3: Chapter 1: Aspirational Class, Summer Job_3 3: Chapter 1: Aspirational Class, Summer Job_3 The cost of living in the Tai’an Metropolitan Area is absurdly high for kids from the Old Town District.
“I haven’t thought about it that much right now.
When the car reaches the mountain, there’ll be a way.
If it comes to it, I’ll just enlist in the military and join the ongoing sixth millennium Great Frontier Expansion Movement.”
Qin Shi’s gaze drifted, lingering on a black frame that others couldn’t see.
It was like a semi-transparent wall, steadfastly presenting itself in front of him, occasionally showing seemingly meaningless text information.
[Anchor point: Qin Shi]
[Growth Stage: To be unlocked]
[Monument Number: None]
This black frame, visible only to Qin Shi, seemed engraved onto his retina.
No matter how he shifted his focus, it was always there.
On the other side of the panel was a pixel-styled gray oval object.
Inside flowed a crimson aura, like a kettle about to overflow.
It diffused like mist, as if nurturing some kind of life.
This thing accompanied Qin Shi through his second birth.
All he knew was its name: [Monument].
“Not sure what changes will happen when the progress bar reaches full…”
While Qin Shi pondered, Zhou Ning continued his chatter:
“Joining the military isn’t that easy.
Your Life Force doesn’t meet the standards; you can’t get into the military academy!…”
Although Dongxia has been maintaining the Great Frontier Expansion Movement, aimed at expanding territories and establishing more human habitats, for a full six millennia, nearing its perfection.
It doesn’t mean the era of peace, where swords are put into storage and horses are released to graze, will come as quickly as flipping a page in a book.
Qin Shi could see this point from browsing the daily news.
Heading to remote and distant administrative planets as a tiny, fragile cog often meant personal safety was not guaranteed.
“My sister drives big trucks, earning a hard living.
Whether it’s a second or third-rate university or a technical school, the tuition isn’t low.
She’s supporting me and my little sister alone; it’s too exhausting.”
Having crossed over long ago, Qin Shi had already gotten used to the new life as a reborn.
But whenever he thought of this start, he couldn’t help but feel frustrated.
“A gambling father, a deceased mother, a dropout sister, a young sister, and a broken me…
It’s just slightly less difficult than being born in a school restroom, with parents being punk hoodlums and spirit girls.”
Qin Shi couldn’t help but laugh, but he wasn’t discouraged.
Compared to his previous life, where a distant relative tricked him into a park and almost had his kidney cut out, finally being forced to survive by petty living at the edge of the water.
This life wasn’t actually that bad.
He looked up at the TV in the gym’s lobby, playing one hot news story after another.
“Congratulations to the first-day box office of Martial God Legend: Qilin surpassing ten billion, breaking the previous Greedy Wolf record!
Watch how an ordinary youth roars across the galaxy!”
“The entrance exams for five schools are in full swing!
Any citizen over eighteen years old who has received Dongxia’s obligatory education may participate in the preliminary exam!”
“The eighty-third Star Cup champion, the youngest professional Ninth Rank Martial Artist in history, Yu Li, will attend the Tai’an cultural tourism opening ceremony on September 3rd as a special guest!”
“Men with ambition head to the battlefield, youth without regrets dedicate to the military camp!
Welcome students from all schools to apply to Yinghuo Ancient Star Military Academy; the admission consultation is as follows…”
Supporting his chin with both hands, Zhou Ning’s tone was full of envy:
“Old Qin, look at this.
Not even twenty years old and a professional Martial Artist, directly recruited by one of the Four National Universities, ‘Huabei Imperial Capital’.
How come there’s such a big disparity between people!”
“Being born is a technical skill, little Zhou.
Not to mention, the difference between a birth point at Old Factory Street and Imperial Capital is as vast as ten thousand and eighty thousand light-years.”
“If my dad had ventured out back then and participated in New Star’s development, secured residence rights in the Tai’an Metropolitan Area, I wouldn’t be struggling !”
They were in Heng Province, the thirty-fourth administrative region carved out by Dongxia.
Its full name was Heng Province New Star.
As the largest port city of Heng Province New Star, Tai’an Metropolitan Area developed swiftly thanks to its geographical advantages.
Especially in recent years, the momentum of free trade has surged, with numerous new wealthy individuals springing up like bamboo shoots after the rain.
Unfortunately, the Tai’an Metropolitan Area, much like a nouveau riche looking down on poor relatives, couldn’t be bothered to associate.
“Remember the standard answer from textbooks?
The regional advantage lies in abundant and cheap labor resources, that’s us.”
Qin Shi patted Zhou Ning’s shoulder and slowly stood up:
“Workers’ kids were born at the wrong time.
The glory of Old Factory Street is in the past; if we want to establish ourselves in the Tai’an Metropolitan Area, we’ll have to climb up slowly on our own.
I’m off now, little Zhou, the duty of watching the front desk is entrusted to you.”