Ever since her husband had passed away, her daughter, who had been only eight at the time, had become especially mature and considerate.
She also worked exceptionally hard at her studies. Her daughter would always comfort her, saying she would study hard and buy her mother a big house and new clothes in the future.
When other children bought new clothes for the New Year, her daughter would always say her own clothes were still wearable and refuse to buy new ones no matter what. When her clothes truly became unwearable, she would put on clothes that had come from who knew where.
Her daughter always said she had bought those clothes herself with money earned from collecting and selling scrap. But looking at those ill-fitting clothes that were far from new, she knew they were castoffs from her classmates.
She had no idea how much ridicule her daughter had endured at school or how many grievances she had suffered, but she was powerless. Even doing everything she could, she could only scrape together her children's tuition fees, and this time, she could not even scrape together her daughter's university expenses.
Her daughter's grades had always been very good. The last time she came home, she had even said her goal was to get into a 985 university, though her mother did not know what a 985 university was.
There was nearly a month left before her daughter's college entrance exam. Being unable to scrape together her tuition left her unable to sit or stand at ease. She had considered asking the family for help, but she also knew that none of them had it easy.
University tuition was nothing like that of elementary school, middle school, or even the county high school. Universities were all in big cities, and monthly living expenses alone would cost at least 1,000 yuan.
She had also considered asking her own side of the family for help, but in more than ten years, she had done nothing to repay her parents. They were old now, too. How could she have the face to ask them for help?
The reason she had asked so urgently about the rewards was that she wanted to see whether this family education fund's rewards could allow her daughter to attend university without trouble.
Although Li Rui had heard that this younger cousin of his was very good at her studies, he had not expected her to be confident about getting into a university like a 985. Given her personality, she would never have told her mother that without complete confidence.
"Seventh Aunt, as long as my cousin Xiao Ru gets into a 985 university, she'll absolutely be bringing honor to the family. The family's scholarship reward will be at least..." Li Rui paused here. Looking at everyone's curious expressions, he chuckled inwardly, then held up one finger.
Everyone exchanged looks as they stared at the finger Li Rui had raised.
Then someone asked uncertainly, "One hundred thousand?"
Li Rui shook his head.
"One million?" The speaker's mouth fell open.
Li Rui still shook his head.
"Don't tell me it's ten million?"
"Ten million? Is it too late for me to go back to school?"
"You, go back to school? With that pig brain of yours, you'd still score a big fat zero if you studied all over again. Why don't you take a look at whether you're cut out for studying?"
"Just find yourself a wife and have a child. If you don't give me a grandchild to hold by next year, I'll break your damn legs!" The speaker was none other than Li Yongde. Pressuring his son to marry anytime and anywhere had already become part of his daily routine. After speaking, he planted another kick on Li Weiguang's backside.
Looking at the somewhat disorderly crowd, Li Rui pressed his hands down again and said loudly, "That's right. Any member of our family who gets into a 985 university will receive ten million. Anyone who gets into a 211 university will receive five million."
"Anyone who gets into Huaqing or Jing University will receive fifteen million. Anyone who gets into the Dragon Country National University of Defense Technology will receive twenty million!" By the end, Li Rui's voice had risen steadily. Defending the homeland and building the country deserved the highest reward.
Hearing such high rewards, everyone beat their chests and stamped their feet. If the family had offered such high rewards when they were in school, would they still have gone digging for loaches and raiding nests for birds' eggs? One after another, they lamented that all that had stood between them and becoming the provincial top scorer was a little prize money.
Then they remembered that although they were past school age, didn't they still have their little brats? Their eyes shone as they looked at their own children, as though they were looking at bundles of cash.
Although no one spoke, even the five-year-olds could understand the meaning in their eyes. They seemed to be saying, If you don't study hard and earn those rewards, I'll delete the account and start over.
At that moment, apart from Seventh Aunt, the happiest people present were Eighth Uncle and Eighth Aunt. Their son, Li Tai, attended the same high school as Li Ru and was also in his final year. Although his grades were not as good as Li Ru's, they were not bad either. In other words, their son also had a chance of receiving a family education scholarship worth five million or even ten million.
