Chen Lin Half the World, Qin Zheng Fill the Streets

Unbelievably rich!

Poverty truly limits my imagination.

Qin Shi never expected that someone would install a vitality detection instrument worth millions in their home for daily use.

It felt like a rich person from a past life keeping sharks in a sea tank or fencing off land to keep elephants.

Qin Shi silently added "Taian Rich Sister" before the label "Damn Woman."

"Teacher Lin, your place is indeed quite large."

Lin Yunqing lived in the relatively quiet Nanjiang District of the Tai'an Metropolitan Area.

The imposing and magnificent Vast Sea Conqueror drove through several wrought-iron gates into the private garage of the detached villa.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Qin Shi's only feeling was the vast, era-spanning chasm in the overall social landscape and wealth disparity of Dongxia.

Traveling from Old Factory Street to Nanjiang District felt like traversing nearly a century of development, which was incredible.

"Children from wealthy families in the metropolitan area can make outrageous demands, asking for a sports car as a birthday gift, while the children of workers in the Eastern Suburbs of Dangyang wouldn't even dare to ask for a pair of sneakers."

Qin Shi felt a mix of emotions. Had the early dividends of the New Star development completely bypassed the lower classes in the old city?

This was hard for him to understand.

It was as incomprehensible as the fact that communication and network access required a significant threshold even in the Great Universe era.

"We're here, Assistant Teacher Qin."

Lin Yunqing parked the car, and Qin Shi followed her into the elevator.

Ding dong.

It went straight to the first floor.

Upon entering and passing through the foyer, Qin Shi's vision suddenly opened up.

The five-meter-high hall was brightly lit and spotlessly clean.

The home decor and design style were rather old-fashioned, primarily featuring bright red and warm yellow.

"This house was bought by my sister-in-law for my parents to live in during their retirement."

Lin Yunqing took off her hat and mask, which she used to hide her swollen eyes.

"But they went to the Imperial Capital to visit old friends and won't be back anytime soon, so they asked me to stay here for a while."

Despite the contrast in her appearance, Lin Yunqing was very polite.

She gestured for Qin Shi to sit down, then brought him a can of soda to soothe his throat and quench his thirst.

"If the damn woman isn't acting crazy, she can definitely be called a lady from a good family."

Qin Shi bit the straw, enjoying the icy coolness, and casually started a conversation:

"Teacher Lin, is your hometown in Hengzhou?"

Lin Yunqing shook her head:

"My parents were teachers, so I often had to move with them, changing schools and places. We've lived in Hengzhou, Yazhou, Haizhou, the Imperial Capital... for periods of time.

My brother followed in our father's footsteps and also entered the teaching profession. He was just transferred to Hengzhou not long ago."

Could a teacher afford to buy such a detached villa?

Qin Shi pondered inwardly, thinking it wasn't impossible.

Unlike in his previous life, the Ministry of Education in Dongxia had a very high status, almost comparable to the Martial Arts Association, which spanned half the galaxy. Both were independent behemoths.

This also led to academic cliques and Martial Arts Association factions being known as the two major barriers that ordinary people had to smash their heads against to get ahead.

Without connections or opportunities, it was difficult to break through the constraints and truly succeed.

Lin Yunqing took a sip of tea and continued, "However, my father is indeed a native of Hengzhou. I remember an old saying in Hengzhou: 'Chen and Lin dominate half the world, Qin and Zheng fill the streets.'

These are major surnames, the prominent families who were the first to participate in the New Star development.

They gradually branched out, took root, and formed the current landscape.

Many people say that behind every grand New Star development are countless family histories, and that's not entirely wrong."

Chen, Lin, Qin, Zheng.

Qin Shi recited them in his mind. Although his surname "Qin" was among them, he was completely unrelated to the famous Yancheng Qin Family.

The great development that had lasted for hundreds of years, with surnames and bloodlines passed down through generations, had blossomed everywhere.

Aside from the so-called "main family," countless collateral branches had proliferated.

It was like people with the surname Liu in his previous life claiming to be descendants of the Han Dynasty, or those named Zhu claiming to be descendants of the Ming Dynasty.

