Chapter 9: Transmission of Skills

Wang Xiaojun instinctively asked Tang Sisi: "What is the achievement for a beginner holding a horse stance for one minute for the first time?"

Chen Jing slightly shook her head, and after about ten seconds of effort, she stood up in a state of exhaustion

Old Man Zhang said, "Oh, what is this all about?"

Wang Xiaojun said to Hu Tailai in disbelief: "Look, I told you that kind of thing shouldn't be said carelessly!"

Old Li smiled and said, "There is no rush, let us take another look."

Hu Tailai, upon seeing this, said: "If you cannot hold on, do not force yourself; be careful not to injure yourself"

Pili Jie echoed, "Exactly, exactly"

Wang Xiaojun, as if encountering a savior, exclaimed loudly to Sister Pili: "Hey, why didn't you mention that this is your master’s wife?"

Before he finished speaking, Lan Mao jumped up: "No, no, I can't take it anymore, I can't hold on."

Hu Tailai sighed and said: "Your master is now living under someone else's roof—this is Wang Xiaojun from the Iron Palm Gang. You should formally meet him; as brothers, you should address him as 'Shishu' according to seniority."

Chen Jing's expression was one of pain; although Pili Jie admitted defeat, she continued to persevere. This young woman gritted her teeth, her legs swaying like willow catkins in the wind.

Pili Jie, whose real name is Ou Xue, comes from a family that has made its fortune in the fur business, specifically dealing with minks worn by women. Her mother operates a large stall in the local clothing wholesale market, which characterizes them as a typical nouveau riche family. This background has led to Pili Jie being poorly disciplined from a young age. Additionally, being a girl with a fair degree of attractiveness, she began associating with dubious characters and causing trouble since middle school. The nickname "Pili Jie" stems from her straightforward temperament; she never spares anyone's feelings when she disapproves of something, distinguishing her from more conventional delinquents.

After performing the apprenticeship ceremony, Pili Jie finally realized something was amiss. He asked Hu Tailai, "Master, doesn't the sign outside say Iron Palm Gang? Why are we teaching martial arts at someone else's place in Black Tiger Gate?"

Pili Jie and Lan Mao exchanged glances and laughed together, saying: "We support you and my master as a couple (1), we have long stopped enjoying that cliché of heroes paired with beautiful women." Even Chen Jing covered her mouth and chuckled.

Sister Pili glanced at Chen Jing with the corner of her eye, trying her best to remain still, but the muscles in her legs could no longer suppress their trembling. She could tell that Chen Jing was also struggling, with fine beads of sweat trickling down from her temples. Sister Pili sneered, "If you can't take it anymore, just get up."

The three old men entered and were taken aback; the Iron Palm Gang was not usually this lively.

Lan Mao also said: "Yes, Master, do not feel burdened. Sexual orientation and values are not contradictory; we respect you as a person."

Hu Tailai remained motionless and said: "Crouch down! I want to see the fundamentals of the three of you, that is, your innate abilities, so that I can decide how to teach you."

Wang Xiaojun said: "Hero Hu is imparting teachings, and the Black Tiger Gate joyfully welcomes new members today"

Old Man Li said with a smile, "No rush, let's take a look."

Wang Xiaojun exclaimed, "What are children thinking these days?"

Wang Xiaojun busied himself with plugging in the water dispenser and emptying the ashtray: "Please, come in, everyone!"

... ...

Wang Xiaojun unexpectedly said: "Aren't you struggling with your studies? How come you can string together such words like this?"

Xie Junjun impatiently said, "What is there to see with a few young girls doing exercises?" With that, she went into the house.

(1) CP: You may consider it as the meaning of being a couple; for more meanings, please refer to Baidu.

Tang Sisi propped her chin on her hand and said, "This horse stance is beautiful"

Both Pili Sister and Chen Jing have been squatting for almost one minute, and both have reached the brink of collapse. Finally, Pili Sister suddenly stood up and said: "I give up, is that enough?" The blue-haired person, who had been standing by for quite some time, crossed their arms and remarked: "Good students are always like this, stubbornly holding on!"

The blue-haired individual expressed disappointment, saying: "We have all seen the horse stance; Master, teach us something more powerful!"

Old Wang said: "We don't need to contribute, do we"

Hu Tailai helplessly said: "How can someone so young lack this little perseverance?"

After a few casual exchanges, Wang Xiaojun gained a general understanding of the backgrounds of Hu Tailai's three female disciples

Sister Pili also chuckled and said: "Didn’t the master’s wife already acknowledge it? — You all live together, don’t worry, master, our mindset is very open, your coming out doesn’t affect us learning martial arts."

Bai Zhenzhen glanced at Wang Xiaojun and questioned, "He is only a few years older than us, and he is already called Shishu (master uncle)?" Suddenly, she smiled ambiguously and said, "I think he should be called Shiniang (master's wife), right?"

