The streets surrounding Sons and Daughters Ninth Middle School had the most restaurants and hotels, and their business was the best.
Old Liang led Qin Shi out of the school's back gate, turned into a nearby alley, and stopped at a food stall named "Li's Fast Food."
"Old Li's cooking is famous here. It's not quite meal time yet. If we come later, we might not get a table," he said.
Obviously a regular, Old Liang pulled out a plastic chair and sat down, calling the owner to order.
"The usual three dishes: pork ribs in black bean sauce, stir-fried beef with bitter melon, and liver and goji berry soup. And get me a bottle of Heng Province's old liquor.
For him, a whole pack of nutritional paste, 500 grams, from Longxiang brand."
"Got it, Teacher Liang. Is this your student? Quite the good-looking one. Must be good at studying, unlike my Xiao-Yuan!"
The owner jotted down the dish names and the nutritional paste brand with a smile, then handed it to a boy of eight or nine standing nearby to run the errands.
Since there weren't many people, the dishes came quickly, served hot.
Old Liang picked up a few bites, tasting a little bit of each dish with his liquor.
He ate with relish, paying no heed to the hungry Qin Shi.
When the large box of nutritional paste the size of a palm fan arrived, Old Liang finally spoke:
"No matter if it's New Martial or Old Martial, one thing is agreed upon. The path to developing a Martial Artist's life force focuses mainly on two points: training methods and combat techniques. Training methods include both Nourishing Body and Nourishing Spirit.
Nourishing Body is the foundation and the most important. Practicing martial arts is tough on the body, tearing muscles, and wearing down bones. Over time, it forms hidden injuries that are hard to treat once discovered.
Back when Old Martial was prevalent, many top Martial Artists stumbled upon this issue."
Qin Shi received the box labeled "Longxiang Brand," feeling its weight, resembling a single-serving military can from his previous life.
Old Liang looked at him with an expectant expression:
"You've just captured Qi Sensitivity, your physical energy consumption is high. Regular carbohydrates get absorbed quickly, leaving you hungry again soon after.
Nutritional paste was used as military rations during the Great Expedition. It has a strong satiety effect, high calories, and comprehensive nutrients, making it ideal for Old Martial practitioners. Enjoy it to your heart's content!"
Qin Shi looked down at the stick-shaped, milky-white, toothpaste-like consistency in the box, then glanced at the delicious and aromatic food in front of Old Liang.
The difference in meal treatment was too stark!
"Teacher Liang, this stuff is quite expensive, isn't it?"
Qin Shi scooped a spoonful into his mouth expecting the worst. The taste was as awful as he feared, similar to sticky, rotten rice porridge.
But he had eaten worse in the industrial park in his previous life and could barely tolerate it.
He ignored the taste, burying his head to wolf it down!
Suppressing the nausea bubbling in his stomach, Qin Shi quickly finished the Longxiang paste.
Old Liang nodded silently, somewhat satisfied.
The students in the tutoring class had all tried the traditional practices of Capturing Qi Sensitivity and eating nutritional paste.
But few performed as well as Qin Shi.
"A physique well-suited for training, excellent comprehension, and a resilient mindset. Very balanced and outstanding in all aspects. A natural Old Martial prodigy!"
Old Liang felt even more pleased, his tone softened:
"By comparison, Longxiang is still relatively cheap. Brands like Jinmao, Feng Chun, and Dachang are more expensive."
Qin Shi struggled to swallow the last bite of paste, chugging water to get it down:
"Is Longxiang cheaper because it tastes so bad?"
Old Liang laughed:
"That's right. They used to be a supplier for the Expeditionary Army, focusing on portability, satiety, and energy replenishment. But the taste is terrible; you'd have to have a strange addiction to enjoy it.
Eighty-eight yuan a box, enough to sustain a manual laborer for two days without other food.
With your training intensity, you'll probably need two boxes a day."
Qin Shi winced. As a gym receptionist, he earned 1,200 a month, only forty a day.
Even with assistant and part-time jobs at the Youth Palace, his combined salary wasn't enough for nutritional paste!
"This just gave me a stark and clear realization of my poverty."
Qin Shi laughed at himself:
"Teacher Liang, I might not even afford the cheaper Longxiang brand."
