Little Qin Assistant Teacher, You Smell So Good

[Overgrowth: The evolution of an embryo requires the extraction of every bit of nutrition and energy. As a hungry baby, your most important task is to eat voraciously and forage wildly!]

[Trait: Extremely sensitive to substances rich in high nutrition and high energy, gaining superior absorption and digestion capabilities compared to other creatures of the same species.]

[Advancement Path: Complete ten high-quality meals or twenty efficient foraging sessions to unlock corresponding skills.]

"Foraging... that word sounds strange, a bit like eating people."

Qin Shi's gaze swept over the newly activated achievement, not quite grasping its specific effects.

He was still immersed in the surprise and satisfaction of his body suddenly leaping forward a tier.

This kind of improvement was so clear, like in the difficult games he'd played in his past life, enduring hardship and torment in the early stages, all for the exhilarating release of finally clearing the game!

The intense pain brought by the Golden Elixir had repeatedly tormented his body, like undergoing torture.

But if he could endure it, the benefits were immense.

The boost Burning Sinews gave Qin Shi wasn't just the physical strengthening of his limbs, making his movements faster, more agile, and more flexible.

His physical stamina had more than doubled, not to mention the growth of that warm current of energy. It had transformed from wisps of thread to a thick, tenacious rope the size of his thumb.

Furthermore, he no longer needed to deliberately stand and stimulate his muscles and bones to grasp and control it.

It was as if it were branded into his flesh and blood, flowing through his veins.

Innate, effortless, and natural!

"It's almost like the legendary shedding of one's mortal coil. If it were me before I started practicing Old Martial Arts, seven or eight of them combined wouldn't be enough for me to handle with one hand right now."

Qin Shi savored this moment. Effort yielding reward was the ultimate feedback in the game of life.

Just as trickles converge into rivers and small grains pile up into mountains, continuous accumulation and gradual progress were always the source of happiness.

Yan Shuang, being understanding, didn't speak to disturb him, standing silently beside him for several minutes.

"Brother Shuang, where's Teacher Liang?"

Fortunately, Qin Shi didn't revel in his newfound strength for too long and finally remembered his master.

"Teacher Liang rarely stays out overnight. After applying the Golden Elixir and confirming you were fine, he handed you over to me and went straight home.

He also said that once you woke up, you should rest well and go to class the next day. Your body needs time to adapt, so don't do any more high-intensity training."

Yan Shuang relayed the message word for word.

"Old Liang really underestimates my legendary, durable, invincible physique."

Qin Shi felt that as long as he wasn't physically harmed, he could recover most bodily damage through [Deep Sleep].

It was like a continuous healing buff!

"The effects of the intermediate achievement are already this powerful. If I reach advanced, I'll practically take off!"

After finishing his ablutions with disposable toiletries in the room, Qin Shi decided to head home. Staying out overnight without informing them went against the traditions of the Old Qin family.

He was mainly worried that his youngest sibling, Qin Lan, would worry too much and cause trouble.

"Teacher Liang already spoke to your sister."

Yan Shuang said, leaning against the window.

He always seemed to be able to keenly sense others' emotions and thoughts.

"The older the ginger, the spicier it is. Teacher Liang really thought of everything."

Qin Shi breathed a sigh of relief.

He just hoped Old Liang wouldn't reveal that he had stayed overnight at Jinse Impression. Otherwise, his youngest sibling might genuinely believe he had "gone astray," and one day, she might team up with their eldest sister for an interrogation.

"Brother Shuang, did you also take Teacher Liang's tutoring classes?"

Qin Shi asked casually as he dried his face with a towel.

From Yan Shuang's natural tone when mentioning the Golden Elixir and his familiar relationship with Old Liang, it was easy to deduce that this No. 69 male technician at Jinse Impression had likely also come into contact with Old Martial Arts, or had some understanding of Life Force Development.

"Teacher Liang wouldn't bother with someone like me. He only accepts promising talents like you, Young Master Qin. My foundation is poor, and my physique is weak. If I were to train with him, I wouldn't even get past the Muscle Twisting stage."

Yan Shuang smiled faintly, possessing a gentle demeanor.

Yikes, Brother Shuang is indeed handsome!

Qin Shi inexplicably shivered and quickly shook his head, dismissing the sudden thought.

He must have been practicing too diligently, otherwise, why would he find men so good-looking?

He shifted his gaze:

"Judging by your accent, Brother Shuang, you're not from Old Factory Street?"

Yan Shuang nodded gently:

"My hometown is in Yancheng, not far from Taian. My father lost money in business, so we moved the whole family to Old Factory Street. My mother and I live in the Northern Suburbs. I come here to work every Saturday afternoon and go back to take care of her later."

Qin Shi scratched his head. The famous Qingshan Mental Hospital seemed to be located there.

He was quite curious about Yan Shuang's level of Life Force Development and wanted to ask, but his memory was suddenly jolted by the word "work."

"Damn it! The assistant teacher job at the Youth Palace! Brother Shuang, I troubled you last night. I'll call you next time I need help, as a token of my gratitude!"

Qin Shi rushed out of the door and sprinted towards the bus stop.

