My martial arts have no bottlenecks.

Chapter 20 Chinese New Year

As the year draws to a close, the air in Linhai Town is filled with the smells of fish and gunpowder from firecracker debris.

Liang Cheng didn't rush to practice boxing or touch the iron sandbag. He just stood in the Hunyuan stance for an hour each morning and evening. The rest of the time, he chopped wood, carried water, and helped his mother knead dough.

Ning San Niang was initially a little worried: "Cheng'er, you're not practicing martial arts anymore?"

"Master said we need to maintain a balance between tension and relaxation." Liang Cheng added firewood to the stove. "Standing in a stance is a form of martial arts training."

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Er Gou and San Ya came to call Liang Cheng to go to the beach.

The three walked to the rocky beach, where the tide was receding, revealing a large area of ​​wet sand.

Er Gou picked up a flat stone and skipped it across the water. The stone skipped seven times before sinking. He turned around and laughed, "Brother Cheng, do you remember? When we had a competition when we were kids, you could only skip five times at most."

Liang Cheng also picked up a stone and tossed it casually.

The pebble skimmed across the water's surface, bouncing and disappearing into the distant waves, leaving Er Gou's smile frozen on his face.

Sanya said softly, "Brother Liang Cheng is different now."

The atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward.

The three sat on the rocks, and Er Gou started talking about the dock: "Da Tou is really powerful now, he has more than a dozen men under his command. The day before yesterday, Li Laowai paid twenty coins less in dock fees, and Da Tou had his stall smashed up, saying that if he couldn't pay it back in three days, he was out of a job."

Sanya whispered, "My mother said that Datou has changed."

Liang Cheng looked at the sea: "People change."

"Brother Cheng, you won't change, will you?" Er Gou suddenly asked.

Liang Cheng did not answer.

Er Gou suddenly became very firm, "Brother Cheng will definitely not change!"

Just then, shouts came from afar. It was Big Head leading several men from the Sea Serpent Gang patrolling the dock. He was wearing a short blue cloth jacket, with a short stick hanging from his waist, and he walked with a brisk pace.

Upon seeing the three people on the rocky beach, he raised his hand and waved, but did not come over.

"He's busy right now," Er Gou chuckled dryly, "managing three warehouses."

The three sat for a while longer, their conversation growing quieter. As the tide began to rise, Liang Cheng stood up and said, "Let's go back."

On the way back, Er Gou and San Ya walked in front, with Liang Cheng following behind, a few steps apart, as if there was an invisible ditch between them.

……

On the eve of the Lunar New Year, Linhai Town was unusually quiet.

The cargo ships were docked at the pier, and the men of the Sea Serpent Gang had finished work and gone home for their family reunion dinner. Occasionally, children would run by on the street carrying lanterns, their laughter ringing out.

Liang's Noodle Shop closed early.

A charcoal fire was lit in the main room, its light warming people's faces. The table was laden with dishes, including chicken, duck, fish, and meat, all made by Ning San Niang herself, steaming hot.

"Mother, you've made too much," Liang Cheng said.

"This is the only meal of the year that should be plentiful," Ning San Niang said, placing a piece of fish belly meat on his plate. "Eat more; you can't get this kind of food outside."

Liang Cheng lowered his head to eat the fish; the fish meat was fresh and tender, and all the bones had been picked out.

The sound of firecrackers drifted in from outside the window. In the distance, fireworks were being set off in someone's yard, their red and green lights filtering through the window paper and casting ever-changing shadows on the wall.

Ning San Niang suddenly said, "When your father was alive, every New Year's Eve he would go to the dock to set off firecrackers, saying it was to drive away bad luck and bring good fortune in the coming year."

In the original owner's memories, that taciturn man would always go out on New Year's Eve with firecrackers, and when he came back, he would be covered in gunpowder. He would pat the man's head and give him a few copper coins as New Year's money.

Later, my father went to sea and encountered a storm, and never returned.

"Mother," Liang Cheng pulled a red paper packet from his pocket, "New Year's money."

Ning San Niang was stunned: "How old are you...?"

"No matter how young he is, he is still his mother's son," Liang Cheng stuffed the red paper packet into her hand, and Ning San Niang smiled and took out her New Year's money in return.

The mother and daughter opened them at the same time; both contained six taels and six mace of silver—a very auspicious number...

The mother and son smiled at each other, and then Ning San Niang's eyes welled up with tears again: "You child, it's a pity your father didn't see this..."

"It's not customary to cry during the Lunar New Year."

Liang Cheng ladled her a bowl of soup.

The mother and son ate their meal slowly, exchanging a few words now and then. The charcoal fire crackled, and the sound of firecrackers outside gradually intensified, as if trying to blow away all the bad luck of the old year.

As midnight approached, Ning San Niang took out the sesame stalks she had prepared beforehand and spread them at the doorway.

"Step on the year's broken pieces, step on the year's broken pieces," she murmured, "May you have peace year after year."

……

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, it was still dark.

Liang Cheng quietly got up. His mother was still asleep. He called out, "Mother, I'm going to the martial arts school to wish my master a Happy New Year. I'll be back at noon."

