On New Year's Eve, the sound of firecrackers outside was endless.

Chen Qiang made dumplings for himself, tore a roast chicken, and stewed another fish. He sat in front of the table and ate in front of the light.

A feeling of sorrow rose from Chen Qiang's heart. The loneliness of "being a stranger in a foreign land" made him feel helpless.

It’s not a good time to spend the New Year alone.

There is no Spring Festival Gala these days, no Internet, no mobile phone, no red envelope grabbing, and no need to wait for the collection of five blessings to draw. If a family sits together to drink, eat and chat, laughter and joy are not lonely, but if it is just one person, there is really nothing to do. Instead, the sound of firecrackers outside will make people feel even more lonely.

"I don't have the time to eat, so I'd better go to train!"

Chen Qiang got into bed in a little upset and then entered the training space.

"It's a luxury for the New Year. Today I hire a senior coach!" Chen Qiang directly hired a senior track and field coach for ten hours, and his 50-point score was instantly spent.

Perhaps because he was hit by a person celebrating the Spring Festival alone, Chen Qiang was particularly focused in training today.

After starting again and again, crossing the finish line again and again, and repeating monotonously, Chen Qiang has already begun to become numb.

But he did not plan to rest. Sports training is like this. It is mechanical and boring to repeat it continuously. Only millions of repetitions can bring about some improvement in the athlete's strength.

The training effect of senior track and field coaches is much better than that of Chen Qiang himself. After ten hours of training, Chen Qiang felt that the training felt very good.

Ten hours of training in the training space are only one hour in reality.

"Continue training, no matter how long I don't have to start work tomorrow. I can stay in the training space and stay until tomorrow afternoon."

Fifteen hours passed in reality, while Chen Qiang stayed in the training space for 150 hours.

The 150-hour training made Chen Qiang numb. When he left the training space and returned to the real world, he felt a sense of unreality in dreaming.

The charcoal in the brazier was burned out, the room was a little cold, but the wind blowing in from outside carried a smell of gunpowder smoke. This was the sequelae of setting off firecrackers.

Chen Qiang knew that there would be a temple fair in Shanghai City God Temple, so he walked around the City God Temple and also took a mission to run 10,000 meters.

What disappointed Chen Qiang was that the temple fair had a strong commercial atmosphere, which felt similar to the scenic spots in later generations.

Since 1926, the Chenghuang Temple has been no longer the original Chenghuang Temple. The entire Chenghuang Temple area has been divided into several areas, including the famous Yuyuan, which has also become a commercial office for bean rice, cloth and sugar industries.

At that time, the Chenghuang Temple area was under director-general management, and the chairman of the board of directors was Boss Huang, one of the three tycoons. In other words, the Chenghuang Temple was actually controlled by gangs, and even the Taoist priests in the temple were hired by gangs.

There are many small vendors in temple fairs, and their things are more expensive than usual. This kind of temple fair is a waste of money and has no idea.

More importantly, everyone else came from a family, while Chen Qiang went to the temple fair alone, and the single dog was instantly hit by 10,000 points in his heart.

"I won't go shopping, go back to continue training!" Chen Qiang returned to his residence with a grievance and entered the training space again.

...

It is also a good thing to celebrate the New Year alone. There is no visit to relatives and friends, nor entertainment. If you want to fight, you can't find a card match. Chen Qiang can only stay in the training space and focus on improving his strength.

In a blink of an eye, it was March 9, 1930, which was the day to register for the National Games Shanghai Trials.

Registration will not take too much time, but the business still has to be done. So Chen Qiang went to the car shop early in the morning to get the car, then pulled the car to run towards the China Stadium, where the registration location for the contestants was set up.

At this time, Jiangwan Stadium had not started construction. China Stadium was the largest stadium in Shanghai. The 8th Far East Games was held here, and it was already an international stadium at that time.

Passing by a breakfast stall, Chen Qiang ate a bowl of tofu brain and was about to pull the car to continue walking, but a young man hurriedly got into Chen Qiang's car.

Chen Qiang didn't expect that there would be a business to come, but he dared to register at the China Stadium now and had no time to start a business, so he explained: "Sir, I'm today..."

The young man ignored Chen Qiang and said directly: "Go to the China Stadium!"

When Chen Qiang heard this, the young man also went to the China Stadium. He was just on the way, so he stopped talking and pulled up the car and left.

"I'm so lucky. I can also get a customer by the way when I sign up." Chen Qiang muttered in his heart.

When he arrived at the China Stadium, the young man threw Chen Qiang 50 cents directly, got out of the car and headed straight to the registration office.

"This guest is also here to sign up for the selection competition." Chen Qiang did not go to the registration office immediately. He first found a parking place. This so-called parking place is where coachmen gathered together and waited for customers.

Chen Qiang parked the car, but he was not worried that the car would be thrown away. First, other coachmen were looking after each other, and second, the rickshaws were all from the car shop, and the car shop belonged to the gang. Stealing rickshaws was equivalent to stealing gang things. It was not as bold as the thief to make ground on the gang.

