Free Web NovelChapter 148: Chapter 147: Arrangements
The young man had just finished speaking when a child’s clear voice rang out from behind him: "Xing Ergou, who are you calling Eldest Brother?"
Only then did the young man realize which words had just slipped out of his mouth. He was instantly mortified, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into right then and there.
Fu Juemin didn’t seem to mind. He immediately ordered his men to distribute money—one hundred yuan for each person, sealed in red envelopes that had been prepared in advance. He then sent one of his men inside to brew tea.
"This is too much, it’s really too much..."
Ye Zhenren hurried forward. Watching as his many disciples were handed the red envelopes—falling silent the moment they received them—his expression grew tense. He was so awkward he didn’t even know where to put his hands.
"It’s just a small greeting gift, as is proper."
Fu Juemin waved his hand dismissively. Just as he was about to speak, a sharp cry suddenly rang out from outside the gate.
"Ye—Zhen—ren!"
Fu Juemin saw Ye Zhenren, who stood before him, visibly flinch.
Following the voice, he saw a woman standing at the entrance, a vegetable basket in one hand and a two- or three-year-old child in the other.
She appeared to be in her thirties, with a dignified look and a faint scholarly air that set her apart from the average woman. Yet her features were haggard, and at this moment, completely overcome with shock and anger.
"You tricked me into going out to sell fish early this morning, telling me we had guests coming today, that someone was coming to become a disciple..."
"How long was I gone before you went and demolished the courtyard?!"
The woman’s gaze swept over the utter mess—the collapsed courtyard wall, the shattered bricks and tiles, the broken chicken coop, and a few homeless hens. She set down her basket and the child, strode forward, and reached out to pinch Ye Zhenren’s arm.
"We’re still behind on half the rent from two months ago! How much is it going to cost to fix the courtyard? The rice jar is almost empty..."
"This life... Are you even trying to live it? How did I ever end up with a man like you..."
She berated him through gritted teeth. Thinking of the hardships ahead, the rims of her eyes suddenly reddened, and tears began to stream down her face.
Ye Zhenren didn’t dare to dodge, letting the woman pinch him as she pleased, his face a mask of shame and embarrassment.
The young men to the side, who had just been gleeful about receiving money, now all stood silent, their heads bowed obediently. It seemed everyone in the Five Victories Boxing Hall, from top to bottom, was terrified of this woman.
Fu Juemin guessed the woman’s identity. After a moment’s thought, he stepped forward and said warmly, "This must be the Master’s wife..."
He gestured casually, and the man emerging from the inner room brought over the freshly brewed hot tea.
"You are..."
The woman stopped, raising her swollen, dazed eyes. It seemed she was only now truly noticing Fu Juemin and his entourage.
When she got a clear look at Fu Juemin’s fine Western suit and overall appearance, she blinked, then suddenly stomped hard on Ye Zhenren’s foot.
"This is Ling... Lingjun. Fu Lingjun. He came specifically to become a disciple..."
Ye Zhenren hurriedly made the introduction.
"Master, Master’s wife, please have some tea."
Fu Juemin nodded, handing over the hot tea with a smile.
The woman accepted the tea, forcing a smile. "So you’re here to take our Old Ye as your master... Quickly, please, come inside and have a seat..."
She instinctively began to lead Fu Juemin inside, but the sight of the ruined courtyard made her eyes well up again, and she could no longer maintain her polite tone.
Seeing this, Fu Juemin spoke slowly, "I forgot to mention to you, Master’s wife, I was just discussing it with Master..."
"I have prepared a new residence for you in the Public Concession. It’s not a large house, but it comes fully furnished and staffed with servants."
"I’ll have my men help you pack up in a bit. You can move in today."
"What?!"
Ye Zhenren froze, his face a mask of astonishment and confusion. His wife also looked up, staring blankly at Fu Juemin.
Fu Juemin paid no mind to their reactions. He glanced around and continued, "This place is really too small for daily training, and access is inconvenient."
"At the very least, I am not accustomed to it."
Fu Juemin paused, then continued, "Before I came, I had my men select several more spacious and suitable locations. Later, I’ll have to ask Master’s wife to go with Master to take a look and choose one you both like... so we can re-establish the sign of our Martial Arts Hall."
"Come here."
