Chapter 7, The Life of a Dog Walker

After all, when he graduated from university in his previous life, the concept of 3G was not yet popular. At that time, the most popular industries related to electrical and electronic fields were smart homes and LED lighting, while 3G communication only gained traction around 2009.

Several boys, including the host who is treating today, noticed Lu Wenjun's concern and followed her gaze, revealing a hint of hostility towards Gu Mojie.

The girls are all at least of above-average appearance in the class; however, when placed in society, they might be considered somewhat below average.

If it were the Gu Mojie of his past life, he would have solely focused on studying at this moment, believing in the omnipotence of education, and would not have cared about dining, chatting, or socializing with a group of second-generation officials and wealthy heirs. However, the current him is evidently much more mature and would not deliberately reject such activities

When they arrived at the Brazilian barbecue restaurant on West Lake Avenue, Ferdinand was already there, along with other classmates, chatting away. Ferdinand, with his keen eyes, immediately called Gu Mojie to sit down as soon as he entered.

Ajie, tomorrow Xiaoxuan is treating us. Before the final exams, he will be going to Hujiang and wants to keep a low profile. We will meet at the Brazilian barbecue restaurant at Wushan Square at 11:00 AM. Please mention my name when you arrive.

However, with the same score, after being admitted to Hujiang City, and with a relative who is a professor at Fudan University, along with policy advantages, this score can definitely secure admission to Fudan University

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Before long, after the barbecue was served, Ferdinand was pulled away by a group of boys to enthusiastically start carving.

In order to secure his resume for the college entrance examination migration, Qian Junxuan turned his attention to this area. He hopes to enlist Ferdinand's help in contacting a reliable source to assist him in processing some materials, such as inquiring about patents that are nearing their maintenance period and whose rights holders clearly do not intend to renew the maintenance—these do not necessarily have to be inventions, as inventions are too conspicuous; practical new types would suffice. He plans to adapt and repackage these, creating a few small technological innovations suitable for high school students to enhance his resume.

In his previous life, he had at least worked for five or six years. As a pioneer in a cutting-edge and popular technology industry, Gu Mojie had worked for two years in a large state-owned enterprise in Qiantang City that specialized in smart hardware and smart home solutions before entering the telecommunications industry.

Gu Mojie entered halfway and, for a moment, could not understand the topic of conversation among everyone. He quietly surveyed the surroundings, noticing that there were a total of five or six boys and four or five girls in the small circle.

The classmate who is hosting is named Qian Junxuan, and his family has some connections and influence, with quite a few relatives in Hujiang. One of his paternal uncles is a professor in the History Department at Fudan University. Gu Mojie originally had a somewhat cold relationship with him, mainly because the other person exuded an inexplicable sense of superiority, especially when he occasionally liked to bring out the family tree to emphasize the orderly inheritance of his family, claiming to be from the "39th generation of the King of Wu and Yue, branch X..." This mannerism made Gu Mojie quite uncomfortable. Gu Mojie originally had a somewhat cold relationship with him, mainly because the other person exuded an inexplicable sense of superiority, especially when he occasionally liked to bring out the family tree to emphasize the orderly inheritance of his family, claiming to be from the "39th generation of the King of Wu and Yue, branch X..." This mannerism made Gu Mojie quite uncomfortable.

Gu Mojie was very curious about what Ferdinand had to discuss that he couldn't say in person on the bus back to the city, but instead chose to call now. However, this suspicion did not last long, as once the call connected and Ferdinand's voice came through, Gu Mojie understood the reason.

Qian Junxuan's performance at Qiantang No. 2 Middle School can only be considered average. Remaining in the hellish difficulty of the college entrance examination in Qianjiang Province, it is certain that he can only secure a place in a 211 university, with a slim chance of reaching a 985 university.

After graduating, Gu Mojie took his first job in engineering design at that state-owned enterprise. Two years of experience within the system, combined with Gu Mojie's eagerness to learn, provided him ample opportunity to understand the sordid nature of activities such as patent filing and paper publishing.

High school students do not yet have the habit of drinking alcohol; before the dishes are served, they typically have juice or milkshakes. Only a few may order drinks, and even then, it is usually pre-mixed low-alcohol cocktails. Observing the lively conversation among a few of them, it is evident that they have been chatting for a while, creating a very vibrant atmosphere filled with banter and boasting

Although Ferdinand is righteous, mere righteousness is not enough for him to passionately educate Gu Mojie for a long time.

Gu Mojie had a sudden flash of inspiration and immediately thought of a relatively quick way to make money, which made him almost unable to contain his excitement, to the point that he no longer wanted to eat barbecue

Ferdinand's mother is one of the partners at Tian Ce Law Firm, one of the top law firms in Qiantang City. She oversees a team of intellectual property litigation lawyers and patent/copyright application lawyers. Among these individuals, there are some who do not often engage in litigation; their primary business involves assisting enterprises with patent application needs by organizing materials, running errands, and helping to navigate the approval process with the National Patent Office.

Gu Mojie saw Lu Wenjun also inside, along with a slightly less attractive girl sitting next to her. Since today the one paying the bill was Jin Junxuan, the girls naturally arranged to sit closer to him.

The next morning, Gu Mojie read for a while before heading out. After all, it was the weekend, and with plans for dining and karaoke, he had not expected to accomplish anything of significance that day, so he decided not to dwell on it.