They couldn't be taken too seriously.

"In the Tai'an Metropolitan Area, Chen and Lin are major surnames, while in Yancheng and Zhoucheng, Qin and Zheng are more common."

Lin Yunqing held the warm teacup in both hands:

"When I saw your surname was Qin, I thought Assistant Teacher Qin came from the Yancheng Qin Family. I didn't expect you to be from Old Factory Street.

Old Martial Arts requires less money compared to New Martial Arts, but if you truly want to get started and go far, you still need family wealth or sponsors."

"Sponsors?"

Qin Shi was curious.

"Dongxia has nine ancient stars and twenty-five administrative new stars. Quite a few talented students from humble backgrounds manage to get into the Four Great National Universities, the top institutions.

But the investment in developing vitality is also huge, so the Ministry of Education has launched corresponding student aid programs for various paths like 'Martial Artist,' 'Mechanist,' and 'Psionicist.'"

Lin Yunqing explained.

"For example, Martial Artists are divided into three tiers: Blazing Sun, Brilliant Moon, and Radiant Star.

Each can receive interest-free loans ranging from one million to over one hundred million, as well as non-repayable support funds. These are all allocated from the Ministry of Education's budget and are state-funded."

Qin Shi's eyes lit up, his heart burning with excitement.

As an Old Martial Arts genius certified by Old Liang, he wondered which tier he could reach.

Even if he was just "Radiant Star," he would get millions in interest-free loans and a "growth fund" provided by the Ministry of Education's budget.

That would be enough for him to live comfortably, with freedom in high-energy foods and the ability to gorge himself.

As for assembling a professional team to provide support in medical care, diet, equipment, and other areas, that would be a given.

Sensing Qin Shi's interest, Lin Yunqing, whose Dao heart had been shattered, suddenly perked up.

"I remember Assistant Teacher Qin is also close to taking the college entrance exam. Which school are you planning to apply to?"

Qin Shi thought:

I'd like to go to one of the Four Great National Universities, but they might not accept me.

He carefully chose his words and gave a formal response:

"I don't have a very concrete plan yet. I'll wait for the rank promotion exam at the start of the semester and make plans based on the results."

If, in the coming days, he could break another limit and push his vitality beyond twenty points.

He would then be able to reach the basic score line for Qiguang Hengda University and Jia Kai Keda University.

As for the Four Great National Universities—"Southwest United," "North China Imperial Capital," "Revival Tongwen," and "Yangchen Museum"—which existed only in legends and were seemingly out of reach.

Those were dreams only dared by those who were already halfway to becoming a reserve professional-level Martial Artist.

"I think Qiguang Hengda University is excellent. Their faculty is strong and deep, and their courses related to the Martial Artist path are abundant. Assistant Teacher Qin might want to consider it."

Lin Yunqing blinked her eyes.

Since she had already been brought to her knees and her Dao heart shattered anyway.

She might as well go all out and let those arrogant folks at Qiguang Hengda University experience the same feeling.

To place a genius seedling, meticulously cultivated and tempered by the hidden forces of the Old Martial Arts Faction, into Qiguang Hengda University, where New Martial Arts was prevalent!

The dramatic effect would be immense.

"Hehehehe, to be trampled and crushed by a freshman, to witness their gritted teeth and humiliated expressions! Just thinking about it makes me so excited!"

Lin Yunqing couldn't help but chuckle, her elegant demeanor, which hadn't lasted long, completely gone.

That crazy woman is acting up again.

Qin Shi's mouth twitched. It was as if Qiguang Hengda University, the top higher education institution in Hengzhou, was her family's.

How could he just get in whenever he wanted?

"Teacher Lin, may I borrow your vitality detection instrument?"

After finishing a bottle of soda, Qin Shi got straight to the point.

"Oh, oh. Okay, I'll take you to the basement right away."

Lin Yunqing's eyes darted around as she began to ponder how to lure Assistant Teacher Qin to Qiguang Hengda University.

Being defeated by a genius young boy from the Old Martial Arts Faction in the main camp of New Martial Arts... how would those old men in the Professor Committee face anyone?