pjbooks Chapter 8: [I know]
Chapter 8: [I know]
In his previous life, Liu Zhuohao and Teacher Chen did not have much contact after graduation.
Or rather, he was subtly avoiding the other person. Even in the first few years after graduation, when he came back from other places and bumped into them on the street, he mostly pretended not to see them.
It's not because the relationship is bad, but because I'm afraid to face it.
Although Old Chen only taught him for one year in his senior year of high school, he was a very responsible teacher.
Sometimes, Liu Zhuohao even had a feeling that if Lao Chen had been teaching him since his first year of high school, he might have been able to get into a second-tier university.
The reason he was able to go from a truant internet addict to barely passing a third-tier university was largely because this teacher pulled him back into the classroom.
Liu Zhuohao clearly remembers that every time he was "detained," Old Chen would supervise him as he did the test questions, and then work overtime to correct and explain them to him.
Annoying, isn't it?
It was annoying at first, but Old Chen did this for a whole semester.
It wasn't just me; many people in my class who didn't do well in their second year of high school were kept after school just like me, and then had to do practice problems over and over again.
Throughout the entire process, Old Chen did not show the slightest impatience or look down on the underachieving students.
Most students can tell whether a teacher has good professional ethics from their eyes, words, or even their "feelings".
He couldn't bear to let down a teacher who genuinely wanted to help him, and a child with sound values.
But sometimes, a teacher who takes responsibility for you in this way actually puts the most pressure on you...
When he failed to get into a suitable school and didn't have a decent job after entering society, he was afraid to face the teachers who had been responsible for him.
Afraid of losing face!
Liu Zhuohao was afraid that if he went up to greet the teacher, he would stammer for a long time and disappoint the teacher when the teacher asked him what he was doing.
That's even more painful than direct criticism!
As for the years that followed, he had been in society for a long time and had developed a thick skin, so theoretically he was no longer afraid.
When we met, we should have been able to openly discuss our work and current situation, but then we never had the chance to meet again.
When was that again?
Oh, I'm probably around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. It's about time I accepted my mediocrity.
"This is so awkward..."
Liu Zhuohao closed the chat window with a self-deprecating laugh and opened the video editing software.
On the screen are images captured by cameras this morning: crowded students, rapidly moving hands, and rising steam...
The sweat, focus, and attention to detail in how one treats food and hygiene—all often overlooked by others—were faithfully captured by this small camera lens.
He dragged the timeline and began editing his first video.
Back in 14, most people used QQ to chat rather than WeChat. Even some of the younger teachers registered an account and joined class groups.
At least, that's the case in Liu Zhuohao's small coastal city.
But did WeChat launch at that time?
Out.
Liu Zhuohao specifically bought the action camera for recording videos, which he purchased online using WeChat Pay.
—GoPro.
This camera brand is known to almost everyone who plans to become a video blogger, and it has almost become synonymous with action cameras.
The one I have is an entry-level model, which costs around 800 yuan. With the SD card, battery, and head stabilizer, it costs nearly 1,000 yuan.
Although it's expensive, it's a considerable expense for me right now.
But Liu Zhuohao knows that becoming an internet celebrity is his core competitive advantage.
Because "recording" itself is part of one's future strategic planning.
Therefore, Liu Zhuohao did not save this money.
The first button must be fastened properly; the beginning is crucial.
With that in mind, Liu Zhuohao turned on the table lamp, set up the camera, and adjusted the angle so that the lens could capture both his profile and the flashing interface of the editing software on the computer screen.
He pressed the record button.
"Now it is..."
While editing the video, Liu Zhuohao would occasionally glance at the camera. "In June of 2014, I started trying to become a video blogger."
"Why did I suddenly want to do this? Well... I just graduated from high school, and my grades are good enough for a third-tier university."
"But the tuition for a third-tier university, as everyone knows, is a huge burden for ordinary families. So I thought I'd do something during this holiday to see if I could ease the burden on my family and also find a way out for myself..."
He spoke calmly and deliberately, without trying to be sentimental, as if stating a simple fact.
In front of the camera, Liu Zhuohao appeared very relaxed, as if he were having a casual chat, with many muttering thoughts to himself.
This sense of relaxation was something he deliberately created.
Unlike the 'short video' sector, which was influenced by the fast-paced era later, the 'long video' sector currently enjoys a high level of audience tolerance.
People are willing to spend twenty or thirty minutes watching a video.
This includes videos documenting daily life.
Life vlogs are becoming increasingly popular on some overseas video websites, but they are not common on various domestic video websites.
But some people have already started trying it, especially on Bilibili, where many bloggers who have studied abroad record their daily lives studying in Japan, South Korea, Germany, etc.
How did Liu Zhuohao find out?
Because in his past life, he had similar thoughts.
Many people who don't do well on the Chinese college entrance exam go abroad, attend a language school first, and then try to prepare for the entrance exams for foreign universities or colleges.
For better or worse, this "gilding" of their study abroad experience greatly enhances the value of their resumes.
At least, it was much better than the school Liu Zhuohao attended, so he had looked into videos related to this topic, such as those featuring Ye Xiu, Hardcore Fire, and fake food bloggers...
In the next few years, there will be more and more study abroad agencies in China, and with each other's support, the number of users will continue to grow.
However, Liu Zhuohao has no intention of taking this route, even though it might provide greater traffic support in the coming years.
But he has no intention of pursuing this path.
Liu Zhuohao had no experience studying abroad in his previous life, which means that if he insists on taking this path, he is essentially starting from scratch. Even if he has some "foresight", he still lacks practical experience.
