Magnate that Has a Learning Panel

These past couple of years, the overall economic environment hasn't been too good, and rumors have been circulating recently that the company might shut down.

Especially since yesterday was the 8th of the month, the wages that should have been paid hadn't been deposited yet. The CEO came out and said they would be delayed by half a month, and panic started spreading through the departments.

Some people were already secretly sending out resumes to find a new job.

Li Shi, 25 years old, Han Language and Literature Major at Tanzhou Normal University, a monthly salary of 5000+, had been with the company for two years. His income, after living expenses, had all gone into repaying his student loans and his family's debts. Currently, his savings amounted to 1989.60 yuan, and the family still had debts of over 40,000 yuan. If he lost his job, he might not be able to pay next month's rent.

However, at that moment, he was just sitting at his desk, daydreaming, completely unconcerned with the chatter of his colleagues.

"Li Shi, which beauty are you thinking about?" Li Gui Ming, sliding over in his chair, came by and patted his arm.

Li Shi suddenly snapped back to reality with a flash of panic in his eyes, but quickly regained his composure and made an excuse, "No, I was just thinking about what to do if the company really does go under."

Li Gui Ming, who had joined the company a year before him, was 26 years old, already divorced once, and quite overweight. The two were close in age, sat near each other at the office, and shared the same surname, which made them get along well at work.

He wriggled his nearly invisible neck around and, looking left and right, leaned in and whispered, "Let me tell you, don't rush to find another job. People who rush to find the next opportunity don't know the law. I looked it up online; if the company really does shut down, according to the law, we can get compensation. Make sure to keep your employment contract and work card safe; you'll need them when applying for compensation during bankruptcy liquidation."

Li Shi's mind, however, was full of the "Learning Panel" that suddenly appeared in his mind, and he had no interest in other matters. Still, he knew Li Gui Ming meant well with his advice, so he gathered his thoughts and thanked him.

"After work, want to go to 'The Way of the Earth' to loosen up? My treat, you in?"

When it was almost time to leave work, Li Gui Ming slid over again in his chair.

"The Way of the Earth" was a famous massage chain in Tanzhou City, which Li Gui Ming frequented, while Li Shi, needing to save money for debts, had only been twice. The first time, Li Gui Ming had insisted on treating him, and the second time, he didn't want to owe anything, so he returned the favor.

Both of their visits were simple and straightforward, at least the two times that Li Shi went. It wasn't too expensive; with group purchasing, the cost was about two hundred per person.

"Not today, I have something to attend to after work," Li Shi quickly refused.

This time it wasn't because he was wary of spending money, but because he was eager to go back and study the attribute panel in his mind.

"Okay then, how about tomorrow night?"

"Let's talk about it tomorrow."

Qin Yuan Resettlement Community, the single room Li Shi rented.

He double-locked the door, drew the curtains to ensure no one outside could see in, turned on the light, took out his Redmi 9, opened the camera function, placed it on the dining table, and propped it up with an empty box of Bai Xiang instant noodles.

Then he sat at the dining table, took a couple of deep breaths, immersed his consciousness into his mind, and summoned the "Learning Panel."

Name: Li Shi

Physique: 9.5 (The average attribute for a standard healthy adult male is 10 points.)

Wealth: 0 (Not accounting for wealth in reality.)

Currently learning: To be selected

Completed Study Store: None

(Each subject or skill is divided into five levels: Beginner Level, Proficient Level, Master Level, Professional Level, Grand Master Level. Each level up adds +1 point to Physique and Wealth Attribute.)

(Only one subject or skill can be chosen to learn at a time. After selection, the subject branch or skill level must reach Master Level before it can be changed.)

...

During his nap at the company today at noon, Li Shi had a dream in which he "saw" a vast nebula suddenly extinguished in front of him. He awoke with a start, and the Learning Panel had appeared in his mind.

Touching the panel with his consciousness, he mysteriously understood its function.

In simple terms, he could increase the "Physique" and "Wealth" attributes on the panel by learning knowledge, skills, and arts.

"Physique" represents physical condition, with the average attribute for a standard healthy adult male being 10 points. His initial attribute was 9.5, which indicated that his body was currently in a sub-healthy state.

