Chapter 20: Planning to Make Money by Writing Novels (Two Chapters Combined)
"Officer Wang is here! Is there any news about the human traffickers?" Li Mengxin asked excitedly as she stepped forward.
Officer Wang nodded: "This case had a huge impact. It was a cross-provincial crime, and our city couldn't handle it. The higher-ups had to send troops down. Dozens of human traffickers were arrested, and more than 500 women and children were rescued! It involved provinces all over the country! My superiors told me that the scene during the rescue was horrific! Everyone present was in tears. It was too cruel and heinous, and the impact was enormous! Each of those human traffickers had several murders on their record! Even the small gang that came to our area had murders on their record! They've all been dealt with, all sentenced to death!"
Finally, they received some good news, and the Gu family cheered: "Great, great, great! Human traffickers deserve to die!"
When Gu Yin heard Officer Wang's words, she recalled that in her previous life, until she died, she had never heard of any gang being dealt with. She wondered if it was the butterfly effect, and that in this life, because of the arrest of those few people, such a large human trafficking organization was dismantled.
Officer Wang looked at Gu Yin and said, "This incident is all thanks to Gu Yin's vigilance. Although there's no reward, I still want to thank you on behalf of all those who have suffered so much!"
Gu Yin smiled and shook her head: "I was just helping myself. It was an accident that I could help others." She didn't know there was such a big organization behind her.
Officer Wang came to Lijia Village mainly to discuss this matter, and now that he had finished, he was ready to leave.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now. I just wanted to let you know the result!"
Gu Qinglang stepped forward: "Officer Wang, I..."
"Dad, if Officer Wang doesn't leave soon, it'll be too dark to go out. He came by bicycle!" Gu Yin stopped Gu Qinglang and smiled at Officer Wang. "Uncle Wang, we won't keep you for dinner. It's a long and unsafe journey. If you had come by motorcycle, we would have kept you! Please forgive us for any shortcomings in our hospitality! We grow our own persimmons; we'll take some home for you to try! Grandma!"
Li Mingfang got up and went inside to fill a basket with persimmons. She handed it to Officer Wang, who had been refusing, saying, "Take it, take it. Look at that tree in the yard, there are still many on it! We can't eat them all!"
Officer Wang looked over and saw that the persimmons were growing densely, there were indeed many, so he didn't refuse: "Thank you then, I'll treat you to a meal when you go to town! I'll head back now, it's getting late!"
After everyone left, Gu Qinglang looked at Gu Yin and asked, "Why didn't you let me talk to Officer Wang about Li Genzi?"
Gu Yin explained, "The fact that Li Genzi has been monitoring us for decades and still wants to kill us, involving human lives, means that the benefits are huge, and the benefits to Li Genzi are also huge, so huge that it makes him take the risk! Officer Wang may not be able to find that person, and may even alert the enemy."
The Gu family felt aggrieved, but there was nothing they could do. They were too insignificant now, so insignificant that no one would even know if they were disposed of without anyone noticing.
To deal with such a behemoth, you need to have a certain weight in society, be known by many, become the center of attention, and make those behind you think twice before taking action against you! Until you reach that level, you can only lie low! You must seize this opportunity to quickly develop yourself, and then turn around and deliver a crushing blow to those people!
Yes, being a celebrity is possible, but behind every celebrity is capital. You can see from Gu Yin's experience in her previous life that this path is not viable. If 001 hadn't told her that the technology in this world couldn't capture him, she would have handed herself over to the country and let the country develop through 001, while also solving all her problems.
After dinner, Gu Yin went to bed early.
The next day, under Song Pengfei's organization, they had their first morning reading session. Just as the reading session began, Wang Shumei came in and asked her and Song Pengfei to go out for a while.
Once outside, Song Pengfei tilted his head and whispered, "Do you know why our homeroom teacher called us out?"
Gu Yin shook her head: "I don't know."
Song Pengfei smiled and said, "I heard from my seniors that there is a flag-raising ceremony every Monday. The flag bearers are selected from the experimental classes of each grade, and most of them are class monitors and vice class monitors. There are usually 6 flag bearers, 2 flag flag bearers, and 4 flag guards. If I'm not mistaken, the flag guards are from our first year, and the flag flag bearers are from the second year."
