Before - this refers to the memory that Wu Lai has in his mind. Wu Lai was a child who was very resistant to the start of school for a long time. Because during this period, he always forgot to do his homework because of playing. There were all kinds of homework, holiday homework, and the classes his parents signed him up for. The consequences of not handing in holiday homework were not light, at least one thing was predictable, so parents who went to the school office would not be in a good mood when they came back.
It is worth noting that Wu Lai finally got rid of his bad habit of playing when he was in the third grade of elementary school.
Today, school starts again - the Assyrian Civic Academy opens.
Before entering the academy, Wu Lai still hadn't figured out two questions. First, how could there be a "college" like the "Assyrian Citizens College" in the Assyrian territory where there were no enlightenment schools in the city-states? Second, why was he so keen on entering this "college"? In fact, there was an answer, but Wu Lai was unwilling to accept it. Although the city-states in the Assyrian territory did not have institutions such as schools, the existence of temples and the unconscious study of the code of law by citizen families jointly undertook the enlightenment education of the children of the nobility. As for the "passion", one was due to curiosity, and the other was that Wu Lai originally wanted to go to the city of Assyria to find what he wanted.
Wu Lai was unwilling to accept that his teacher in this world was an alcoholic miser, even though he was his father. Similarly, Wu Lai was unwilling to cultivate too much curiosity and a mercenary temperament, which made him a little worried, because he felt that if things went on like this, he might become a guy who was addicted to money and beauty and couldn't extricate himself, and then his dream would not be realized.
So far no one knows what Woolley's dream is, but almost all residents of the Seneca city-state know that Woolley now possesses many things that people dream of - youth, health, wealth, and wisdom.
But the Assyrian Citizens College would not treat Wu Lai differently because of what he had - the reality was that only those who could enter the college were rich and powerful.
The college that was deserted a few days ago is now much more lively. There is a long queue in front of a floor-to-ceiling window on the first floor of the college's main building. Behind the window, there is a table where several guys in gorgeous clothes are busy.
Wu Lai stood in the middle of the line with a calm face. From time to time, people cut in line in front of him, and he could also hear people complaining in low voices, but he remained indifferent.
The number of students exceeded Wu Lai's imagination. He originally thought that, based on the fact that each city-state only had a few places, the academy would have no more than a hundred people. But in fact, the number of people queuing with him was more than double.
"Isn't it held every two years? How could this be?" When six or seven people in uniform walked past Wu Lai laughing, he couldn't help but frowning, because these people all looked to be in their twenties, while those queuing with Wu Lai were almost all teenagers, and some even looked younger than Wu Lai.
Soon, Wu Lai got the answer. Although the new students of the Citizen Academy were admitted every two years and the graduation examination was also held every two years, there was no regulation on the admission age and study period of the students.
The person who took the initiative to tell Wu Lai this was a teenager who was about the same age as Wu Lai, but much shorter. He was standing behind Wu Lai.
"My name is Gulu, Gulu Kochi, from Saipan City-State, Kochi Family. I'm a freshman this year, and it's nice to meet you." The short boy smiled and stretched out his hand.
"Woolley, Woolley Grindor, Seneca City-State, Grindor Family." Woolley shook Gulu's hand.
"If you have any questions about this academy, you can ask me. I know it very well." Guru stood on tiptoe and whispered in Wu Lai's ear.
Wu Lai smiled and asked, "Why are you so familiar with this place? Aren't you a freshman?"
“My great-grandfather, grandfather, great-uncle, father and his brothers have all been here. I have four older brothers, three of whom have also been here. Now it’s me, and in a few years, my two younger brothers may also come here,” the guru replied.
"Huh? How did your family get so many places?" Wu Lai felt a little strange.
"Quota?" Gulu was stunned for a moment, then a smile appeared on his face. "I understand, Wu Lai, you were recommended by the city-state, right?"
"Yeah, aren't you?" Wu Lai asked back.
Guru shook his head. "Saipan City won't recommend me. I came here in the name of my family, which is different from you. For example, I have to pay a lot of money to the academy, but you only need to pay some basic fees. Otherwise, I won't be allowed to take the exam here."