A deep sense of pride welled up in everyone's hearts. They felt fortunate to belong to the family, and their hearts were united as never before.
At that moment, Li Rui also received the system's first reward.
"Ding! An increase in the host's family cohesion has been detected. The system reward, Advanced Fighting Technique, has been issued. Host, please integrate it promptly." Just as Li Rui watched everyone getting excited over the education scholarships, the system notification sounded in his mind.
Advanced Fighting Technique? The very first reward is actually a skill. If only it were some technology. I've already bought the land. I'm just waiting for technology from the system so I can start construction.
Still, a fighting technique isn't bad either. What boy hasn't had a martial arts dream? As a child, I always imagined becoming a kung fu hero, cutting down the powerful to support the weak and rooting out violence to bring peace to the innocent. Now I have a chance to make that happen. That's not bad.
"System, how powerful is Advanced Fighting Technique?" Li Rui asked eagerly in his mind.
"Host, Advanced Fighting Technique corresponds to the combat skills of a senior bodyguard. It allows you to fight thirty ordinary adult men barehanded."
Hearing that he would soon possess the fighting skills to take on thirty adult men barehanded, the corners of Li Rui's mouth lifted slightly. Today was the day his dream of becoming a martial arts hero would come true.
System, does integrating Advanced Fighting Technique mean I'll also be a senior bodyguard?
"Host, a qualified senior bodyguard possesses more than barehanded combat skills. They also need weapon skills and must be proficient in using various weapons, including firearms; crisis awareness, to quickly identify places that could threaten the safety of the person under their protection; and intelligence-gathering skills." "They also need language skills. Senior bodyguards must learn three to four languages so they can communicate with clients from different countries. Therefore, host, you are still a long way from being a truly qualified senior bodyguard."
Hearing the system's explanation, Li Rui felt rather moved. He had never expected Li Yi through Li Si, those big lugs he had thought of as dim-witted, to be so much more capable than he had imagined.
Each of them knows three to four languages. Doesn't that make me look like the idiot in comparison? At that thought, Li Rui shook his head and chuckled. But however capable they are, aren't they all my subordinates? Doesn't their being capable mean I'm capable?
With that thought, he stopped dwelling on it and said to the system in his mind, Integrate Advanced Fighting Technique.
"Ding! Advanced Fighting Technique has been integrated for the host."
The instant the system finished speaking, Li Rui felt a warm current flow throughout his body. The tingling sensation was indescribably comfortable, as though a beautiful woman's hands were massaging him. If there had not been so many elders present, he would have been unable to keep himself from moaning aloud.
Li Rui knew the system was remodeling his body. Even with Advanced Fighting Technique, he would not be able to put it to use without the physical conditioning to match.
Sure enough, after the tingling lasted for several dozen seconds, Li Rui felt his entire body brimming with strength. He had the illusion that he could kill an ox with a single punch.
Feeling his previously soft, slightly flabby abdomen tighten, Li Rui reached down and touched it. The blocks of muscle, like squares of chocolate, filled him with delight. Eight-pack abs! Something so many people dream of, and I've obtained them this easily. Thank you, Big Brother System.
Just as Li Rui was rejoicing, an unfamiliar set of memories appeared in his mind. All sorts of combat techniques flooded in. Knowledge of wrestling, boxing, sanda, military boxing, the human body's vulnerable points, its lethal points, and more surfaced one after another. It was as though Li Rui had spent decades studying this knowledge. Every technique was immediately at his fingertips.
A delighted smile spread across Li Rui's face, impossible to suppress any longer. His kung fu dream had finally come true.
Just as Li Rui was about to adjourn the family meeting and go find Li Yi and the others to test his Advanced Fighting Technique-
Eighth Aunt's phone rang. She answered it, her expression anxious at first, then shouted into the phone, "Teacher, have you made a mistake? Our Li Tai is such a good boy. He's never been in a fight in his life. How could he have injured someone?"