.

"Zhou Zhiyuan," Lin Xiuhe took a step forward and lowered her voice, "the scrap yard isn't on the way to the commune office."

Zhou Zhiyuan was silent for two seconds, then suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with helplessness: "Lin Xiuhe, sometimes being too smart isn't a good thing."

"Is that bad news?"

"It's a reminder." He looked at her, his eyes deep. "Once you've bought enough books, go home early and don't wander around outside."

In the darkness of night, Zhou Zhiyuan looked at her, feeling a little helpless.

This girl...

"Then what do you think it is?" he countered.

Lin Xiuhe thought about it seriously: "I think you are very well-informed and always seem to know things in advance. For example, about work, textbooks, and the resumption of the college entrance examination."

Each sentence made Zhou Zhiyuan's heart tighten slightly.

On the surface, however, he remained calm: "The commune office is always quicker to get information than others."

After saying that, he looked at the two large bundles of books: "Good purchase, they'll be useful later."

"You also think prices will go up?" Lin Xiuhe immediately asked.

Zhou Zhiyuan paused for a moment: "I think many people will regret selling the book in the future."

A gentle breeze blew by, and Lin Xiuhe suddenly smiled: "Then I'm in luck."

"It wasn't luck," Zhou Zhiyuan blurted out.

The two of them were stunned for a moment as soon as they said it.

Zhou Zhiyuan quickly looked away: "What I mean is, you have good taste."

After saying that, he turned and left, even faster than usual.

Lin Xiuhe stood there, watching his back, her doubts growing deeper.

This person is really strange.

On the other side...

Zhou Zhiyuan stopped after walking quite a distance, then looked down and rubbed his temples.

Almost forgot to mention it again.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look back.

In the darkness of night, the girl carrying two large bundles of books was walking towards the warehouse.

It's becoming more and more different from my previous life.

Zhou Zhiyuan stood in the shadows, watching the thin figure carrying the book disappear into the alleyway.

He touched the cigarette pack in his pocket, but ultimately didn't take it out. Instead, he turned and walked in the opposite direction.