Finding a Job

Finding a job.

This was a sore point for Zhou Ming.

If he had enough money to last him a lifetime, he would rather stay at home and live off others than go to work.

He would have to be careful in dealing with colleagues, work hard to create value for the company, and make the boss happy and look favorably upon him. Finally, the company would need to be stable and not suddenly lay off employees.

But reality was cruel. In this era where money reigned supreme, even a beggar risked starving if they didn't beg for a week. Zhou Ming, who had been staying in his rented room for over a month without going out much, had reached the point where he had to go out and look for work.

Zhou Ming also thought of the system. With its powerful functions, solving his basic needs should be a small case.

"Apologies, Host. Currently, the system cannot provide system items that can manifest objects for the Host. After the Host unlocks higher-level game maps, the [Manifestation Treasure Chest] will appear in the [Items] section of the system store. The Host can use it in the corresponding game map, and after use, the items stored in the [Manifestation Treasure Chest] can be brought back to reality."

"Manifestation Treasure Chest?"

Zhou Ming became excited. He immediately found the still-locked [Manifestation Treasure Chest] in the [Items] section of the system store and clicked to view it.

Item: [Manifestation Treasure Chest]

Function: Can bring items from game instances back to reality

Unlock Requirement: Unlocked after clearing the Level 3 map [Prosperous Era]

Exchange Requirement: 1,000,000 Achievement Points

"One, two, three... six. What the heck, exchanging one Manifestation Treasure Chest requires 1 million Achievement Points? System, are you kidding me?" A mouthful of old blood spurted out. Seeing the long string of zeros after the exchange requirement, Zhou Ming felt like strangling the system.

By the time he accumulated that many Achievement Points, he would probably have starved to death long ago.

"System, besides the Manifestation Treasure Chest, is there anything else that can slightly improve my current situation?"

Even if he could exchange for a bag of rice in the system store, it would be fine. As long as he didn't starve to death, he would eventually get rich with this system.

"It seems not, except for a few attribute cards that the Host can use."

"Attribute cards? There are attribute cards that the Host can use?"

Zhou Ming became excited. Most of the skill cards in the system store could only be taken into game maps for game characters to use, but he didn't expect there were some that could be used directly on himself. He immediately urged the system, "Quickly show me those attribute cards."

Displaying a product panel, the system explained about several cards: "These attribute cards are the [Intelligence Point Card], [Strength Point Card], and [Agility Point Card]. After purchasing and using them, they can increase the Host's corresponding physical attribute by 1 point."

"What are the exchange requirements? How many Achievement Points?"

"Intelligence Card is 1500 Achievement Points, Strength Card is 1000 points, and Agility Card is 1200."

"Not expensive, not expensive at all! They're only a little over a thousand points each. I can afford them, I can afford them!"

Zhou Ming rubbed his hands in excitement, feeling that the future was bright. Although each of these attribute cards could only increase his physical attributes by a limited 1 point, the effect would definitely be astonishing if used in large quantities!

Imagining his Superman-like performance of shattering steel and lifting ten thousand catties after using thousands of [Strength Point Cards], those ordinary Earthlings would probably have their eyeballs pop out, right?

And the [Intelligence Point Card]. He had always felt that his intelligence was not quite enough. After adding a few thousand points of intelligence, he should be able to easily defeat ordinary geniuses, right?

Zhou Ming couldn't help but drool, entering a state of fantasy.

"Host, these attribute cards can only tap into the Host's own inner potential. Beyond the potential that can be tapped, the effect of the attribute cards will become invalid," the system suddenly poured a bucket of cold water.

"Invalid? Why would they become invalid?" Zhou Ming was a little confused and asked.

"As an ordinary carbon-based life form, the total entropic energy that the host's body can contain is limited. Further excavation cannot break the limitations of the inherent life form... unless you can modify the life form itself and break through this layer of limitation."

"System, do you mean that no matter how many attribute cards I use, the final effect will not exceed the limits of a human?"

Zhou Ming somewhat understood. What the system said might be similar to concepts like 'bloodline' or 'gene lock' in some infinite flow novels.

However, even if he couldn't break through the limits of a human, even reaching or approaching the so-called "limit" would make him much stronger than ordinary people. He didn't need to fly into the sky, escape into the ground, or move mountains and seas; being close would be enough.

"No need to rush with this intelligence top-up. Let's buy a few Strength Cards first."

So, in order to successfully find a job and solve the problem of food and clothing, Zhou Ming clicked to buy three Strength Point Cards and used them immediately.

A tingling electric current flowed through his entire body. The muscles in his chest and back slowly bulged, his blood flow accelerated, his whole body felt hot, sweat dripped down his cheeks like a waterfall, and the shriveled little worm between his legs was now developing in the direction of a deep-sea giant eel.

Half an hour later, filled with vitality, Zhou Ming lightly jumped and touched the ceiling that he couldn't reach before no matter what. He looked down at his crotch and grinned, "Hehe, I didn't expect the Strength Card to have such a magical effect. Now I don't have to worry about my girlfriend running away."

Although, this guy, who was still a virgin, didn't have a girlfriend.

"Time to go find a job!"

Putting on a jacket, Zhou Ming confidently went out.

In the west of the city, on a huge construction site, countless giant construction equipment were working in full swing.

In a corner of the construction site wall, below a commercial residential building that was mostly completed, Zhou Ming, wearing a safety helmet, walked over.

"Boss, do you need bricklayers on this construction site?"

Zhou Ming walked up to a middle-aged man who looked like a foreman and asked.

The middle-aged foreman glanced at Zhou Ming, then at his somewhat thin and weak body, and waved his hand, "Young man, bricklaying is not a job for ordinary people. Go look elsewhere."

"Boss, let me try. If I can do it, let me stay. If I can't, I'll leave myself." Zhou Ming called out to the foreman who was turning to leave.

Seeing Zhou Ming's determined look, the foreman thought for a moment and said to the construction supervisor next to him, "Let this kid try for half a day. If he can't do it, he'll leave on his own."

The construction supervisor pulled Zhou Ming aside and pointed to a pile of bricks as high as a small mountain not far away, "Young man, start from here. Move this pile of bricks over to the elevator."

"Okay!" Nodding, Zhou Ming rolled up his sleeves and started working hard with his head down.

Soon, an afternoon passed. Zhou Ming's steps became heavier and heavier, and his palms were covered in blisters. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he gritted his teeth and, before dark, moved the last few bricks next to the elevator, then told the construction supervisor that he was done.

The construction supervisor checked Zhou Ming's work results and nodded slightly, "Alright, young man, you've passed the trial. Come to work tomorrow, remember to be early!"

"Thank you, boss! I'll be here early."

Zhou Ming let out a long sigh of relief. Being a bricklayer on a construction site was the most suitable job for him at the moment. Because a bricklayer had to meet the brick demand of several buildings at the same time, the labor intensity was very high, and the working hours were long. It was difficult for a normal person to work continuously for three days, so the bricklayer on each construction site was not a fixed person, and the wages were settled daily. Working for one day would earn over three hundred yuan, which was most suitable for people who had strength and wanted to earn some quick money.

Zhou Ming had also stayed on a construction site for a few days before, but he couldn't last more than two days. Now, because he had used three Strength Point Cards, his strength and endurance were much better than before, and he could last a little longer.

"I'll work on this construction site for about ten days, save three or four thousand yuan, and then I won't have to do this kind of work anymore."