Cosmic Demon

Chapter 9: Even in the mud, I still yearn for the sea of ​​stars
The streets around Zidi No. 9 Middle School have the most restaurants and hotels, and they do the best business.

Lao Liang led Qin Shi out of the back door of the school, turned into a nearby alley, and stopped in front of a food stall called "Li Ji Fast Food".

"Lao Li's cooking skills are well-known in this area. It's not time for dinner yet. If you come later, you may not be able to get a seat."

Lao Liang was obviously a regular customer. He pulled out a plastic chair, sat down, and asked the boss to take his order.

"The old three: spareribs in black bean sauce, stir-fried beef with bitter melon, liver and wolfberry soup, plus a bottle of Hengzhou Laojiao.

If he wants, give me a whole box of nutritional paste, 500 grams, and ask Long Xiangji to remember it. "

"Okay, Mr. Liang. Is this your student? He is so pretty and I can tell at a glance that he has good grades, better than my Xiaoyuan!"

The boss said cheerfully, taking a piece of paper and pen to write down the name of the dish and the brand of nutritional paste.

He immediately handed the task over to a teenage boy of eight or nine years old nearby and asked him to run errands.

There were few people at that time, so the food was served quickly and was soon served steaming hot on the table.

Lao Liang picked up a few pieces of food with his chopsticks, took a few bites of each, and ate them with wine.

He ate with gusto, not caring at all about the hungry Qin Shi.

After a box of nutrient paste, which was about the size of a palm leaf fan, was delivered, Lao Liang finally spoke:
"Whether it's new martial arts or old martial arts, there is one thing we all agree on. The way to develop the vitality of a martial artist mainly focuses on two points: training methods and combat methods. The training methods include nourishing the body and nourishing the mind.

Keeping fit is the foundation and the priority. Practicing martial arts is the most harmful to the body. It tears muscles and wears out bones over time, which accumulates into hidden injuries. By the time you discover it, it is already difficult to recover.

When the old martial arts were popular, many top martial artists fell into this trap. "

Qin Shi took the square box with the three words "Longxiangji" printed on it. It was quite heavy in his hand and looked like the individual canned food in his previous life.

Lao Liang had an expression of anticipation as if he was watching a good show:
"You just caught the feeling of qi, and your physical energy consumption is high. Ordinary carbohydrates will be absorbed after eating, and you will still feel hungry after a while.

This nutrient paste was used as combat rations during the Great Expedition. It has a strong sense of satiety and high calories. It contains all the ingredients needed by the human body and is most suitable for people in the old martial arts world. Enjoy it!"

Qin Shi looked down at the long, milky white, toothpaste-like sticky substance in the box, then glanced at the delicious food in front of Lao Liang.

The difference in food treatment is too obvious!
"Teacher Liang, this thing is very expensive."

Qin Shi scooped a spoonful and put it into his mouth. As expected, the taste was extremely bad, similar to sticky rotten rice paste.

But he had eaten worse food in the park in his previous life, so he could barely tolerate it.

Strip away the taste and focus on the excitement!
Qin Shi suppressed the nausea in his stomach and quickly finished Long Xiangji's nutritional paste.

Lao Liang nodded silently, secretly satisfied.

Coiling the muscles and stretching the back, capturing the qi, eating nutritional pastes...all the students in the cram school have tried them all.

But there are few such outstanding performances as during the Qin Dynasty.

"He has a sturdy physique, excellent comprehension, and a strong character. He is very balanced and outstanding in all aspects. He is a natural born warrior!"

Lao Liang felt more relaxed and his tone became more gentle:
"Long Xiang Ji is relatively cheap, while other brands, such as Jin Mao, Feng Chun and Da Chang, are more expensive."

Qin Shi swallowed the last mouthful of nutrient paste with great effort, and gulped down water:

“Is Long Xiang Ji’s price cheap because it tastes bad?”

Lao Liang smiled and said:

"That's right. This company used to be a supplier for the expeditionary army. Its main product is a portable tube that replenishes energy. But it tastes terrible. Unless you have pica, I guess no one would like to eat it.

Eighty-eight yuan a box is enough for a manual laborer to sustain himself for two days without eating.

With your training intensity, you should probably take two boxes a day.”

Qin Shi grinned. He worked as a receptionist in a gym, earning twelve hundred yuan a month, or only forty yuan a day.

Adding the teaching assistant and part-time job at the Youth Palace, the combined salary of the three jobs is not enough to buy the nutritional paste!

"My understanding of my own poverty has suddenly become profound and clear."

Qin Shi laughed at himself:
"Mr. Liang, I'm afraid I can't even afford the cheap Long Xiang Ji."