Ferdinand has served as the class monitor, is adept at handling situations, and comes from an open and wealthy family. Therefore, he privately violated school regulations by purchasing a mobile phone. However, he is also someone who knows his limits and has never used his phone on campus.

To understand the future exclusivity of the people of Hujiang, one only needs to look at the people coming from Chongming Island, who seem almost like extraterrestrials.

As for what Gu Mojie, as the listener, is thinking, whether he understands or not, Ferdinand does not have the time to ponder over it

The reason he spoke so much to Gu Mojie was partly because he wanted to show off, relishing the kind of respectful gaze from the other party that conveyed, 'Nan Ge is indeed rich in life experience and knows a lot about everything'

This fellow, in terms of handsomeness, academic performance, and family background, which aspect is he strong in? What is the reason he is always able to attract Lu Wenjun's attention?

After finishing dinner, Gu Mojie returned a call to Ferdinand, using the other party's mobile number

"Nang Ge, stop chatting and don't just talk without action. Come on, come on, eat while it's hot!" Qian Junxuan pulled Ferdinand over, who immediately raised his knife and fork. Ferdinand quickly forgot about the things he had just discussed with Gu Mojie.

It is generally understood that the acceptance of intentions must be backed by financial support from the family. However, it is always better to have a legitimate reason, such as the achievements the student has made during their three years in high school or any special contribution awards. Even if the actual value of these accomplishments is not high, having a formal recognition can be beneficial in facilitating matters.

Regardless of the circumstances, the issue of gaokao immigration is a gray area, difficult to address openly. One can only learn from the subtlety of the approach, akin to the saying "sneak into the village quietly, and avoid drawing attention." Naturally, Qian Junxuan would not make a grand display by hosting banquets and inviting guests

It turned out to be a gathering of a small circle. Ferdinand, being quite the buddy, knew that Gu Mojie was available, but his relationship with other classmates in that circle was average. Therefore, he made a strong effort to pull him in to participate, hoping to help Gu Mojie enhance his presence.

The knowledge accumulated from applying for patents and writing papers in a previous life has, of course, been completely erased in this rebirth, leaving no memories. However, the operational patterns for handling such matters have been deeply embedded in Gu Mojie's heart, akin to how the tides wash away the decayed leaves and bark, yet leave the trunk's structure even more distinct.

In simple terms, this kind of thing operates on the same principle as "competition bonus points" and "high school student electronic design XXX" for boosting scores in the college entrance examination. Back in 2002, the regulations for bonus points in the domestic college entrance examination were not strict, and wealthy and influential individuals could easily secure an additional thirty to fifty points for their children. The same materials are also frequently used in the context of college entrance examination immigration with consistent success

No problem, I will arrive on time

Ferdinand saw Gu Mojie engrossed in drinking and realized that he had not entered the conversation. After exchanging a few words with Qian Junxuan, he excused himself to go to the restroom. Upon returning, he sat next to Gu Mojie, who was on the outside, and began to chat quietly with him. Gu Mojie quickly understood what everyone had been discussing earlier.

It turns out that, ultimately, there are still some academic records related to the college entrance examination migrants that need to be properly managed. In order for Qian Junxuan to attend Hujiang, he must find a high school within Hujiang City that will accept his student status

The reason for this invitation is that Qian Junxuan is about to become a college entrance examination immigrant: at the end of this semester, his family will use some connections to transfer him to Hujiang City, along with his student status. They already own a property in Hujiang City, and this plan has been in the works for two to three years.

At that time, he did not intend to stay in the system for long; he only wanted to learn more skills to have a trade to rely on. Therefore, he worked diligently and energetically, and in the state-owned enterprise, he naturally had many opportunities to be recognized by his superiors and assigned tasks. He produced a considerable number of papers and patents, especially when the leaders themselves were facing strict evaluations for professional titles.

Most people did not notice Gu Mojie silently lost in thought beside them, even mechanically chewing the barbecued meat placed in front of him as if it were tasteless.

Isn't it just academic fraud? In ten years, the extent to which this phenomenon has flourished will be enough to astonish those from 2002

The classmate who is hosting the gathering tomorrow is somewhat special, which is why I kept it low-key. I would rather notify each person individually with a phone call after returning home.

Gu Mojie understood everything clearly, went downstairs to take out some pocket money to buy a few small gifts, considering it a courtesy for tomorrow

Invite about ten classmates to have a barbecue and sing K songs, and that would be considered putting it into practice

It is said that gatherings among classmates in small circles, even if discussed on the school bus, are not a big deal. Even if overheard by others, it would not be considered as forming cliques or offending anyone

In 2002, the real estate market was not yet thriving, and the phenomenon of "gaokao immigrants" was not as strictly regulated as it would be in later years; such situations did indeed exist. In fact, looking back a few years further, during the late 1990s, the real estate market was almost non-existent. At that time, if you had the means to purchase a house on Chongming Island, you could easily become a gaokao immigrant in Shanghai.

Qian Junxuan is treating everyone to this meal today. While bidding farewell is certainly one aspect, there is another aspect, which is a request to Ferdinand.

It was not until Gu Mojie absentmindedly poked his mouth with a fork that Lu Wenjun glanced at him a few more times, thinking that he had once again entered a "thinker" state, showing a hint of concern.

If other high school students were to hear about such a matter, they would likely find it baffling, and might even consider it somewhat grand. However, Gu Mojie understands it immediately and does not perceive this matter as grand at all

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