Chapter 5: Knowledge Doesn’t Cost Money

"Just leave it here, thank you. You may go now."

Evelyn's words snapped Ethan back to reality.

Observing her slender fingers drumming on the table, Ethan placed the tray in front of her with understanding and said, "Oh, Evelyn, isn't there any possibility of us easing our strained relationship?"

"No."

Evelyn's response was curt and decisive. She tasted the clam chowder, savoring its salty and savory flavor with a satisfied squint.

"Ethan, you disappoint me, you know?"

As she stirred the soup, she continued, "Although our family relies on farming, with income determined by divine providence and occasional losses due to extreme weather, it doesn't mean we are in financial dire straits. Years of diligent work have allowed Thomas to amass considerable wealth."

"Moreover, our family differs from other foster families, doesn't it? Linda is your aunt, and Thomas is your uncle. Even in their childlessness, they have treated you as their own. They never intended to cast you out once you reached adulthood."

"Without financial pressures, I truly do not understand why you are so eager to earn money. Do you not realize how precious time is? Are you unaware that Thomas's greatest wish is for us to leave the orchard? Although he always says we can stay and help him with the orchard if we choose, he never hesitates to fund our SAT tutoring when we need it!"

"Clink!"

At this, Evelyn slammed her spoon into the bowl.

The metallic clash against the ceramic produced a crisp sound.

The nostalgic remarks prompted Ethan to pull over a chair and sit beside Evelyn.

He helped crack open the leg of a Dungeness crab and said, "Evelyn, have you ever heard the saying that age is not the true measure of a person's maturity? To gauge someone's maturity, one must look at the nature of their mind."

"I was once impulsive and self-centered, causing you much disappointment and regret. I apologize for that. I do not seek forgiveness, but I want you to know that I now understand your goodwill."

Evelyn turned her head, her brow furrowed as she stared at Ethan in contemplation.

Ethan offered her the cracked crab leg.

The smile on his handsome face made Evelyn's pupils constrict.

After a few seconds of eye contact, Evelyn finally accepted the crab leg.

As she took a hearty bite, she asked in a muffled tone, "How much did Miroha compensate you?"

"Seven months plus one week's salary."

"So, that's a bit over two thousand?" Evelyn calculated simply and asked, "What are your next plans?"

"I am aware that I still have the opportunity to study, but my SAT has expired."

Although SAT scores do not have a strict expiration, most universities require scores from within the past two years. Ethan's scores were from three years ago, so many institutions no longer recognize them.

"You can retake it. If you've forgotten anything, I can teach you," Evelyn said, "if you're willing."

"Thank you." Ethan nodded in gratitude and also helped Evelyn crack open the crab shell. "Though I dislike causing you frustration, I must still say that studying now does not seem very beneficial to me."

"Oh… Sh…"

Evelyn put down her hands, casting a look of disappointment at Ethan.

Before she could utter any foul language, Ethan, with a slight smile, interjected, "Okay, Evelyn! I understand you're anxious, but please hear me out. There's a reason for what I'm saying."

"My current field of interest, like yours, is in engineering. Yet, engineering as a field is currently subjected to societal… well, how should I put it? Discrimination? Or perhaps underestimation? I'm not sure what term to use, but I know how to describe it…"

"For instance, in Miroha, where I just was, any engineering student applying for a job would invariably state on their resume that they have thoroughly studied 'Popular Electronics' and have successfully replicated many electronic devices based on its content."

"I assume you have more insight into this than I do, right?"

Ethan gazed at Evelyn with a smile.

His fingers pointed to the magazine Evelyn had been reading.

His calm words seemed to smooth out the anger on her face.

His confident smile acted like a magnifying glass, making Evelyn's brown eyes widen in curiosity as if trying to get a clearer view of him.

After a moment of assessing, and finding nothing amiss, Evelyn sighed and shook her head with a smile.

She then picked up a California roll and began eating.

This scenario made Ethan mentally snap his fingers.

For he knew he had taken the right first step.

In reality, after discovering he had traveled back to America in 1975, Ethan had been contemplating how to carve a niche for himself in the field of technology.

Initially, he had considered attending university to systematically study science and practical skills.

However, after preparing for this and gathering relevant information, he discovered a startling fact.

In this era, knowledge in America seemed not to be confined to schools!