Lao Liang sipped the strong liquor in his glass:

"I know. Few students in cram schools can afford nutritional paste.

The registration fee is four or five thousand, the nutrition fee is five or six thousand, and in a month, tens of thousands of dollars are thrown away.

This is also the reason why students from Jiuchang Street can only go mining, do manual labor, or hang out on the streets after graduation. The cost of taking the military major is high, and you can choose to take the mechanical and psychic majors, which not only requires a lot of money, but also depends on your talent. "

Qin Shi's face was calm. Ever since he stepped into Xinyi Middle School in the urban area, he knew how cruel the gap between the rich and the poor was when compared with reality.

Those elite students who go to school in luxury cars, or whose food, clothing and other necessities are all from famous brands.

They actively participate in community activities, go on stage to receive awards, and give speeches, as if they are born with confidence.

Because of the superior family conditions and careful ability development, the whole person seems to be radiant.

In comparison, the children of workers in Jiuchang Street do feel a little ashamed of themselves and cannot bear to compare themselves with others.

"Teacher Liang, I've read about it in a book. The road ahead is always paved by people."

Qin Shi felt a surge of warmth gradually forming in his body. The nutrient paste was breaking down in his body and slowly blending into his torn and damaged muscles and bones.

“There is no reason why a poor child standing in the mud cannot look up at the universe and yearn for the sea of ​​stars.

Is it true that being born in Jiuchang Street means that it is not as good as the Tai'an Metropolitan Area, Hengzhou Central City, or even the Imperial Capital which is light years away?"

The smile on Lao Liang's face froze:

"Do you really think so?"

Qin Shi's eyes were calm, without any intention of dodging:
"Purity comes from filth, and light comes from darkness. Even a worm buried in the dust can transform into a cicada and drink dew in the autumn wind, let alone humans."

Lao Liang's face was tense, and the wine in his glass was surging:
"This is what He Lanchan, one of the first ten great men, said when he won the Star Cup at the age of 36 during an interview with Tomorrow Group.

He was born in a humble family, in a remote area, and even suffered from serious genetic defects, but he had found a place for himself among the vast sea of ​​stars.

Do you want to learn from him?"

Qin Shi hummed softly:
“Teacher Liang, I know it’s not easy to become a martial artist, but for someone like me, it won’t be easy no matter which path I take.

What's the old saying that the older generation of people in Jiuchang Street often say? There is no gap in front of a tiger, but there are obstacles in the heart of a coward! "

Lao Liang let out a long sigh and suddenly raised his head. The 52-degree liquor entered his mouth and went down his throat, like a piece of boiling charcoal, driving away the depression in his heart.

"Okay. Xiao Qin, let me be frank. You are a good candidate for practicing traditional martial arts.

He is patient, intelligent, has a solid foundation, and can endure hardships.

I have been running cram schools for so many years, but there are very few students as outstanding as you.

I can waive your registration fee. Let's practice for half a month. If you can circulate the Qi five times and complete the small Zhoutian during this period, I will provide you with all the nutritional paste you need for the practice. How about that?"

Qin Shi was surprised and wanted to scratch his head. Did he unlock some kind of achievement in talking nonsense?

Just a few words from me made Teacher Liang pay me to develop my vitality?

He calmed his chaotic thoughts and tried carefully:
"Then, can we switch to other big brands? If I take Long Xiang Ji's nutritional paste for half a month, my sense of taste might even stop working!"

Lao Liang said unhappily:

"You're dreaming! I'm just a poor teacher at a sports school. How can I think I'm some wealthy person?"

Qin Shi chuckled, of course he was just joking just now.

No matter how bad the nutritional paste tastes, it is not cheap.

Given his financial situation, occasional consumption is fine, but if he wants to use it continuously, it would be like burning money for fun.

"Thank you, Mr. Liang."

The food stall gradually became lively and crowded. Qin Shi slowly stood up and bowed solemnly to Lao Liang.

Whether in the past life or this life, I am fortunate to meet a noble person who is kind to me and willing to cultivate me.

These are rare blessings, we must cherish them and work hard to grasp them!

"Forget about thanking me. We are not yet at the level of master and disciple of the old martial arts tradition. If you can't succeed, you will have to pay a penny less.

The cram school is not a charity. There are so many students from poor families in Jiuchang Street. I am not capable enough to save them all.”

Although Lao Liang spoke coldly, he was actually very happy in his heart. Having stayed in the No. 9 Middle School for so many years, he was always hoping that a good seedling would emerge and fall into his hands.

It’s delivered to your door!
"I hope this kid can get through the old martial arts threshold, so that my troubles won't be in vain."

(End of this chapter)