32: Chapter 32 Diligent and Eager to Learn

"Do you want it?"

"Of course. Who wouldn't want a treasure like this? It can save a life. Even though I don't know the specific working principle, it's worth it as long as it works at a critical moment."

"Are you using it yourself?"

"No, for my dad. I go straight from home to work and back every day; the probability of me encountering an accident is very low."

"You can't afford it."

"Boss, at least tell me the price so I can give up."

"Starting at five million."

Liu Jing's momentum instantly collapsed, and she said dejectedly, "I knew it. I couldn't afford it even if I worked my whole life."

But she quickly perked up again: "Boss, recommend one or two cheap but useful items. Please! I'll work for free for a few years to pay it off, can I?"

As she said this, she grabbed Han Jingyang's arm and shook it.

Han Jingyang amusedly swatted Liu Jing's hand away: "Don't act spoiled. It's useless. I do have some cheap and useful items, but it depends on your performance."

"Hehe, just wait, Boss. I'll definitely work hard."

"Go back now. Keep an eye on your grandmother's condition. Go for a check-up every so often, and let me know about any changes, whether they're good or bad."

"Alright," Liu Jing jumped out of the car and waved: "Boss, drive safely."

It was already 9:30 when Han Jingyang arrived home.

His grandparents were already asleep.

His father was half-reclined on the sofa watching TV.

His younger sister was resting her head on their father's arm, playing with a tablet.

His mother was cutting watermelon.

Seeing him return, they all turned their heads in unison. His sister even dropped the tablet and came out to greet him: "Brother, where's my gift?"

He rubbed his sister's head: "Did you finish your homework before playing on the tablet?"

"I wrote for two hours, I just started playing for a few minutes."

"Is that so? Let me take a look."

"No way..."

"Hehe," Han Jingyang chuckled. His sister was good at everything, except she had no interest in studying. She only managed to avoid being at the bottom of the class thanks to him and the school teachers forcing her. She was the type who had neither talent nor diligence.

As an older brother, he at least managed to get into Shanda University.

If his sister could get into a second-tier university without any surprises, it would be a blessing.

Thinking of this, he put his arm around his sister's neck and walked straight to the study: "Time for tutoring."

"Brother," Han Jingxin's little face instantly fell. She planted her feet on the ground, trying to resist Han Jingyang's pulling: "It's so late, I want to sleep. Tomorrow, can we do it tomorrow?"

"Do you want the gift or not?"

"I do..."

"Then be good and let's do some tutoring."

Han Jingxin turned her head to look at her parents in despair.

But the two elders pretended not to see her. They didn't have much education and couldn't teach their son or daughter, but fortunately, their son was promising. Naturally, they hoped their son could help pull his sister along, so not only did they not help her, they silently turned off the TV.

If their grandparents were there, they might have put in a good word for her.

With no one to turn to for help, Han Jingxin had no choice but to follow him into the study with a reluctant face. Then, thinking that since she was already here, she shouldn't lose out, she opened her hands: "Brother, where's the gift?"

Han Jingyang took a box out of his bag: "Open it and see."

Seeing that there really was a gift, and it looked quite high-end, Han Jingxin beamed with joy.

But upon seeing the item in the box, she pouted in disappointment: "What is this?"

"A Wenchang Pagoda."

"Huh?"

"To bless you with academic success."

"Brother, when did you start dabbling in feudal superstition?"

"If you don't put in the effort, you can only pin your hopes on ghosts and gods."

"..."

Ignoring his sister's reaction, Han Jingyang picked up the Wenchang Pagoda, walked around the study for a few steps, and found a suitable place to set it down.

Only then did he say to his sister: "Don't look at this small pagoda as inconspicuous and worn-out; it's actually very valuable."

"How valuable?"

"Over one hundred thousand."

"So expensive?" Han Jingxin jumped up: "Brother, don't scare me."

"It's been consecrated by an expert."

"Brother, weren't you scammed?"

"Even if I was, I'd be willing," Han Jingyang patted his sister's head: "As long as you can study well, it's worth any amount of money. Don't worry about the cost; your brother is a rich man now."

"You made big money?"

"Of course."

"No wonder. Before, you were almost losing so much money you were eating instant noodles, hehe."

"Come, come, let's start class."

Han Jingyang pressed his sister down at the desk, opened the textbook, and began the tutoring session.

Every vacation, whenever he had time, he would tutor his sister, rain or shine, without fail.

But the results were usually very average.

Because his sister couldn't absorb the information. If he explained ten knowledge points, it would be good if she could listen to and master one. She would understand when asked on the spot, but if asked two days later, she would know nothing. It was truly going in one ear and out the other; nothing stuck in her brain.

Why was this the case?

It was just a lack of focus.

Her mind wasn't truly on her studies.

It had nothing to do with her memory.

Actually, his sister's memory was quite good; she could rattle off the birthdays, hobbies, works, and gossip of various celebrities at the drop of a hat.

So, he had been searching for a treasure that could improve learning ability these past few days.

Unfortunately, he only found one Wenchang Pagoda.

"Name: Qing Dynasty Qianlong Copper Gilded Wenchang Pagoda."

"Grade: Rank 6."

"Attribute: Diligence +5."

"Skill: Diligent and Studious."

This small pagoda cost him 120,000. The shop owner was very firm and wouldn't haggle at all, a flat price of 120,000.

In terms of market price, it was a bit high. The gilding was almost peeling off, the condition was quite average, and while the craftsmanship was exquisite, it hadn't reached the level of a true work of art; it was just a craft item with relatively excellent workmanship from the mid-Qing Dynasty.

But with this attribute and skill, he wouldn't sell it even if a zero were added to the price.

Of course, he couldn't tell his sister or his parents this; it would scare them.

Han Jingyang lectured his sister while keeping an eye on the Wenchang Pagoda.

At first, the Wenchang Pagoda didn't have any special reaction, except for wisps of blue aura inside the pagoda drifting toward his sister—this was the effect of the "Diligence" attribute.

It wasn't until his sister seriously solved a major quadratic function graph problem that the blue light on the pagoda, as if activating a special effect, sank into his sister's body.

This scene made him heave a sigh of relief.

The skill was effective, which meant his sister could still be saved.

At least during the time the skill was active, her learning efficiency would be greatly improved.

Hmm, summer vacation was starting in a week; it was time to find a reliable private tutor.

Han Jingxin naturally didn't know her brother was preparing to add to her burden, because she had already been completely absorbed by the problem in front of her.

Two hours later.

Han Jingyang tapped the table: "How do you feel?"

Han Jingxin looked up, slightly dazed: "Eh? Brother, is it almost twelve?"

"Yes."

"Time flew by so fast."

"Enjoyable?"

"Enjoyable," Han Jingxin blinked: "Brother, did you secretly take tutoring classes? My efficiency was so high tonight. I remembered all the knowledge points you explained. You explained it better than our teacher, and the logic was so clear. If I had this state every day, let alone Shanda University, even Peking University would be a breeze."

Han Jingyang chuckled: "Don't brag until you can get into the top thirty in the class in the final exam."

There were fifty-some students in a class. His sister's performance in the exams this school year had been stable between 30th and 40th place; she had never reached the top thirty.

Only by breaking into the top thirty could she prove that her progress was real.