Pushing open the door, a blast of cold air hit my face.

The street was covered with a layer of red paper scraps, leftovers from last night's firecrackers. Several early-rising elderly people were carrying incense and candles to the local temple. When they saw him come out, they all smiled and clasped their hands in greeting: "Brother Liang, Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year," Liang Cheng returned the greetings one by one.

When we reached the entrance to town, we met Big Head.

He and several of his Sea Serpent Gang brothers were going door-to-door offering New Year's greetings, but in reality, they were collecting "New Year's red envelopes" (lucky money).

Upon seeing Liang Cheng, Da Tou was taken aback: "Brother Cheng, so early?"

"Let's go to the martial arts gym," Liang Cheng glanced at the people behind him, "What are you doing...?"

"It's the gang's rule to pay New Year's visits to all the shopkeepers on the first day of the Lunar New Year," Big Head said with a frank smile. "Brother Cheng, do you want to come along? We'll go around, and you'll definitely get a red envelope."

Liang Cheng shook his head: "You guys are busy."

After walking a few steps, they heard Big Head say behind them, "See that? That's my brother Cheng, the champion of the Three Towns Competition, and a guest elder of the City Lord's Mansion. Be smarter at the docks from now on!"

The voice was loud, as if it was specifically addressed to Liang Cheng, but Liang Cheng did not stop walking.

……

New peach wood charms were pasted on the gate of Yangwei Martial Arts School, with red paper and black characters that read: "May martial arts prosper and the school flourish."

The front yard was empty; most of the apprentices had gone home for the New Year. But the sound of boxing practice could be heard in the back yard; it was none other than the eldest disciple, Zhou Hu.

He was shirtless, practicing his powerful bull-style boxing in the morning mist. Each punch carried a dull whistling sound, clearly indicating that his injuries had healed by about 70-80%.

"Happy New Year, Senior Brother." Liang Cheng clasped his hands in greeting.

Zhou Hu withdrew his fist and wiped his sweat: "So early? I thought you wouldn't arrive until noon."

"It's better to wish your master a Happy New Year sooner rather than later."

As the two walked toward the main hall, Zhou Hu whispered, "Zhao Yuan returned yesterday and hasn't come out of the house. Master doesn't look too well either, so watch your words."

Liang Cheng nodded.

Inside the main hall, Yang Wei sat in the main seat, drinking tea. Seeing Liang Cheng enter, he put down his teacup and asked, "You've arrived?"

"Disciple pays New Year's greetings to Master." Liang Cheng knelt down and bowed, "Wishing Master continued progress in martial arts and good health and longevity."

Yang Wei accepted the bow and then said, "Get up."

Liang Cheng stood up and took out a brocade box from his pocket: "This is a small token of my appreciation, please accept it, Master."

Inside the box were two ginseng roots that were thirty years old. He had asked the pharmacy owner to find them before the new year, and they cost him thirty taels of silver.

Yang Wei opened it and glanced at it, his expression softening slightly: "That's thoughtful of you."

"I will never forget my master's kindness in teaching me."

"sit."

Liang Cheng sat down at the lower end of the table, and Yang Wei asked about his family situation, which Liang Cheng answered one by one.

Just then, Zhao Yuan arrived.

His face was still pale, but he was neatly dressed and holding a brocade box in his hands: "Disciple wishes Master a Happy New Year."

He bowed and offered his respects in a perfectly orderly manner, but his eyes remained lowered, and he never made eye contact with Liang Cheng.

Yang Wei accepted the gifts, asked a few simple questions about their injuries, and then dismissed the two men.

As they walked out of the main hall, Zhao Yuan suddenly spoke up: "Junior Brother Liang."

Liang Cheng stopped.

"The spring hunt is at the end of March," Zhao Yuan said calmly. "I will go then."

"Senior Brother Zhao's injuries have not yet healed, there's no need to push yourself."

"I won't force you," Zhao Yuan raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Some situations you have to get back on your own."

After saying that, he turned and went back to his room.

Liang Cheng stood under the corridor, watching his back.

Some people fall down and lie down, while others fall down and grit their teeth to get up, even if their mouths are full of blood.

Zhao Yuan is clearly the latter.

……

When we came out of the martial arts school, the sun was already high in the sky.

The streets became lively, with groups of people exchanging New Year's greetings, and children dressed in new clothes running around, begging for candy and lucky money.

When Liang Cheng passed by the dock, he saw Da Tou standing in front of the warehouse, holding a string of copper coins and giving New Year's money to the children passing by.

"Come on, everyone gets a share!" he laughed heartily. "Take the money and buy some candy, but don't waste it!"

The children surrounded him, chattering their thanks. Nearby shopkeepers chimed in, "Manager Big Head is truly kind and generous!"

When Da Tou saw Liang Cheng, he quickly waved, "Brother Cheng, come over and have a cup of tea!"

Liang Cheng shook his head: "Mother is waiting for me to eat."

"Then another day!" Big Head didn't insist. "Please give my New Year's greetings to Third Sister for me!"

Liang Cheng nodded, and the two walked away from each other, their backs to each other.