Gu Yin suddenly realized, so that's what it was. There was indeed such a thing in her past life, but it had nothing to do with her back then. She never expected that she would be on stage this time.
When they arrived at the office, there were already other people inside.
When the head of student affairs saw them arrive, he nodded and said, "Since everyone's here, I'll get straight to the point. The third-year students will graduate and leave next year, so it's time to recruit new flag bearers again. Today is just to introduce you to the four first-year students. After school, you'll practice with the second-year students. You must get the hang of it this week, and next week you'll be performing. You'll be rotating with the third-year students. I hope you take this seriously. The flag-raising ceremony is a very rigorous, solemn, and serious matter. I don't want you to be laughing and joking during practice, only to become confused and make mistakes on stage. This has happened in previous years, causing quite a stir! To be honest, it's very embarrassing! The whole school is disappointed!"
Song Pengfei smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, Director, we understand!"
The director's expression softened slightly: "That's fine then. You can discuss your training schedule yourselves. We won't interfere. Do whatever is convenient for you. Once you've finished discussing it, you can go back to the classroom." With that, he left the office, letting them talk it over.
Gu Yin looked at everyone: two were in the second year of junior high, four were in the first year, and there was a familiar face among the second-year students.
Gu Hua, an acquaintance, winked at Gu Yin, then smiled and looked at everyone: "Let me introduce myself first. My name is Gu Hua, and I am from Class 1, Grade 2. This is my classmate and vice class monitor, Wang Zixian!" After speaking, she pointed to the second-year junior high school student next to her.
Wang Zixian nodded to everyone.
"Hello, seniors. My name is Song Pengfei, and I am the class monitor of Class 1."
"Li Mingming, class monitor of Class Two."
"Lu Renjia, deputy class monitor of Class 2."
"Gu Yin, the deputy class monitor of Class One."
Song Pengfei glanced at Gu Hua, then at Gu Yin, and asked with a smile, "Are you related to Gu Yin, senior?"
Gu Hua nodded: "My sister."
Gu Yin smiled but didn't say anything.
Everyone suddenly realized: "Amazing!"
Gu Hua didn't say much and directly offered the solution: "When we were in the first year of junior high, the senior students would train us after dinner at the soccer field. It was quiet and there were fewer people there. Do you have any objections? If not, we'll start training on Wednesday. Bring your dorm room to school tomorrow, and we won't go home after school. We'll eat at the cafeteria and then train until evening self-study. How does that sound?"
He didn't see anyone else, so he shook his head.
Seeing this, Gu Hua breathed a sigh of relief, as long as there were no troublemakers: "Alright, during the flag-raising ceremony later, you don't need to go back to your class's team. You can just watch from the flower bed. Get to know each other first, and we'll be a team from now on."
After they finished speaking, the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class, and the preparatory song began to play.
Gu Hua, carrying the national flag, walked with Wang Zixian to the flagpole to prepare, where four people were already standing.
After the flag-raising ceremony began, Gu Yin carefully watched their steps and movements. The national flag slowly rose with the national anthem, and when the anthem ended, the national flag reached the top of the flagpole. Gu Yin lowered her arms and watched Gu Hua and the others tie the ropes, and then they walked down from the platform together.
Even though she had seen it many times in her past life, Gu Yin had to admit how dazzling, proud, and confident the students standing there were! She never thought she would have such a day herself.
"001, thank you." Thank you for giving me a second chance at life, making many impossibilities possible.
001 yawned: "Thank me and then just focus on completing the mission. Once you've perfectly completed this mission, I'll unlock the system library for you. You can come in and study using your thoughts. Everything has been prepared for you; all that's left is for you to work your hardest."
Gu Yin clenched her fist: "Okay!"
After the meeting ended, Gu Hua walked over to Gu Yin: "How was it? Nervous? Excited?"
Gu Yin smiled and shook her head: "I'm not nervous, I'm actually quite looking forward to it. You're the flag bearer at school, why didn't you tell your family?"
