Hongzhi Class, Summer Job

Dongxia, Hengzhou New Star, Tai'an Metropolitan Area.

The Silver Horse Gym, located in the heart of the commercial street, had a brown and yellow plush bear squeeze through the entrance. It waddled unsteadily to the air conditioning vent and began to critique the muscular men in the equipment area:

"Newbies are all like this, getting exhausted after just a few sets."

"Brother Kun just finished his punch force test, with a final score of 275kg.

May I ask, young hero, how many punches could your physique withstand?"

Qin Shi, standing at the front desk, smiled and handed over a bottle of mineral water.

In the sweltering summer heat, wearing a heavy plush bear costume to hand out flyers was truly hard work.

"So what? If we actually fought, he'd be on his knees in one punch, begging me not to kill him!"

The teenager who took off the bear head had slightly dark skin and was drenched in sweat, greedily enjoying the cool air:

"Old Qin, be honest, did you bribe Old Xu? We're both working summer jobs, why are you here enjoying the air conditioning while I'm out on the street in over thirty-degree heat, trying to attract customers!"

The teenager was named "Zhou Ning," Qin Shi's classmate, neighbor, and childhood friend.

They were both third-year students at New High School, working part-time jobs during their summer break.

"Old Xu is blinded by money, and I'm penniless. How could I possibly bribe him?"

Qin Shi's tone was calm:

"He just said I have the business acumen to work the front desk, and that I'm quite outstanding."

Zhou Ning was confused:

"What's the difference between working the front desk, signing people up for memberships, and me going out to hand out flyers? Anyone can do that..."

Before he could finish speaking, his eyes suddenly became sharp, like radar activating!

With a reaction time of less than a tenth of a second, he precisely locked onto the entrance, firmly focusing on a beautiful older sister wearing a pink sports tank top and tight yoga pants.

Her posture was graceful as she stepped inside, completely ignoring the attention-grabbing plush bear that was Zhou Ning. She smiled at Qin Shi:

"Little Brother Qin, is Coach Luo here today?"

Qin Shi quickly put on a shy smile:

"Coach Luo usually doesn't come until after three. Miss Lin, as a distinguished VIP member of our gym, you're welcome to rest in the VIP lounge. If you need coffee, light snacks, or pastries, just let us know."

The beautiful older sister leaned forward slightly, placing her hands on the counter:

"The VIP lounge is empty and a bit boring. Can Little Brother Qin keep me company?"

Qin Shi remained shy:

"Gym policy states that employees are not allowed to leave their posts without authorization during working hours."

The beautiful older sister's eyes curved into crescents as she deliberately asked:

"Does that mean you can chat with me after work?"

Qin Shi lowered his head awkwardly, appearing flustered.

This demeanor, combined with his delicate and scholarly young face, made him even more appealing to the beautiful older sister:

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. Big sister is in a good mood. Help me renew my membership for another year later."

This brief interlude came and went as quickly as it arrived.

After watching the curvaceous, beautiful older sister enter the VIP lounge, Qin Shi silently dropped his professional smile.

Zhou Ning, who had been acting as a transparent background prop nearby, was green with envy, gritting his teeth:

"Old Qin! You're selling your looks for a front desk summer job? No principles!"

Qin Shi shrugged helplessly:

"I've got to eat. Manager Wang promised me a commission for every quality customer I sign up.

You just have to wear that hot, heavy mascot costume to hand out flyers, but I have to consider a lot more things as a receptionist, like workplace harassment."

Zhou Ning was both envious and contemptuous:

"Then let's switch!"

Qin Shi shook his head:

"This job is too complicated. I'm afraid you can't handle it, Classmate Xiao Zhou."

The two chatted and laughed, slacking off as much as possible, and finally managed to make it to lunchtime.

"Synthetic food again. I'm so sick of eating this at school."

Upon receiving his work meal and opening it, Zhou Ning's face fell.

"There's nothing wrong with synthetic food. It's cheap, plentiful, filling, and provides the nutrients the human body needs. Be content.

It's still better than the pre-packaged meals and gutter oil from the Old Era."

Qin Shi buried his head in his rice, savoring the monotonous taste of the synthetic beef through careful chewing.

