The Old Factory Street covers a vast area.
To the east are numerous abandoned dilapidated factory buildings, while the west is a bustling residential area.
Walking south, various repair shops and markets cluster together, mixed and chaotic.
Qin Shi turned left after stepping out, heading to the "Xinxin Convenience Store" next door for two packs of cigarettes, which he tucked into his pocket.
Then he continued northwards.
In the narrow lane, the signs of restaurants, gambling clubs, inns, and salons were bright red and green, and occasionally some small electric scooters sped past.
"No wonder everyone wants to get into the Urban Circle. Old Factory Street doesn't even have decent schools. What will happen to the workers' children in the future."
On the dusty roadside, Qin Shi stood under the shade of a tree.
The entrance gate, far from towering and majestic, had a simple school plaque hanging on it.
The gold paint was peeling away, showing signs of age.
Just like the former glory of this Old Town District, long gone and taken away by time.
"In a few years, even the workers' school signs might be abolished."
He rubbed his young face, revealing a compliant smile he often wore, and approached the guard booth.
"Uncle, I used to be a student at the Eleventh Middle School, I'm looking for Teacher Liang."
The storytelling program on the radio inside the guard booth abruptly stopped, and the elderly man with reading glasses looked up.
This kid seemed unfamiliar.
But he looked like a good, obedient child!
"Eleventh Middle School? This is the Sons and Daughters Ninth Middle School."
The elderly man was puzzled.
The Eleventh Middle School enrolls junior high students, while the Ninth Middle School enrolls high school students.
Both carry the title of workers' schools to ensure local workers' children complete their compulsory education.
But they are not in the same location.
Qin Shi smiled shyly:
"Teacher Liang taught me for a while before, and with summer vacation now, I thought I'd visit him. He used to have stiff leg problems on rainy days, has it gotten better?"
This detail was specifically asked from Uncle Zhou.
"He's still the same, likes a drink after work, uses a plaster for the leg, and refuses to go to a big hospital. How could he fully recover?"
The elderly guard's last bit of wariness dissipated upon hearing this, turning into praise:
"It's rare to see a student who understands gratitude nowadays. No one who graduated from the workers' school wants to come back, let alone visit their teachers.
Kid, the school is not open to the public during summer vacation. Some teachers use the premises for extra classes, so don't cause a disturbance..."
Qin Shi nodded, took out a pack of "Limin Cigarettes" from his right pants pocket:
"Sorry for the trouble, uncle."
"Oh, no need for politeness! You don't smoke, do you? So young, you shouldn't touch it!"
The elderly guard accepted the cigarettes but still advised.
"I don't smoke. The teachers at Tai'an New First Middle School are very strict. Besides, smoking as a minor affects life force enhancement."
Qin Shi repeatedly gestured, acting the part of a good student.
Saying goodbye to the guard, he moved forward quickly, carefully examining the Sons and Daughters Ninth Middle School.
Maybe because it's summer vacation, the place was silent except for the piercing cicada cries.
The red brick and black tile teaching buildings had tightly shut doors and windows. He only saw activity once he reached the playground at the back.
"Practice well!"
"Stand firm! Don't let your body sway!"
"Start timing now, hold for twenty minutes! Anyone who does it wrong, the whole group will practice five extra minutes..."
The powerful and rough voice echoed in the empty playground.
Qin Shi peeked inside, roughly seven or eight high school boys were sweating profusely, doing physical training without shirts.
They were practicing basic combat moves, stance, punching, stepping.
Afterward, the middle-aged man in military green short sleeves guided them one by one, standing still in poses.
"Over thirty degrees in the heat, such exposure would peel off a layer of skin,"
Qin Shi thought, suddenly feeling a gaze upon him.
He tilted his head to meet it.
Hiss!
Qin Shi suddenly inhaled sharply, his arm hairs standing up like hit by static!
"Hey, which class are you in?"
The middle-aged man frowned, raising his voice.
"Teacher Liang, I'm from Baogong Street on West Second Road, I used to study at the Eleventh Middle School. Uncle Zhou introduced me."
Qin Shi quickly ran over, introducing himself before he could be struck half-dead by a Sun Character Punch.
This Teacher Liang didn't seem burly, of medium build, far less muscular and imposing than the coaches at Silver Horse Gym.
But the oppressive feeling he gave was no less intense, perhaps even stronger.
"Your sister is Qin Xiao, right? She studied at the Ninth Middle School for a year, I remember."
Qin Shi approached and realized this physical education teacher named Liang was not the terrifying figure rumored to be, but rather unremarkable.
With sparse white hair, tanned skin, unshaven beard, looking quite unkempt.
Such a man, throw ten bricks on Old Factory Street, and you'd hit seven or eight of them.
"A true talent hides itself."
Qin Shi dared not underestimate him.
At the Silver Horse Gym where he worked, the top-tier coaches had life force development between fifteen to nineteen points.
