A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1431 Wu Shanshan: You're not human! (Please subscribe!)

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"Item upgrade card?"

Hua Shier looked at the two cards that were flashing with dazzling light on the system page and couldn't help but feel curious. This was the first time he had drawn such a thing. He immediately checked the item information on the system page.

The 'Item Upgrade Card' combines the charm of the past with the style of new life, crafted by nature, and connects the object with the spirit.

[Grade]: Rule-based rare item (no specific grade; its effect depends on the potential and causality of the target item)

[Source]: The 'creation opportunity' condensed by the system contains a trace of the Daoist charm that enlightens all things, traces back to the origin, and reshapes the true form.

(Note: This card follows the principle of "awakening the origin and reshaping the true form," providing items with an opportunity for a 'leap'. Its upgrade path follows the inherent rank of the world!)

The following is an introduction to upgrading the card's tier:

Mortal Realm: Ordinary Iron → Refined Steel → Divine Weapon (Contains a faint aura of malevolence or spiritual light)

Magic Item Tier:
Magical artifact (with initial spiritual effects) → Spiritual artifact (possesses spirituality and can be easily controlled) → Magical treasure (possesses significant power and requires refinement)

Acquired magic weapon → Acquired spiritual treasure (containing a complete acquired restriction or law)

Spirit Treasure Rank:
Acquired spiritual treasures (low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, top-grade) → Innate spiritual treasures (containing innate, indestructible spiritual light, and possessing the laws of the Great Dao)
Innate spiritual treasures are also divided into levels, from low to high: Innate (ordinary) → Top-level Innate → Supreme Innate Treasure.

(Note: Upgrading is not about creating something out of thin air, but rather about greatly accelerating and guiding an item to complete the 'next stage,' which theoretically might require millions of years of natural evolution or legendary encounters. The effect is particularly significant for items that already possess spirituality or a foundation.)
When Hua Shier saw the words "rules-based", his eyes lit up. As everyone knows, rules are the most ruthless.

Of course, some people will argue that breaking the rules is the most ruthless thing to do, and then others will argue that if a rule can be broken, it means that the rule is not ruthless enough!

Okay, so this is the chicken-and-egg problem, it doesn't matter. What matters is that Hua Shier knows this card is awesome!

Hua Shier unleashed the Yin-Yang Twin Swords he had nurtured in his dantian, instantly causing wind and thunder to rise from the ground. He wondered if he should give one sword to the other and upgrade their grades, which would save him at least a thousand or ten thousand years of effort.

But then he thought again and put the flying sword away. Why rush this thing? He could travel through the heavens; what if he needed the Eastern Emperor Bell or the Pangu Axe later? If he could get two of these cards with the complete Pangu Axe, hehehehe...
Just thinking about it makes Hua Twelve drool. If that were really the case, he'd dare shout it out across all the heavens and myriad realms:
"Who else? Come here, all of you!"

The combination of two iconic scenes and lines is simply awesome and domineering.

Well, after thinking it over, Hua Shier decided to put the two cards aside for now. After all, the items were stored in the system and could be used whenever needed, so there was no rush.

After closing the system page, Hua Shier looked at the restored 'Remnant Garden' and thought that given the security situation of this era, if no one lived here for a long time, probably not many good things would remain when he came back.

Don't be fooled by the fact that it's a newly renovated garden. The previous owner left behind quite a few things, such as the calligraphy and paintings on the walls of the study and living room, and some porcelain pieces. These would be considered antiques in later years, but they weren't very valuable in this era. The previous owner immigrated to Hong Kong Island, thinking he would buy new ones there, so he left them all behind.

Hua Shier immediately snapped his fingers, and a mirror space enveloped the entire Remnant Garden, leaving only the main entrance exposed.

In this way, anyone else who wants to enter the Remnant Garden can only do so through the main gate. Those who want to climb over the wall or use other methods will eventually end up back where they started, just like being lost in a maze.

As for the main gate, that's easy to say. Hua Shier used his magic to unleash two beams of golden light, which strengthened the gate and the lock. Unless someone had the key, it would be impossible to open, not even by smashing it.

After doing all this, Hua Shier put away the incense table, took out household items, furniture, and appliances from his storage space, and decorated the front and back houses to his liking before using his escape technique to return to the Su family.

But just as he was about to make a move, he remembered what had happened earlier that day when Huang Ling had prayed for him at Xiyuan Temple, and his curiosity was piqued.

He immediately made a hand seal, mounted a cloud, and headed towards Saionji Temple.

A few breaths later, Hua Shier appeared in front of the Ji Gong statue in the Luohan Hall of Xiyuan Temple.

When he was still known as "Qiao Zuwang", he once saw a news article in the newspaper saying that when "You Benchang" was playing Ji Gong, he specially came to Xiyuan Temple in Suzhou to see the statue of Ji Gong, and only then did he find inspiration for his performance, which made his portrayal of Ji Gong lifelike and deeply rooted in people's hearts.

Seeing this statue of Ji Gong Arhat with my own eyes now, isn't it just like the lyrics of the song, "His shoes are torn, his hat is torn, and his cassock is torn"?