To be honest, the nutritional value of synthetic food wasn't bad, it was just the taste that was rather bland.

It felt like eating instant noodles in my past life; one pack wasn't enough, and two was too much.

The only side effect of eating it long-term is that I feel like throwing up every time I smell it.

"No matter how healthy it is, you can't eat it every day! I really miss the hole-in-the-wall restaurants on Old Factory Street..."

Zhou Ning muttered softly.

[Energy Replenished for the 17,535th time]

[Growth +1]

"Besides reminding me how many times I've eaten and my step count, it's useless.

With such basic functions, it's not even as good as a smart bracelet that costs nine dollars and ninety cents with free shipping on Pinduoduo..."

Qin Shi was used to ignoring the glowing square characters that suddenly appeared in his vision.

Did this kind of thing even dare to call itself a transmigration system?

It should at least have a feature to add points to get stronger or a one-click auto-battle!

"By the way, Qin Shi, are you still going to the Youth Palace later?"

Zhou Ning complained, but he didn't waste a bite, finishing everything.

"Yeah. I can earn twelve hundred here for a month's work, and at the Youth Palace, I go once a week and get paid three hundred daily. That's pretty good."

Qin Shi devoured his lunch like a whirlwind, then stood up and threw the empty fast-food container into the trash can.

"What's the point? Just tell me, how much do the martial arts classes at the Youth Palace, where you work part-time, cost for ten sessions?"

Zhou Ning said dejectedly.

"Each class is two hours, and I think they charge five hundred."

Qin Shi thought seriously.

"See, we work hard all summer vacation, and we still can't afford the registration fee for the martial arts class."

Zhou Ning had already taken off his hot and stuffy mascot costume and was looking intently at the beautifully printed flyer in his hand:

"Besides, the martial arts classes at the Youth Palace only teach basic moves and don't really help develop life force.

It's not as good as the gym where we work. At least the top coaches here are skilled.

I heard someone say that Coach Luo's life force has developed to nineteen points, close to the twenty-point mark."

Qin Shi glanced at him:

"The gym's fees are also expensive. Coach Luo charges you three thousand yuan for a two-hour class."

Zhou Ning bared his teeth, seemingly pained:

"Expensive things have their reasons!"

Qin Shi sensed his best friend's eagerness:

"Are you planning to buy classes? Have you mentioned it to your dad?"

Silver Horse Gym was second to none in the Tai'an Metropolitan Area, with a concentration of top coaches, each with a life force development level of fifteen points or higher.

Furthermore, being able to secure a prime location on the commercial street was a testament to their strength.

At the very least, there was no need to worry about the boss running off with the money.

Looking around the bright and spacious first-floor lobby, Zhou Ning scratched his head:

"I do have that idea. The last time I met Coach Luo, he said my physique was decent, and if I trained hard, I might increase my life force by one to two points. If I work even harder, I might even pass the qualification exam!"

Qin Shi's eyelids twitched.

According to the regulations of the Dongxia Martial Arts Association, life force was divided into nine ranks, from low to high.

These were further divided into [Amateur] and [Professional] levels.

Each advancement in rank represented a corresponding improvement in life force development.

Then, after an assessment by the Martial Arts Association, one would receive a certificate.

If one reached the professional ninth rank, they would be awarded the title of "Martial Artist."

Becoming a member of the Martial Arts Association was equivalent to having semi-official status.

"Coach Luo told you that? I remember the school teachers saying that ordinary people have a base life force between 3-7 points, and the passing line for amateur ninth rank is 9-12 points.

During the physical test before, I had 8 points, and you had 7.5 points. It won't be easy to improve in a month and a half."

For high school seniors like Qin Shi and Zhou Ning, the life force development qualification exam was of utmost importance.

In the Great Cosmic Era, the college entrance examination placed great emphasis on life force, which measured physical potential.

All professional positions considered this aspect.

Especially for top institutions like the four national universities, which shone like brilliant pearls, this had long been a prerequisite for admission.

Individuals unable to improve their life force were essentially eliminated from society early on.

"I'll give it a try. Only first-class universities might offer life force development courses. The training methods taught in our senior year are too slow."

