Chapter 1 Hongzhi Class, Summer Job
Dongxia, Hengzhou Xinxing, Tai'an Metropolitan Area.
At the Silver Horse Gym located in the center of the commercial street, a brown stuffed bear squeezed through the door, staggered under the air outlet of the central air conditioner, and commented on the muscular man in the equipment area:
"That's what beginners are like. They'll be exhausted after just a few sets of training."
"Brother Kun just finished the boxing strength test, with a final score of 275kg.
Dare I ask, young hero, how many punches can your body withstand? ”
Qin Shi, who was standing at the front desk, smiled and handed over a bottle of mineral water.
On a hot summer day, wearing a heavy stuffed bear and handing out flyers is really hard work.
"So what? If he really makes a move, with one punch at most, he will kneel on the ground and beg me not to die!"
The boy who took off his hood had slightly dark skin and was sweating profusely, greedily enjoying the air conditioning:
"Old Qin, tell me frankly, did you bribe Lao Xu? We all went out to work during the summer vacation. Why did you leave the air conditioner blowing while I stood on the street soliciting customers in the high temperature of more than 30 degrees!"
< br>
The boy's name is "Zhou Ning", Qin Shi's classmate and neighbor and his childhood friend.
Both of them are senior high school students in Xinyi Middle School, working and studying during the summer vacation.
"Lao Xu is greedy for money, but I am penniless, so how can I afford a bribe?"
Qin Shi's tone was calm:
"He only said that I have the business ability to do the front desk work, and I am quite outstanding."
Zhou Ning was puzzled:
"What's the difference between sitting at the front desk and applying for cards, and me going out and handing out leaflets? Who can't do this..."
Before he finished speaking, his eyes suddenly became sharp, like radar activated!
With a quick reaction of a few tenths of a second, he landed at the door with great precision, firmly locking on a beautiful older sister wearing a pink sports vest and tight yoga pants.
The latter stepped in with a graceful figure, completely ignoring the attention of the doll bear Zhou Ning, and stared at Qin Shi with a smile:
"Brother Xiao Qin, is Coach Luo here today?"
Qin Shi quickly showed a shy smile:
"Coach Luo usually comes after three o'clock. Miss Lin, as a distinguished VIP member of our store, you can go to the VIP room to rest first. If you need coffee, light food, or snacks, just let us know."
< br>
The beautiful elder sister leaned forward slightly and pressed her hands on the counter:
"There's no one in the VIP room, so it's boring. Brother Xiao Qin, can you chat with me?"
Qin Shi was still shy:
"The store stipulates that employees are not allowed to leave their posts without permission during work."
The beautiful elder sister’s eyes turned into crescent moons and she asked deliberately:
"You mean, when you get off work, you can be my companion?"
Qin Shi lowered his head nervously, as if he was at a loss.
This kind of gesture, combined with the frail and delicate young face, makes the beautiful elder sister even more eye-catching:
"Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore. Sister is in a good mood. Please renew my membership card for an annual fee later."
This episode came suddenly and went away quickly.
Watching the curvaceous and beautiful elder sister enter the VIP room, Qin Shi silently put away his business expression.
Zhou Ning, who was acting as a small transparent background board next to him, was jealous and gritted his teeth:
"Old Qin! Are you selling your sex for a summer job at the front desk? You have no moral integrity!"
Qin Shi shrugged helplessly:
"You have to have a good meal. Manager Wang promised me that every time I retain a high-quality customer, I will receive a partial commission.
You only need to wear a hot and heavy doll suit to hand out flyers, but I have many things to consider when I am on stage, such as being harassed in the workplace. ”
Zhou Ning is both envious and despised:
"Then let's swap!"
Qin Shi shook his head:
"This job is too deep. I'm afraid you won't be able to grasp it, classmate Xiao Zhou."
The two talked, laughed, and fished hard until it was time for lunch.
"It's synthetic food again. I almost vomited after eating it at school."
After receiving the work meal, Zhou Ning opened it and looked at it with a straight face.
"There's nothing wrong with synthetic food. It's cheap, plentiful, filling, and can provide the nutrients your body needs. Just be content.
No matter what, it is better than the pre-made dishes and gutter oil from the old era. ”
Qin Shi immersed himself in cooking the rice, chewing it slowly to feel the monotonous texture of the synthetic beef.