Then Chen Qiang also went to the registration office.

At the entrance of the registration office, there was a big notice, with the rules for participating in each competition and the qualifying place.

Chen Qiang directly found the men's 100-meter sprint event and found that there was only one place to participate in the National Games.

"Why is there only one place? The information I have read in later generations, the track and field competitions of the Old China National Games, each participating team can send four players in each event."

Chen Qiang looked at other events again, 200 meters and 400 meters, and there was only one place in the National Games.

In other words, no matter how many people participate in the selection in each event, only one person can qualify for the National Games.

This is different from the rules of the National Games. The four quotas have become one quota, which makes Chen Qiang a little confused. He thought about it for a long time and guessed the reason.

First of all, athletes in this era are not as specialized as those in later generations.

Track and field athletes in later generations often only focus on one competition. They only run 100 meters and only run 200 meters in 200 meters. Athletes who are both 100 meters and 200 meters have almost disappeared in high-level competitions.

In the 1920s, sprinters not only ran 100 meters and 200 meters, but also ran 400 meters. For example, Liu Changchun, the number one player in the Chinese Olympic Games, signed up for the three events of 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters at the 1932 Olympics. At the Olympic Games at that time, there were not a few sprinters who registered for the three events.

For example, Yu Xiwei, the "Dalian Iron Foot" who was as famous as Liu Changchun at that time, was best at running 800 meters and 1500 meters, but he also participated in 200 meters, 400 meters, 3000 meters, 5000 meters, and even 10-mile races.

In later generations, this is absolutely impossible. An athlete runs sprints, middle and long runs at the same time, and also runs a 10-mile marathon. This is simply funny.

Taking sprinting as an example, a sprinter has to participate in three events: 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters at the same time, which means that one person occupies three places for participation.

Therefore, the Shanghai team simply gave only one place for each event, one place for 100 meters, one place for 200 meters, and one place for 400 meters. No matter which event the athletes who obtained qualifying quota must participate in three events, 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters. This will bring the number of participants in the National Games.

The second reason is the funding issue.

Sending people to the competition costs money, such as transportation fees to Hangzhou, clothing fees for participating in the competition, etc. Even athletes have to pay a certain fee to the organizer when they are in Hangzhou.

The money must be paid by the Shanghai Municipal Government. Three people spend a lot less than the twelve people. The fewer people sent, the less money they spend.

The Shanghai government is not missing those thousands of oceans. The key is that all the money is spent on athletes, so how can you be greedy as an official?

...

Chen Qiang looked at the bulletin board and couldn't help but frown.

"It's different from what I expected before. There is only one promotion place for the 100-meter sprint. I thought there were four places, so it would be no difficulty to get the National Games qualification. I can hide my weakness a little, so as not to attract too much attention. But now there is only one place, and I must be the best among all the contestants to participate in the National Games!"

This result deviates a little from Chen Qiang's plan.

The wood is revealed by the forest wind. Chen Qiang understands this truth. Chen Qiang is the only way to preserve his strength in the selection competition and get the quota of the National Games. When the main competition of the National Games is reached, he will show his true strength and make a big splash.

Now it seems that this plan is not feasible. With only one place in the competition, Chen Qiang can only compete for the first place, and the first place will inevitably attract everyone's attention.

"It is impossible to develop vulgarly. If you get the only quota, you can't be low-key. Try not to be too lazy!"

Chen Qiang took a deep breath and continued to watch the bulletin board. He found the rules for promotion.

The rules for promotion in track and field events are very simple. Whoever has good grades will get a place to participate.

For example, the 100-meter sprint event is to divide all the registered players into several groups for competitions. It does not count the rankings, nor does it have any preliminary and semi-finals. It only depends on the results. In the end, whoever has the best results will get the only place.

"This rule is simple and direct. However, compared to the promotion competition system, under this rule, each contestant only has one chance, which is a one-time deal."

Chen Qiang looked at the time of the trial competition again and set it for next Sunday. Then Chen Qiang walked into the registration office.

There were three tables with signs of registration offices, and the registered people stood in three rows. The young man who Chen Qiang just pulled was standing in front of the table on the left, and there were two people queuing up at the back door. There were few people queuing up here, so Chen Qiang lined up directly behind the two.

After a while, the young man completed the registration, turned around and left with a form. When he turned around, he just saw Chen Qiang queuing up.

The young man immediately recognized it. Isn’t this the coachman who brought him to?

"Why are you here? Just take me back!" the young man said.

Chen Qiang shook his head: "Sir, you have to wait a while, I still have to sign up."

"Register? Do you want to register? Do you know where this place is?" A strange expression appeared on the young man's face.

Chen Qiang did not answer, but nodded.

"I know you're still here?" The young man seemed to have seen something extremely funny.

Chen Qiang was stunned for a moment, and then he understood the other party's meaning from the youth's expression.

The young man obviously felt that Chen Qiang was just a coachman, how could he participate in the National Games selection competition?

"Didn't it mean that both scholars, farmers, industry and commerce can register?" Chen Qiang said.