Hu Tailai pretended to have a stern expression and said, "No disrespect, aren't we here to practice martial arts? Let's get started!" In truth, everyone could see that he was all bluster and no substance, yet the three young women surprisingly bought into his act. Thunderbolt Sister excitedly asked, "Master, what do you plan to teach us today?"

Speaking of a well-proportioned figure, Wang Xiaojun then noticed that the three old men were still watching and couldn't help but say: "Why aren't you going to play?"

Upon hearing this, the girls became serious. The three of them squatted in a row in the courtyard, imitating Hu Tailai. Hu Tailai said: "There are narrow and wide stances in horse stance. What we practice at the Black Tiger Gate is the wide stance. When squatting down, focus on the dantian and keep your mind undistracted..."

At that moment, a beautiful red sports car suddenly stopped at the door, and a charming young lady quickly approached, carrying two large bags filled with various food items. Before she arrived, her silver bell-like voice had already crisply echoed in: "Second Brother, haven't you returned to your Gao Village yet? Hehehe."

The girl with blue hair is named Bai Zhenzhen. Both of her parents are factory workers, struggling due to poor economic conditions. Bai Zhenzhen is the type of girl who does not excel in her studies, comes from a troubled family, and lacks ambition, merely drifting through life. She is a close friend and supporter of Pili Jie, and naturally, she has benefited from her in many ways

Seeing that Pili Jie and Chen Jing had not moved, Lan Mao had no choice but to squat down again, but the action had completely lost its standard.

Hu Tailai was momentarily confused and asked, "What is a master’s wife?"

Thus, three old men stood in a row under the eaves, intently watching the young women practice their horse stance.

Chen Jing comes from a single-parent family. Chen Changting, Wang Xiaojun, and Hu Tailai have all met her, though the specifics of their interactions are unclear. However, it is certain that her conditions are favorable, and one can sense that Chen Changting is quite indulgent towards his daughter

Hu Tailai squatted in a horse stance and politely said: "I apologize for the embarrassment."

Wang Xiaojun humorously remarked: "Isn't it true that while one grows old, the heart remains youthful?"

"Follow my lead!" Hu Tailai stood with his feet slightly apart, delivering a punch with a steady motion. The girls, feeling delighted, hurriedly followed suit. Hu Tailai then slowly executed a kick. This sequence of punches and kicks continued for over ten repetitions. Standing upright, he announced, "Warm-up is complete. Today, I will first teach you how to assume the horse stance."

At this moment, a lively exchange of greetings came from the entrance, as the three gentlemen Zhang, Wang, and Li entered in succession, each holding a teacup and a cigarette in hand, with Xie Junjun trailing behind them—these four had arrived punctually for Wang Xiaojun's "work". Do not ask how they managed to gather so accurately; those who have played cards know that Mahjong is a game that requires a small group to be united in purpose. To play, one must gather four players. If one person is waiting for three, that is manageable; if two arrive first, they can chat a bit. The worst situation is when three are waiting for one, which is referred to in industry terms as "three missing one". This is often the most uncomfortable time... Do not ask how they managed to gather so accurately; those who have played cards know that Mahjong is a game that requires a small group to be united in purpose. To play, one must gather four players. If one person is waiting for three, that is manageable; if two arrive first, they can chat a bit. The worst situation is when three are waiting for one, which is referred to in industry terms as "three missing one". This is often the most uncomfortable time... Even if your rival or creditor suddenly appears, you would rather drag him into playing four rounds first. From this perspective, the combination of the three gentlemen and Xie Junjun can be considered a model in the industry, as they have almost never encountered a situation of "three missing one".

Sister Pili had no choice but to mimic the same posture, muttering, "What’s the use of squatting for so long?" However, just a few seconds later, she jumped up with a smile, saying, "It looks simple but is quite uncomfortable."

Tang Sisi casually remarked, "Not bad, but the girl who made it to the end doesn't have the best physique; she has a strong determination." She pointed to Sister Pili and said, "That girl has a well-proportioned figure, with long limbs and tendons; she is a good material."

Wang Xiaojun said with a smile: "Don't mess up the diagnostic test; whether you enter the fast track or the slow track depends on yourselves."

Chen Jing remained silent, her expression growing increasingly tense. It was evident to everyone that a contest was unfolding between the two individuals

At that moment, Tang Sisi walked out from the inner courtyard and, seeing a large crowd of people, exclaimed in astonishment: "What is going on here?"

Wang Xiaojun and Tang Sisi found it amusing, one leaning against the eaves post and the other sitting on the steps, watching with great interest. Hu Tailai glanced at them, hesitating to speak, and then said seriously to his disciples: "Squatting in horse stance is the most important fundamental skill. If you do not establish a solid foundation, nothing can be accomplished. As the saying goes, practicing boxing without practicing the fundamentals will lead to a lifetime of emptiness. Now, all of you follow my lead!" Hu Tailai spread his feet wide apart, sank his waist, clenched his fists at his waist, and presented himself with a balanced demeanor, all angles at 90 degrees, including his shoulders, thighs, and calves, resembling the character "吕".