Rebirth of a Top Student's Handbook

"Don't explain. I know my mom is extremely sexist. Look at my grandma's family, everyone is sexist. Even my uncle and aunt, who are highly educated, are still extremely sexist. They just know how to care for the next generation."

Xi Chen, who is also a girl, and her other aunts are far happier than Zhou Min, simply because their mothers are more thoughtful and love their children more.

Only Zhou's mother was most severely brainwashed by education; in her eyes, children were merely tools to support their parents.

This may sound a bit exaggerated, but Zhou Min believes that if her mother had to choose between Zhou Min and Zheng's maternal grandparents, she would definitely choose Zheng's maternal grandparents without hesitation, while most others would choose their own child.

Zhou Min remembers that she never had a penny of pocket money when she was a child, let alone any snacks. The reason why she followed Chen Sheng wholeheartedly when she grew up was simply because she felt that no one in the world would treat her as well as he did, since even her own parents didn't love her.

Xi Chen had an endless amount of pocket money and snacks since she was a child, while Zhou Min's family's biggest expense was to support Zheng's maternal grandparents, and they did it secretly.

Aunt Zheng would always buy very cheap but substantial items to take back to her parents' home, and then complain about being poor in front of her maternal grandparents.

In the end, not only did Grandpa and Grandma Zheng show pity and favoritism towards Xichen, but even her uncles and aunts liked them more. In their eyes, Zhou Min's family was just a poor, stingy family trying to take advantage of their parents' home.

“Sigh, you’re all grown up now. Take better care of yourself from now on. Don’t be stingy. Things will get better in a few years.” Zhou Min knew what her father meant by what he didn’t say.

“Then I won’t go back for May Day. If you miss me, you can come to the capital anytime,” Zhou Min said after thinking for a moment.

"Well, don't be angry with your mother anymore. Just pretend she's not thinking straight," Zhou's father said, full of complaints.

……

The father and daughter talked for a long time. The next morning, Zhou's father and Zhou Min went to a decoration company to confirm the decoration plan. After that, Zhou's father took a plane back home.

Zhou Min returned to her residence alone, feeling dejected. Frustrated, she couldn't help but complain to Sister Zhang online. Sister Zhang readily agreed to help persuade Zhou's mother if she had the chance.

After Zhou Min finished chatting with Sister Zhang, she checked the time and it was almost evening. At that time, there was no food delivery service like in later years, so Zhou Min had no choice but to grab her keys and head out alone.

Considering that there are still many days before school starts, Zhou Min, who is a bit of a homebody, plans to go to the supermarket to stock up on food so she can stay home until school starts.

Zhou Min went to the largest supermarket nearby and began to carefully select her items. Lost in shopping, Zhou Min's mood gradually improved.

“Zhou Min…it really is you.” Zhou Min heard someone call her name and turned around to see a somewhat familiar face.

"Who are you?" This is not Zhou Min's fault; Zhou Min easily forgets the appearance of people she doesn't remember well.

"Ahem, I'm Gu Ze, your former instructor." Gu Ze introduced himself somewhat awkwardly.

"Oh, I'm sorry, instructor, I've only ever seen you in military uniform, I didn't recognize you in civilian clothes." Zhou Min was telling the truth, since the instructor had a large scarf around his neck that covered almost half of his face.

"You must be Zhou Min? My son often talks about you..." Gu's mother immediately began to try to get closer to her.

"Ahem." Gu Ze quickly interrupted his mother, pulling her close and whispering in her ear, "This is a female student I trained during military training; she's only a freshman."

Gu Ze, thinking about how his mother was practically going crazy pressuring him to get married, quickly prepared himself to avoid her saying anything that might embarrass everyone.

"Hello, Auntie." Although Zhou Min didn't quite understand what she was saying, it didn't stop her from greeting her.

"How many things have you not bought yet? Auntie will help you." Gu's mother immediately abandoned her son and went to Zhou Min. Because she had only given birth to three sons, she had always wanted a well-behaved daughter, and Zhou Min was very much to her liking.

"No need, I've basically bought everything and I'm about to head out," Zhou Min said, pushing a cart full of groceries.

"What a coincidence, we've already bought ours. Let's go together and find a place to sit later."

Actually, they had just arrived and hadn't even started buying anything yet. But Gu's mother wanted to spend more time with Zhou Min; she liked young and pretty girls these days, and she would be happy to have her as a goddaughter.

Zhou Min had no choice but to be taken to the coffee shop downstairs. Looking at the enthusiastic Gu's mother and the unfamiliar instructor, Zhou Min felt a little embarrassed.

Zhou Min has always been the kind of person who reacts rather slowly; many things are over before she has a chance to react when they happen.

Only after things have passed do people realize with regret what they meant. For example, when Mao Yating's mother slandered me before the holiday, I was filled with anger, but I couldn't think of anything to say at the time.

Even if you think of dozens of things to say in your mind afterward, it won't change anything; you'll only feel more frustrated.

Therefore, Zhou Min greatly admired those who were eloquent, quick-witted, and good at speaking.

Now, looking at the talkative Gu's mother, Zhou Min completely forgot her initial reluctance. Gu's mother's talkativeness was different from the noisy women Zhou Min had encountered before.

Gu's mother's talkativeness made people feel very comfortable. Every word she said made sense, but she never made people feel like they were being lectured.

In the end, without realizing it, Zhou Min's unknowing words were all tricked into revealing everything by Gu's mother.

Although Gu's mother, who had stepped down as the chairwoman of the Women's Federation, looked like an ordinary middle-aged woman, she was actually a master of empty talk.

Finally, Zhou Min was warmly escorted to her apartment building by Gu Ze and his mother, and both parties left satisfied.

"What do you think about me adopting this girl as my goddaughter?" Gu's mother said excitedly on the way back.

"Well, it depends on whether they're willing. Who would want to find themselves a mother for no reason?" Gu Ze said casually as he drove.

"It's great to have a godmother. She can ask me for help with anything in the future, and when she gets old, I can find her a good partner." Gu's mother became more and more satisfied as she spoke.

"Well, let me give you some advice. This girl has a pretty fiery temper and isn't very popular. She's completely different from the kind of sweet and cute girl you like. Besides, I see all the other girls in pairs, but she's always alone. I guess her personality isn't very likable."

Seeing his mother's enthusiasm for the barber's job, Gu Ze quickly poured cold water on her enthusiasm.

"Mediocrity is not envied. It is normal for outstanding people to be ostracized. Being able to adjust and endure loneliness shows good character."

"Mom, are you being too biased? I saw that this girl has made enemies with several people, and her temper is just too much."

"Come on, modern girls should have personality and temper. The kind who are timid and just follow the crowd are the ones who are annoying!" The more Gu's mother thought about it, the more she thought this girl was good.

"With all your years of experience, you didn't realize she was stubborn, and you're still so self-righteous?" Gu Ze dismissed his mother's words.