The List

Chen Chuan returned home after making the call. As soon as he reached the front yard, he heard his younger male cousin and younger female cousin squabbling. When he entered the living room, a little rubber ball bounced toward him. He hooked it with the top of his foot, kicked it twice more, then stretched out his leg. The ball came to a steady stop on the top of his foot, while his body did not sway in the slightest.

"Wow!" His younger female cousin, Nian Lu, let out a cry of amazement and clapped hard.

His younger male cousin, Nian Mo, raised both hands high. "Awesome! Do it again! Do it again!"

Chen Chuan nudged the ball forward, sending it rolling toward the two little ones.

Yu Wan was sitting in a chair knitting a sweater. Knowing Chen Chuan would be going to Wu Yi University tomorrow, she had been waiting here early today. She smiled. "Chan'er, you're back?"

Chen Chuan nodded. "Yes, Aunt. Registration is tomorrow, so I came back a little early today."

Yu Wan rose to her feet. Seeing that his coat was covered in dust, she said, "You child, did you go rolling around in a pile of ash? Give it here, quick. I'll take it outside and clean it up. It's a perfectly good piece of clothing—don't ruin it."

She snatched the coat from him, nagged him a few more times, then took it outside to beat the dust from it.

Chen Chuan suddenly sensed the whistle of wind behind him. As though he had eyes in the back of his head, he tilted his head and dodged the rubber ball thrown at him.

"Whoa! Big Brother is amazing!"

"Throw it back! Throw it back!"

Chen Chuan sent the ball back and casually played with the two little ones for a while. Yu Wan returned, placed the cleaned-up coat in his hands, and said, "Take it."

Chen Chuan took the coat and headed for his room. Yu Wan followed along. He knew she must have something to say to him. When they reached his door, Yu Wan asked with concern, "Chan'er, do you still have enough money on you?"

Chen Chuan said, "Aunt, you gave me plenty last time. I still have some."

Yu Wan said, "If it isn't enough, ask Aunt for more. You can't cut corners when it comes to studying."

Chen Chuan gave an acknowledging hum.

Yu Wan added, "Your Uncle said you had to move out within two months. But now that you have somewhere to go, I think there's no need to rush moving your things. Wait until you've settled into the school dormitory. If school starts and you don't want to live there, come back home. It's not like we can't spare you a meal."

Chen Chuan said, "Aunt, was that Uncle's idea?"

Yu Wan said, "What, your Aunt can't make decisions herself? As long as you can learn real skills at the university, that's better than anything."

Chen Chuan did not stand on ceremony. He could move whenever he wanted anyway. "All right, Aunt. Let's do that for now."

Yu Wan was very happy to see that he had taken her words to heart. Ever since her second sister and brother-in-law had passed away, she had treated Chen Chuan as her own son. She was somewhat reluctant to see him move out just like that.

After Yu Wan left, Chen Chuan returned to his room. He closed the door, hung his coat on the hook, walked to the desk, opened the drawer, and took out the remaining money to count it.

Yu Wan had originally given him a total of six hundred Jianyuan Currency. One hundred had been spent on registration. The food, training, damaged equipment fees at Fist Home, and various other expenses had cost him over three hundred in the past two months, averaging one hundred and fifty a month.

From next month until the retest, he would clearly still need Yu Gang's guidance. Even without estimating high, it would probably cost about that much.

Once Wu Yi University officially began classes, food and lodging would be free for internal students. If he passed the retest, most of his tuition would be waived as well. But it was obvious he could not simply stop spending money after that—he might need even more. So he had to do everything possible to secure a school scholarship.

At the same time, inside Wu Yi University.

Bian Feng, the lecturer who had admitted Chen Chuan, and Yue Hong, another instructor mainly responsible for admissions examinations, were walking together through the university building's corridor.

Yue Hong patted the sheet in his hand and said, "Ten years of expanded enrollment, and the number of students applying has risen every year. We recruited even more students this year. Yangzhi City and the surrounding six counties have reached two thousand people, a number never seen before. Looks like the higher-ups have increased their efforts."

