Back in the 1980s, attending a vocational school was better than attending a high school. Or rather, it wasn't necessarily better; many high-achieving students would choose to attend a vocational school instead of a high school.

Even in recent years, when vocational high schools and high schools are placed side by side, many people will still choose vocational high schools.

After all, if you go to a vocational school, you can start working after three years. If you go to high school, not to mention whether you can get into university, even if you do get into university, you will have to study for at least six years, including high school!

But Shi Zhen knew very well that vocational schools would be obsolete in a few years.

Currently, vocational school graduates can become primary school teachers or even work in hospitals, but this may not be the case in a few years.

In the year he died, the best hospital in Changxi City, a county-level city, was recruiting doctors, requiring at least a master's degree.

Therefore, going to high school and taking the college entrance exam is always better than going to a vocational school.

Guan Baiyu could even continue his studies, pursue a master's degree, and a doctorate, if he so chooses.

As for whether Guan Baiyu can get into university... Shi Zhen has confidence in him.

He was born to study and loved reading. In his previous life, after Guan Baiyu was with him for three years, he earned a university degree through self-study and even planned to become a teacher.

Unfortunately, he hadn't become a teacher before the accident happened.

Shi Zhen said to Guan Baiyu, "Studying is a good thing. Studying for a few more years won't hurt. Don't worry, I have money, I'll make sure you can study."

Guan Baiyu remained silent, staring at Shi Zhen in disbelief.

Shi Zhen laughed and said, "Don't look down on me just because I don't have much money now. I'll definitely have money in the future. I won't stay poor forever."

If someone else had said this, Guan Baiyu might not have believed it, but this person in front of him... Guan Baiyu suddenly felt a little inclined to believe it.

Shi Zhen continued, "Xiaoyu, I believe you can definitely get into university... You can set a goal for yourself now. If you know where you want to go and are willing to work hard for it, the whole world will make way for you!"

Shi Zhen casually gave Guan Baiyu some chicken soup.

Having just eaten chicken frames, Guan Baiyu clearly drank the chicken soup thoroughly, his eyes seemed to light up, and his expression while reading became serious.

With nothing to do, Shi Xinghuo, a grown man in his twenties, sat to the side, his eyes filled with adoration as he looked at Guan Baiyu.

Shi Xinghuo's grades were a complete mess. He only went to elementary school, and when he was in school... well, in the end, he would just write his own name on the exam.

If he had been born after 2000 into a single-child family, even if his brain had been damaged by medication taken when his mother was pregnant, he wouldn't have failed to learn anything.

With more instruction, he will eventually learn some characters.

But he was born in the 1970s. Some of his peers in the village who were of normal intelligence didn't get much education, let alone him.

Shi Zhen had leftovers from the two chicken frames he stewed that night, as well as the rice.

But that wasn't enough for the three of them to eat tomorrow morning, especially since Guan Baiyu had to bring his own lunch to school, so he asked Guan Baiyu to cook some porridge for tomorrow morning.

As for himself, he plans to go to the market again.

Shi Zhen went to the vegetable market yesterday and found that many people go to buy vegetables early these days. He thought he might be able to do some part-time work at the vegetable market in the morning.

Stalls inside the market have to pay a stall fee, so he can't set up a stall inside, but he can set up a stall outside the market, right?

Even if you don't make much money, it's better than nothing, and you can at least learn about the market.

In his past life, he was a businessman and encountered many problems. He also witnessed the ups and downs of the people around him, but his own path was always smooth. In the end, it was because he never took too big a step.

This caused him to miss some opportunities, but it also ensured that even if he fell, he wouldn't be unable to get back up.

During his visit to the market, Shi Zhen not only observed the market but also inquired about the prices of many vegetables.

The town doesn't sell many kinds of vegetables, and most of them are brought to town by people from nearby areas. For them, the vegetables from their fields don't require much investment, so they are happy to sell them for a few cents or dimes, which makes the prices very cheap.

It would be difficult for him to make money by selling vegetables unless he grew some vegetables that no one else had and sold them in town, in which case he would have a chance to earn more.

This approach won't work.

Thinking this, Shi Zhen went to the meat stall where he had bought meat yesterday and spent a dollar to buy a pig's tail.

He remembered that the pigs that came later had very short tails. At that time, the pigs probably had long tails due to breed differences.

However, he mainly bought pig tails because they were cheap... One pig tail cost one yuan, and after braising it with some soybeans, it was enough for them to have a meal.

Nowadays, many people in the countryside don't eat meat more than a few times a month, and when they go to town to buy vegetables, they only buy tofu. But Guan Baiyu is so thin, so he wanted Guan Baiyu to eat something better.

Thinking this, Shi Zhen shamelessly asked, "Master, could you give me some pork skin?"

The butcher glanced at Shi Zhen and said, "I'm selling the pork skin, but it's quite cheap. Do you want to buy some?"

Nowadays, people won't waste any scraps or bits of a pig.

Shi Zhen asked, "How much for the pork skin? I don't have much money on me..."

"I have some scraps of skin here, here's two cents for you." The man took out some scraps of meat skin.

Shi Zhen bought it without hesitation for two cents.

Just as he finished buying, a man in his thirties, with a fair complexion, no beard, and a friendly smile, walked over and tapped on the butcher's stall, which the butcher had made of wooden planks.

Without saying a word, the butcher chopped off a piece of meat weighing about two pounds and gave it to the customer.

The man took the meat and left with a smile.

Shi Zhen glanced at it, didn't take it seriously, and went home with his pig tail and skin.

He saw some soybeans at Guan Baiyu's place yesterday, so he soaked some in water.

Soaking soybeans in water makes them especially fragrant when stewed with pig's feet. Since he couldn't afford pig's feet, he would make do with pig's tail and pork skin.

When Shi Zhen returned, Guan Baiyu had already cooked the porridge he wanted for breakfast.

Shi Zhen told him to put the leftover rice and chicken carcass from last night in a cup and take it to school, then eat it with pickled vegetables and porridge.

After they finished eating, he washed the pot and then put the soybeans and pig tails into it to stew. He lit a fire with straw and then stuffed in a piece of rotten wood that Guan Baiyu had picked up, about the thickness of an arm, and left it to burn slowly in the stove. By the time they returned in the evening, the stewed soybeans and pig tails would be almost ready.

The three of them went out separately.

After leaving the house, Shi Zhen counted the money he had on him.

After spending all his savings, he only had a little over thirty yuan left. When he first met Guan Baiyu, he was so happy that he gave Guan Baiyu thirty yuan directly, leaving him with only a few yuan.

He hasn't been paid yet for dredging the river mud.

Fortunately, Shi Xinghuo was paid daily for digging mud, and he also gave him half of the money each day as living expenses.

Guan Baiyu is growing, and Shi Xinghuo and he have to do physical labor, so he needs to find a way to make sure everyone eats well.

When Shi Zhen arrived at the construction site, it was almost time for construction to begin.

Wang Chengfa was a little unhappy: "Shi Zhen, you almost arrived late."

Shi Zhen quickly said, "Uncle Wang, I'm sorry, I rent a place here and don't have a clock at home, so I can't tell the time accurately."

That's the truth.

If Guan Jianguo hadn't placed a clock in the main room of his house, which he could check from time to time, he wouldn't have known the time at all.

The reason I'm late today is mainly because I need something to eat tonight.

"Alright, alright, get back to work!" Wang Chengfa waved his hand, telling Shi Zhen to get to work.

Shi Zhen immediately changed his shoes and went down into the pond, where he diligently got to work.