Chapter 351.2: Studying Abroad

Take Xiaoyu away?

Hearing this, Chu Guang paused momentarily and gazed at her with a raised eyebrow.

“You wish to take Xiaoyu to Camp 101... Shouldn’t you consider her opinion first?”

And what about her parents or her brother?

What is the use of asking me?

Pai murmured in a subdued tone, “I asked her... but she said that although she really wants to visit that place, she wants to stay and help you more. I thought, if you could help me convince her... Am I asking for too much?”

After pondering for a moment, Chu Guang asked a question of his own, “May I ask, what is your reason for wanting to take her to your camp?”

Pai replied in earnest, “I want to take her to school! We have a real school there, where she can acquire so much knowledge that isn’t available here!”

“Her mental talents are the most impressive I’ve seen among all people. She will only waste her talent here; she should receive higher education!”

“The most impressive... Even more impressive than your teacher?” A surprised expression emerged from Xia Yan’s face.

Pai shook her head, continuing with a serious expression, “Talent and knowledge are two different concepts... Even within the realm of mental abilities, when you break it down into different fields, they can be entirely different. At least in the field of arithmetic, her talent is indeed the most outstanding I’ve seen among all people.”

Suddenly thinking of something, Pai’s eyes lit up as she continued, “By the way, in your terms, she can be said to possess the traits of an ability user!”

Ability user

?!

... Xiaoyu?

Xia Yan was stunned, her eyes widening like a goldfish.

She couldn't connect Xiaoyu with an ability user.

Chu Guang, sitting on the sofa, was equally surprised, but he didn't show it on his face. Instead, he fell into deep thought.

He had sensed before that Xiaoyu learned things quickly, especially in terms of spatial imagination and computational ability. Even he was surprised by how quickly she picked things up.

Because of it, Chu Guang specifically had Hyrja conduct a physical examination for Xiaoyu.

However, what puzzled him was that, although her intellectual attributes were slightly higher than average, they were not too exceptional.

Seeing Chu Guang remaining silent, Pai couldn’t help but get a bit anxious, and she spoke faster, “... I don’t want to see her waste her talent. She could stand on a higher stage and achieve more beautiful accomplishments.”

“Besides, once she learns a lot of impressive knowledge, it would be beneficial for you, right?”

Chu Guang looked at Pai and said, “Take a moment to calm down. I agree with you, of course, but we need to seek her consent first.”

After a brief pause, Chu Guang continued, “I will help you convince Xiaoyu and her parents. If she has this desire, I will fully support her.”

Upon hearing this promise, Pai’s face lit up with joy. “Thank you!”

Seeing the girl’s joyful expression, Chu Guang smiled and said, “You’re welcome. If she can have a better development there, I certainly hope she can learn more while she’s still young.”

After another pause, he continued, “Speaking of which, you’ll be returning in a few days, won’t you?”

Pai nodded excitedly, “Mhm, I have to go back to report on my visit to my teacher... Ah, don’t worry, I’ll speak highly of everything!”

Seeing Pai misunderstood his intentions, Chu Guang shook his head and corrected, “There’s no need to deliberately put in a good word for us. Just tell them the real situation here. However, there is something I do need your help with.”

Pai, eager to repay the favor, looked at him attentively and said, “Tell me anything, as long as I can help, I will do my best!”

“Do you know the administrator of Shelter 101?” Chu Guang asked.

“Mr. Administrator?” Pai’s eyes lit up, nodding, “Of course, we have a good relationship... What’s the matter?”

“That’s great,” Chu Guang sighed in relief, a contented smile appearing on his face, “I’d like to borrow something from your administrator.”

“Borrow something? Leave it to me! The administrator is a very, very good person; he’ll definitely lend it to you!” Pai promised confidently. She then asked curiously, “By the way, what do you want to borrow?”

“VM, short for Vital Monitor,” Chu Guang pointed to the wrist-worm computer on his arm, “It’s this device.”

“VM? I will try...” Pai, who had verbally agreed, tilted her head to the side.

A screen worn on the wrist? If it’s just borrowing, it shouldn’t be a big deal, right?