Old Liang sipped his high-proof liquor:
"I know. Most tutoring class students can't afford nutritional paste either.
Enrollment fees are four or five thousand, nutrition costs five or six thousand. A month can eat up ten thousand easily.
That's why students from Old Factory Street can only go work manual jobs or hang around the streets after graduation.
The cost of pursuing the Martial Examination is high, while mechanical or spiritual ability majors not only require big money but also depend on talent."
Qin Shi's face remained calm. From the moment he stepped into the New First High School of the Urban Circle, he knew the brutal reality of wealth disparity.
Those elite class students, arriving in luxury cars, dressed in designer brands.
They actively participated in club activities, received awards, gave speeches, and seemed naturally confident.
Thanks to superior family conditions and careful skill development, they radiated brilliance.
In contrast, the children of Old Factory Street workers indeed felt inferior and dared not even think of comparing.
"Teacher Liang, I've read in books. The road ahead is always paved by people."
Qin Shi felt waves of warmth from the nutritional paste splitting within, slowly seeping into his torn muscles and bones.
"Poor kids, stepping in the mud, have no reason not to look up to the cosmos, to aspire to the Star Sea.
Just because one is born in Old Factory Street, it shouldn't mean they are inherently lesser than those in Tai'an Metropolitan Area, Heng Province's Central City, or even the distant Imperial Capital."
Old Liang's smile froze:
"Do you actually think like this?"
Qin Shi met his gaze with steady eyes, unwavering:
"Purity comes from filth, light comes from darkness. Even a worm buried in dust can molt into a cicada, drinking Autumn dew, let alone a human."
Old Liang's expression tightened, his liquor swirling:
"Those words are from the Stone Buddha He Lanchan. At thirty-six, he won the Star Cup and was interviewed by Tomorrow Group. He was born lowly, at the frontier, even with severe genetic defects, yet claimed a spot among the vast stars.
Do you want to learn from him?"
Qin Shi quietly nodded:
"Teacher Liang, I know becoming a Martial Artist isn't easy, but for someone like me, no path will be easy.
How did the old folks in Old Factory Street say it? No gaps exist before a fierce tiger, while cowards see hurdles everywhere!"
Old Liang heaved a sigh, raised his head, and gulped his fifty-two-proof liquor, burning like hot coals down his throat, driving out the frustration in his heart.
"Alright. Little Qin, let me be clear. You are a good candidate for Old Martial training.
Resilient, smart, with solid basics and able to endure hardship.
In all my years running the tutoring class, few students as outstanding as you have come through.
I'll waive your enrollment fee. Let's set a trial period of half a month. If you can circulate your Qi Sensitivity five times, completing a small Circulation, I'll supply all the nutritional paste you need, how about that?"
Qin Shi was astonished, wanting to scratch his head. Had he unlocked some sort of talking achievement?
Just a few words got Teacher Liang to fund my Life Force development?
He steadied his thoughts and cautiously probed:
"Then, can we switch to other brands? Eating Longxiang for half a month might ruin my tastebuds!"
Old Liang retorted irritably:
"Dream on! I'm just a poor teacher at a training school, not some wealthy big shot!"
Qin Shi laughed awkwardly, knowing it was just a jest.
No matter how bad-tasting, nutritional paste wasn't cheap.
Given his family's situation, occasional indulgence was possible, but sustained use was like burning money.
"Thank you, Teacher Liang."
The food stall was getting lively, with noisy chatter all around. Qin Shi stood up slowly, giving a solemn bow to Old Liang.
In both his past and present lives, he was fortunate to encounter benefactors who held goodwill towards him and were willing to nurture him.
Such opportunities were rare blessings that must be cherished and seized!
"Forget the thanks. We're not yet at the master-apprentice level of Old Martial legacy. If you don't succeed, you'll still owe every penny.
The tutoring class isn't a charity. There are many students in tough conditions from Old Factory Street, and my abilities are limited, I can't save them all."
Old Liang spoke coldly but felt pleased inside. His many years at Sons and Daughters Ninth Middle School were spent hoping for a promising student.
And here one was!
"I hope this kid can cross the Old Martial threshold and not waste my efforts."