Chapter Four: This Is What Supernatural Power Is

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The small two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment was less than 50 square meters, yet Zhuo Wengang’s family of four squeezed themselves into such a cramped space. In the living room, a folding table bore the leftovers from lunch, covered carefully with a food net to keep the flies away. With no refrigerator at home, this was the only way to preserve food. After all, Zhuo Wengang and his wife didn’t have an easy life. The steel mill wasn’t doing well, and together they barely made a little over a thousand yuan a month. They had two children in school to feed and clothe, and they still tried to save a little. One day, Zhuonan would need money to marry.

Looking at this humble scene, Zhuonan felt a wave of bitterness. His second uncle and aunt had always treated him like their own son, giving him the best food, buying him nice clothes, and making sure he always had new supplies for school. Only when his things were worn out did they hand them down to his younger cousin. They worked hard and lived frugally, saving for him to get married and start a family in the future.

As these memories surfaced, Zhuonan suddenly recalled something important. By the end of this year, the steel mill would start its buyout process. In his “previous life,” his second uncle and aunt had accepted a severance package of several tens of thousands, then lost their jobs. His second uncle went into business with others, but was swindled out of everything. Later, the couple opened a food stall at night, barely making ends meet and often getting fined by city inspectors. They worked through the night and spent the day preparing ingredients. Overworked, his uncle developed liver cancer within a few years. Their house was sold to pay for his treatment, but in the end, he couldn’t be saved. The year his uncle fell ill was also the year his cousin got into university. She dropped out and went to work out of town to earn money for his treatment. After his uncle passed away, his aunt supported the family doing cleaning jobs. Zhuonan himself had found a job, but his salary wasn’t high and he couldn’t do much to help.

“If heaven has given me a second chance at life, then I won’t let those things happen again. Let me repay you all for the kindness you’ve shown me.” Zhuonan wiped his tears, his heart set with determination.

To the left was the room of his second uncle and aunt; Zhuonan and his cousin Zhuo Lanlan shared the other. They slept in a bunk bed—Lanlan on the bottom, Zhuonan on top. The only desk in the room was a battered writing table, seven-tenths new, which his uncle had brought back from the factory when the office replaced its furniture. He’d asked the workshop manager for the old desk so Zhuonan could use it.

Because the desk was reserved for Zhuonan, his cousin had once been upset, complaining that their father didn’t care about her. When she needed to write, she could only use the table in the living room.

No one else was home yet. His uncle and aunt were still at work. As class labor monitor, Lanlan had to stay at school until the others on duty finished.

Setting down his backpack, Zhuonan sat at the desk, unsure what to do. He didn’t know what homework he had and hadn’t paid attention in class.

But he knew clearly what his uncle and aunt expected of him: to study hard, to get into a good high school, then attend university and find a respectable job—not to work in a factory all their lives like they had.

Not wanting to disappoint them, he decided to begin. Opening his backpack, he pulled out a book at random. Without checking the cover, he opened it and saw it was his math textbook. Immediately, he thought of Fu Xinxin, that quail-like girl. A fond smile crept onto his lips; she really was adorable.

He resolved to study seriously, starting from the very first page. To prove his determination, he didn’t even skip the preface. But as he finished reading it, he noticed something strange: every word from the preface seemed to be imprinted in his mind. For example, if he was asked what the sixth word in the third line was, he could recall it perfectly, matching the textbook exactly.

Astonished, Zhuonan wondered if this was some kind of superpower. After what had happened that afternoon, he wasn’t sure. He tested himself several times, recalling the twelfth word in the fifth line—“number”—then checking the book. It was correct! Next, the sixteenth word in the nineteenth line—“theory”—again, correct!

In both his previous and current life, Zhuonan had always hated memorization. Dictation and recitation were his weakest points; his brain just didn’t work that way. But now, once he’d seen a word, it was as if it had been stamped into his mind.

What kind of ability was this? Photographic memory? No, it felt like more than that. To test it, he began flipping through pages, glancing over each one before closing the book. He found he couldn’t recall them as clearly. It seemed that to remember, he had to focus on each word, as if entering data into a computer—once entered, it was saved automatically.

Continuing, Zhuonan read word by word. After seven or eight pages, he closed the book and found everything was crystal clear in his mind: every line, every word, even the shapes of crossed-out corrections.

