Chapter 38: Combat Techniques

Li Mantang was so annoyed that he snatched up a shoe sole and swatted Li Qi with it. Qiu Shuyun was amused despite her frustration, while Zhou Guodong cast an awkward, sideways glance at Li Qi.

"Don't talk nonsense. My mother hadn't even married my father yet when she was hiding out at your place back then."

"Then why was the eldest sister crying?"

"My mother asked about Li Li's situation and realized how much she’s been bullied by her in-laws all these years. So, my mother suggested that Li Li come stay at our place. Her daughter could transfer to a school in the city, and all Li Li would need to do is keep the house tidy and cook one meal a day. She’d be paid ninety yuan a month. Li Li is so hardworking that the chores are nothing, and more importantly, my mother really enjoys her cooking."

After Zhou Guodong finished speaking, Li Qi’s heart skipped a beat. This wouldn't do. When Auntie Qiu first tasted his eldest sister’s steamed buns, she had mentioned that her adopted daughter, Zhou Guojuan, had intentionally kept her mother’s whereabouts a secret. What exactly was that woman’s motive? If his sister were to move into Auntie Qiu’s house so rashly, it might look like she was climbing the social ladder, but with his sister’s simple temperament, she would be chewed up and spat out before she knew it.

He shook his head decisively. "My sister hasn't finished her divorce proceedings with Gao Jianye yet. I’m afraid the Gao family might stir up more trouble. Once she has everything sorted out, I’ll get in touch with you."

Li Qi’s reasoning was sound, so Auntie Qiu didn't press the matter further. She took the remaining ten thousand yuan Li Qi had retrieved and walked out of the house. Zhou Guodong pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it to Li Qi, telling him to keep it safe and reach out directly if he ever needed anything.

Clutching the card—which featured the national emblem—in his hand, Li Qi felt a momentary sense of unreality. In that era, this piece of paper was akin to a get-out-of-jail-free card or a golden pass. In fact, more than twenty years into the future, he had a poor relative who grew fruit and drove an unregistered tricycle to deliver goods every day. Whenever someone stopped him for an inspection, he’d just flash a business card from a high-ranking official in the traffic police department, and he’d be waved through. The weight of Zhou Guodong’s card in the current climate was staggering.

After carefully tucking away the card, Zhou Guodong told Li Qi to head to the police station in an hour, where someone would be waiting for him. The three members of the Li family saw Auntie Qiu off and watched as the sedan disappeared into the distance.

As Li Li went back inside to continue her chores, Li Mantang patted his son on the shoulder. "Third son, they are high-ranking officials, after all; they aren't like us common folk. Even with the history between them and your mother, I think it’s best to keep our distance. We’re in a different league—we can't reach that high. Human connections are like that—they grow fragrant with distance and sour with proximity. If you ask me, your sister shouldn't go be their maid either."

Li Qi gave a thumbs up. "Old Man Li, you’re the one who really gets it. That insight is worth more than gold. We should just close our doors and enjoy our quiet little life. Once I make some more money, I’ll buy that empty room next door from the Hao family for my sister and Junmei to live in. Then the five of us can live comfortably and eat well. That’s all there is to it."

"Get lost, you disrespectful brat."

The old man walked home with his hands behind his back. His third son seemed to have grown into a man overnight, and he felt a sense of relief. In a couple of years, he’d find him a good match, and then he could finally rest easy. He just hoped the boy wouldn't be a fool and go running back to that trash, Liu Yuting.

Li Qi hopped on his bicycle again and headed to the police station. Even though Zhou Guodong told him to come in an hour, he couldn't sit still at home, so he decided to go wait.

About forty minutes later, a military-green jeep pulled up to the police station. The door opened, and a rugged man stepped out. With a buzz cut, a military overcoat, and combat boots, he exuded an aura of iron-blooded intensity just by standing there. His presence was completely different from that of an ordinary person. He keenly sensed Li Qi’s gaze and walked straight over.

"You’re Li Qi?"

Li Qi felt as if he were being stared down by a tiger; he couldn't help but straighten his posture and nod. "I am."

*Snap.* A crisp, standard military salute.

The tough guy lowered his hand and said, "My name is Lu Yan. Auntie Qiu calls me Lao Liu. My skills aren't something most people can learn, but since Auntie Qiu asked me to teach you, I won't hold anything back. How much you learn depends on you."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and led Li Qi into the police station. Xu Tiesheng had already come out to meet them. Lu Yan treated everyone with the same expressionless face and said to Xu, "Prepare a training room for me. I’ll be staying at your station for these three days. Have someone get me some food—make it three portions."

*This guy is a bottomless pit; he eats like three grown men,* Li Qi thought, sizing up Lu Yan’s physique. He couldn't tell where all that food went.

Soon, they arrived in a room hung with sandbags and filled with heavy training equipment. Lu Yan shoved all the clutter into a corner and took off his heavy coat. Underneath, he was wearing nothing but a black short-sleeved shirt. He was seriously immune to the cold. Once the coat was off, Li Qi finally saw how sturdy Lu Yan really was—the muscles on his arms were as hard and chiseled as stone.

Lu Yan gestured for Li Qi to take off his outer layer as well. As he looked at Li Qi’s physique, he shook his head.

Li Qi felt a faint sting of humiliation. He recognized that look in Lu Yan’s eyes; it was the same look he’d seen when he went to high-end karaoke bars in his past life and a line of hostesses would walk in, none of whom were particularly impressive. He felt as if Lu Yan was on the verge of saying, "Next batch."

Gritting his teeth, Li Qi said, "You don't have a choice. For these next three days, you're stuck with me!"

Lu Yan was slightly surprised by Li Qi’s sudden defiance, but he didn't care. Seeing Li Qi’s body, he had already lost all expectations for this mission. He’d thought Auntie Qiu was looking for an heir to her legacy, but instead, he’d been handed a rookie with no signs of any real training. He wasn't disappointed so much as he was resigned.

"Political Commissar Zhou said you wanted to learn the Black Dragon Eighteen Hands, but that style of combat requires extremely high physical conditioning. If you don't have a foundation, the moves will just be for show and won't be effective. I think you should—"

"I don't need you to think; I need me to think."

Li Qi cut him off directly. He was pressed for time; in reality, he didn't even have three full days to learn from Lu Yan. Reporters from the province had already entered Taihe City and would likely head into the mountains within the next two days. He didn't have much time left.

He said bluntly, "I want to focus on learning how to render an enemy unconscious or incapacitate them in a single strike. You can skip everything else. Don't worry about my foundation—just show me the pressure points and the techniques for generating force."

Lu Yan didn't show any annoyance at being interrupted. He had trained too many hot-headed youngsters over the years to know that words were pale and powerless. What do you do when a soldier won't listen? You beat them into obedience. If teaching doesn't work, a punch usually does.

"You think hitting someone is simple? Let me show you what real combat is."

As he spoke, Lu Yan charged at Li Qi, closed the distance instantly, and delivered a swift, chopping strike with his hand.