"Uh, that's what I said." The young man nodded, then showed a sarcastic smile, and then said, "I didn't expect that you really believe it!"

...

The young man did not leave, but stayed in the registration office, waiting for Chen Qiang to register.

For him, it was a huge wonder that a coachman signed up for the National Games. It was even more exciting than watching a show. How could he bear to leave?

The two people in front of Chen Qiang quickly completed the registration, and it was Chen Qiang's turn.

The person responsible for registering Chen Qiang was a middle-aged man. At first glance, this person probably collected all the characteristics of the middle-aged loser. He was sloppy, greasy, decadent, and looked very bloated when sitting there. His hairstyle was a typical Mediterranean style, and his black and yellow face had obvious head-up patterns. He had to look like a person who had no intention of being motivated in his career and just waited for get off work all day long.

The man sat behind the desk, looked at Chen Qiang at the beginning, and then said, "The registration fee is 50 cents."

Chen Qiang handed the 50 cents to the middle-aged loser. The middle-aged loser took out a form and asked, "Name?"

"Chen Qiang, powerful, strong." Chen Qiang answered.

"Age?" The middle-aged loser added: "I'm asking about one year old."

"16 years old." Chen Qiang replied.

"I'm pretty young! I'm so young to participate in national athletes, I'm ambitious. What kind of events do you want to sign up for?" asked the middle-aged loser again.

"Sprint, 100 meters." Chen Qiang said.

The middle-aged loser wrote down 100 meters on the registration form. After waiting for a few seconds, he found that Chen Qiang did not speak anymore, so he raised his head and asked, "What else?"

"No more, just sign up for 100 meters." Chen Qiang answered very simply.

"Where are 200 meters and 400 meters, don't you register together?" the middle-aged loser continued to explain: "Anyway, you're just short-distance, so you can sign up, and you won't charge extra money."

Chen Qiang shook his head: "One 100 meters is enough."

The middle-aged loser man raised his head and said, "You young man, why can't you explain it to you! You have paid 50 cents, why don't you sign up for more projects? And there is only one place for each project. If you haven't run away from others in 100 meters, you can try it 200 meters and 400 meters, and you will have two more opportunities! Maybe you can advance."

"100 meters is a straight road, so I will run the straight road and will not turn around." Chen Qiang had no choice but to speak.

"Okay! 100 meters is 100 meters!" Seeing that he couldn't persuade Chen Qiang, the middle-aged loser sighed helplessly, and then asked: "The next column is career. Which school are you a student?"

"I'm not a student." Chen Qiang replied.

The middle-aged loser immediately raised his head and looked at Chen Qiang with surprise. He thought that Chen Qiang must be a student of a certain school at this age, after all, all those who came here to register were all students.

Although both scholars, farmers, industry and businessmen can register, so far, middle-aged losers have not met anyone other than students.

The middle-aged loser was already greasy enough, and she showed such cute and surprised expression, which made Chen Qiang get goose bumps. In order to avoid being disgusted, Chen Qiang quickly spoke, "I am a coachman, a rickshaw driver."

"The coachman? The guy who drove the rickshaw?" The middle-aged loser showed a look of "You are teasing me", obviously not believing what Chen Qiang said.

At this time, the young man next to him came over and said deliberately loudly: "He is really a coachman. I can testify that I came here by the car he pulled. The 50 cents he signed up for is the car I just gave. Unexpectedly, a coachman came to sign up for the National Games!"

The young man's voice was loud and he could hear it in the whole room. His voice attracted everyone's attention.

"The coachman? Are they real or not?"

"The person who drives the rickshaw also comes to sign up? Today is something new!"

"Aren't all students participating in the competition? Why did you get in and drive a rickshaw?"

"He who pulls the rickshaw, does he know what a sports competition is?"

The people in the room began to whisper.

This discussion made Chen Qiang feel a little unhappy. Why can’t the person who drives rickshaw sign up? Do you look down on the person who drives rickshaw?

These people really look down on rickshaws, after all, rickshaw drivers are the lowest class in society.

Chen Qiang had no choice but to speak, "The registration rules are not stated, don't let the coachman register?"

"Well, this is true. There is no occupational restriction. Both scholars, farmers, industry and commerce can register, and peddlers can also try it." The middle-aged loser nodded helplessly, lowered his voice and said to Chen Qiang, "With that being said, don't really believe it!"

Chen Qiang was speechless, saying, "Don't really believe it" made him unable to answer the conversation.

The rules set by government agencies are also announced in newspapers, but then they tell you that the content of the announcement is "don't really believe it" and tell jokes!

The middle-aged loser continued, "You are so real, you really do you think you, the one who drives a rickshaw, can pass those students? Don't dream! There is only one place in this 100-meter sprint, and there are probably forty or fifty people to grab them. You can't grab others' belongings, otherwise, don't sign up. It's not easy for you to drive a rickshaw to make money. Before I can put this chapter on it, I will return the 50 cents to you. Don't waste this money, buy some delicious food, which is better than participating in any national sports meet!"

—————
Chapter completed!