Chapter 3

My family was poor, I entered the Wu Tang, and began to learn martial arts.

The other students all ate meat, only I did not eat it.

Zhang Tao laughed at me and said: "Stingy."

I smiled and let it go.

After five months, I feared my strength was insufficient and I would be eliminated.

I gritted my teeth and bought it; the deliciousness of the taste and the bitterness in my heart were not things to be told to outsiders.

……

……

Eating his first proper bite of beef in the Wu Tang, Lin Chen couldn't describe the taste; at this moment, his emotions overwhelmed his taste buds.

Even though he had lived two lifetimes and had become indifferent to vanity and dignity, how could he completely let it go?

In the future, he must write an essay about his studies. A few hundred years later, when future language teachers set reading comprehension questions: In the article, the author says he forgot about being mocked by classmates, so why did he write the name Zhang Tao earlier?

What kind of mood does the appearance of the name Zhang Tao reflect in the author?

……

……

The first day of eating beef, early morning.

Lin Chen checked his panel the first thing after waking up.

【Name: Lin Chen】

【Profession: Martial Practitioner】

【Qi and Blood: 812/3000】

【Fate: 【Everything Falls into Place】: First Stage of the Martial Way, persistent and constant, step-by-step progression, unstoppable momentum, no bottleneck constraints.】

10 points!

Seeing that his Qi and Blood had increased by 10 points in one day, Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat.

This value of Qi and Blood growth was much higher than he had estimated.

"Is it because it's my first day eating it, so the absorption effect is better, and it will weaken later?"

Lin Chen took out the booklet with Arabic numerals written on it and recorded today's value; whether this was the case, he would know in a few days.

The booklet was densely packed with Arabic numerals, all of which were the data he recorded on the strength growth of students like Gu Fei when they ate meat.

The characters in this world were not much different from the traditional characters of his previous life, but Arabic numerals did not exist, so this booklet, which Gu Fei called a "Heavenly Book," could only be understood by himself.

Over the next few days, Lin Chen bought a pound of beef every day, and the sensation of the first day was gone.

Originally, buying a pound of beef was nothing for a Wu Tang student; it was only because of the contrast caused by Lin Chen's previous stingy image that it caused such a big sensation.

Now that this contrast was gone, naturally no one paid attention.

For five consecutive days, it increased by 10 points of Qi and Blood every day; Lin Chen was now certain it wasn't because he had just started eating beef.

Therefore, his strategy was correct; the more he dragged it out to the end, the less he spent.

……

……

A month's time passed in a flash.

End of the month.

Martial Arts Arena.

The three instructors stood together, with a two-hundred-pound stone block placed in front of them.

The Wu Tang's semi-annual assessment was stipulated by the Wuzheng Office.

Is it cruel?

In Yu Yongnian's view, this was instead a form of protection for the common people by the Wuzheng Office.

The initial stage of learning martial arts is a competition of financial resources; if one cannot reach two hundred pounds of strength in half a year, there is really no need to continue learning with such a family background.

"Students whose names are called, come forward."

Yu Yu Jiaoxi Liu spoke, began calling the students' names, and those called came forward to lift the stone block.

In fact, most students in the Wu Tang had already passed this hurdle last month; adding the three classes together, only about ten students had not reached it last month, and these ten or so students were the key focus.

"Cheng Ying!"

Yu Yu Jiaoxi Liu called the name, and a tall youth walked forward, looking at the stone block on the ground with a look of contempt, and lifted it to his abdomen with one hand.

"Not bad."

A smile appeared on Yu Yu Jiaoxi Liu's face; Cheng Ying was a student he taught, and although he couldn't compare to Lu Yongfeng, he was close behind and was also capable of charging toward the Essence and Qi stage within a year.

"Easily lifting a two-hundred-pound stone block with one hand, he must have over four hundred pounds of strength with both hands."

Gu Fei had an envious expression: "Can't compare, absolutely can't compare, worthy of being the young proprietor of the Cheng Family Cloth Shop."

The Cheng Family Cloth Shop was the only place in town that sold finished clothes and cloth; the clothes Lin Chen wore were made by his mother, who bought linen from the Cheng Family Cloth Shop and cut them herself at home.

"Birth is a form of learning."

Lin Chen also sighed, and as Cheng Ying lifted the stone block with one hand, the remaining students also began to show their strength.

Although the stone block was still two hundred pounds, some lifted it directly to their chests, and others lifted it above their heads, but the one that caused the final sensation was Lu Yongfeng lifting the stone block above his head with one hand.

The atmosphere at the scene exploded instantly.

"Next, Qiu Yuan."

Yu Yu Jiaoxi Liu announced the next student's name, and Lin Chen also watched intently.

Qiu Yuan had one hundred and eighty pounds of strength last month; Qiu Yuan started eating beef in the third month, buying it every few days, but for some reason, he hadn't bought any in the last month.

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi, I give up."

Qiu Yuan walked out of the crowd but did not go to lift the stone block; in an instant, everyone's eyes fell on him.

"My... my younger sister got sick last month, and all the money at home went to treat her; there is no money left at home."

Qiu Yuan's face turned red; in front of so many peers, saying the words "no money" required immense courage.

