Chapter 24.1: The Mutual Aid Group (Part One)
On the first day of August, Chen Chuan arrived at Martial Valor University early in the morning and pushed his bicycle through the university gate.
Just like last time, he went in through the side door. Occasionally, luxurious cars drove through the main gate and went straight to the staircase leading to the main hall.
When he stepped into the university territory, Chen Chuan found that there were even more people coming compared to the day he took the entrance exam. It made sense. When he came on the day of the entrance exam, the group he saw had only been one batch. They were all Yangzhi City locals.
In truth, a few hundred thousand people of suitable age from Yangzhi City and outside it took the entrance exam every year. Many people got admitted into Martial Valor University through the entrance exam stations in other counties. The number of people who were not from Yangzhi City made up more than half of the new students, and that ratio seemed to be increasing every year.
Chen Chuan followed the signage and went with the other students to the old building where he registered for the entrance exam.
After he received instructions from an upperclassman standing in front of the building, he went to the training hall that served as the exam site and filled out a form. Once he handed it in, he soon received a maroon student ID.
He took a look. It had the photo he submitted, along with his temporary student ID number. Holding this ID, he could now confidently call himself a Martial Valor University student.
Even if he had yet to pass the follow-up exam, getting the ID alone put Chen Chuan in a good mood. Right then, he heard a cheer. When he turned around, he saw another student shouting excitedly after getting his student ID. Chen Chuan could understand his feelings well.
After all, this ID meant that they had stepped onto a path that would lead them to a brighter future. Chen Chuan could not say just how far down the path he could go, but at the very least, he had a path to tread now.
Based on the booklet the university gave before this, he could apply for a dorm room once he got the student ID. But the dorm assignment was temporary, and it was currently only provided for the students who were not Yangzhi City locals and had yet to find a place to stay. After the follow-up exam, the dorms would be reassigned based on the students’ exam results.
Chen Chuan had told Nian Fuli that he was going to move out, but since neither Yu Wan nor Nian Fuli were telling him to leave and he still needed to go to Yu Gang’s place to train for the remainder of August, it was better to stay. The university was further from the Domain of Fists, and it would supervise his action, so Chen Chuan decided to wait for a while and only make his decision after the follow-up exam.
What he needed to do right then was to get the specifics of the follow-up exam.
After he left the training hall, he saw a sign on the wall of the cement stairs, which read “Follow-up Entrance Examination Guidance”. All the students who left the training hall walked upstairs, so he followed them to the second floor.
The training hall had been divided into small areas with partition walls. One of the students got up from his seat and left with the items he received, so Chen Chuan went over and took the seat. The person sitting across from him was a bespectacled upperclassman with a gentle countenance. He said, “Please show me your student ID.”
Chen Chuan handed over the student ID he had just received. Once the upperclassman verified it, he said, “Chen Chuan, my apologies for asking such a rude question, but will you have any trouble paying your tuition fees?”
“Why do you ask?” Chen Chuan asked.
“Well, every year, we have quite a number of students who can’t pay their tuition fees because they come from poor families. It leads to them either failing to pay their tuition fees for an extended period of time, or having to get a loan or to fight in underground fighting rings. Because of this, the student council formed the Mutual Aid Group.”
The upperclassman offered a smile. “As long as the two parties sign an agreement, the Mutual Aid Group sponsors the student. The student can then pay the group back after graduation. That way, the students can study in peace.”
Chen Chuan understood what it was now. It was a financial aid group, a specialty of the Great Shun Republic. By providing funds or other forms of aid to individuals or groups with potential, they got certain returns.
Even though it sounded nice on paper, in most cases, the person or group receiving the aid would end up becoming a tool for the sponsors to use in pursuing their own gains. Hence, it was best to avoid getting involved with such groups. Besides, if one passed the follow-up exam, tuition fees would not be a problem.
“Thank you, but I won’t need it for the time being,” Chen Chuan replied politely.
The upperclassman smiled and did not talk about it any further. Instead, he looked through a stack of leather envelopes and took one out before pushing it to him. “This is the information about the upperclassmen you might face during your follow-up exam. You should take a look.”
Chen Chuan thanked him and opened the envelope. He took out five mimeograph papers from within. Each piece contained the general information of a different upperclassman. It talked about their specialties and the techniques they often used.
“Five?”
Only one person would be assigned to fight him during the follow-up exam, but the university was giving him information on five people. The examinees of the past could not have possibly studied five people. Even if they wanted to, they did not have the time to do targeted training. The information was also too generalized. Chen Chuan was unable to glean almost any useful information.
The upperclassman nodded. “There are five indeed. The university doesn’t provide just the real candidate to the examinee. The students have to exercise their own judgment in this.
“But if the examinee is willing to accept financial aid from the Mutual Aid Group, the group will help analyze which upperclassman they are most likely to fight. The group can’t promise a 100% accuracy, but the group is made up of experienced upperclassmen, so the accuracy is pretty high.”
When Chen Chuan remained silent, the upperclassman continued earnestly, “I can understand that you don’t want to receive any support because you’re worried that you’ll end up having to give more in return, but the restrictions the group will place on you won’t be harsh. It won’t force you to do anything and will provide more than just financial support. It will also help with your studies. You’ll see the benefits for yourself once you join.”
The upperclassman smiled. “The follow-up exam’s goal is to find the students who are truly strong. If you’re confident and think that you can pass without relying on the Mutual Aid Group, you can choose not to accept its help.”
“I need to think about it,” Chen Chuan replied.
The upperclassman nodded in agreement. “That’s right. You should think about it. If you want to join, contact me. This is my number.”
He then took out a piece of paper he had already prepared and pushed it to Chen Chuan. “By the way, please sign this collection slip too.”
Chen Chuan took a look at the collection slip and signed it. After pushing it back, he picked up the piece of paper with the upperclassman’s contact number and stuffed it into the leather envelope, along with the five mimeograph papers. Once he finished putting everything away, he stood up, gave the upperclassman a nod, then left the place.