After he finished speaking, Fu Juemin’s gaze shifted to a seven- or eight-year-old boy hiding behind the other youths nearby. He beckoned to the child, who approached timidly.
"What’s your name?"
Fu Juemin asked in a gentle voice.
The child replied quietly, "Ye Jicong."
Fu Juemin smiled and ruffled his hair. This was the same boy who had shouted Xing Ergou’s name from the crowd earlier.
Turning back to the woman, he asked, "Where is our little Junior Brother attending school?"
The woman stared at Fu Juemin blankly, taking a long moment to process his question. She answered hesitantly, embarrassed, "He hasn’t... he hasn’t attended a formal school. Usually, Old Ye and I take turns teaching him to read and write."
"That won’t do."
Fu Juemin shook his head. "Master has to teach his Fist Techniques, and Master’s wife has to look after the young one."
"How about this: Master’s wife, you can choose from among the new elementary schools and private academies in the major Concessions. Pick a suitable day, and I will arrange for our little Junior Brother’s enrollment. You needn’t worry about any of the expenses."
"Ling... Lingjun!.."
Ye Zhenren snapped back to reality and rushed forward, eager to refuse, but before he could open his mouth, Fu Juemin stopped him with a raised hand.
"You have drunk the tea, and I have called you Master."
Fu Juemin looked calmly at Ye Zhenren. There was a smile on his face, but his tone carried a weight that brooked no argument. "From now on, in matters of Fist Technique, I will listen to you. In all other matters, you will listen to me."
With that, ignoring Ye Zhenren’s reaction, he smiled at the woman and child, gave a casual order to his men, and turned to leave the courtyard with Big Cat and the others.
Long after Fu Juemin’s party had vanished from sight, the people of the Five Victories Boxing Hall still hadn’t fully recovered from the series of shocks.
Everyone’s head was spinning. For all of them, everything that had happened today felt like an absurd and bizarre dream.
.....
Outside the gates of the Five Victories Martial Arts Hall, Fu Juemin called Big Cat over to give detailed instructions. "Given Ye Zhenren’s temperament, he’s sure to try and return everything."
"You just follow my instructions and get things settled quickly. Send a few more men to watch the area; we can’t let this money bring them any trouble..."
When Big Cat nodded in understanding, Fu Juemin thought for a moment before asking, "That master’s wife of mine... what’s her name? And her background?"
Big Cat replied, "Her name is Zhang Sulan. Like Ye Zhenren, she comes from a wealthy family."
Hearing this, Fu Juemin couldn’t help but be struck by a wave of emotion.
After just half a day’s contact, he felt he had a good grasp of what kind of man his new master was.
A great martial artist, a good master, but by no means a good father or a good husband.
Other people opened a Martial Arts Hall to seek fame and fortune. He, on the other hand, supported a flock of poor disciples who couldn’t even cover their own tuition and board, dragging his entire family down to suffer alongside him.
’His Martial Arts are impressive, but his personality is weak, and he’s too much of a pushover. If it weren’t for learning the Five Beasts Skill, I really wouldn’t want to associate with someone like him.’
’Well, I’ve already acknowledged him as my master. I suppose I can only give him a helping hand now.’
Before he knew it, he had almost reached the end of the alley. Just before the main street, he heard a commotion from the direction of their car parked on the roadside.
From a distance, Fu Juemin saw the figures of the Qinglian Gang members who had been left to guard the car, now lying on the ground.
’Trouble?’
A glint appeared in Fu Juemin’s eyes. He gave a cool command, "Go see."
Big Cat shot forward instantly, silent as a dense shadow, while the other Qinglian Gang members drew their pistols and sprinted ahead.
Fu Juemin lit a cigarette and strolled unhurriedly toward the car.
The dull thuds of fists and feet colliding reached his ears, along with the curses of the Qinglian Gang members and the sound of them cocking their guns.
By the time Fu Juemin emerged from the alley, the commotion by the car had already died down.
The men blocking the mouth of the alley parted to form a path, and Fu Juemin strode forward.
A crowd of onlookers had gathered. In the center, Big Cat stood facing a slender man in his thirties. It was clear the two had already come to blows.
At that moment, a dozen or so Qinglian Gang members had their guns trained on the man. His expression was tense, but his eyes were sharp as a knife. He kept one hand behind his back, protectively shielding a young boy about the same size as Ye Jicong.