It was hard enough to find a part-time job where he could eat at the cafeteria, he couldn't lose it so easily.

Yan Shuang smiled faintly, his gentle gaze passing through the gauze screen, watching Qin Shi, who was speeding as if his house was on fire.

"Old Martial Arts breaking through limits, New Martial Arts imitating it. To endure the pain of Burning Sinews at such a young age, Teacher Liang has truly found a treasure."

"Old Xu, you know me. I've worked summer jobs for so many years, I've never been absent without cause."

In the phone booth, Qin Shi said earnestly:

"Didn't I sign up for a cram school? The teacher held me up, it was purely an accident. Talk to the Youth Palace for me, don't count it as absence, count it as leave.

Absence deducts a full day's pay, and I'll miss the full attendance bonus of less than two hundred yuan. Leave only deducts half a day, which is a huge difference!"

Qin Shi's eloquent argument for twenty minutes finally made Old Xu on the other end of the line retreat, and he managed to keep his job and his meager full attendance bonus.

After hanging up the receiver, he secretly grumbled in his heart:

"How did Dongxia develop its technology tree? They're already undertaking massive space exploration, yet civilian life has barely changed.

Would selling phones and building cars here be more promising than being a Martial Artist!"

Even after transmigrating for a long time, Qin Shi couldn't fully adapt to Dongxia's social conditions.

If the fact that they still used manual labor in the Great Universe Era and couldn't popularize mechanical production on a large scale could be vaguely attributed to Dongxia's overpopulation and cheaper labor resources.

But the vast difference between the social landscapes of Old Factory Street and the urban areas seemed more like intentional control.

"Especially in areas like the internet and communication, the restrictions are strict. It's outrageous that Old Factory Street doesn't even have internet cafes. I still need to scan my ID card to go online for classes at New No. 1 Middle School... I'm thinking, developing a mobile payment app can't be that difficult."

Qin Shi muttered to himself:

"Is it because of the existence of extraordinary paths like Mechanists and Psionicists? Or is it a deliberate blockade?"

He boarded the No. 145 bus. After a bumpy ride, he entered the urban area from Old Factory Street, and rows of tall buildings came into view.

By the time Qin Shi arrived at the Youth Palace in the city center, it was already noon, and the scorching sun beat down equally on everyone.

He stepped into the building, walking in the shade, and Brother Zhang, who was also a temporary worker without a formal position, quickly said:

"Xiao Qin, why didn't you come to work yesterday? The newly appointed Teacher Lin waited for you for quite a while."

The new teacher's surname was Lin?

Qin Shi put on a shy, professional smile:

"There was a small family matter. I forgot to tell Old Xu to contact you here, I'm really sorry, Brother Zhang."

Brother Zhang wore glasses and had a refined appearance. He smiled and said:

"Ah, everyone has their difficulties. If there's a reason, we won't blame you. I covered your shift yesterday, so it won't count as absence."

Qin Shi was quite touched. How come he never noticed Brother Zhang was so loyal before?

He was usually the one slacking off the most during cleaning.

"Brother Zhang, where is the new teacher? I'll go apologize too. It's the first day of her appointment, and I, the assistant teacher, didn't come to work. I'm so sorry."

Qin Shi inquired.

"Xiao Qin, let's discuss this. This assistant teacher job, you're still young and might not be able to handle it. Why don't you give the opportunity to me?"

Brother Zhang pulled Qin Shi aside, as if afraid of being overheard:

"Brother knows your family is having a hard time. How about this, I won't take any of the assistant teacher's salary or the cafeteria meal subsidy, I'll give it all to you."

Then what are you after? Doing charity?

Qin Shi was a bit confused. How did Brother Zhang become so righteous and benevolent in such a short time?

His confusion was quickly answered as a crisp "tap-tap-tap" sound came from behind him, the rhythmic clicking of flat-soled shoes on the ground.

His gaze moved up: a black straight skirt, a white fitted shirt, and a small suit jacket draped over it.

Long hair tied up, rimless glasses, tall stature, and a delicate face.

Well!

Qin Shi suddenly realized, so the Youth Palace had a new female teacher!

"Xiao Qin, I've never asked anyone for anything in my life, but this time, I really like..."

Brother Zhang rambled on, wishing he could kneel before Qin Shi.

In fact, the person in charge of the Youth Palace had asked for his opinion before.

But he felt that being an assistant teacher was too much work for too little pay, so he readily refused.

Who would have expected the new teacher to be so stunningly beautiful, like a dazzling big star from Central City.

"Brother Zhang, whether I'm an assistant teacher or not, I don't really care. New No. 1 Middle School doesn't allow students to date early anyway. But..."

Before the three words "add more money" could leave Qin Shi's lips, the female teacher was already walking toward them.

"You must be Assistant Qin. My name is Lin Yunqing, and I'm the new teacher for the Youth Palace Martial Arts Class. I'll be counting on you to help share my workload from now on."

Teacher Lin, who had a mature aura and an ethereal voice, gently sized up the young man who looked like a boy next door.

Before Qin Shi could reply, her eyes curved slightly, and she said with a smile, "Assistant Qin, you smell so good."