About Amateur Level Eighth Rank.
If this Teacher Liang indeed participated in the Star Cup, and rose through the Tai'an Education Commission to a proper position, he should have a life force above thirty-five points.
Note, the lowest entry threshold for the Star Cup is Amateur Seventh Rank.
"Uncle Zhou? The one from the billiard hall, he's like a drinking buddy to me."
Teacher Liang thought for a bit and barely recalled the person, his attitude softened slightly:
"Are you still in school?"
"I haven't dropped out, I got into Tai'an New First Middle School."
Teacher Liang's eyes flashed, his expression turned strange:
"Why come to Old Factory Street's Ninth Middle School when you're at a good school in the Urban Circle? Don't you know, the Ninth Middle School is nearly closing, with fewer students and less interest in studying.
The Education Commission and school leaders have agreed to convert it into a sports school."
This wasn't a secret.
Qin Shi had heard about it long ago.
He showed sincerity:
"Uncle Zhou said you have great skills, I'd like to follow you and improve myself."
Teacher Liang suddenly sneered:
"You want to enhance life force, aiming for the ranking exam, right? Urban Circle's cultivation halls and gyms are abundant, why bother coming here?"
Qin Shi remained sincere:
"My family can't afford it."
Teacher Liang looked carefully at the boy in front of him, wearing washed out short sleeves and pants, cheap running shoes.
Apart from the "clean and tidy" look, he indeed looked like an ordinary student from Old Factory Street.
"I charge considerable fees here. Besides, you're not a Ninth Middle School student..."
Teacher Liang paused, then walked under the tree shade, pointing at the high school boys training under the scorching sun:
"Do you know why they attend my supplementary class?"
Qin Shi shook his head. During summer vacation, most workers' children from Old Factory Street would choose to go out and work.
Activities like summer camps, outdoor travels, or specialty courses are for wealthy families in the Urban Circle.
"These students don't plan to continue studying. Their life force is between six and seven points, following my training, as long as they elevate their life force to ten points, they can work in the mines."
Teacher Liang's voice was rigid, his face tense:
"High school curriculum life force development emphasizes gradual progress, hence slow results.
What I teach, exploits the body to unlock potential, quick outcomes.
Endure when young, extreme aging and frequent injuries past forty."
Qin Shi was silent, he liked reading and was knowledgeable about Dongxia history.
During the Great Expansion Movement, each newly integrated Administrative New Star would undergo several rounds of intense development.
Among the most demanded jobs were in the mining industry.
Early on, due to slack management and over-exploitation.
Mining had no requirements, even women and children were recruited.
Because of harsh conditions, high heat radiation, mutant viruses, etc.
Life force below ten points would barely last three to five years, rarely surviving.
This situation improved in the Fifth Millennium, Dongxia New Calendar's beginning.
The Mining Bureau was reformed, laws clearly stipulated, forbidding citizens with life force below ten points and without nine-year compulsory education from mining.
Yet, in remote Administrative New Stars, child labor and school dropouts continued to be common.
"Go back. Since you got into the Urban Circle's New First Middle School, your grades must be good.
These students mostly lost their parents, raised by elderly relatives, unable to continue studying, forced to work."
Teacher Liang sighed:
"No need to exhaust your body for ranking exam bonuses. The extreme way to enhance life force is a debt, eventually must be repaid."
Qin Shi raised his head, firmly looking at this Ninth Middle School physical education teacher:
"I still want to try, Teacher Liang."
Can't this kid understand good advice?
Teacher Liang was stunned, then frowned looking at him.
Qin Shi didn't flinch, his gaze was calm and determined.
He too had no alternatives.
From risking gunfire in Northern Myanmar in his past life, to now facing graduation leading to unemployment, possibly becoming expendable labor.
If I don't strive, how can I escape the mire?
Workers' children on Old Factory Street even vie for high-risk mining jobs.
After depleting family savings to study at a mediocre school, would my prospects improve?
No network, no talent, must I rely on sheer effort?
Qin Shi clenched his fist, determined to enhance his life force before summer ends, and pass the ranking exam.
Only then would he have other options in life!
"Why bother."
Teacher Liang was helpless, looking at Qin Shi who stood straight without any intention of backing down, he said irritatedly:
"Alright, considering Uncle Zhou, fine, if you want to learn, I'll take you.
Did you bring money? Fair warning, the class costs four thousand a month, no credit!"
Qin Shi nodded:
"Wait a moment, Teacher Liang, I'm going to the toilet."
Hm?
Where the hell did you stash the money?
Teacher Liang's temple twitched slightly.
Soon after, Qin Shi held a stack of new bills with both hands, respectfully offering them.
"Nevermind, pay two hundred first, train for two days. If you can endure, we can talk further.
Additionally, if I find you unfit, you're out anytime!"
Teacher Liang turned his face away, not touching what to many families on Old Factory Street was considered "big money," the hundred yuan bills.