Chapter 005: Learning Martial Arts

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In the summer holidays, the children's lives were full and vibrant. Most of the boys wore small vests and baggy shorts, or simply ran around the village in nothing but shorts. They would either climb the big maple trees in the village, imitating the heroes from old war stories, or wade through muddy creeks at the source of the White Wave River, catching fish and loaches.

The girls, dressed in flower-patterned blouses, followed behind the boys, sometimes standing lookout when the boys snuck into the neighboring village to steal watermelons, or guarding their clothes when the boys cooled off in the river.

Of course, many girls were considered "obedient"—when caught stealing watermelons, they would quickly betray the escapees one by one.

"Uncle Huang, can you teach me boxing?" Yang Tian didn't join the others in reliving the joys of childhood; instead, he went every day to Huang Juan's house. Their home was at the end of the village, with two massive maple trees in front—so large that four or five adults, hand in hand, couldn't encircle them. There was also a jujube tree, its flowers blooming in midsummer, radiant red or pale yellow, exceptionally beautiful.

"You want to learn boxing?" Huang Juan's father, Huang Biao, looked at Yang Tian in surprise, mixed with a hint of pleasure. Huang Biao had served in the army for six years and could have stayed on, but his straightforward nature led him to retire. His skills were impressive; not only had he mastered combat techniques in the military, but he'd also learned many forms of boxing. During the slack farming season, he often practiced at his doorstep.

In Big Willow Village, few truly appreciated Huang Biao's boxing. In these times, mastering a craft was more valued than martial arts. So when Yang Tian, just nine years old, gazed at him with eager eyes, Huang Biao was genuinely delighted.

Besides, Yang Tian rarely came to play at the Huang household and seldom paid much attention to the couple. Today, his sudden interest in learning boxing sparked joy in Huang Biao's heart. He had thought the childhood engagement between the Yang and Huang families might fall through due to Yang Tian's reserved nature, but now there was hope. Not that he was desperate for the match, but he felt the honest Yang Bao couple would be a pity to lose.

"That's right, Uncle Huang. I think your boxing is amazing! Can you teach me everything?" Yang Tian smiled innocently, though he knew well that Huang Biao's boxing was solid but somewhat unsophisticated. With some refinement, it could become an iron fist in free fighting.

Yang Tian sought to learn from Huang Biao both to strengthen himself and to deepen ties with the Huang family. If his engagement to Huang Juan fell through, wouldn’t that mean Yang Bao and his wife’s efforts had been in vain?

"Teach you everything? That would take ten or twenty years! Martial arts aren't mastered in a day," Huang Biao said, striking a pose as if to draw in energy.

"No problem, I'm only nine. I'll come to you every day to practice!" Yang Tian mimicked Huang Biao, knowing that as long as he asked, Huang Biao would teach him.

"Can you tell me, Yang Tian, why you want to learn boxing from me?" Huang Biao grinned broadly.

"To protect Juan!" Yang Tian replied, surprising Huang Biao even more. For a child to say such a thing wouldn’t raise suspicion, but Huang Biao found it unusual—Yang Tian had never cared much for Juan, so why this sudden resolve?

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It was a good reason, and one of the true thoughts in Yang Tian’s heart.

Under the blazing summer sun, after the busy farming days, Yang Tian indeed came every day to learn boxing from Huang Biao, much to Huang Biao’s delight. He taught Yang Tian with all his heart.

Huang Biao’s wife, Zhong Hehua, was at first surprised, thinking Yang Tian's interest would wane quickly. But seeing him come every day, she was invigorated as well, brewing mung bean porridge for Yang Tian and Huang Biao daily.

Yang Bao and his wife, seeing Yang Tian visit the Huang household every day, had their worries swept away, and often sent eggs, rice, and flour as gifts. The Huang family would frequently let Yang Tian take home dried river shrimp and jujubes.

"Dad, I want to learn boxing too!" Within a week, Huang Juan tossed aside her summer homework and joined Yang Tian at her father's side to learn.

Huang Juan had always been gentle and well-behaved. While other children played outside, she stayed home, doing homework and helping Zhong Hehua tend geese and feed pigs.

Seeing Juan come to learn boxing, Huang Biao was even more cheerful. He realized it was because of Yang Tian; otherwise, Juan, now seven, had never shown interest in his boxing, not even to watch him practice. Why the sudden change?

Children often follow the crowd, but Huang Biao knew his precious daughter wasn't that type. She was clearly drawn by Yang Tian's example.

The summer holiday flew by, but Yang Tian felt especially fulfilled—running every morning, learning boxing with Huang Biao during the day, reviewing and summarizing his lessons at night, reading newspapers and books until his young body grew tired, then falling into deep sleep.

One morning, Yang Tian wore his father's oversized vest and new blue shorts bought by his mother, Li Xiuying. After finishing his run by the White Wave River, he walked home to find Yang Xueling standing at the door, hands on her hips, her small black eyes glaring at him.

"Good morning, little sister!" Yang Tian feigned indifference with a smile, but knew perfectly well why Xueling was upset.

"Brother, you've not played with me once these two months of summer. You spend every day learning boxing with Uncle Huang, leaving me stuck at home doing homework!" Xueling stepped in front of him, her voice crisp as a songbird.

"That’s not true! Every night I come home and watch TV with you," Yang Tian replied, though his feet kept jogging in place.

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"You dare say that? At night you only watch the news, never the fun 'Gourd Brothers.' I have to hear about it from Er Ya during the day!" Xueling’s complaints grew, her lips pouting.

"Would you like to know how 'Gourd Brothers' ends? I can tell you the whole story!" Yang Tian smiled sincerely, his heart warming. He hadn’t realized how adorable his sister was.

Yang Tian, you fool, you never knew to cherish her before!

"You’re bluffing! How could you know the ending?" Xueling’s smile was pure, her watery eyes flickering with doubt.

"Tell me, what episode was on last night? Not only can I tell you what happened, I can tell you what’ll happen tonight!" Yang Tian stopped completely, pulling Xueling to sit on the big cobblestones at the door.

"Er Ya said it was episode nine last night. The snake demon and scorpion demon attacked the gourd vine again, and threw Grandpa off the mountain, but the mountain eagle rescued him, bringing him back to Gourd Mountain. So thrilling! Those demons are so cunning and hateful!" Talking about 'Gourd Brothers' brought Xueling to life.

"Don’t worry, tonight the snake and scorpion demons will get their comeuppance! Last night, the snake and scorpion demons must have captured the Thousand-Mile Eye brother, right? The mountain god gave Grandpa the rainbow lotus, telling him only it could unite the gourd brothers. Am I right?" Yang Tian grinned mischievously. He’d watched 'Gourd Brothers' at least three times and knew the plot by heart.

"Ah, brother, how do you know? Did you secretly watch it without me, or did you hear it from Er Pang next door?" Xueling covered her mouth in surprise, giving Yang Tian a curious and admiring look.

"Tonight, the Invisible brother and Thousand-Mile Eye will team up to steal the snake demon’s magical treasure. Then, Invisible brother will sneak into the demon’s lair and use clever tricks to make the villains utterly miserable!" Yang Tian continued, making Xueling brim with anticipation...

ps: The third update for June 1st has arrived. Please vote and bookmark! And happy Children’s Day to all—hehe!