Chapter 3: The Struggle for the Quota
At Tang San’s house, even in broad daylight, bursts of snoring could be heard.
Hearing the sound, Old Jack was fuming with rage. On such an important day as the Spirit Awakening, Tang Hao could actually still sleep.
He raised his palm and pounded on the wooden door of Tang San’s house with a series of bangs, shouting angrily while knocking:
"Tang Hao, Tang Hao, get out here right now!"
After a good while, the snoring coming from the room stopped abruptly.
Then came a series of heavy footsteps. The sound drew closer until, with a creak, the wooden door was opened.
A tall man stood behind the door. He was sloppily dressed in patched clothes, his hair was as messy as a bird’s nest, and beneath that nest was a rugged face covered in stubble. He spoke irritably:
"Old Jack, what’s with all the knocking! You’re about to smash the door. I need to sleep in the morning; if you want farm tools made, come back in the afternoon."
This tall man was Tang San’s father, Tang Hao!
Though he dressed unkemptly, his powerful physique still gave off a massive sense of impact. In front of him, most people would find their Aura weakening.
However, as the village chief, Old Jack maintained his full Aura even in front of Tang Hao.
Old Jack’s eyes widened as he looked at the unmotivated Tang Hao. He was so angry his beard trembled as he scolded him grumpily:
"Tang Hao, how can you sleep? Do you know what day it is today? Today is the annual Spirit Awakening day!"
"For the children of the village, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change their fate. If they can awaken a powerful Spirit and become a noble Spirit Master, they can leave this village!"
Hearing Old Jack’s words, Tang Hao reached out a broad palm and scratched his head nonchalantly, his tone carrying a hint of mockery:
"Spirit Master, heh... Spirit Master, is that so impressive? It’s not as practical as a good drink. Little San, what are you still doing outside? Hurry back and cook for me!"
As a successor of feudal values, Tang San was submissive toward figures like monarchs and fathers. Hearing Tang Hao’s command, Tang San obediently went back to cook.
This was simply Tang San’s personality. When facing his father or a ruler, he never dared to show any resistance from beginning to end.
Later, when he became a God King and a father himself, he would manipulate his subordinates and children at will, completely disregarding the thoughts of others.
Only Old Jack was hopping mad at Tang Hao. Their village was named Saint Spirit Village precisely because a Spirit Saint had once come from it, which was Old Jack’s pride.
Old Jack dreamed of another Spirit Saint emerging from the village. Hearing Tang Hao belittle Spirit Masters like this made him furious.
Old Jack had already given up hope on a piece of rotten wood like Tang Hao, but for Tang San, he was still willing to provide an opportunity.
Old Jack glared at Tang Hao, his spit flying as he spoke:
"Tang Hao, you can be a drunkard for the rest of your life, but Little San is still young. He can’t become a drunkard like you."
"Little San and Little Chen from the village—even though they only awakened Blue Silver Grass, even the Spirit Master in charge of the Awakening said their talent is excellent. Both have Innate Full Spirit Power."
"The village has one Work-Study Student quota. I’ve decided to have Little San and Little Chen draw lots to see who gets to use it."
A strange light flashed in Tang Hao’s eyes upon hearing this, but he quickly returned to his nonchalant attitude:
"Blue Silver Grass is a trash Spirit. Even pigs would reject it if you fed it to them. So what if it’s Innate Full Spirit Power? You can give that Work-Study Student quota to whoever you want, we don’t care for it."
"Besides, Little San still has to cook for me. If he goes to school, there’ll be no one to cook for me in the future."
After saying that, Tang Hao slammed the door shut with a bang, ignoring Old Jack completely.
Even though Old Jack was fuming, there was nothing he could do. After all, Tang Hao was Tang San’s father; he couldn’t make decisions for Tang San in Tang Hao’s place.
As a result, there was no longer a need to draw lots for the Work-Study Student quota.
Old Jack turned around to look at Lu Chen’s family of three. His face still carried some anger, but his tone had softened compared to before:
"Little Chen, since Tang Hao doesn’t care for the Work-Study Student quota, then our village’s quota belongs to you. Go back and prepare well. When Nuoding Academy in Nuoding City starts its term, I will personally take you to school."
After Old Jack gave the Work-Study Student quota to Lu Chen, Lu Chen’s father, Lu An, and his mother, Rose, both looked extremely happy.
Their son was going to make something of himself!
Even if he was just a Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master, he would still be a noble Spirit Master and would no longer be an ordinary person in the village.
With a smile on his face, Lu Chen thought playfully to himself:
’Does this count as me snatching Tang San’s Luck? If Tang San can’t go to Nuoding Academy, he’ll just be an ordinary person in the village from now on. This development is quite interesting.’
After the quota’s ownership was settled, Old Jack and Lu Chen’s family of three left together.
But before they could get far, with a creak, the door to Tang San’s house opened again. Tang Hao led Tang San out, and the father and son duo caught up with them in great strides.
Old Jack and Lu Chen’s family all turned back in confusion.
After catching up, Tang Hao’s eyes were wide like bronze bells as he spoke in a rugged voice:
"Old Jack, you said the Saint Spirit Village’s Work-Study Student quota would be decided by drawing lots, right? I agree to it."
Old Jack frowned and scolded him loudly:
"Tang Hao, what kind of madness is this now? You were the one who didn’t care for the quota just now!"
"Now that I’ve already given the quota to Little Chen, you come asking for it? I’m telling you, it’s too late."
The quota had already been given to someone else!
Tang Hao’s brow furrowed immediately!
Earlier, he thought Tang San had only awakened the trash Spirit Blue Silver Grass, so he was disinterested and didn’t care for the quota.
Now he knew that Tang San had also awakened his Clear Sky Hammer—twin spirits and Innate Full Spirit Power. This gave Tang Hao hope for revenge, so naturally, he wanted to fight for the Work-Study Student quota.
Thinking of this, Tang Hao turned to look at Lu Chen’s family. His eyes glared, and a fierce, violent Aura suddenly swept out.
Lu An and Rose were just ordinary farmers; how could they withstand Tang Hao’s Aura? Their bodies went limp, and they collapsed to the ground.
Even though Lu Chen’s body was stronger and he could barely remain standing, his consciousness went blank for a moment, and his thoughts seemed to freeze.
After all, the opponent was the Clear Sky Douluo, holder of the Slaughter God Domain. Bullying Lu Chen’s family of ordinary people was simply too easy.
After intimidating Lu Chen’s family, Tang Hao spoke in a flat tone:
"Old Jack, since they haven’t said anything, you should reconsider the ownership of this Work-Study Student quota."
(End of Chapter)
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