So you are a self-funded student. After thinking this in his heart, Wu Lai smiled bitterly and shook his head.
I am a recommended student, he said to himself.
When it was finally Wu Lai's turn, it was almost lunch time. After standing for the entire morning, Wu Lai felt very hungry.
"Citizen Wu Lai, please pay twenty gold coins first." After carefully reading Wu Lai's letter of introduction, the person behind the desk raised his head.
Wu Lai took out his purse, counted out twenty-two gold coins, and stacked them on the table.
The man behind the table glanced at the stack of gold coins, frowned, took two coins from the stack and threw them at Wu Lai: "Citizen Wu Lai, are you reminding me that you can't count, or what do you mean?"
Wu Lai was startled, then grinned: "Sorry, I counted wrong."
"I hope so." The man behind the desk glanced at Woolley and added, "This is Citizens College, not some other place."
Wu Lai nodded and looked up to the thin old man behind the table who looked to be at least fifty years old.
There was a hint of murderous intent in his eyes, as well as a hint of indifference that made him look intimidating without even getting angry. He must be from a military background, Wu Lai said in his heart.
After a while, the old man behind the table slowly handed a stack of papers to Wu Lai, not even bothering to raise his eyelids: "Next."
"Citizen Wu Lai, go and pay your fee. I will come to you later." Guru winked at Wu Lai.
Paying fees? Wu Lai was stunned, thinking, didn't I just pay? After looking through the stack of papers in his hand, Wu Lai realized that the twenty gold coins he just paid were only the registration fee. There was still a lot more money to be spent -
The first payment is tuition, 800 gold coins per year, to be paid in one lump sum after two years; the second payment is clothing fee, 120 gold coins per year, to be paid in one lump sum after two years; the third payment is accommodation fee, 120 gold coins per year, to be paid in one lump sum after two years; the fourth payment is food and water fee, which is divided into two levels, 80 gold coins per year for the basic level and 240 gold coins per year for the standard level, both to be paid in one lump sum after two years; the fifth payment...
"Is this a robbery? Didn't Sibanok say that it only cost three or four hundred gold coins a year?" Wu Lai was confused and had the urge to leave immediately. Not only was this charge far beyond Wu Lai's expectations, but most importantly - Wu Lai didn't bring that much money.
To be precise, Wu Lai, who had made the wrong estimate, only brought a total of one thousand gold coins this time, which means that he could not even take out half of the payment amount.
Wu Lai, who had never been troubled by money in either world, was really in a dilemma this time.
"I should have asked earlier, just in case I could postpone the payment." Wu Lai said to himself, but this was just talk. In fact, he knew very well that according to the college's attitude, it would be impossible for this "just in case" to happen. So, now there are only two choices before Wu Lai, first, borrow, second, go back to Seneca to get it. Of these two choices, the probability of success of the first one is so slim that it can be ignored.
Just as I was thinking, Guru came up to me at a trot and said, "Wu Lai, why are you still here? Are you waiting for me?"
Wu Lai sighed and said with a smile: "If you say so, then so be it."
"You're really interesting." Guru raised the stack of papers in his hand, "Let's go pay the bill together?"
"You go first, I haven't thought about it yet." Wu Lai said.
Guru frowned, looked Wu Lai up and down for a while, and asked in a low voice: "Wu Lai, you didn't bring enough money, did you?"
"You've figured out all this, you're amazing. Well, you go ahead and do your thing, I'll be out for a while." Wu Lai laughed and turned around and walked away.
"Wait a minute." Guru quickly grabbed Wu Lai, looked around and saw that no one was paying attention, so he stood on tiptoe again and leaned close to Wu Lai's ear and asked, "How much is the difference?"
Wu Lai was stunned and thought to himself that he couldn't be so lucky. How could a guy who seemed willing to help suddenly appear out of nowhere?
“Speak,” urged the guru.
"Well, we're short of more than 1,400." Wu Lai felt his cheeks getting hot when he finished speaking.