To be honest, the nutritional value of synthetic foods is not bad, but the taste is relatively simple.
Similar to the feeling of eating instant noodles in my previous life, one pack is not enough to make two packs boring.
The only side effect of long-term consumption is that I feel like vomiting every time I smell it.
"No matter how healthy I am, I can't bear to eat every day! I really miss the fly restaurant on Jiuchang Street..."
Zhou Ning whispered.
【The 17535th time to replenish energy】
【Growth+1】
“Except for reminding me how many times I eat and how many steps I take, it’s useless.
With this simple function, I might as well put together a smart bracelet that sells for only nine dollars and ninety-nine with free shipping..."
Qin Shi chose to turn a blind eye to the bright square handwriting that suddenly appeared in his field of vision.
How dare you travel through time with this kind of thing?
Anyway, let’s add some points to become stronger and hang up with one click!
"By the way, Qin Shi, are you going to the Youth Palace later?"
Zhou Ning complained, but there was no waste and he ate cleanly.
"Go ahead. If you work here, you can get a thousand and two dollars a month. Over there, you can go to the Youth Palace once a week and earn three hundred a day, which is quite a lot."
Qin Shifeng Zhuanyun wiped out his lunch, stood up and threw the snack box with no food left in the trash can.
"What's the use? Let's talk about the youth palace where you work part-time. They offer martial arts classes. How much does it cost for ten classes?"
Zhou Ning lowered his head and said frustrated words.
"One class lasts two hours, and the fee seems to be five hundred."
Qin Shi thought seriously.
"Look, we work hard during the summer vacation, but we can't even earn the registration fee for the martial arts class."
Zhou Ning had already taken off the hot and stuffy doll clothes and looked carefully at the beautifully printed leaflet in his hand:
"Besides, the martial arts classes held by the Youth Palace only teach basic moves and have no effect on developing vitality at all.
It's not as good as the gym where we work, at least the level of the gold medal coaches here is not low.
I heard someone say that Coach Luo's vitality has reached nineteen o'clock, close to the twenty mark. ”
Qin Shi glanced at him:
"The gym fees are also expensive. Coach Luo will charge you 3,000 yuan for a two-hour class."
Zhou Ning gritted his teeth and seemed distressed:
"It's expensive for a reason!"
Qin Shi noticed that his best friend was eager to try:
"Are you going to buy a course? Have you mentioned it to your dad?"
Silver Horse Gym is the best in the Tai'an metropolitan area, with many gold medal coaches, all of whom have a vitality development level above fifteen points.
Furthermore, being able to secure a prime location in a commercial street is a sign of strength in itself.
At least you don’t have to worry about your boss taking the money and running away.
Looking around the bright and spacious hall on the first floor, Zhou Ning scratched his head:
"I do have this idea. Last time I met Coach Luo, he said that my physique is not bad. If I exercise quickly, I may be able to increase my vitality by one or two points. If I work harder, I may be able to pass the final exam!"
Qin Shi blinked his eyelids.
According to the regulations of the Eastern Xia Martial Arts Association, vitality is divided into nine levels from low to high.
It is divided into two levels: [amateur] and [full-time].
Each step forward represents a corresponding improvement in the degree of vitality development.
Then, after passing the assessment by the Wushu Association, you will get your certificate.
If you reach the full-time ninth level, you can be awarded the title of "Martial Arts Master".
Becoming a member of the Wushu Association is considered half of the establishment.
"Coach Luo told you this? I remember the school teacher said that the basic vitality of ordinary normal people is between 3-7 points, and the passing line for amateur 9-dan is 9-12 points.
When I took the physical test before, I was at 8 o'clock and you were at 7.5 o'clock. It's not easy to get it up after a month and a half. ”
For senior high school students like Qin Shi and Zhou Ning, the fixed-stage examination for vitality development is a top priority.
The college entrance examination in the era of the macrocosm attaches great importance to measuring the vitality of the body's potential.
In any professional position, this aspect needs to be considered.
Especially top universities like the four major national universities, which are like shining pearls, have long listed this as a basic requirement for admission.
