Chapter 27: 27 Quotas
Chapter 27: Quotas
Saturday selection, huh? Today is Friday, so the school team selection is exactly tomorrow.
A sense of urgency rose in Chen Xing’s heart.
Seeing Chen Xing’s tense expression, Lu Junxiang couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. He really is still a child.
“You don’t need to worry. Tomorrow’s selection is just for measuring the Beast Taming physique. Your beast has been progressing quickly. Others should be the ones feeling the pressure, not you.”
Upon leaving the school, a man in a suit blocked his path at the corner of the street, “Hello, our boss would like to have a word with you.” He then gestured politely for Chen Xing to follow.
Following the direction of the man’s hand, Chen Xing saw a bald man sitting in a car, his face displaying what he deemed a benevolent smile.
“Let’s talk at the tea house up ahead,” said the bald man through the rolled-down car window.
Chen Xing pondered for a moment, then followed the man to a private room on the second floor of the tea house.
“I came to you for a deal,” the man got straight to the point. “Withdraw from the school team selection, and this check for one million is yours.”
The man across from him took a pre-prepared banknote from his pocket and slid it across the table. The check gleamed with six zeros on its surface.
Chen Xing weighed his options carefully. One million was not a small amount, but if they could offer one million to purchase this quota, it meant its value far exceeded that amount. Besides, they believed he had a high chance of securing the place. He immediately replied earnestly, “Could you give me one hundred million?”
The man was taken aback. Before he could respond, Chen Xing continued, “Give me one hundred million, and I’ll drop out right now, I’m not lying to you!” Chen Xing spoke from the heart; with one hundred million, he could immediately get his dad the treatment he needed.
The man across chuckled in frustration. If he could casually hand out one hundred million, would he even need to bargain for this spot?
“You might not realize how much one hundred million is. It’s not a big radish in the field, young man. Don’t be too greedy. Not even an official team member’s spot is worth one hundred million, let alone a reserved spot.”
Chen Xing wasn’t disappointed. He picked up his backpack from the chair and slung it over his shoulder. “Then let’s forget it and compete based on our abilities.”
“I can add another half a million. My offer is very fair. And it’s only a reserve spot. When you’re a senior, you can still make the school team if you’re good enough.”
Chen Xing turned and said, “Then I’ll lower my price too. Ninety-nine million and five hundred thousand. Uncle, contact me anytime you’ve made up your mind.” If they couldn’t give him one hundred million straight away, then the one million was meaningless to him as the value of the school team spot was obviously greater than one million, and it could allow him to accumulate a billion faster.
Having said that, he addressed the suited bodyguard blocking his way, “Please let me through.”
The bodyguard looked at the bald man, who after a silent moment, waved his hand, and the bodyguard stepped aside.
When the bald man got home, a woman in a qipao and with curled hair stood up quickly, “How did it go? Is the kid willing to back out?”
“He’s asking for a lot, saying he’ll only back out for one hundred million,” the bald man said, shaking his head in dismay.
“He dared to say that! That pauper has gone mad for money!” the woman raised her voice a notch.
With so much money available, wasn’t it more cost-effective to train their own child’s Beast Taming skills? Who would buy that worthless quota from him?
Then the woman quickly regained her composure, “So what do we do? Xiao Han’s Beast Taming Energy Level definitely can’t surpass the opponent’s, so we won’t get the spot tomorrow.”
“Xue Jinbao is very interested in that student now. Direct measures won’t work, and neither will softer ones… how about we transfer Xiao Han to another school?” the woman suggested suddenly.
“Transfer schools?” The bald man was somewhat shocked.
“Don’t you know the director at the Education Bureau? Get him to arrange a meeting with the principal of Xintian Middle School, and then discuss Xiao Han transferring. If we can’t get the spot at No. 8 Middle School, we can get it from another school! Moreover, Xiao Han’s Beast Taming talent isn’t weak. The principal of Xintian Middle School will definitely agree to let Xiao Han join their team.”
The bald man hesitated, “But doing this would offend No. 8 Middle School.”
