Study System: I'm a 38-Year-Old Student-Chapter 67 - 61: 100 Yuan Can Do a Lot

Shen Qiushan habitually checked the backend stats for "I Really Didn’t Want to Reincarnate."

Collection count: 35,086

Active readers: 19,652

Previously, Shen Qiushan had only read or listened to books and didn’t understand the world of online authors, so he had no idea how valuable these numbers were for a newbie’s new novel.

However, on the new books ranking at Penguin Novels, his book had already soared to third place.

And this was with only two rounds of recommendations. According to editor Wutong, this ratio of followers to collections was nearly unheard of.

It was said that if it kept up this momentum, the collection count would probably break 100,000 by the time it was launched for sale.

Shen Qiushan had no real concept of these stats; he only cared to ask one question—how much money can I make?

Wutong didn’t offer any specific answer, only saying it would depend on how many people subscribed after launch.

Besides, income was tied to the word count of updates, so it couldn’t be estimated right now.

Ding!

Congratulations, host, on defeating 113 people in the English Vocabulary Contest.

Reward: 11,300 Scholar Index points!

Just as Shen Qiushan was reading reader comments with interest, the system prompt suddenly rang out in his mind.

As expected!

Competitions are just like exams.

They both let you farm Scholar Index points!

Ding!

Host’s Scholar Index has reached 10,000 points.

Attribute Panel unlocked.

While Shen Qiushan was still rejoicing, the system’s voice sounded again.

Xiaohuang, Xiaohuang!

I’m here!

Shen Qiushan quickly called up the system page.

Sure enough.

The system page, which used to only show basic info, had an extra attribute panel now.

Initial Tier Attributes:

Appearance: 85

Figure: 85

Strength: 75

Speed: 78

Endurance: 70

Health: 82

High Tier Attributes:

Lifespan: 84

Martial Arts: 9

Medicine: 1

Metaphysics: 0

(Note: Every 10,000 Scholar Index points can increase 1 Initial Attribute point. Every 100,000 Scholar Index points can exchange for 1 High Tier Attribute point.)

After reading the introduction to the attribute panel, Shen Qiushan was dumbfounded.

He’d thought he was making a fortune with this haul, but 10,000 Scholar Index points only got him one measly basic attribute point.

High Tier Attributes were even more ridiculous—you needed 100,000 points for just one!

Broke!

Still way too broke!

To be honest, Shen Qiushan had been seriously thinking about how to farm Scholar Index points quickly.

At present, the most efficient way was to participate in various exams and contests.

Another way was to connect with masters or experts in different fields, since learning new subjects also got you rewards.

If you happened to meet a high-level teacher, just listening to their lectures was also a way to earn Scholar Index points.

But all of that would take time. Shen Qiushan’s current priority was still preparing for the college entrance exam.

Even though he had cheat codes for studying, there was still too much to learn, and the clock was ticking.

So Shen Qiushan’s plan was to visit famous teachers from all sorts of fields after he got into college.

After all, you’d have way more free time in college!

The evening self-study session ended.

Shen Qiushan first dropped by his old flame’s place for an extra lesson.

Study schedules were tight these days.

But when it’s time to relax, you gotta relax.

Besides, his old flame had to tutor Shen Yanran and Shen Yixiao every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

Wouldn’t even take money for it.

But you still had to return this kind of favor!

So Shen Qiushan just had to work a little harder when both kids were having lessons together.

It’s all for the kids.

Pity all the caring parents in the world!

Braving the cold early spring wind, Shen Qiushan rode his e-bike home.

He was already plotting: once he got that manuscript fee, he’d buy a car.

That way, his school commute would be more efficient.

Back home.

It was already half past eleven.

But the lights in both kids’ rooms were still on.

That rascal Shen Yixiao was probably fired up, wanting a high score in next week’s practice test.

Shen Yanran was probably feeling some pressure from her brother. After all, Shen Yixiao snagged third prize in today’s English Vocabulary Contest.

Lately, her attitude towards studying had gotten way more serious—she was working super hard!

Yanran was actually a bit worried now—if her grades got overtaken, that would be super embarrassing.

This kind of competition was exactly what Shen Qiushan loved to see.

Roll on!

The more fierce, the better!

Shen Qiushan changed into pajamas, getting ready for bed.

Then he spotted a brand new box on the coffee table.

He picked it up for a look.

It was an electric shaver.

"Xiaoxiao, got this for you!"

Just as Shen Qiushan was still puzzled—

His dad’s voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Dad, why do you walk around without making a sound?"

The shock made Shen Qiushan shudder, and when he turned, he saw Old Shen holding an identical razor.

He said proudly, "Xiaoxiao said he won third place in the English contest."

"He got a hundred bucks in prize money, and bought both of us razors with it. Said it’s 39 each, 70 for two, and they work pretty well..."

As Old Shen boasted, he pressed the power button on the shaver.

The "bzzzzz" instantly filled the quiet living room.

"Alright, enough!"

"Don’t disturb the kids’ studying."

Shen Qiushan quickly stopped his dad.

He understood the excitement.

But it wasn’t great to be making that kind of noise in the middle of the night.

What Shen Qiushan didn’t know was that Old Shen had already shown off big time—he’d snapped photos and shared them in all the family group chats.

Even though he’d received the shaver after 10 pm, he’d still run downstairs to his daughter’s house to flaunt it there too.

And it wasn’t like Shen Yixiao played favorites—after buying the razors, he used 20 of the 30 yuan left to buy two totally different hair clips.

The more elegant one went to his aunt, Shen Dehua.

The younger, more stylish one went to his sister, Shen Yanran.

When he gave Yanran the hair clip, he quipped: "Buy one get one free, you got the good end of the deal!"

After all that, there were ten yuan left from the prize.

Shen Yixiao spent eight yuan of it at the supermarket on a pack of hard Jinsas for his uncle.

With the final two yuan, he bought two lollipops.

One for himself, one for Little Potato.

And just like that, the whole 100-yuan prize was gone!

And after hearing his dad finish rambling about how his rascal boy split up the money—

Shen Qiushan found himself smiling with satisfaction.

He thought to himself: That rascal really is all grown up!

He opened the box for his new electric razor. Something that cost just over 30 yuan obviously didn’t have fancy packaging, and the workmanship looked a bit rough too.

But Shen Qiushan couldn’t help but smile.

The smile even stretched from the corners of his mouth up all the way to his ears...

He pressed the power button on reflex.

The "bzzzzz" sound filled the air at once.

Old Shen instantly glared and barked, "Turn it off!"

"Don’t disturb the kids’ studying!"

Uh...

Shen Qiushan thought this line sounded awfully familiar.

He hurriedly switched it off, and the living room returned to silence.

Old Shen sighed, "See? My grandson’s already much more sensible than you ever were!"

"When you were his age, you were always coming to me with your hand out for pocket money!"

Shen Qiushan really couldn’t refute that. Back in school, he’d never gotten even a cent of prize money.

But Shen Qiushan wouldn’t back down, so he fired back, "Well, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even have that sensible grandson!"

Upon hearing this, Old Shen instantly rounded on him, "If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even be here, brat!"