After all, he’s a very easygoing person.

But come to think of it, does the administrator really have such a thing?

She had no impression of it at all...

...

After Pai left, Chu Guang and Xia Yan were the only people left in the library.

Watching the brisk and lively figure disappear at the doorway, Xia Yan’s expression became slightly complicated.

She wasn’t sure if she envied Xiaoyu’s youth, luck, talent, or simply felt regret for her own past fate.

When she was Xiaoyu’s age, she had to use everything she had just to stay alive.

The goddess of luck had perhaps shown her the greatest favor by letting her escape from the jaws of a Creeper. But in order to pay for the price of survival, she had lost a leg.

Xia Yan was aware that she, in a way, envied Xiaoyu.

Xiaoyu could do what she was interested in, and she happened to have talent in that area.

At times when she needed help the most, there would always be someone stepping up to lend her a hand or guide her towards the most suitable choices.

“When we play poker, everyone gets different cards, but having bad cards doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll lose.”

Hearing the voice from behind, Xia Yan turned around and gave Chu Guang a disdainful look, “Don’t talk to me like an old man preaching... You’re not my dad.”

“I was just speaking casually,” Chu Guang chuckled and, after a moment’s pause, continued, “Can I ask you for a favor?”

“It’s quite rare to hear you need a favor from me,” Xia Yan teased, “Tell me, what do you want me to do?”

Chu Guang continued, “Go study abroad with Xiaoyu.”

Xia Yan was stunned, seemingly not expecting Chu Guang to say something like this out of the blue.

“Study abroad? What’s that...”

Chu Guang explained concisely, “It means learning, going to study things that we don’t have here, or things that are not good enough.”

“But...” Xia Yan started to hesitate.

Seeing her concerns, Chu Guang continued, “I’ve taught you addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, geometry, algebra, and reading and writing. However, I can’t help you with more advanced knowledge as I am not proficient in that area myself. If you want to make greater progress, you have to rely on yourself.”

“It’s never too late to learn anything, especially considering that your age isn’t that old. In my hometown, you’d just be starting college.”

Xia Yan whispered, “But... What can I study?”

Chu Guang smiled, “You can study anything you like. I remember you enjoy tinkering with machinery, right? There are plenty of experts in that field over there. Make sure to learn some useful skills!”

A long time ago, Shelter 404 acquired a magnetic refinement plasma cutting machine capable of atomic-scale operations. However, so far, the machine has only been used to process some basic parts. No one had been able to unleash the true potential of that high-precision industrial beast.

“... Of course, it depends on how willing you are. I won’t force you if you’re not interested.”

Xia Yan stared at Chu Guang in a daze.

After a while, her gaze became more determined, and the uncertainty in her eyes faded away. “I’m willing to do it.”

Although she didn’t fully understand what she could do without any talent, there was a faint yearning for strength deep within her heart. This might be an opportunity, and she felt she should seize it.

Watching Xia Yan finally make up her mind to take this step, Chu Guang nodded in approval. “I’ll arrange for someone else to take care of the weapon shop. I’ll settle your salary for this month in advance.”

“Although there won’t be a salary afterward, I’ll still provide you with a regular sum as living expenses.”

“No work but still getting paid, huh...” Xia Yan looked a bit embarrassed. Although she slacked off quite a bit on a regular basis, she still did some work.

Not working but getting paid felt quite strange to her.

“If I don’t pay you, should I just watch you starve, or do you have a habit of saving money already?” After a playful remark, Chu Guang paused for a moment and then continued in a serious tone, “This fund will be covered by the newly established Department of Education. You can understand it as... A type of scholarship.”

Introducing technologies not available locally from other prosperous survivor settlements was Chu Guang’s first step of the long term strategy in the education sector, which was just as important as archeology. The methods weren’t limited to hiring teachers to establish schools, or actively sending people to study.

Currently, those conditions do not exist.

When they had the conditions in the future, he would send people to Ideal City or even the Academy to work or study.

Seeing Xia Yan’s slightly moved expression, Chu Guang continued, “Over the next few days, just prepare yourself well.”