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Guru was also stunned. After examining Wu Lai for a long time, he nodded slowly and said, "I understand."
What do you understand? Wu Lai wondered curiously.
In the end, Wu Lai never figured out what Guru understood, but he soon experienced Guru's generosity - Guru not only lent him the part of the gap, but also lent him an extra fifty gold coins.
"Please believe me, this is my limit, Wu Lai. You only need to pay more than 2,400 coins in total, while I pay four times as much as you." Guru said seriously.
"Thank you, I will definitely return it to you as soon as possible." Wu Lai nodded.
Guru smiled and said, "Wu Lai, you are too polite. There is really no need to worry. Just treat me as a friend."
"I will, Gulu." Woolley held out his hand and said with a smile, "I owe you one."
“Now you know why the fee payment is at the entrance of the college, right?” Guru asked jokingly.
"Of course." Wu Lai laughed. This logic was simple. Every student needed to pay a large sum of gold coins. The academy did not allow slaves to enter. If they did not collect the money at the door, many pampered guys would be exhausted to death.
"If you don't mind, how about we choose to live together?" Guru asked with a smile.
"I have no objection at all." Wu Lai replied. The college's rule is that every two students live in a small stone building. Of course, if you cannot accept this, you can also live outside the college, but you still have to pay the full accommodation fee.
"I have a brother who said that in the academy..." Guru had just said half of his words when an abrupt voice appeared.
"Huh? Isn't this the coward?" This was the voice of a young girl.
Wu Lai turned around in surprise, then frowned slightly, but a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "What a coincidence." Judging from the voice and figure, the person who spoke was the girl on horseback who he met on the road, and behind her stood three of the five young men that day, including the chestnut-haired man and the dark-faced man.
Guru shut up tactfully, because he had heard the unkindness in the girl's tone, and also saw the mockery in the eyes of the three people behind her.
"Yes, what a coincidence. It's really true. The academy is getting worse and worse. They accept all kinds of people." The girl crossed her arms and glanced at Wu Lai and Guru with contempt. She turned around and asked the three people behind her, "What do you think a coward wants to come to the academy? Is the academy short of money? Or, which village in the Assyrian territory wants a coward to govern it?"
"Never heard of it!" The three men laughed in unison, causing many students to look over here.
"Wulai, let's go." Gulu tugged at Wulai's sleeve. The nameplate on the girl's belt made him feel a sense of danger and fear.
"Don't worry, I still have a question." Wu Lai smiled at Guru and glanced at the girl's delicate and beautiful face. "Excuse me, is your friend who was shot in the butt by the robber feeling better?"
The girl frowned. "I don't allow you to speak to me in such a rude way. And I have to remind you that your words are insulting a brave warrior."
"Brave soldier?" A bewildered look appeared on Woolley's face. "Wasn't he shot in the butt while running away? What was his name?"
"Shut up! He didn't run away, it was you who ran away!" The black-faced man pointed at Wu Lai viciously.
"How could he be shot in the butt if he didn't run away? Logically, he should be shot in the thigh or abdomen." Wu Lai rolled his eyes. As soon as he said this, the people around him began to whisper. They thought that maybe what Wu Lai said was true. After all, everyone knew that only when you turn your back to the enemy will you be shot in the butt.
"Coward! Not only did you desert the battlefield, but you also dared to slander others! I will remember you." The girl glared at Wu Lai and said.
"It's an honor to be remembered by you. I have to say, you are actually quite good-looking. You are the kind of woman I like." Wu Lai nodded and said with a smile.
"Very good, you will definitely regret what you said today. Originally, I could still forgive your cowardly behavior that day, but now you have no chance." The girl took two steps forward, with even more contempt on her lips, "By the way, my name is Eddie Shuman."
The dark-faced man raised his right arm: "And me, Quickshuman."
The chestnut-haired man laughed and raised his right hand: "Good boy, you are in big trouble. I am Boti Shuman."
The third man behind Eddie Shuman smiled bitterly and shook his head. After a slight hesitation, he raised his voice and said, "Count me in. I'm Gu Kuredon."