“Foolishness! What has No. 8 Middle School given us? If they can’t provide resources, they can’t blame us for transferring. Besides, we haven’t done anything to the student they value; they have no reason to hold on and not let go. We’re thinking of our child’s future,” the woman said with a sniff.
“But the upcoming Shu State Cup…”
“Xintian Middle School is also the second-ranked public high school in the new district. They’re not lacking in resources either. Besides, it’s better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big one. It might even be a good thing for the child. Go to the bank and withdraw more cash; you’ll need it soon.”
“How much?” he asked.
The woman thought for a moment, “Three million should suffice.”
The next day, Chen Xing arrived at the school gym for the selection.
When ten o’clock arrived, there were only seven people in the gym, including Chen Xing, and four of them were teachers.
Director Sun walked into the gym with a cheerful smile and clapped his hands, “Zheng Weixin had an emergency and has withdrawn, so today, only the three of you will go through the selection.”
Chen Xing secretly assessed the other two participants’ beasts. One of them had a Beast Taming like his own, a Salty Bay Crocodile, but it was a size smaller and looked a bit leaner compared to Taotie, and one could obviously see the difference.
Its owner was a tall and skinny young man, staring intently at the Taotie.
Zhou Hao was somewhat speechless. With different Species of Beast Taming, one could make comparisons in other aspects, but when two of the same Species stood together, the comparison became very clear.
Even Zheng Weixin has withdrawn, what’s the point of competing with Wang Bing? Coming here today is just to make up the numbers, right?
Chen Xing paid more attention to the other participant’s beast. So this was the Armored Land Rhino. It was his first time observing one up close; unlike the adult Armored Land Rhinos seen online with their skin layered like armor, this young Armored Land Rhino had smooth and glossy skin like it had been coated in wax, plump and round, resembling a white dumpling. Its eyes were small but constantly darting around, revealing it was full of tricks, not as honest and straightforward as it seemed.
“Teacher Kuang, what do you think of these students?” Lu Junxiang quietly asked the buzz-cut man who stood with hands behind his back, not given to laughter or speech.
Kuang Shiyi had been focused on the Taotie ever since the three students had summoned their beasts.
Kuang Shiyi nodded slightly. “Not bad.”
“Which one is not bad?”
Kuang Shiyi looked at Lu Junxiang with a half-smile, knowing full well what he was thinking, but Kuang was also a straightforward person, “Your student is not bad.”
“The other two students’ beasts are just mediocre. The current school team’s beasts are mostly of this level of talent. Your student’s beast clearly surpasses the other two by a level. It’s hard to say about the city’s top scholar, but as long as he doesn’t waste his talent, becoming the district’s top scholar shouldn’t be a problem.”
“So, about the school team…”
Kuang Shiyi spoke indifferently, “Whether he gets into the school team depends on the principal’s arrangement. It wouldn’t hurt to go in and gain some early experience. Otherwise, he might get stuck in Eighth Middle School and start thinking he has no rivals among his peers.”
“Let’s begin the data measurement.”
Soon, the results of the beast data testing came out.
Chen Xing’s beast was leagues ahead.
In fact, without the need for instruments, Chen Xing had already seen the detailed data through the Stone Booklet.
[Species]Salty Bay Crocodile (Taotie)
[Body Length]180cm
[Body Weight]45.02kg
[State]Healthy (Slightly Hungry)
[Attribute]Water Element
[Energy Level]7.42
[Energy Level Limit]38
[Skills]
Passive Skill: Water Mimicry·Rest
The results came out, and it was as expected by everyone present, but some procedures still had to be followed.
Director Sun suddenly took out his phone and answered a call, “Hello, Principal? What? Alright alright, I’ll notify them right away.”
After hanging up, Director Sun announced a message, “There’s been a change in plans.”
Amid the confused and anxious looks from everyone, Director Sun said, “All three of you have been selected.”
“What!”
“That’s great.” Zhou Hao didn’t expect this pleasant surprise, thinking he was just going through the motions.
“Principal Xue has just been to the city education department and secured 3 additional spots from the director. Later on, notify the other students who made the top ten in the last monthly exam. The last spot will be competed for by the remaining students.”