Individuals who cannot improve their vitality are equal to being eliminated from society in advance. "Let's give it a try. Only first-class universities can have access to vitality development courses. The exercise methods we teach in the third year of high school are progressing too slowly."
Zhou Ning didn’t understand the difficulty and looked helpless:
"The top students in elite classes like Xu Mo and Zhao Yunzhu, whose families are in good condition and can afford personal coaches, go to high-end places like training halls on weekends to receive full-time guidance.
If we, the poor students in Hongzhi class, don't think of a way out, we will directly join the factory and work as cows and horses after the college entrance examination. ”
Qin Shi nodded, Zhou Ning was right.
The reality is often cruel, and the seemingly invisible dividing line between different classes does not appear gradually after entering society.
But it has been with him since birth.
For example, the Hongzhi class that Qin Shi and Zhou Ning studied in was Dongxia's student aid program.
The Education Commission stipulates that every school must recruit a group of students with average grades and poor families, and exempt them from tuition fees to complete compulsory education.
They were born in an old city outside the urban area, and went to a school for workers' children.
Check out the 16-9 book bar to see the correct version!
A strong school like Xinyi Middle School, which is ranked among the top three in the Tai'an metropolitan area, does not have a student aid program like Hongzhi Class. Three years of tuition is enough to drain the family's income.
"Can your family agree?"
Qin Shi was a little surprised. He didn't expect Zhou Ning to be carefree and think about the future.
"My dad talked to me after I didn't do well in the last exam. With my grades, I would have no chance of getting into Hengda University or HKUST.
The score lines of these first-class universities are all above 700 or 800. My basic score is not high at ordinary times, let alone in exams. The cumulative total score will definitely not exceed 500.
Unless I rush to amateur seventh-dan in one go, it is possible to pass the admission line by relying on extra points. ”
Zhou Ning sighed:
“I scored high in games like drinking water, and I was thankful that I performed normally in the exam.
As the next best thing, my dad thought of a way out, asking me to go to a better technical college and choose a major that would help me find a job. ”
Qin Shi understood instantly:
"Are you going to take the martial arts exam? Set it to the ninth-dan amateur level, plus the basic points from the cultural class. The score in the martial arts exam at the technical school is enough..."
He didn't say the second half of the sentence.
The teaching staff of technical schools is far inferior to that of first-class universities such as Hengda University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Even if you work extremely hard, it will be difficult to pass the amateur fifth-dan threshold after four years of college.
The job options for subsequent internships are not wide.
Most of them are community security, civil engineering dusting, auxiliary police and urban management and other routes.
"Don't worry, my father is at the department level and my mother is at the ministerial level. Depending on their reputation, it will be more than enough to become a section-level cadre in Old Nie's factory..."
Zhou Ning's mentality is optimistic.
His father opened a billiards parlor on Jiuchang Street in Dangyang District.
Mom is in charge of the canteen.
As for the so-called "department level", I guess it is the security department.
"Okay, remember to leave me a vacancy as a concierge."
Qin Shi smiled.
"It's easy to talk, Lao Qin, the concierge will definitely keep it for you.
But what on earth are you thinking? No matter how heavy the family burden is, we can’t drop out of school!
Even if you work as a space bull and horse to build infrastructure, people still have requirements for vitality development! ”
Zhou Ning cast a concerned look.
Compared with himself, his best friend Qin Shi's grades were slightly better. His basic score was not bad compared to his usual exams, and he was at the average level in the class.
If you work hard, you have a good chance of breaking through the 600 mark.
As long as you complete the fixed-term exam, you can easily get into a second- or third-rate university.
The only thing to worry about may be that Qin Shi's family conditions are too poor and they may not be able to afford it.
The cost of living in the Tai'an metropolitan area is simply ridiculously high for children in the old city.
"I haven't thought about it that much for the moment. There must be a road to the mountain. At worst, I will sign up to join the army and join the great pioneering movement that will last for the sixth millennium."
Qin Shi's eyes wandered, resting on a black border invisible to others.
It is like a translucent wall, stubbornly presented in front of the eyes, and occasionally some seemingly meaningless text information emerges.
【Anchor: Qin Shi】
[Growth stage: to be unlocked]
【Progress: 99%】
【Number of Monuments: None】
This black border, visible only to Qin Shi, seemed to be imprinted on the retina.