Bian Feng said gravely, "More? Yangzhi City has a population of over six million. Add in the surrounding counties and towns, and even without counting the mountain regions, there are over ten million people. Yet only this few enroll each year, and this is the result after ten years of expanded enrollment."

Yue Hong smiled. "Be content. Back in our day, who hadn't been taught hand-in-hand by an instructor before enrolling? Who hadn't trained since childhood? Many students nowadays can get a chance to enroll after training at a boxing club or training hall for one or two years, or even just half a year. They have no idea how many more opportunities they have than we did."

Bian Feng shook his head. "These students can only get enrolled. It would be good enough if one out of ten could pass the retest."

Yue Hong nodded in agreement. Though both were called Wu University students, those who passed the retest and those who did not were completely different. Only the former were talents the university would truly put effort into cultivating; the latter could only be considered extras.

Ten years of expanded enrollment had not actually brought much change within Wu University. The total number of elite students each year had not fluctuated much. The reason was simple: resources were always limited and could only be allocated, to a limited extent, toward those worthy of cultivation.

The greater reason was that most resources had been taken by students with power and influence, leaving only a tiny portion to be divided among ordinary students. Though the upper levels of the Head Institute had recognized this problem in recent years and were trying their best to make adjustments, the results had been limited.

He said with some emotion, "How could anyone be willing to spit out meat that has already reached their mouth?"

As they spoke, the two arrived outside the office of the university's admissions preparation supervisor. Before they had even approached, they heard a robust voice from within.

"I'm saying, is there even any point to the scholarships the university has established? Every year, the people receiving them are all students put forward by those with power and influence. After graduation, they all go serve the powerful and noble. What was supposed to be an opportunity for ordinary students ends up being seized by them. What is the point of expanded enrollment, then? After all this fuss, the strong only grow stronger and the weak grow weaker. It's even worse than ten years ago. I think we could cut it entirely. Even if we don't cut it, we can reduce it!"

Bian Feng and Yue Hong both had sharp hearing. Even through a wall, in the quiet corridor, they could clearly hear the voice coming through the receiver across from them. "We still have to give them some hope. Ordinary students may not be able to compete with students who have power and influence, but there will always be outstanding ones who emerge. Even if only one or two emerge, that is still good. It proves our approach is effective. If the scholarships are canceled, there won't even be any hope left."

"You're a member of the School Board of Directors, so you have the final say in this regard. But if this year turns out the same as before, find someone else for this sort of thing next time."

With a click, the receiver was set down. Then the voice said, "What are you two waiting outside for? Here to watch me make a fool of myself? Come in."

Bian Feng and Yue Hong hurriedly pushed open the door and entered. A middle-aged man in his fifties sat in the office. He had thick hair, heavy brows, large eyes, and a massive build. His expression was stern, and he wore a dark black imported formal suit, with every cuff and collar button fastened with meticulous precision. He looked like an exceedingly serious man.

Sitting there, he occupied nearly half the room. His two feet beneath the desk were planted on the ground like stone pillars, making the chair beneath him almost impossible to see. Bian Feng and Yue Hong both bowed slightly. "Gao Shi."

Gao Shi said, "Has the list of students responsible for the assessments been drafted?"

Yue Hong said, "It has. I brought it with me." As he spoke, he handed over the list. "Please review it, Gao Shi."

Gao Shi waved a hand. "Don't show it to me. Send it to the School Board of Directors. At least half of it will be deleted, and the committee will definitely force their favored students into it."

Bian Feng raised his head. "Then at least half will still remain."

"Will that be of any use?"

Gao Shi shook his head. "There are so many people this year because the higher-ups put pressure on us. But the greater the pressure, the stronger the backlash. There was already a pile of troublesome matters, and now this happens too. What are we even struggling for... Forget it." Halfway through, he seemed to change his mind. He snatched the list from Yue Hong's hand and frowned. "Let's take a look. We should do what we can, even if it doesn't amount to much."