The Strongest Brain in the Interstellar

Shopping in the city was different. The Immigration Bureau had sent her a pile of vouchers for large shopping malls. Jiang Hui roughly calculated how much she would need, then found a reliable online store to purchase all the daily necessities she was missing.

She placed the order around six in the evening, and by just past seven, the goods were already delivered to her doorstep, along with the instant meal boxes she had also bought from the mall. Jiang Hui quickly handled the meals and then unpacked and organized the daily necessities. That way, when she returned to school on Sunday, she wouldn’t have to rush to sort everything out.

However, these weren’t the main items Jiang Hui had intended to purchase. These things could be bought anywhere without having to return to the main planet. Although the logistics were slower, there were fewer styles to choose from, and it wasn’t as convenient as buying through a holographic chamber, but it was still easier to get these items from the campus than to go back to the main planet and make a special trip to shop. It even saved the cost of a spaceship ticket.

What she truly wanted to buy on the main planet were mecha materials. Not toys or models, but actual mecha materials.

Previously, Jiang Hui had only worked with various mecha models, and while they were realistic, they were still limited. The basic books she’d read were also limited in scope. The theories were abstract, far from enough for her to deeply understand the true framework of a mecha.

She hadn’t realized it before, but after she encountered a real mecha on Wednesday, she realized just how superficial her understanding of mechas was. Even a brief interaction was enough to destroy the vague framework she had built in her mind.

So, Jiang Hui decided to get some real materials to try out. Playing with models wasn’t enough—she needed to figure out a way to get her hands on real components.

She remembered that when she first started following interstellar news, she had seen some specialty stores releasing new parts, so she figured there must be a place to buy these kinds of things.

Jiang Hui wasn’t asking for much; she just wanted to buy a leg or an arm part to try assembling it and see how it worked.

Unfortunately, this idea was shattered when she actually logged in to check the product information. Large mecha repair shops did sell parts, but most of them were brand new, complete sections, and they were extremely expensive. Even with Jiang Hui’s current financial situation—not exactly poor—she couldn’t afford to buy them. After all, these weren’t the limited-edition models priced in the thousands of interstellar credits that you could buy as a luxury toy.

Of course, the repair shops also had used parts for sale, but they were only about 70-90% new, still not cheap, and the styles were limited. Prices varied based on the model and the condition. Jiang Hui couldn’t distinguish between two identical parts of the same condition, especially when one was 10,000 interstellar credits more expensive than the other. And honestly, they were just too expensive, so in the end, she bought nothing.

But it wasn’t all a waste. The owner, who looked like a mixed-blood of Chinese descent, probably seeing that Jiang Hui was young and appeared to be a student, told her that if she wanted to find materials for experiments, she should visit the recycling centers. There, she’d find many substandard parts (less than 50% new), and if she was lucky, there would be plenty of recycled materials. The prices would definitely be cheaper because the people coming to the mecha repair shops were not short on money; this place sold only the best parts, hence the high prices.

This gave her a new idea. It seemed that, no matter the era or the world, the value of goods varied widely. Even in a society with rapid development, there was still a market for secondhand goods.

This was also a characteristic of a resource-based society.

Jiang Hui noted down the locations the owner had mentioned, thinking she’d ask a local for more details later. She thanked the owner and then logged off.

She looked at the names of several large recycling centers written in her notebook and pointed to the one the owner most recommended: “The Rich or Poor Secondhand Goods Market.”

…Who should I ask to inquire about this?

Mr. Andy from the Hailusi Group? No, the relationship has always been a bit awkward, and it’s been so long since we last contacted each other. If I suddenly call, he might think I’m bringing up old issues.

Ms. Jian, the lawyer? She could be a good choice, but she’s very busy. Consulting her would normally require a fee. She probably wouldn’t charge for something so trivial, but I’d still be bothering her, so I’ll pass on that.

The hospital staff? The doctor? The familiar salesgirl downstairs? They don’t seem like the right people to ask either.

Jiang Hui was having some difficulty deciding who to contact for her inquiry.

Suddenly, a communication call came in. Who could it be at this hour?

It was actually Zhou Xiuwen. That was a bit surprising. Although he seemed to be sociable, he was actually a very polite and well-mannered person, indicating that his family had given him good upbringing. He didn’t seem like the type of person who would send communications at night. If it were Xierman, that would seem more fitting.

But since he was calling, it must be for something important. Jiang Hui hadn’t washed up yet and was still in the living room organizing her things, so there was no need to prepare. She just accepted the communication to see what he needed.

To her surprise, this wasn’t just a one-on-one communication from Zhou Xiuwen. It was a group call with five people.

The other four were naturally the members of Team R186 who had agreed to go watch the mecha competition on Sunday. Everyone was there, and it seemed she was the last one to join.

“You were on a call with someone just now? We tried calling you several times before Zhou Xiuwen finally got through,” someone said.

Jiang Hui was momentarily stunned. She had been at the repair shop and, not sure if it was the store’s setting or something else, hadn’t received any notifications. When she checked, she saw missed calls on the top right corner of her screen.

“I was logging into the holographic chamber,” Jiang Hui briefly explained, moving on from the topic.

“My parents don’t really want me playing this,” Xierman said with a hint of envy, still wearing his school uniform with a background that looked like a luxurious living room. Jiang Hui glanced at the screen and felt her eyes were almost dazzled by the bright setting, so she quickly looked away.

“Once you’re home, you should take a rest. Why does it still seem like you’re so busy?” Zhou Xiuwen glanced at the stack of books partially visible on Jiang Hui’s desk and misunderstood. Those were just a few reference books she had casually bought from the mall.

As for Zhou Xiuwen, he had already changed into homewear, and his bedroom corner was in the background. His appearance… well, it was probably ruined a bit. He was wearing a soft, long-haired rabbit-themed pajama set, which she definitely wouldn’t buy herself.

Similarly, Clarens had also joined the call unexpectedly while in his homewear. In his study corner, his outfit was elegant with typical aristocratic features, but it was clear that the material was soft and the style was loose, suggesting that it was probably homewear too.