In Miroha, the company where the original body's owner worked, when recruiting electronic engineers, they primarily looked not at applicants' degrees but at whether their resumes mentioned experience with 'Popular Electronics.' If so, they would be invited for an interview; if not, they would consider their academic qualifications.

Such a bizarre situation left Ethan astonished.

He could not fathom why a university degree's credibility was eclipsed by a magazine.

Yet, after obtaining a copy of 'Popular Electronics' and flipping through it…

The content blew his mind!

The magazine detailed the construction of a three-transistor portable radio!

Though only three pages long, it demonstrated how to create a radio setup using two 2N170 NPN transistors and one 2N107 PNP transistor!

By following the circuit diagrams provided, readers could build a radio capable of receiving all shortwave bands in a single night!

Just this was already outrageous.

And the absurdity didn't end there.

With a bit more effort, readers could use alligator clips to make an amplifier for receiving distant broadcast signals.

For medium-wave reception, adjustments could be made using magnetic rings, ferrites, and other tools…

By the time Ethan finished reviewing the magazine, he was left in a state of sheer disbelief.

Subway, old man, looking at his phone.

Damn! What kind of nonsense is this!

At one moment, Ethan even questioned whether he had landed in America at all!

As someone who had studied, lived, and worked in America, he knew better than anyone how valuable professional books were on American soil!

Otherwise, Amazon wouldn't have started by selling books.

When malevolent capitalists place an exorbitant value on knowledge, their intent is to block the public's path to advancement.

Yet, in the 1950s and 60s, America had such a commendable teaching environment?

Publishing radio and other knowledge openly in popular magazines???

This was simply absurdly ridiculous!

Indeed!

The lighthouse before the Eastern earthquake was the real lighthouse!

Just as Ethan was delighted by his discovery and prepared to leverage the magazine for some insights, he realized that not everything could be easily replicated.

For example, he could not discern the difference between NPN and PNP transistors.

Unversed in science, having forgotten high school physics completely before his time travel, he was clueless about IB and IC current generation processes and had no idea what a superheterodyne circuit was.

When Ethan realized he might struggle to replicate even with the answers, he deeply regretted studying finance in his previous life.

The greatest use of that knowledge was indeed just discussing science with arts students and arts with science students—

Bullshitting!

He was more perplexed why he didn't have a cheat like ChatGPT 4.0.

Fortunately, the original body's owner had a science-savvy sister.

Evelyn, Ethan's sister, was a top student at Stanford Engineering School, majoring in Computer Science.

More importantly, she had been interested in radio technology since her teenage years.

Thus, in 1966, Thomas not only subscribed to 'Popular Electronics' for her but also spent a fortune to complete her collection of previously published issues. He even allowed her to dismantle the family TV to assemble a projector when she wanted to practice hands-on.

Upon discovering this fact, Ethan decided to focus his attention directly on her!

And from the current situation, it appeared this girl wasn't as volatile as she seemed.

After finishing a California roll, drinking some clam chowder, and eating the crab's roe, Evelyn wiped her mouth.

"Ethan."

"Hmm?"

"I know what you're thinking."

"What?"

"You must have some ideas involving electronics and computer knowledge. Since you're not proficient, you want me to help."

Evelyn said with certainty, "Don't try to deny it. We've known each other for nearly twenty years. Remember high school? You had me make a walkie-talkie, palm-sized, just to hide and scare people!"

When Ethan's facade cracked, revealing he had nothing to hide, he shrugged and said, "Yeah~ Looks like I can't keep anything from you."

"Hmph!" Ethan's admission earned him a roll of Evelyn's eyes.

Staring at the boy who grew up with her for a few seconds, she sighed and said, "Fine, I surrender. I truly cannot argue with you! Your temper is like a bull, only God knows how to make you change course! So… tell me your idea. What do you want to do this time? I'll help you."

"Oh, that's wonderful! Evelyn, I love you!" Ethan grinned at Evelyn's concession.

He then shifted his gaze and began searching.

Upon seeing a 'Popular Electronics' magazine from January 1975 on Evelyn's bookshelf, he immediately pulled it out.

Noticing a square machine with the Altair 8800 code in the top left corner, he pointed and asked, "Can you make something like this?"

"???"

Evelyn furrowed her brow at the question.

The moment she caught the amused glint in Ethan's eyes, realizing she had been played, she grabbed a crab shell and hurled it at him.

"Oh, Ethan! Was that deliberate? Get out of here!"