The expressions of the three instructors, including Yu Yongnian, did not change; this situation was too common in the Wu Tang, and every year several students would give up due to family reasons.

And the further it went, the more people gave up.

"Go to the canteen in a while; if there is any unfinished food, have them refund it to you."

"Thank you, Yu Yu Jiaoxi."

Qiu Yuan did not stay in the Martial Arts Arena but turned and walked toward the dormitory; the moment he turned around, his right hand made a gesture of wiping the corner of his eye.

Another youth whose martial arts dream was shattered.

"Next, Lin Ze."

Seeing Lin Ze go up, Lin Chen knew it wouldn't be long before it was his turn.

From the situation of the students around him going up one by one, he could see that the instructors had placed them, the bottom-tier students, at the very end.

Lin Ze, in the test at the end of last month, lifted a one-hundred-and-eighty-pound stone block.

Although he failed once, on the second attempt, Lin Ze still lifted the stone block.

Putting down the stone block, Lin Ze looked at Yu Yu Jiaoxi Liu nervously.

"Pass, next, Lin Chen."

Hearing the word "Pass," Lin Ze breathed a sigh of relief and walked back to his position with light steps.

"Lin Chen, don't be nervous, you'll be fine!" Gu Fei encouraged in a low voice, his eyes showing no worry.

There were many stone blocks placed in the Martial Arts Arena, and students could test them privately; he knew yesterday that Lin Chen could lift a two-hundred-pound stone block.

Lin Chen nodded and looked at his panel one last time.

【Name: Lin Chen】

【Profession: Martial Practitioner】

【Qi and Blood: 1102/3000】

【Fate: 【Everything Falls into Place】: First Stage of the Martial Way, persistent and constant, step-by-step progression, unstoppable momentum, no bottleneck constraints.】

Ten days ago, his Qi and Blood reached one thousand points, and he was already able to lift a two-hundred-pound stone block; by now, he had reached two hundred and twenty pounds of strength.

As Lin Chen took the stage, the scene began to discuss again.

"Here he comes, the stingiest guy in the history of the Wu Tang, I wonder if he can pass."

"That was last month; he's been eating beef every day this month, so he can't be called the stingiest anymore."

"So what? Starting to spend money in the last month is already too late; I personally think Lin Chen won't pass."

"I think he should be able to; Lin Chen is so stingy, if he wasn't sure, he wouldn't be willing to spend that money."

Yu Yu Jiaoxi Liu naturally noticed the pointing and whispering of the other students and looked at Lin Chen, saying: "Begin."

Two hundred pounds of strength had always been the minimum requirement and wouldn't usually attract much attention from the students, but this student was an exception.

Having received permission, Lin Chen grabbed the handle of the stone block with both hands; slowly, the stone block began to leave the ground, and the eyes of everyone at the scene were focused on Lin Chen's hands at this moment.

"I'm convinced; this Lin Chen lifting a two-hundred-pound stone block is more eye-catching than us lifting a four-hundred-pound one."

Cheng Ying felt the atmosphere at the scene and was somewhat speechless.

A two-hundred-pound stone block, what is there to pay attention to?

"I actually think it's normal; compared to us lifting a four-hundred-pound stone block, it was already expected. On the contrary, Lin Chen being able to lift a two-hundred-pound stone block counts as a counterattack, so naturally, it attracts attention." Zhao Jingchuan watched with great interest; he was also curious if Lin Chen could pass.

"Lifting a two-hundred-pound stone block, what kind of counterattack is that?" Xu Botao sneered.

After the assessment, students didn't have to stand in place, and Cheng Ying and the others with the strongest strength stood together; other students had self-awareness and wouldn't come over.

Lin Chen didn't play coy, nor did he slow down; lifting a two-hundred-pound stone block in six months was not an honorable thing to begin with.

But what Lin Chen didn't expect was that when he lifted the stone block, a burst of cheers erupted at the scene.

"Boring." Lu Yongfeng withdrew his gaze and whispered.

"Those who didn't know would think he lifted a five-hundred-pound stone block." Xu Botao was also full of displeasure.

"Pass, next, Wang Hao."

Yu Yu Jiaoxi Liu called the next student, and Lin Chen hurriedly went down.

"Lin Chen, I knew you could do it, haha!"

Gu Fei hugged Lin Chen excitedly; Lin Chen rolled his eyes: "I remember half a month ago, someone was comforting me, saying that if I didn't learn martial arts, I could do other things and still have a way out."

"Hehe, I was just... just preparing for the worst."

Gu Fei let go; he was truly happy for Lin Chen; the two had played well together in the village, belonging to the kind who would share everything.

"Now that you've passed the assessment, your grandfather should give you money."

"Yeah, I'll go home today and tell my family this good news."

A look of happiness also appeared on Lin Chen's face; he had finally passed the first hurdle on the path of learning martial arts.

Although the goal he achieved by exhausting all his efforts was something that students with good family backgrounds could reach easily.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the assessment ended; in the end, three students were eliminated. Excluding Qiu Yuan, the other two spent no less money than Lin Chen, but they spent their money too early, and their subsequent progress couldn't keep up, leading to their Qi and Blood stagnating.

He spent four hundred and fifty wen this month, and there wasn't much money left on him; he needed to go home because he needed at least one pound of beef per meal from now on.

(End of chapter)