Gu Hua blinked: "My brother told me to keep a low profile. He was afraid I'd get scolded if I told him. Hehe, I took five yuan from him and didn't tell my family! My fellow villagers definitely wouldn't tell them, since I'm the kind of 'other people's child' their parents always talk about!"
"Then I won't tell you. Do you think my brother will give me hush money?" Gu Yin laughed.
Gu Hua snorted: "When I get back, I'll tell my family that it's such an honor for you to be the flag bearer, how can I not let them know? We don't care about his five yuan, I'll give it to you later! I'll even teach you at home later!"
Little did Gu Shu know that when he saw Gu Yin watching from the flag-raising area, he excitedly grabbed his classmate's hand and kept shouting, "See that? That's my sister! See that one on the stage? She's my sister too!" He then enjoyed the envy of everyone around him.
As soon as they sat down back in the classroom, Zhao Xiaomin excitedly grabbed Gu Yin's hand: "I saw you standing at the front, are you going to be the flag bearer?"
Gu Yin nodded: "We still need to train. We'll go on stage after we finish training."
Wang Yanni, who was sitting at the table in front of Gu Yin, immediately turned around, biting her lip and glaring at her.
Gu Yin: "...What?"
Wang Yanni looked Gu Yin up and down and rolled her eyes: "You're not good-looking, and you're not tall either. How do you have the nerve to stand under the national flag? Don't you feel inferior?"
Gu Yin took out her math book for the upcoming class and said without looking up, "I have good grades."
Wang Yanni was furious: "You only got good grades in the placement test! Just wait, I'll definitely crush you in the midterm exam!"
Gu Yin nodded: "Whatever you like."
Seeing her unmoved expression, Wang Yanni felt as if she had punched a piece of cotton, and felt powerless.
Gu Yin ignored Wang Yanni. She was never her match. It wasn't that Wang Yanni wasn't good enough, but rather that her opponents were never these people her age.
After attending four classes in the morning, Gu Shu arrived at school at noon and was talking to his family about Gu Yin becoming the flag bearer.
When Gu Yin entered the house, the whole family looked over.
"My goodness, how did you suddenly become so bright? Not only are you doing well in your studies, but you've also become a flag bearer! You've really made something of yourself!" Gu Qinglang patted Gu Yin's shoulder with a smile, his face crinkling with joy.
Gu Yin said helplessly, "Ah Hua was like that last semester!"
Gu Qingming laughed: "Her grades have always been excellent, so we're not surprised that she was chosen as the flag bearer. Ah Yin, look at your previous grades. If you hadn't studied during the summer vacation, your dad would have worried that you were cheating, hahaha! He told me this secretly, and I didn't dare let you know."
"Big brother! Why are you like this? I was just joking!" Gu Qinglang quickly stopped his brother, afraid that Gu Yin would be angry, and hurriedly explained, "The surprise was too big for Dad, and he was a little stunned and said something nonsense. Don't take it to heart!"
Gu Yin knew they were joking, of course; there was no one in this family who didn't love them.
But that doesn't mean she can't trick her dad: "I'm going to live at school the day after tomorrow, and I haven't exchanged my meal tickets or anything. You have to do something for me, right?"
Gu Qinglang pulled out two bags: "Where would I get any money? Your mom's keeping it all! Tell her to give you more!"
Although they don't separate their households, all their income is divided equally into three parts: one for the old man and woman, one for the eldest uncle's family, and one for Gu Yin's family. The old woman pays for the food first, and they pay for it at the end of the month after the accounts are settled. If they have their own extra income, they don't need to contribute it; they can keep it for themselves. There's no other way; the family has too little land. If they are together, they can still eat their fill, but if they are separated, they won't have enough to eat!
Gu Yin coughed lightly: "When I went to your room to get my needle and thread yesterday, I found fifty in your winter shoes~"
"Your mom accidentally dropped it there. I saw it the day before yesterday, but I just forgot to tell you! I'll go get it now!" After saying that, he walked into the house, and when he passed Gu Yin, he gently bumped her with his shoulder.
Gu Yin was both amused and exasperated; this was truly childish!