Zhou Ning was fully aware of the difficulty involved, his face filled with helplessness.

"Students like Xu Mo and Zhao Yunzhu from the elite classes have good family backgrounds, can afford private coaches, and go to high-end places like training centers on weekends for specialized guidance.

As for us 'Hongzhi Class' students who are extremely poor, if we don't think of a way, once the college entrance exam is over, we'll just end up working like beasts of burden in a factory."

Qin Shi nodded, Zhou Ning's words were not without reason.

Reality was often cruel, and the subtle line separating different social classes didn't just appear after entering society.

It accompanied them from birth.

For example, the Hongzhi Class that Qin Shi and Zhou Ning attended was a Dongxia aid program.

The education commission stipulated that every school must enroll a batch of students with above-average grades and poor family backgrounds, exempting them from tuition fees to complete their compulsory education.

They were born in the old urban areas outside the metropolitan area and attended children's schools for workers since they were young.

For a strong school like New High School No. 1, which ranked in the top three in the Tai'an Metropolitan Area, the tuition fees for three years would be enough to drain their family's savings without an aid program like the Hongzhi Class.

"Will your family agree?"

Qin Shi was a little surprised, not expecting that Zhou Ning, who usually seemed carefree, would also think about his future.

"My dad talked to me after my last exam didn't go well. With my grades, getting into Hengda University or Keda University is basically impossible.

The score lines for these top universities are all above seven or eight hundred. My usual basic score isn't high, and my exam scores are even worse. The cumulative total will definitely not break five hundred.

Unless I reach Amateur Rank 7 in one go, it's possible to get in with bonus points."

Zhou Ning sighed.

"I level up in games as easily as drinking water. I'd be grateful if I just performed normally on the exam.

As a second option, my dad is considering a way out: letting me attend a better vocational school and choose a major with good job prospects."

Qin Shi understood instantly.

"You're planning to take the martial arts track? Aiming for Amateur Rank 9, plus the basic score for cultural subjects, the score for vocational martial arts majors should be enough..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

The teaching staff at vocational schools was far inferior to that of top institutions like Hengda University and Keda University.

Even with extreme diligence, it would be difficult to break through the Amateur Rank 5 threshold in four years of university.

The job options during the subsequent internship period were not broad.

They would likely be limited to roles like community security guards, construction workers, auxiliary police, or urban management officers.

"Don't worry, my dad is a department-level official, and my mom is a ministry-level official. With their connections, getting a section-level cadre position at Old Man Nie's factory will be more than enough..."

Zhou Ning's mindset was optimistic.

His dad ran a billiard hall in the Old Factory Street area of Dangyang District.

His mom managed a convenience store.

As for the so-called "section-level," it was probably a security section.

"Okay, remember to save me a spot as a doorman."

Qin Shi smiled.

"No problem, no problem, Old Qin, I'll definitely save you a spot at the gate.

But what are you thinking? No matter how heavy your family's burden is, we can't drop out of school!

Even if we become space laborers building infrastructure, they have requirements for life force development!"

Zhou Ning looked at him with concern.

Compared to himself, his best friend Qin Shi's grades were slightly better. His basic score and regular exam performance were not bad, placing him in the middle tier of the class.

With a bit of effort, there was a high chance he could break the 600-point mark.

As long as he completed the rank promotion exam, getting into a second or third-tier university would be a sure thing.

The only thing to worry about was Qin Shi's extremely poor family background, which might not be able to afford it.

The cost of living in the Tai'an Metropolitan Area was outrageously high for children from the old urban areas.

"I haven't thought that far ahead yet. When the car reaches the mountain, there will be a road. At worst, I'll enlist and join the Great Pioneer Movement that has been ongoing for the sixth millennium."

Qin Shi's gaze drifted, settling on a black border that others couldn't see.

It was like a semi-transparent wall, stubbornly present before his eyes, occasionally displaying some seemingly meaningless text information.

[Anchor: Qin Shi] [Growth Stage: To be Unlocked] [Progress: 99%] [Monuments: None]

This black border, visible only to Qin Shi, seemed imprinted on his retina.

No matter how he shifted his gaze, it always remained.