The "Wealth" on the panel didn't refer to how much money one had in reality, but represented the material measurement that he could exchange with the panel; 1 point of Wealth could be exchanged for one kilogram of any material he had owned before!

...

Li Shi "looked" at the panel, constantly touching each item with his will, receiving feedback from each. After a good while of study, he transmitted his intention carefully:

"Select learning direction."

"Choose 'Chinese'."

As soon as his intention was transmitted, the panel changed instantly—

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Name: Li Shi

Physique: 9.5

Wealth: 0

Currently Learning: Chinese (Not a Beginner Yet)

Learning Accomplishments Store: None

The panel's indication that Li Shi was "Not a Beginner Yet" in Chinese did not surprise him as a graduate of the Han Language and Literature Major at Tanzhou Normal University. He intuitively knew that this did not represent his current actual level, but rather that he hadn't started the official learning process yet.

The panel needed to "witness and record" his entire learning journey.

He remained calm and withdrew the panel into his mind, then picked up his cell phone to check a video recording. In the video, all he could see was himself in a daze, with no other unusual phenomena, which was a relief.

Next, he went online to search for primary to high school Chinese textbooks. In a resource forum, he spent ten yuan to purchase a "Complete Set of Electronic Textbooks for Primary and Secondary Schools PDF" compressed package, which included not only Chinese textbooks from primary to high school but also subjects like math.

Initially pleased to find exactly the resources he wanted, Li Shi was less happy when the download completed, and his low-end phone, after two years of use, froze completely upon attempting to open the files.

"First thing when I have the money, I'll change this phone!" he decided.

With no other choice, he took out his antiquated but reliable laptop and downloaded the resources once more from the cloud drive.

After tending to all this, it was already past seven in the evening. Eager to learn, he boiled some water with a kettle, hastily consumed two packets of Bai Xiang's signature pork bone soup noodles, and opened the PDF of the first-grade Chinese textbook.

"Character Recognition One: Heaven, Earth, Man..."

Li Shi revised with utmost focus, reciting each word with care. Still, since it was just elementary content, it was too easy for anyone who had gone through nine years of compulsory education.

Page after page... His mouse continuously clicked, rapidly reading through the content.

Seven or eight minutes later, he had skimmed through the entire first-grade textbook. He summoned the learning panel and saw that Chinese still displayed as "Not a Beginner Yet."

Undeterred, he continued by opening the first-grade Chinese textbook for the second half of the year.

Ten minutes later, he moved on to the second-grade first semester's textbook.

A dozen minutes afterwards, he clicked open the textbook for the second semester of the second grade.

...

"Where has Spring gone? Silent and lost on a path less traveled. If anyone knows where Spring has settled, call it back to stay with me.

Who knows Spring's whereabouts? Unless perhaps the oriole is asked. A hundred chirps that no one comprehends, all carried away on the wind over the roses."

When Li Shi finished reading the last lesson in the sixth-grade second semester, Huang Ting Jian's "A Song of Pure Happiness," a surge sparked in his mind. He quickly summoned the panel—

Name: Li Shi

Physique: 9.5+1[Fusion?]

Wealth: 1[Exchange?]

Currently Learning: Chinese (Beginner-)

Learning Accomplishments Store: None

It had changed, truly changed!

Li Shi stood up excitedly, pacing back and forth a few times in the cramped space before quickly stopping, refocusing his attention on the panel.

He touched "Physique" with his mind and immediately received feedback: Estimated fusion time five hours.

He quickly moved his thoughts away; one point of physique represented one-tenth of a healthy adult's physical condition. Five hours wasn't a long time, but he couldn't wait that long now.

He would set that aside for the moment.

He rubbed his hands, sat back at the dining table, unplugged the laptop, and moved it onto the bed to clear the table. Then he held his breath, focused, and chose "Exchange 1 point of Wealth for pure gold"!

During his junior year, to gather money for his mother's surgery, he had sold the only valuable item left by his father—a 20g gold bar of pure gold.

Bang!!

A palm-sized gold bar suddenly materialized before Li Shi, falling heavily onto the wooden folding table and making a loud noise.

Bathed in the light, Li Shi's eyes gleamed with gold.

Gold, he had actually exchanged for gold!

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