A little while later, he reluctantly handed the fifty-one yuan note to Li Mengxin, saying, "Here, you dropped it. You were so careless. Be careful next time!"
Li Mengxin ignored him; she couldn't see the children in the yard trying to suppress their laughter at his clumsy lie.
Li Mengxin handed the money to Gu Yin: "Here's your food for this week and next week. If you need more next week, just ask me!"
Gu Yin smiled and nodded as she accepted it.
The old lady also reached into her pocket, took out two five-yuan bills, and gave one to Gu Hua and one to Gu Yin: "You two are both good children! Keep up the good work! I'll come back early tomorrow night and stew that old hen that won't lay eggs, so you can eat more! Let's have some fun!" After saying that, she looked at Gu Shu and said disdainfully, "You'll graduate next year, and you still won't settle down. You'll be going to vocational school! A-Le, don't be like your brother, so lazy and irresponsible. We should work hard like our older sister. If you do well on your exams, Grandma will give you pocket money too!"
Gu Le nodded: "Okay, Grandma!"
Gu Shu waved his hand: "Grandma, don't worry, I know what I'm doing! I'll definitely get into high school! Just wait and see how much your wallet hurts!" Even if I don't get into the county's top school, I still have a chance at a slightly less prestigious one!
When Gu Yin went to school the next day at noon, she brought a thin blanket, a mat, a bucket, a washbasin, and other toiletries, as well as a change of clothes.
It wasn't even cold yet, but she was already skipping the use of blankets.
When I arrived at the dormitory, I saw that the beds were almost all filled with things.
"Class monitor! You've started living at school too?" Wang Weiwei was reading a novel when she saw Gu Yin carrying lots of bags and rushed over to help.
Gu Yin nodded: "We'll be living at school starting tomorrow. Let's put our things in first. Has everyone else put theirs in?"
Wang Weiwei nodded: "Everyone take a little each day, and by Friday it will be almost done. By the way, there are mosquitoes here, so class monitor, remember to bring a mosquito net!"
Gu Yin seemed to have forgotten this: "I'll bring it over tomorrow."
After putting the things downstairs, Gu Yin filled a basin with water and swept the bed clean. She would put the things back on after it dried.
After putting her things away, Gu Yin sat down to rest and looked at Wang Weiwei: "How many people are staying here tonight?"
Wang Weiwei handed a magazine to Gu Yin: "Not many, just four or five, but there will be more next week!"
Gu Yin nodded and flipped through the magazine. It was full of angst-filled youth novels or foreign youth literature. Gu Yin remembered that during her three years of junior high school in her previous life, such magazines were extremely popular. Both short stories and serialized novels were very popular, and the related merchandise sold very well.
Just like on Vera Wang's bed, there were several magazines like "Senior Men and Women" and "Boys and Girls" that hadn't been opened.
"You bought so many? Do you really like reading them?" Gu Yin has lost interest in these things now. The angst-filled literature that she loves to the point of death makes her feel like her insides are aching!
Wang Weiwei nodded: "It's so beautiful! Look at the illustrations! The male and female leads are so pretty! Their love story is so touching! Last night I secretly watched it under the blanket with a flashlight, and I cried so much my eyes were swollen!"
Gu Yin nodded thoughtfully, turned to the last page of the magazine, and sure enough, saw the submission information at the back.
"001, what do you think about me writing a few novels to make some money while I'm in school?" At that time, youth literature novels were very popular. By high school, old-fashioned domineering CEO romance novels were very popular. Later, when she was filming, those time-travel and female-centric novels were very popular. She knew which genres would become popular and when, and whether she could take advantage of this opportunity to make a fortune.
001 It doesn't matter: "Write whenever you have time, but don't forget your studies or your tasks."
Gu Yin nodded: "I know the seriousness of this matter!"
"Weiwei, can I borrow the book you've finished reading?" She needs to familiarize herself with these styles before she can start writing!
"Sure, class monitor, take whatever you want!"
Gu Yin picked up a few already opened books, then selected some that had sold well in her previous life, noted down the submission addresses, and planned to submit a few short stories of 30,000 words each to see how things went before writing a long serial.
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