Chapter 12: Cultivation Manual, Free Upon Registration! (Part Two)

The cafeteria was located not far from the dormitory area, right next to the sports field. This design made it convenient for students to head to the field after eating, or to rush straight into the cafeteria with their schoolbags in hand, racing against the clock. Breakfast was served early here; when Shi Tiexin arrived, it was not yet 6:50, but the entrance was already a bustling scene, as if several waves of students had already come and gone. The pace here was entirely different from Tumubao, and Shi Tiexin wondered who these diligent people were, tightening the string of anxiety within him. He hurried inside.

He lifted the semi-transparent, thick plastic curtain—something he had never seen before—and was met with the smell of food. The warmth of it wasn’t exactly pleasant, but compared to the reeking shoes in the Taigu building, it was far more tolerable. Besides, Shi Tiexin was famished. The aroma made him smack his lips, nearly drooling.

The cafeteria was packed with long tables, and across from them, a row of serving windows. Not all windows were open—perhaps breakfast was kept simple. On closer look, the windows were distinctly divided into two sections, with clear signs: one for regular classes and another for the elite classes.

Breakfast for the regular class was indeed inferior to that of the elite class. Even the tables for the regulars were more crowded and of poorer quality than those for the elite.

A sudden memory surfaced—this cafeteria had a second floor. The second floor was far superior to the first, with square and round tables instead of long ones, and wooden chairs with padded covers and tablecloths instead of fixed hard plastic stools.

Legend had it there were even private rooms.

Most importantly, you could order dishes!

It was practically VIP treatment.

But the second floor wasn’t open to just anyone; only students from the honors class and faculty could dine upstairs. Anyone else could try, but it would be pointless—Fengming No. 1 High School’s meal cards were linked to student information. If you weren’t authorized, your card wouldn’t work.

Such blatant discrimination truly echoed the saying, “Knowledge changes fate.” If you excelled, you enjoyed privileges. If you failed, no matter how influential your parents were, you wouldn’t get a taste of the upstairs fare.

At least, that was the theory…

No time to waste—grab your meal card, eat, and get to studying!

These days, talking wasn’t easy, so Shi Tiexin rehearsed his words in his mind, ready to blurt them out when the time came—

Auntie!

I’m starving!

Give me ten big buns!

I’m about to unleash carnage, just let me swipe my card!

Swipe—swipe… but wait… where’s my meal card?!

Shi Tiexin patted himself down, but the card was nowhere to be found. Then it hit him—it was in his schoolbag.

Where was the schoolbag?

Still in the classroom of Class 7, Grade 10!

Damn it…

He couldn’t hold out any longer, his limbs growing weak. He needed to eat something, anything. Looking around, he suddenly spotted something free—soup! Several large soup urns stood in the corner of the cafeteria, no card required, self-serve.

Shi Tiexin strode over in a few quick steps: plain rice soup.

He stirred it with the ladle—more water than rice.

No, to be precise, much more water, very little rice!

But he couldn’t afford to be picky. Two bowls of soup would do for now. He ladled out two bowls, turned around, and took a few steps, drinking as he walked.

First step, left hand up, bowl to lips, head tilted back—gone in a gulp.

Second step, right hand up, bowl to lips, head tilted back—gone again.

Shi Tiexin paused, realizing that after just two steps, both hands were empty. He smacked his lips—the stuff tasted like dishwater, flavorless and bland. Still, with two bowls of hot liquid in his stomach, he felt much better.

Why not have two more?

So Shi Tiexin circled back, repeating the process. Left bowl, right bowl, both vanished down his throat in quick succession. But just drinking soup left his stomach feeling empty and lonely; he needed something solid.

Ignoring the glares from other students, Shi Tiexin commandeered the soup urn, scraping the bottom and sides with the big ladle until he managed to gather half a bowl of swollen rice grains. He poured in more soup, didn’t bother with chopsticks, and gulped down the tasteless mixture.

A long belch escaped him—this one felt different. Ordinary burps ended with food, but this one ended with water and a hint of stomach acid. He patted his belly; it sloshed like a water balloon. But under the circumstances, this was the best he could do. Time to fetch the meal card.

He dashed out of the cafeteria in long strides, crossed the field, and headed straight for the academic building. The elite and key class classrooms were in the same building—the one with the slogan “Knowledge Changes Fate” emblazoned in red—though on different floors. The elite class was higher up, the key class below. Each morning, the fourth-floor staircase was a significant checkpoint; those climbing higher were met with envy and awe from those who stopped there. No words were needed—everyone knew that only the top students ascended to the fifth floor.

Class 7, Grade 10 was on the third floor, and Shi Tiexin found it easily.

He entered the classroom, which was nearly full. Most students were at their desks, absorbed in study, the atmosphere electric with determination. They were so focused that no one even noticed Shi Tiexin’s entrance.

But not everyone was so absorbed.

“Well, if it isn’t our top scholar Shi!” a boy suddenly called out, loud enough for the whole class to hear, making everyone look up. The boy stood up, feigning friendliness, and shouted, “Everything alright, Scholar Shi? I heard your whole dorm was cleared out—don’t tell me you’ve been expelled!”

The room fell silent; all eyes were on Shi Tiexin.

Shi Tiexin glanced at the boy. Yes, this was the one who had been spreading rumors in the hallway yesterday. What was his name again? He tried to recall… but couldn’t. Apparently, his other self hadn’t paid attention to him—just another “nameless someone.”

Still, he seemed to be one of the top students in Class 7.

Shi Tiexin ignored him and went to pack his things, stuffing all his books into his bag.

Seeing this, someone muttered, “Wait… is he really getting kicked out? He didn’t do anything, did he?”

“No, he’s not being expelled,” the nameless boy answered from across the room, his voice booming so everyone could hear. “I heard Teacher Jia, our homeroom teacher, pleaded on his behalf and he avoided a major demerit. But our Scholar Shi is being transferred out of Class 7—to Class 28!”