Hua Shier used his divine sense to investigate and indeed sensed something different. Although this world was also in the Dharma-ending Age, there was still a trace of spirituality on this statue, protected by incense and faith, but that was all the spirituality left.

He smiled and made a Taoist hand seal: "Greetings, fellow Daoist!"

The statue seemed to be smiling at him, and a faint message came through his divine sense:
"I never expected to see the Emperor in this degenerate age. It is fate that we meet. I, this humble monk, will bestow upon the Emperor a great opportunity."

Then the statue seemed to come to life, pointing in a certain direction. When you looked again, the statue was still the same, as if everything before was an illusion.

Hua Shier looked somewhat embarrassed. He was actually titled "Emperor Huimin," but he always felt uncomfortable when others called him "Emperor."

He nodded slightly to the statue of Ji Gong, glanced at the direction Ji Gong was pointing, and without rushing to investigate, used his magic to return to Zhuangjia Village in the third alley of the cotton mill and switch back to his clone.

He wasn't in a hurry for opportunities; what was meant to be would be his. He'd wait until after the high school entrance exam.

In June, the entrance exams for junior high school and the high school entrance exams arrived as scheduled. Lin Dongzhe and Zhuang Xiaoting were said to have done well, but the results would not be known until early July. Song Ying clasped her hands together and prayed to the Bodhisattva for blessings. She said that if her mischievous son could get into the No. 1 Middle School, she would definitely fulfill her vow.

During the high school entrance exam, Hua Shier performed consistently well. As soon as he sat down in the exam room, he closed his eyes to rest, exuding an invincible aura of "If I don't get full marks, who will?"

Then the proctor shouted, "Is that kid asleep? Hurry up and answer the questions, what are you sitting there for!"

Hua Shier: Do you even know what it means to cultivate power? You're proctoring exams? Look at your uncultured appearance!

Well, all of the above were his internal complaints, but outwardly he still had to pick up a pen and quickly write them down.

His penmanship, comparable to Wen Zhengming's regular script, drew a second glance from the proctors who walked past him. Their eyes were filled with amazement, and they wondered if they had been a little too loud and disrespectful to the calligrapher.

In early July, the results of the primary school entrance exam and the high school entrance exam were released one after another. Lin Dongzhe and Zhuang Xiaoting both did well and were successfully admitted to No. 1 Middle School.

Wu Shanshan achieved the second-best score in the city in this middle school entrance examination.

Hua Shier: Tell me who's number one! Shout out their name!

Okay, this guy got full marks in all subjects and went from junior high to senior high school, which is really unfair.

The alley was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and a red ribbon was hung at the entrance of the alley, which read: Congratulations to Lin Dongzhe and Zhuang Xiaoting, children of our factory workers, for being admitted to No. 1 Middle School, and congratulations to Wu Shanshan, a child of our factory worker, for ranking second in the city in the high school entrance examination.

The neighbors from the whole street came over, pointing and whispering around the red ribbon. Although getting into the top high school was an achievement, Wu Shanshan's second place in the city was what they were really focused on.

Wu Jianguo's face lit up with a big smile as he introduced his daughter to his coworkers and neighbors: "That's my daughter, that's my daughter!" Everyone complimented Wu Jianguo on how well he had raised her, making Old Wu grin from ear to ear.

Zhang Amei rolled her eyes and turned to glare at her daughter Zhang Min, who was eating a popsicle. "Why can't you make your mother proud?"

Huang Ling and Song Ying were overjoyed. The latter said, "This Bodhisattva is really effective! My mischievous son, without the Bodhisattva's blessing, would he have been able to get into the top high school?"

Huang Ling reminded him, "Keep your voice down, this is superstition, don't let anyone hear!"

Song Ying wasn't afraid at all: "What's there to be afraid of, Sister Ling? Temples are open now, do you still think it's like two years ago!"

Zhuang Chaoying and Lin Wufeng, the two fathers, chuckled and laughed just like Wu the Fool from across the street.

Hua Shier looked at the red silk with a bewildered expression. Was something missing from this red silk?

He asked Zhuang Chaoying and Huang Ling, "Uncle, Aunt, the second-best in the city has been featured, but what about me? The first-best isn't featured?"

Before Zhuang Chaoying and Huang Ling could speak, Zhang Amei laughed and said:
"Pengfei, don't even think about it. Didn't you see what's written on this red silk? It says 'I'm from the factory.' Are you from the cotton mill?"

Huang Ling defended Hua Shier: "Why isn't my nephew one!"

Zhuang Chaoying smiled and said:
"This is a banner hung up by the cotton mill to commend the children of its employees. It's normal that Pengfei isn't on it. I bet the No. 1 Middle School has already put up a banner, and your name, Pengfei, must be on it!"

Hua Shier smiled and nodded. In fact, he was just saying it casually and didn't care at all whether or not to put up a banner.

But Zhang Amei's jumping around is as if she's so happy that I'm not on top of her.

Hua Shier glanced at Wu Shanshan. He felt that the exam was over, and it was time to start planning how to deal with Zhang Amei.

