Chapter 3 (2/2)

Within the classroom, the mood was tense and brimmed with students put under strenuous mental pressure over the university entrance exain in less than ten days

I et in

Must not fail

I need to get in

Make my family proud

I have to get in

Must bring honor

I cannot fail

These are but one of the hts the students are burdened with

The entrance examination has become their top priority

The co to the lowest of the socioeconomic class like Li Zhen are in a predicament vexed over their financial troubles Soe ways to scrap money for the entrance fee as soon as possible

And there are others with the financial backing and instead loaded with the stress of passing the entrance exa honor to their family

The Kyushu En power and resources are consolidated by the Royal Family or controlled by the hands of a small nuers

There is nothing more precious in this world than resources He who coreat wealth will have the ability to centralize power and dominate every aspect of life

For the common people to enjoy the benefits of the empire’s resources which they lack, one needs to have the qualification to pass the entrance examination: money and brains After all, the Royal Family and the powerful individuals attaches itself to the University and places great importance towards it

By passing the entrance exareat talent worthy of praise and able to contribute to the empire could you be taken care of without worries for the rest of your life

Ans so the only hopes of the co coincides with the entrance examinationCorruption is prevalent in this society and too oftenup the socioecono some sort of herculean sacrifice

Wealth inequality is vast

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer

The common people don’t lack the character, nor the ambition, nor the passion, nor the mindset to succeed like Li Zhen The only proble, of education, of directional guide, and the opportunity and such continue the ongoing cycle of poverty

The only road to succeed and become someone, the only way toor have the capabilities to enter the University

Qiantang Valley

Li Zhen is walking in the valley of filth

It is a depressing place

An emotional dump of destroyed dreams

Those scurrying to find scraps of wastes in this valley of filth are the kind who cannot afford to drea They must live day to day

But Li Zhen is different

He dreams day to day

“Why you not in school?” The boss inquired

“Today’s class was boring Basic math It’s better I earn some money” Li Zhen handed the scraps collected earlier froe for currency

“Haha, you not getting cold feet are ya? Feel threatened by the entrance examination?”

“No” Li Zhen gave a soft smile and walked back to the valley of filth

Hours passed and noon ca hot

Li Zhen had grown exhausted and famished from the day’s work He hadn’t eaten since yesterday, al out under the sinister sun and unwilling to spend the money he’d saved froh and low in the body of filth for so to fill his appetite

Thereafter he took shelter under a colossal boulder