79: Leisure Time

The morning mist gradually dispersed, and the horizon turned fish-belly white.

Several junior brothers, dripping with sweat, surrounded Li Zhan, their eyes shining with incredible brightness.

"Senior Brother, I heard you drove back in a mercedes-benz?"

The youngest, A-Wang, rubbed his hands together. "How much does that car cost?"

Li Zhan took a sweat towel and wiped his face. "Enough to buy half the bamboo forest in our village."

Everyone gasped in shock.

"Brother Zhan, is it really that easy to make money out there?"

A tall, thin junior brother leaned in. "Last year I went to the County Town to work, and after working myself to death for a month, I only..."

Before he could finish, a tower-like figure pushed through the crowd—

Big Ox, a sturdy man nearly two meters tall,

with arms thicker than an average person's legs, yet possessing a naive, tiger-headed look.

He rubbed his large, palm-leaf-like hands, but his eyes sparkled with shrewdness.

"Senior Brother!

Tomorrow I'm going to ask Master to let me complete my apprenticeship!"

He swung his arms as he gestured. "None of these kids can take three moves from me; Master has no reason to stop me!"

Li Zhan shook his head with a smile. "Completing your apprenticeship isn't just about how hard your fists are."

He pointed to his temple. "You also have to use this."

Big Ox curled his lip defiantly and suddenly lunged forward with an Iron Mountain Lean.

Li Zhan was prepared; he sidestepped to deflect the force and stopped a Spear Hand three inches from Big Ox's throat.

"See? You were too reckless, weren't you?"

In the morning light,

the brothers began sparring in pairs, the sound of clashing fists and feet startling the birds in the treetops.

It wasn't until the cooking smoke rose from the distant houses,

that Master finally came out and gave a cough. "That's enough for today. Dismissed."

Everyone immediately stopped and bowed.

Big Ox still hadn't given up as he left. "Senior Brother, once I finish my apprenticeship, I'll go to Dongguan to find you!"

Looking at this group of energetic junior brothers, Li Zhan caught a glimpse of his former self.

Once everyone had dispersed,

Li Zhan walked up to Master and gave a respectful bow.

"Master, Big Ox... can he finish his apprenticeship now?"

Master narrowed his eyes and stroked his long beard. "Big Ox was born with divine strength and extraordinary talent.

If he continues to train in this small mountain village, it would indeed be a waste of his potential."

He paused. "But his temperament is too impulsive; it would be good for him to be tempered by your side.

When you go back this time, take him with you."

"What about the other junior brothers...?"

"Their aptitude is average, but they are more than a match for ordinary people."

Master turned to look at the distant green mountains.

"If they want to, let them all go out and see the world.

You'll also have more helpers."

Li Zhan hesitated to speak. "Master, you..."

The old man suddenly smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out.

"Next spring, another batch of boys from the village will come to learn boxing."

He patted the rattan cane hanging from his waist.

"While these old bones of mine can still move, I'll teach as many as I can."

With that, Master paced back into the house with his hands behind his back,

the hem of his long robe brushed against the bluestone floor, making a faint rustling sound.

Li Zhan stood where he was and gave a deep bow to Master's retreating figure.

As he turned, the mountain wind swept a few bamboo leaves over the courtyard wall.

Li Zhan touched his calloused knuckles and strode toward home.

Upon returning home, he found A Zhen standing at the courtyard gate,

she held a warm towel, but her eyes were fixed on his bleeding knuckles.

"It doesn't hurt."

He took the towel and wrapped it around his hand. "Compared to Master's rattan cane back then..."

A Zhen suddenly stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. "Silly."

Cooking smoke rose from the rooftops,

and a new day began.

—

Practicing boxing at dawn, returning home at dusk—

this past week's routine made Li Zhan feel as though he had returned to his youth.

Every day at the Hour of Yin, he appeared punctually at Master's courtyard.

Big Ox and several junior brothers were already eager and waiting for him,

the sounds of sparring in the morning mist startled the mountain tits in the bamboo forest.

Master's rattan cane was still merciless,

but he showed significantly more patience when instructing Big Ox—

this was a promising talent to be entrusted to his disciple.

After the sun rose, Li Zhan often took A Zhen and Xiao Xue for a stroll in the back mountains.

A Zhen, with her slightly protruding belly,

carefully stepped on the pebbles by the stream.

Xiao Xue rolled up her pant legs and wore rubber boots to catch fish in the shallows,

occasionally digging up a few fresh winter bamboo shoots,

Mother Li would then use them to stew the stream fish caught that morning—

the fish soup made with mountain spring water was milky white,

with just a handful of wild green onions, it was so fresh it made one want to swallow their tongue.

In the afternoon, Father Li would always lead Li Zhan to look at the house plot.

The old man used a branch to gesture on the ground,

"Your mother and I will live on the first floor; the second floor is all yours..."

Halfway through, he glanced at his son. "The third floor is reserved for..."

Li Zhan smiled and tucked a pack of cigarettes into his father's pocket,

the old man said "what a waste" even as he turned around and handed them out to the neighbors who came to help.

At dawn on the seventh day, the mercedes-benz trunk was stuffed with mountain products,

winter bamboo shoots, cured meat, wild honey, and chili sauce Mother Li had made overnight.

A Zhen stood at the courtyard gate, her eyes reddening, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

Mother Li put her arm around her shoulders and comforted her softly,

occasionally helping her smooth her hair which had been ruffled by the mountain wind.

Xiao Xue bit her lip and stood to the side, hesitating to speak several times,

finally, she just whispered, "Remember to eat on time..."

Li Zhan ruffled both of their hair, his tone light,

"It's not for long; I'll come to pick you up in a month at most."

He turned to Mother Li, "Mom, I'm leaving A Zhen and Xiao Xue to you. Please look after them."

Several junior brothers scrambled to stuff the mountain goods into the trunk.

Amidst the roar of the engine,

A Zhen suddenly took two steps forward, but only said when Li Zhan rolled down the window,

"Drive slowly on the road."

"Master, take care." Li Zhan gave a deep bow toward the courtyard gate.

Big Ox impatiently headed for the passenger seat,

Master stood under the pear tree and called him back, his rattan cane tapping Big Ox's back,

"Big Ox, remember to listen to your Senior Brother."

...

The mountain road wound along, and the figures in the rearview mirror grew smaller and smaller.

Big Ox held it in for a long time before suddenly asking in a thick, heavy voice,

"Senior Brother,

are the girls in Dongguan really as beautiful as they say?"

Li Zhan looked at the three excited junior brothers in the back seat,

he smiled and stepped on the gas. "You'll know when we get there..."

The morning mist dispersed,

and the peak of Mao'er Mountain in the distance shimmered with golden light, much like the future they were about to head toward.