He needs to establish himself in an industry he is familiar with.
Once, twice, three times...
Liu Zhuohao recorded and deleted a few minutes' worth of "introductory" video, then deleted and recorded it again.
It's not because of unclear pronunciation, nor because of imprecise expression.
It's because he has to hide his "thirty-year-old soul" inside his "eighteen-year-old body" to speak.
It's like, about going to school.
As a "latecomer," he understands very well that in the future era of population saturation and involution, academic inflation and intensified involution will lead to countless college graduates finding that the resumes they earned through years of hard work are worthless and ultimately they will have to choose to be compatible with lower standards.
Some people even spend hundreds of thousands of yuan to study abroad, only to find a job with a monthly salary of a few thousand yuan, and it takes them twenty years to break even.
These insights are already etched into his memory. If he's not careful, his words will reveal that condescending air of someone who's been there, that unconscious arrogance born of prophecy!
Liu Zhuohao cannot say.
It's 14 now, and if I express this "education is useless" view, I'll be out of touch with the community.
Liu Zhuohao should be someone who "wants to go to school but lacks the ability" rather than someone who "sees through the uselessness of academic qualifications".
But was he acting? No, he wasn't acting.
To put it bluntly, if his family were financially well-off, Liu Zhuohao would still be willing to go back to school and experience being a student again, even if it meant going back to 14.
Who wouldn't want to walk the campus paths again as someone who's been there?
If he had another chance, he would definitely cherish every class, boldly greet the girl he likes, sweat it out on the court, and...
That was youth that has already passed.
But the thought only flashed through his mind. Liu Zhuohao shook his head and turned his attention back to the screen. Now that he had been reborn, he certainly couldn't pretend to be deaf and dumb anymore and let his parents bear the financial burden.
……
……
"...What did you cook?"
As evening approached, the mother returned home exhausted, only to be greeted by the aroma of food wafting from the kitchen.
"I bought three crabs."
Liu Zhuohao poked his head out of the kitchen and cheerfully shouted, "I made a profit today! Let's have an extra treat tonight—one crab each!"
He's past the age where he earns money and immediately buys himself a new phone or computer.
Upon hearing this, the mother was taken aback, as if she hadn't understood what she was saying.
Then, her lips moved a few times, the words that were about to come out—to scold him for wasting money—swirled in her throat, but what finally came out was: "Buying all this useless stuff! How much can you possibly earn on your first day at your stall?"
"I've already bought groceries, you're just wasting them!" she said, her eyes already darting anxiously into the kitchen. "How much are these crabs per pound? Are they firm? Did they come with a rope when they weighed them? Was that rope thick and wet?"
As she spoke, she almost ran to put down her bag and hurried over. Before she even reached the stove, her voice preceded her words: "Do you know how to cook? How long have you been steaming it? This crab isn't cooked long enough to be fishy; if you overcook it, the meat will become tough!"
"Don't waste it!"
After she finished asking a barrage of questions, she finally had a chance to see what was on the stove. The crab had been opened and cleaned, the garlic sauce was glossy, the vermicelli was neatly arranged on the bottom of the plate, and steam was rising from the pot.
Everything went more smoothly than she had expected.
When the dishes were placed on the table, my father returned.
He saw the crab on the table, paused, his gaze lingered on his son's face for a moment, said nothing, and sat down to pick up his rice bowl.
The mother was busy setting out the dishes, her eyes carefully scanning between the father and son.
But when Liu Zhuohao took out his camera to record the scene, his face suddenly darkened.
"What is this?" his father interrupted him, his voice not loud, but the relaxed feeling he had just had during dinner vanished instantly.
He stared at the black, unfamiliar machine in his hand.
"camera."
Liu Zhuohao replied, trying to keep his tone calm, "I plan to..."
"Buying random things again!" The father's face darkened visibly, and he slammed his chopsticks down on the bowl.
The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed particularly jarring in the suddenly quiet dining room.
"I saw your business today, and it's indeed doing quite well," the father's voice was low, but every word was like a stone thrown out. "But this is only the first day! And you're already getting cocky? You've made a few bucks and you dare to buy such expensive things, huh?"
Do you know how hard it is to earn money?
He watched from afar today, knowing only that his business was doing well, but he didn't see the camera on his head.
"..."
Liu Zhuohao's smile faded.
He did not immediately refute, nor did he avoid his father's gaze.
Liu Zhuohao slowly sat up straight, gently placed the camera on the table, then looked up at his father and said, "I know."
Calm words rang out at the dining table.
He repeated, "I know."
This statement contains no hint of the smugness or arrogance of a young person who has made money; it is filled only with calmness and earnestness.
The father was stunned.
He opened his mouth as if to say, "It's good that you know," or "Don't overwork yourself," but in the end, these heartfelt concerns remained stuck in his throat.
"You know it's difficult?" The father's voice softened, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible heartache. "Go back to your studies."
"I know you're worried about your family. Don't worry, it might be a little difficult for your family to support you through a three-year college, but it's definitely possible for them to support you through a junior college."
After he finished speaking, he lowered his head and shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth, as if that would suppress his surging emotions.
The dinner table fell silent.
The mother looked at the father, then at herself, sighed softly, and put a crab leg into her bowl.
"Eat."
She said softly, "Your dad is worried about you."
Liu Zhuohao looked at the crab meat in the bowl, then at his parents, and nodded. "Yes, I know."
These straightforward words once again stunned the parents.
Especially the father, whose hand holding the bowl visibly trembled.