But then I thought, the college entrance exam is in two days, so I should wait until after Tu Nan's exam to talk about it. I don't want to get too carried away and affect the latter's mindset.

The college entrance examination in 1983 was held from July 15th to 17th.

As Zhuang Tunan walked out of the examination hall, he nodded emphatically to his parents and relatives outside: "Mom and Dad, I think I've got this exam in the bag!"

Zhuang Chaoying patted her son's shoulder excitedly: "Good son, let's go home!"

After careful consideration by the family, Zhuang Tunan finally decided to apply to the architecture department of Tongji University.

On the day the college entrance examination results were announced, red silk was once again hung at the entrance of Textile Lane 3, and banners were unfurled. The first college student among the children of the cotton mill workers was born, Zhuang Tunan.

To celebrate Zhuang Tunan's admission to university, not only did they host a dinner party at home that day, inviting Song Ying from next door and the Wu family from across the street, but the toilet also exploded that very night.

That's right, it exploded again. The "moreover" indicates that, in Hua Shier's view, this is also an important part of the celebration.

There were two victims: Zhang Amei, who was in the women's restroom, and Wu Jianguo, who was squatting in the men's restroom.

The couple ate a lot for dinner, and went to the toilet together late at night. As a result, they both got splattered on the wall by the gushing excrement.

The scene was horrific, appalling, and deafening, a shock straight to the brain.

Whether it's seeing or smelling, it can overturn a person's perception of the world.

How cruel!

While the neighbors rushed to help, Wu Shanshan turned to look for Hua Shier, who immediately ran away.
"I'm going to find the joint defense team. Tu Nan and Dong Zhe, you two go help rescue them!"

Zhuang Tunan and Lin Dongzhe, who were about to run away together, turned pale. Pengfei, you beast!
Fortunately, they were rescued. Wu Jianguo and Zhang Amei were only knocked unconscious by the excrement and were otherwise unharmed.

Zhang Amei, who woke up at the clinic, cried out, "I don't want to live anymore! This is the second time! Who's messing with me?"

At the street corner, Wu Shanshan punched Hua Shier hard and scolded him in a low voice:
"Didn't you say you weren't going to blow up the toilet? Why did you still do it? You even blew up my dad! What if something happened to him?!"

Hua Shier looked completely innocent: "I didn't throw the firecracker this time!" Feng Hou Qi Men, how about the Explosive Flame Technique?
Fortunately, after investigation, the joint defense team and the police station cleared Hua Shier of suspicion.

On the third day after the incident, the joint defense team and the police station announced the investigation results to the neighbors:
"Based on our preliminary investigation, we have determined that this accident, like the last one, was caused by a methane explosion!"

"Because the septic tank cleaners in this area have been recuperating at home for the past month, there has been a lot of buildup. In the hot summer, it is easy to produce biogas, so the biogas has reached a critical point!"

"Unfortunately, Comrade Wu Jianguo has a habit of smoking while using the toilet, so that's just how unlucky he is!"

Zhang Amei looked indignant: "I don't agree! Our latrine cleaners clean more than just this one toilet, so why aren't the other toilets being blown up?"

The joint defense team members also found it strange: "This still needs to be investigated. We can't explain these scientific things clearly; it's all up to the experts!"

Hua Shier wanted to laugh. As everyone knows, the most unreliable people are the experts. This time, he was completely out of trouble.

Zhang Amei and Zhang Min washed clothes covered in poop for several days. Within three meters of the Wu family's house, not a blade of grass grew, and no one or any animal was seen. The smell was so bad that even though Wu Shanshan hadn't washed clothes herself because she had been sold, Hua Shier avoided her these days, causing her to curse him as inhuman whenever she saw him.

Hua Shier didn't care at all. There were plenty of people criticizing him; who did he think he was?

Zhuang Tunan and Lin Dongzhe still felt nauseous thinking about the scene of being covered in grime while rescuing people that day.

Zhuang Tunan's admission to university was a joyous occasion, but a worrying situation soon followed. During his physical examination, he was found to be colorblind, which made it uncertain whether he could be admitted to the architecture department of Tongji University.

Just when the family was feeling gloomy and downcast, Hua Shier stepped forward and said that he had studied acupuncture and that treating color blindness was a piece of cake for him. Moreover, he didn't need to prick dangerous areas; he could just prick the fingers.

With a "nothing to lose" mentality, Huang Ling agreed to let him treat Zhuang Tunan.

Hua Shier performed acupuncture on Zhuang Tunan twice, with remarkable results. Zhuang Chaoying took Zhuang Tunan to Tongji Hospital in Shanghai for another eye exam, which he passed this time, much to the delight of the whole family.

Huang Ling gratefully held Hua Shier's hand, thanking him repeatedly. Behind his back, she told Zhuang Chaoying that it was a wise decision to keep this nephew. Now, good deeds are rewarded, and he's helping Tu Nan.

If she had made a mistake and refused to let her nephew stay, Tu Nan would have been devastated if she hadn't been able to get into Tongji University because of such a small matter.

Zhuang Chaoying smiled broadly and nodded repeatedly. Whether it was his nephew or his son, he felt proud and honored.

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