chsdbacks Chapter 29 The Yellow Millet: All four of you, come at me together!
Chapter 29 The Yellow Millet: All four of you, come at me together!
That night
After the boxing match ended, Song Sheng found a teahouse that was still open across from the Yihai Building.
The teahouse was small, and there weren't many customers in the inner room.
The two entered and sat down. Wu Jiuge leaned back in her chair, not even touching the tea beside her, and immediately laid out her conditions on the table.
"Liang Sheng, I'll be frank."
I can join your martial arts school, but I don't like being constrained by others.
Don't try to apply those rules from the martial arts school to me.
I'll choose my own apprentices. If I like one, I'll give him a few pointers; if I don't, forcing him on me won't do any good. Frankly, it's best if you just give me a sinecure, so I can give him some pointers when I feel like it.
Song Sheng held his teacup without speaking, gesturing for him to continue.
"In addition, I will continue to fight in the boxing rings."
"If the martial arts school needs my assistance, please let them know in advance. I can't guarantee I can make it if they call at the last minute." He paused here, then glanced at Song Sheng:
"As for the monthly salary you mentioned..."
Wu Jiuge laughed, but there was no malice in his laughter; it was just that Song Sheng had mentioned the salary earlier, which amused him.
"Liang Sheng, I don't need your monthly allowance of a hundred or two hundred yuan."
To put it bluntly, the amount you quoted is practically like giving money to a beggar. So, I can forgo your meager monthly salary, but the conditions beforehand must be agreed upon with me.
Master Ye, who knew nothing about it, felt that he had been insulted for no reason!
Across the tea table, Song Sheng simply nodded after listening and blew away the foam on his tea: "Master Wu, I can agree to all your conditions."
Wu Jiuge was stunned. She stared at Song Sheng for several seconds to make sure he wasn't being sarcastic.
Song Sheng continued: "Don't look at me like that. I've said before that I'm only doing this to better promote Chinese martial arts, and everything else has to give way to this."
I have offended you in many ways these past few days, and I hope Master Wu will forgive me.
Wu Jiuge couldn't understand the man in front of him. Did he really not want anything else and was simply trying to promote Chinese martial arts?
Song Sheng: "By the way, I've already hired a master at my martial arts school. He's Master Ye from the Foshan Wing Chun school, and he's a disciple of Chen Huashun. He's a really nice guy. I'll introduce you to him later."
"Not interested."
"To be honest, in terms of hand-to-hand combat, Master Wu, you might not be able to beat him."
"Huh?" Wu Jiuge was immediately displeased upon hearing this, her voice rising a decibel. Her brow furrowed, and she instinctively questioned, "Are you saying my Bajiquan is inferior to Wing Chun?!"
"Um?"
"—Cough, if you say it's not good, then it's not good. Anyway, I can't beat you."
"Don't talk nonsense. I never said that Bajiquan is inferior to Wing Chun. I only said that you are not as good as him."
"..." If you're going to be picky, you might as well say that Bajiquan is inferior to Wing Chun!
I can't beat you, fine, but you actually said I can't beat others!
When I meet him, I'll definitely ask him for some advice!
……
next day
Song Sheng brought Wu Jiuge to the martial arts school.
Although it has not officially opened, it is open to the public as usual.
The interior of the venue had already been tidied up neatly by the ever-busy Master Ye.
When Song Sheng and his companion entered, there was another person in the martial arts school besides Ip Man.
Upon seeing Song Sheng arrive with his men, Ip Man stepped forward with a smile: "Mr. Song."
"Master Ye, thank you for your help these past few days."
"It's nothing, I'm just keeping myself occupied."
After exchanging pleasantries, Song Sheng looked at the man next to Ip Man.
Wearing rough clothes and short sleeves, he looked like a laborer at the docks.
Ip Man: "Oh, right, I forgot to introduce him. This is Jin Shan Zhao, a friend I met when I was in Foshan. We just happened to run into each other, so I invited him in to sit for a while."
Ip Man was being polite, but in reality, it wasn't him who invited him. It was just that Jin Shan happened to run into Ip Man after he went out, so he rushed over to say hello.
Song Sheng sized the other person up a few times:
Jinshan is looking for...
He really is the Northern School master from the first Ip Man movie; no wonder he looks so much like Geng Shuai.
Ip Man continued, "Master Jin, this is Mr. Song, who is also a martial artist. This martial arts school was personally taken over by Mr. Song."
Jin Shanzhao wasn't familiar with Song Sheng, so he just politely cupped his fists in greeting.
Song Sheng returned the greeting and then introduced, "Master Ye, this is Master Wu of Bajiquan, who will also be staying here to teach boxing."
Wu Jiuge was provocatively looking Ip Man up and down.
He's still wearing a long gown at this hour, looking so frail. How could I possibly lose to him?
Wu Jiuge clasped his hands in greeting: "Wu Jiuge of Mengcun Bajiquan, my master is Zhang Diankui."
Ip Man returned the greeting: "Ip Man of Wing Chun in Foshan, a disciple of Chan Wah-shun."
"Master Ye, since we're all teaching boxing here, why don't we have a chance to spar?"
"Let's talk about it another time," Ip Man said vaguely, not wanting to fight anyone easily.
Seeing his evasive manner, Wu Jiuge felt as if she had punched a cotton ball.
Is this guy really that soft-hearted?
Liang Sheng, who is prone to violence, is the complete opposite of Liang Sheng. How did these two meet?
Jin Shan, who was standing nearby, looked around and suddenly spoke up: "Master Ye, if I may be so bold as to ask a question, did you report to anyone before opening your martial arts school?"
Do I need to report to open a martial arts school?
Ip Man looked at Song Sheng.
Song Sheng: "I understand what you mean, Master Jin. I plan to visit Master Hong this afternoon."
Ip Man: "Master Hung?"
"There is a martial arts association on Hong Kong Island that governs all the martial arts schools and practitioners on the island. Before opening a school, you have to contact them and follow their rules."
"What are the rules?"
"Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, you will face challenges from masters at other boxing gyms. If you can last for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, you will be recognized and can open your own gym to teach students."
"There's such a rule?"
"..." Not only that, Jinshan Zhang also wanted to say that in addition to that, they also had to pay a membership fee of one hundred yuan every month, which was the biggest expense in the martial arts school.
The crucial point is that you can't refuse to pay; Master Hong from the martial arts association is not just any ordinary domineering person, he's very difficult to talk to.
Jin Shan briefly shared the information he knew with Song Sheng and his group.
Just as he was about to finish speaking, three or four young men suddenly rushed in from outside the martial arts gym: "Which one of you is a master at this gym?"
Song Sheng, Wu Jiuge, Ip Man, and even Jin Shan Zhao all looked over.
Huang Liang, Xu Shichang, and the other three exchanged glances. Huang Liang stepped forward, his tone somewhat arrogant: "What do you mean? Are all of you...?"
Jin Shan Zhao moved closer to Ip Man and chuckled, "Master Ip, this kid is interesting. I see a reflection of myself when I first arrived in Foshan in him."
Huang Liang grew increasingly annoyed: "Hey, what are you whispering about? I'm asking you a question!"
Song Sheng spoke first: "Studying kung fu?"
Huang Liang and Xu Shichang looked at each other and suddenly laughed, "That's right, as long as you can beat me, we brothers will become disciples of this martial arts school."
"What?" Song Sheng didn't quite understand, not in the literal sense.
"Still don't understand? Then let me put it more bluntly." Huang Liang bent his arms and assumed a free-fighting stance: "All four of you, come at me together."
"..."