“Wow, this is amazing! So being reborn really does come with powers. Ha ha...” Zhuonan jumped up from his chair, excited. “But wait, calm down. What use is this power? Memorizing books? Can I make money from that? Should I perform in the street? No way, how much could I earn? Worse, someone might want to study my brain. That would be the end of me. No, this power is pretty useless. Maybe it’s just so I can really focus on my studies. Stay calm, stay calm.” He tried to reassure himself.

Just then, he heard a key turning in the lock. Checking the time, he guessed it was Zhuo Lanlan returning. He steadied himself, forcing his mind to calm before leaving the room.

Lanlan was only twelve, but already growing fast—over a meter and a half tall, with a delicate oval face that hinted at future beauty. Zhuonan remembered that his aunt had also been a beauty, but life’s hardships had worn her down, making her look older than her years.

Her hair was tied into two braids down her back, and she wore a backpack, looking the very picture of innocent youth. As soon as she spotted Zhuonan, her face clouded with anger. “Brother, you got into another fight at school, didn’t you? The whole school’s talking about it. When Mom and Dad get home, you’re in for it.”

In the past, Zhuonan would have said, “Mind your own business, brat.” But not today. He walked over, and under Lanlan’s surprised gaze, took her backpack and asked kindly, “Are you tired? Go rest for a bit. I’ll peel you an apple.”

Lanlan’s mouth formed a perfect O. She was completely stunned. When had her brother ever been so polite? She stood there, afraid he might be up to some trick—he’d done it before.

Zhuonan went to the kitchen, grabbed an apple and a fruit knife, and in a few smooth strokes handed her a perfectly peeled apple. Lanlan took it, dazed, and didn’t dare eat it at first.

“Why aren’t you eating, little sister?” Zhuonan asked.

She finally snapped out of it, curiosity getting the better of her. “Brother, you’re acting weird today.”

“What’s weird about me?” he replied gently.

“You’re being so nice all of a sudden, it’s hard to get used to,” she said, pouting.

“Silly girl.” He patted her head affectionately. “I’m your brother. Who else should I be good to? From now on, I’ll treat you even better.”

Touched, Lanlan leaned into his arms. “Brother, you’re the best.”

Although she was still shorter than Zhuonan, she was clearly beginning to develop, her chest just starting to swell. As she leaned against him, Zhuonan felt uneasy, immediately scolding himself, “She’s your cousin, what are you thinking? Calm down, calm down.”

“Eat up, little sister. Then go do your homework in the room.” Lanlan, innocent of such matters, saw nothing wrong with nestling into her brother’s arms. But Zhuonan, overwhelmed by the fresh scent of a young girl, quickly pushed her away, fearing he might lose control.

Lanlan didn’t notice anything amiss. Smiling, she asked, “Brother, I’ll do my homework in the room—what about you?” In truth, she’d long wanted to use the writing desk—the table in the living room was unsteady and cluttered.

“Go ahead. I don’t need the desk anymore. From now on, it’s all yours,” Zhuonan replied with a smile.

Hearing this, Lanlan felt a pang of guilt. Like a little adult, she tried to encourage him. “Brother, you’re actually very smart. The teachers all say that if you just put your mind to it, you’ll definitely get into a good high school.”

“Little brat, you’re lecturing me now? Go do your homework, or I’ll take the desk back,” Zhuonan teased.

She quickly grabbed her backpack and hurried to their room. She’d finally won the right to use the desk and wasn’t about to lose it. Before going in, she stuck out her tongue at him playfully, looking utterly adorable.

While the siblings enjoyed a warm moment at home, the Steel Mill School was abuzz with gossip. From the elementary division to junior high and high school, stories of the afternoon’s showdown spread like wildfire. As the saying goes, “Rumors are fiercer than tigers.” Now, some claimed, “Junior high boss Zhuonan and high school boss Wang Yu fought over a girl. Zhuonan led his men and beat Wang Yu so badly he was seriously injured.”

Others said, “Wang Yu harassed Zhuonan’s girlfriend, so Zhuonan gathered his friends and beat him up.”

Some insisted, “Wang Yu and Fu Xinxin are dating, but Zhuonan likes her too and attacked Wang Yu out of jealousy.” There were other versions still, the most outrageous being: “Wang Yu and Zhuonan clashed over protection money, and things ended in a violent brawl.”

If Zhuonan had heard these rumors, he would have laughed himself silly. But soon enough, he’d find nothing to laugh about.

The new book “Super All-Rounder” is officially being updated.