On the other side of the panel was a pixelated, gray, egg-shaped object.

A crimson aura pulsed within it, like a kettle about to overflow.

It was misty, as if nurturing some form of life.

This thing had accompanied Qin Shi through his second rebirth.

And all he knew was that its name was [Monument].

"I wonder what will happen if the progress bar is full..."

As Qin Shi pondered, Zhou Ning continued to chatter:

"Being a soldier isn't that easy. If your vitality isn't up to par, you can't get into military school!..."

Although Dongxia had endured for a full six millennia, with the Great Pioneer Movement aimed at expanding territory and establishing more human settlements nearing its successful conclusion.

This did not mean that an era of peace, where weapons were sheathed and horses were stabled, would arrive in the blink of an eye.

Qin Shi could tell this just from his daily news consumption.

Heading to remote administrative planets to be a tiny, fragile cog often meant his personal safety was completely unprotected.

"My sister drives a big rig. She earns her money the hard way. Whether it's a second or third-tier university or a technical college, the tuition fees aren't low.

She's supporting me and my sister all by herself, it's too tiring for her."

It had been a long time since he had stumbled into this new life through transmigration, and Qin Shi had long since grown accustomed to it.

However, every time he thought about this starting situation, he couldn't help but feel indignant.

"A gambling father, a deceased mother, a sister who dropped out of school, a young sister, and a broken me... It's only slightly better than starting with a hellish difficulty where you're born in a school toilet and your parents are a gold digger and a mentally unstable girl."

Qin Shi couldn't help but chuckle, but he wasn't discouraged.

Compared to his previous life, where he was tricked by distant relatives into a factory and almost had his kidney removed, eventually being forced to live a harsh life on the frontier.

This current life wasn't that bad.

He looked up at the television in the gym lobby, where hot news items were being broadcast one after another.

"Warm congratulations to Legend of the Martial God: Qilin for breaking 10 billion at the box office on its opening day, surpassing the previous record set by Tan Lang! Watch as a humble youth conquers the galaxy!"

"The joint entrance examination for five universities is in full swing! All citizens aged eighteen and above who have received compulsory education in Dongxia can participate in the preliminary test!"

"The champion of the 83rd Stellar Cup, Yu Li, the youngest professional ninth-dan Martial Artist in history, will attend the Tai'an Cultural Tourism Opening Ceremony as a special guest on September 3rd!"

"Men with ambition march to the battlefield, youth dedicate themselves to the military without regret! All students from various schools are welcome to apply to the Huohuo Ancient Star Military Academy. Admissions consultation is as follows..."

Zhou Ning rested his chin on his hands, his tone full of envy:

"Old Qin, look at that. A Martial Artist who reached professional level before twenty, directly recruited by 'North China Imperial Capital,' one of the four national universities.

Why is the gap so big between people?"

Qin Shi smiled:

"Reincarnation is a skill, Classmate Xiao Zhou.

Don't get me wrong, the starting points of Old Factory Street and the Imperial Capital are separated by 108,000 light-years."

Zhou Ning sighed:

"If my dad had ventured out and participated in the New Star development, gotten residency in the Tai'an Metropolitan Area, I wouldn't have to struggle so much!"

Hengzhou, where they were located, was the thirty-fourth administrative district designated by Dongxia.

Its full name was Hengzhou New Star.

The Tai'an Metropolitan Area, as the primary port city of Hengzhou New Star, had developed rapidly due to its geographical advantages.

Especially in recent years, with the vigorous momentum of free trade, countless new elites had emerged like mushrooms after rain.

Unfortunately, the Tai'an Metropolitan Area was like a nouveau riche looking down on its poor relatives, too lazy to associate with them.

"Remember the standard answer in the textbooks? The regional advantage lies in the abundant and cheap labor resources, which refers to us."

Qin Shi patted Zhou Ning's shoulder and slowly stood up:

"Who told us that the children of workers were born at the wrong time? The glory of Old Factory Street has passed. If we want to establish ourselves in the Tai'an Metropolitan Area, we can only climb slowly on our own.

It's my time, Classmate Xiao Zhou. I'll leave the responsibility of guarding the front desk to you."