The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 942: Chapter 920: Top Student of the 1980s 48

He Erniu has been really happy lately.

She got accepted into Jing University, through her own abilities.

The more she thinks about it, the happier she gets, feeling like life is getting more promising.

The professor of the family where she works as a nanny is surnamed Hu, and later on, He Erniu started calling him Grandpa Hu.

Professor Hu and his wife are truly wonderful people. Over the years, they developed feelings for He Erniu and treated her like a granddaughter. They were very happy to learn that she got into Jing University.

They even said they would buy some gifts for He Erniu.

How could He Erniu take their money?

To be honest, over the years, He Erniu has saved some money, which is more than enough for her studies.

Now she’s just worried about what will happen to Professor Hu and his wife when she goes to school.

She’s a bit uneasy about them hiring another nanny.

What if the new nanny isn’t diligent? What if they’re not a good person?

There are many such concerns.

Later, He Erniu discussed with Professor Hu and said that since she would be studying at Jing University anyway, she could buy a bicycle after starting school and return daily to help with housework and cooking, which wouldn’t be too strenuous.

But Professor Hu and his wife disagreed, believing it would delay He Erniu too much.

Then, Professor Hu found a widow in her forties from his hometown to work as the nanny.

This woman had some family relation and was also an honest person, so she should be reliable.

After this arrangement, He Erniu went to school with peace of mind.

Since she was already in the Capital, she naturally reported early, and after getting her dorm sorted, she started helping seniors with some reception work.

That day, He Erniu was at the entrance welcoming new students.

She saw a tall, slim, particularly handsome young man approaching.

”Are you He Anjing?”

The young man asked, and He Erniu was stunned for a moment before replying, ”Yes, do you know me?”

The young man smiled, ”Haven’t you received Ningning’s letter yet? I’m Xiao Yuan, she should have mentioned me before.”

He Erniu then recalled that Anning indeed mentioned Xiao Yuan in her letter, and she knew their relationship, ”So it’s you! Did you also get into Jing University?”

Xiao Yuan nodded, ”Yes. On my way here, Anning prepared something for you, and asked me to bring it over.”

Hearing this, He Erniu was delighted, ”She even sent me something? That little girl, she’s so young, how much could she have?”

Xiao Yuan handed over the items sent by Anning to He Erniu.

He Erniu took her items and grabbed Xiao Yuan’s luggage, ”Come, come, let your sister take you to register, then find your dorm. I’ve been at Jing University for several years, I know the place well.”

He Erniu was indeed very enthusiastic, helping Xiao Yuan with registration and tuition fees, and taking him to the boys’ dormitory, also offering to help Xiao Yuan make his bed and tidy up.

Xiao Yuan couldn’t let He Erniu do the work for him, so when they arrived at the dorm entrance, he quickly said, ”Sis, I can do everything myself. No need to trouble you. How about this, once I’m done, I’ll treat you to a meal.”

He Erniu laughed, ”You hurry up and tidy up, I’ll wait for you downstairs. Once you’re done, I’ll treat you to a meal, and then take you around the campus, show you the way and all.”

This time, Xiao Yuan didn’t refuse.

He Erniu was genuinely kind-hearted, and she wasn’t the least bit pretentious. She was outgoing and generous, and if Xiao Yuan were too polite with her, it would actually create distance.

Xiao Yuan went into the dormitory, got his things in order, and made his bed.

He’s used to doing all this, and it didn’t take him long.

When he came downstairs, He Erniu was still waiting.

The two went to the cafeteria for a meal, where He Erniu introduced which cafeteria had the best food, and which one served ample meals. After eating, she showed Xiao Yuan around before leaving.

After watching He Erniu leave, Xiao Yuan quickly called Anning to report everything about his meeting with He Erniu.

Only after hearing from Xiao Yuan and confirming He Erniu’s good character did Anning fully acknowledge her.

Anning also started her second year of high school, having chosen the science stream after the arts and sciences division.

And so, it was back to the daily school routine, but now she read more books than ever, having finished all the available science-related ones. She found the knowledge too simple and wanted more advanced, specialized books, but such books weren’t available for sale.

Zhang Heping watched his daughter delve deeper into her studies, unable to find suitable books for her, growing anxious.

Eventually, Hou Jun found out and arranged to have some books shipped from abroad, finally giving Anning something to read.

While others’ high school lives were a battlefield of racing against time and grappling with endless tests and assignments, Anning found her second year of high school rather laid-back.

Her academic life consisted of reading specialized books and playing with classmates - nothing more.

Anning felt she might grow restless without something more to do.

Seeing Zhang Heping and Secretary An getting older and still cycling long distances every day, she thought of assembling some electric bicycles for them.

Actually, building an electric bicycle wasn’t hard. In the future, it would seem technologically trivial.

But for the present time, it was considered high-tech.

The main difficulty in making an electric bicycle lay with the battery.

An electric bicycle required a battery that could store a lot of electricity, charge quickly, and remain compact.

At this time, batteries were still the dry cell kind, which couldn’t meet the needs of an electric bicycle.

To make an electric bicycle, Anning first needed to develop a battery.

Anning had no intention of making solar cells or bioenergy batteries, as those were too advanced and complicated. She wanted to create a lithium battery.

Anning asked Zhang Heping to buy a lot of materials for her, and every day after school, she would go to a room set up for experiments.

And so, by early winter, Anning finally completed the electric bicycle.

That Sunday, Anning, having finished the final touches early in the morning, wheeled the electric bicycle out of the room.

Zhang Heping was making breakfast. Hearing the noise, he turned to look, ”Ningning, where did you get that bicycle?”

Anning called Zhang Heping over, ”Dad, I didn’t get it, I made it. It’s an electric bicycle that doesn’t require pedaling and takes no effort. It’s faster than a regular bike.”

”Really?”

Zhang Heping was delighted, ”Let’s give it a try.”

Secretary An had heard the commotion from inside and came out as well.

The three of them took the electric bicycle out, and Zhang Heping tested it in the yard. Indeed, it took less effort and rode smoothly.

Dissatisfied with just riding in the yard, Zhang Heping took it outside, riding around for over an hour before returning.

When he returned, Zhang Heping’s face beamed with joy, ”Ningning, this bike is great! It saves so much effort, rides fast and stable, and is way more comfortable than biking.”

Anning laughed, ”Of course! Watching you and Mom tire yourselves biking, I thought of making something to ease the effort.”

Zhang Heping sat down and asked Anning, ”You call this an electric bicycle, it must be powered by electricity. Tell me, how does it run on electricity?”

Anning briefly explained to Zhang Heping, focusing on the lithium battery aspect.

Though Zhang Heping wasn’t versed in advanced science, he understood the significance of a lithium battery.

It was a new type of battery, more efficient than dry cells, essentially a new energy source.

After hearing Anning’s explanation, Zhang Heping was so excited he could barely breathe.

He rushed inside to call a comrade in the Capital.

His comrade now worked at a research institute, managing several scientific projects.

Zhang Heping’s comrade, Yu Shen, was immediately intrigued by Zhang Heping’s talk of lithium batteries and electric bikes.

After Zhang Heping’s detailed description, Yu Shen recognized the gravity of the situation but was skeptical that an eleven or twelve-year-old girl could create such advanced technology.

He decided to visit personally, to see the invention firsthand before reporting up the chain.

Yu Shen immediately purchased a train ticket to S Province at once and headed straight to the Provincial City without delay.