The recycling station was bustling with people, and the garbage was being rummaged through again and again.

Waste paper, which usually costs only a few cents per pound, is piled up in a corner and ignored.

These past few days, long queues have formed outside the recycling station before dawn.

Even if high school textbooks and study materials were sold for only two cents each, they would be snapped up in no time.

Not to mention the most useful book for reviewing—the "Self-Study Series of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry"—which was sold for a mere dollar but was nowhere to be found.

The old man guarding the recycling station shook his head and sighed as he watched yet another group of young people come looking for books.

"This place has been searched eight hundred times already, and all the useful stuff has been bought by others. Searching it again would just be a waste of time."

The young people who came looking for books were filled with despair upon hearing this.

"What can we do? There's already not enough time, and without books, there's no hope..."

"Sigh, it seems there aren't any left here."

"I came here hoping to try my luck, but I didn't expect everyone to act so quickly."

By the way, have you heard? Someone bought this book on the black market the other day. I don't know if it's true or not, but maybe we should go check it out.

…

At this moment, on the black market.

Xu Xian and Hei Zi Gang appeared in the alley carrying a stack of books.

He was then surrounded by a group of people who were already anxiously pacing around.

"It's finally here! Quickly, give me one."

"One yuan a book, right? I'll go first, give me one."

"And me too! I've come three times today. I couldn't buy any yesterday or the day before, so you have to give me my turn today!"

"Me too! I want two!"

"I want five books!"

The sounds rose and fell, growing louder and louder, and Xu Xian worried that it would attract the attention of the Red Guards.

He quickly lowered his voice and said, "Stop arguing! Once we get everyone here, there won't be a single copy! Line up, one by one."

Xu Xian counted, and Hei Zi handed over the book.

Today, they brought over 800 copies of the "Self-Study Series on Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry" bound together by Yan Xiao, and each time they brought them over, they were sold out immediately.

People were eager to give them money.

They had never thought that money was so easy to earn.

Last time, I only gained a reputation from selling grain.

In the past few days, I've sold two thousand books alone.

They were just hoping that Yan Xiao would bring the printed books quickly so they could seize this opportunity.

After everyone had left, Xu Xian, carrying a cloth bag filled with small change, nudged Hei Zi next to him with his elbow.

"Hey! You know, our Brother Yan is really amazing. He actually managed to get in touch with the printing factory. Once this book is printed, we'll have made another good deal that will enhance our reputation."

Hei Zi was quietly tidying up the sacks on the ground when he heard this. He first looked up and glanced around, then gave him a sidelong look.

"Speak louder, make sure everyone hears. Let's see if you gain fame or a short life tomorrow."

Xu Xian: ...

…

The book that Yan Xiao copied was available on the black market for a full week.

By the seventh day, there were not many people coming to buy.

Yan Xiao and Hei Zi promptly called a halt, deciding that the book would no longer be printed.

Even so, a total of three thousand copies have been sold in these days.

If they didn't have real money in their hands, they would never have imagined that so many people in this small town would be taking the exam.

Of course, it wasn't just Bailing Commune; people from several nearby towns also came after hearing about it.

In the small town and villages, you can see young people everywhere holding books, eager to learn.

The recent surge in reading enthusiasm stirred up Xu Xian's imagination, and he felt compelled to join in the fun.

However, he knew he didn't have that talent, after all, he hadn't studied for many years.

If I hadn't made money with Yan Xiao for several years, I'd probably be stuck somewhere somewhere right now.

…

A month has passed in a flash.

The agonizing and unbearable period of studying is finally coming to an end.

Wen Qinghe and Yan Xiao got up very early in the morning.

This morning I'm taking a tractor to the county town for an exam.

Most of the people traveling with us were young people from the village who had attended high school and educated youth who had been sent to the countryside.

When Wen Qinghe arrived, Tang Lingling and Feng Tiezhu were already waiting for them on the tractor.

"Qinghe! Come on, sit here. I saved this seat for you!"

Tang Lingling shoved the package next to her seat into Feng Tiezhu's arms and called for Wen Qinghe to come up quickly.

"Okay, wait for me."

Wen Qinghe bit the egg pancake she was holding with her mouth, and tried to climb up the truck bed by clinging to her feet.

Yan Xiao's eyelids twitched behind him, and he sighed helplessly.

"Don't be naughty, I'll do it."

After saying that, he put his hands on his hips and lifted the girl up.

Using his hands for leverage, he leaped up and followed closely behind.

Wen Qinghe, who had successfully made it upstairs, went straight over and sat down next to Tang Lingling while still munching on a pancake.

The tractor was already quite full of people, and more people were still arriving one after another.

Tang Lingling reserved another corner spot for Wen Qinghe.

There were people sitting on both sides at this time.

By the time Yan Xiao came up, there was no room left for Wen Qinghe.

Yan Xiao, who only wanted to sit with his wife, suddenly turned pale.

Feng Tiezhu, with his sharp eyes, noticed that Yan Xiao's seat was empty and quickly squeezed to the side, barely managing to make room for him.

Yan Xiao had just sat down when the tractor started wobblingly.

Wen Qinghe, who always travels by oxcart or bicycle, found it quite novel to ride a tractor while fully conscious for the first time.

While chatting with my girlfriends, I admired the scenery along the road that had not yet been polluted by future industry.

I didn't feel any bumps at all.

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!