No matter how he diverted his attention, it was always there.
On the other side of the panel is a pixelated gray egg-shaped object.
There was a bright red aura surging inside, like a kettle about to be filled.
It's as dense as mist, as if it's gestating some kind of life.
This thing accompanied Qin Shi in his second rebirth.
And he only knew that its name was [Monument].
"I don't know what will happen if the progress is full..."
While Qin Shi was thinking, Zhou Ning was still chattering:
"It's not that easy to be a soldier. If your vitality is not up to standard, you won't be able to enter the military academy!..."
Although the Eastern Xia lasted for six thousand years, the great pioneering movement aimed at opening up new territories and building more human homes was about to come to a successful end.
But that doesn’t mean that the peaceful era when swords and guns are put into storage and horses are released in Nanshan will come in an instant, like turning the pages of a book.
Qin Shi can see this from browsing the news on weekdays.
Going to a remote administrative planet and being a small and fragile screw often means that personal safety is not guaranteed.
"My sister drives a big car and earns hard-earned money. Whether it is a second- or third-rate university or a technical college, the tuition fees are not low.
It was too tiring for her to provide for my sister and me alone. ”
It's been a long time since he was lucky enough to travel to the past, and Qin Shi has long been accustomed to the new life of being reincarnated as a human being.
But every time I think about this opening, I can't help but feel angry.
"A gambling father, a deceased mother, a sister who dropped out of school, a young sister, and a broken me... It's just a bit more difficult than the hell where I was born in the school toilet, with yellow-haired parents and a mentally-challenged girl."
Qin Shi couldn't help but laugh, but he was not discouraged.
Compared to the hard days in my previous life, when I was tricked by distant relatives into the park and almost lost all my money, and was finally forced to be sent to the border to beg for a living.
This period of life is actually not that bad.
He looked up at the TV that was turned on in the gym hall, and hot news was playing one after another.
"Warm congratulations to "The Legend of Valkyrie: Qilin" for its first day box office exceeding 10 billion, breaking the record of the previous film "Greed Wolf"! Let's see how the young boy roars into the galaxy!"
"The joint examination of the five schools is in full swing! All citizens who are over 18 years old and have received compulsory education in Dongxia can participate in the preliminary examination!"
"Yu Li, the champion of the 83rd Stars Cup and the youngest professional ninth-dan martial artist in history, will attend the opening ceremony of Tai'an Cultural Tourism as a special guest on September 3rd!"
"Men who are determined to go to the battlefield will devote their youth to the military camp without regrets! We welcome students from all schools to apply for the Yingtangu Star Military Academy. The admissions consultation is as follows..."
Zhou Ning held her chin with both hands, her tone full of envy:
"Old Qin, take a look. A martial artist who was assigned a full-time position before the age of twenty was directly recruited by the 'North China Imperial Capital', one of the four major national institutions.
You say we are all the same people, but why is the gap so big? ”
Qin Shi smiled:
"Reincarnation is a technical job, classmate Xiao Zhou.
If nothing else, the two birth points of Jiuchang Street and Imperial Capital are separated by 18,000 light years. ”
Zhou Ning lamented:
"If my dad had gone out to try his luck, participate in the Xinxing development, and get the right to settle in the Tai'an metropolitan area, why would I have to work so hard!"
Hengzhou where they are located is the 34th administrative district divided by Dongxia.
The full name is Hengzhou Xinxing.
As the largest seaport city in Hengzhou Xinxing, Tai'an Metropolitan Area has developed rapidly by virtue of its geographical advantages.
Especially in recent years, free trade has gained momentum rapidly, and countless new upstarts have sprung up.
It is a pity that the Tai'an metropolitan area is like the nouveau riche who look down on their former poor relatives and are too lazy to communicate with them.
"Do you still remember the standard answer in the textbook? The location advantage of this region is that the labor resources are abundant and cheap. That's us."
Qin Shi patted Zhou Ning on the shoulder and stood up slowly:
"The children of workers are born at the wrong time. The glory of Jiuchang Street has passed. If you want to take root in the Tai'an metropolitan area, you can only climb slowly on your own.
It's time for me, classmate Xiao Zhou. I'll leave the responsibility of guarding the front desk to you. ”
(End of chapter)