Chapter 2: Combining movement and stillness, White Ape Cloak Hammer The Taoist priest is washing the pot. There were three big iron pots for about 180 people to eat and drink. Each one was bigger than a bathtub. Li Yuan had a hard time washing them. He lay on the edge of the pot with half of his body leaning down to clean them. Wow! A large bucket of water was poured into the pot, and Li Yuan was doing the final cleaning, while none of the other apprentices were idle. Chopping wood, fetching water, preparing charcoal, carrying various iron ingots, cleaning weapons, and sweeping... "Oh, I'm so tired. I heard that Du Yun, Lu Zhong and others in the front yard can rest before noon every day, and they can rest for two days in five days..." "Ah, it's because I'm weak that I wasn't chosen. I heard that those in the front yard might be able to learn martial arts!" "Well, just hold on for three years..." "I have to take a day off tomorrow. I'm so tired... Oh, I really want to eat meat!" …… Without Fatty Sun around, the apprentices talked to each other while working.
"forecourt……" Li Yuan was doing stretching exercises in the corner and listening to the apprentices chatting. Naturally, there were more than just the seven or eight apprentices in the blacksmith shop. There were five or six apprentices serving the owner and his family in the backyard, and there were a dozen or so helping out in the front yard and assisting the masters. Among the apprentices in the front, middle and back courtyards, the treatment is naturally the worst in the middle courtyard kitchen, followed by the back courtyard, and the best in the front courtyard. The group of apprentices in the front yard not only did not work as hard as them, but they also received a hundred copper coins a month and had the opportunity to learn martial arts. But he was weak and could not compete with those calf-like apprentices in the front yard. If he did not know a few words, he might not be able to join. "Learning martial arts may be even more difficult... However, we must first try to see if the 'ritual' is useful..." Li Yuan finished the work in his hands silently, and prepared to ask Fatty Sun for half a day off to withdraw his monthly salary to prepare the things needed for the ceremony. Apprentices in the Central Courtyard have one day off every ten days. He had not gone home before and had saved up three days of vacation, which he could withdraw at any time. When he had just finished washing up and had not yet had time to look for Fatty Sun, he heard a commotion in the yard. "Huh? Why are they here?" An apprentice stood up. A dozen or so young men of similar age but quite strong came to the yellow mud ground in front of the central courtyard, carrying wooden-handled hammers. "The apprentices in the front yard? Are they all so strong?" Li Yuan secretly complained. Compared to the apprentices in the middle yard who were like chicks, the apprentices in the front yard were as strong as calves. During this month or so, his body has recovered a lot, but compared with these calf-like apprentices in the front yard, the difference is visible to the naked eye. It can be seen that as apprentices, the apprentices in the front yard and the middle yard have differences in not only their treatment and background within the shop, but also their family backgrounds. However, these "little calves" are nothing compared to the man behind them.
'This guy is so strong!' Li Yuan's eyelids twitched. The middle-aged man was over meters tall, with thick arms, muscular body, a ferocious face, and a stride that was so powerful that it made people afraid. "It's Guard Qin!" One of the apprentices exclaimed, and all the apprentices, including Li Yuan, stood up and followed Fatty Sun to greet him. The weapon forging shop is rooted in Gaoliu County, but its business has already expanded to several nearby counties and even to the city of Zhelong Prefecture. In addition to the master, there are also quite a few guards in the shop. His status is so high and his treatment is so good that it can be said that he is second only to the shopkeeper. Li Yuan had very deep memories of these guards. Each of them had a huge appetite, and one of them was equivalent to seven or eight apprentices. “Brother Qin Xiong!” Fatty Sun, who looked like a meatball, jumped out from the kitchen and greeted them with a smile on his face: "My brother has left a jar of good wine. Can we have a couple of drinks tonight?" "talk later!" Qin Xiong's rough face was expressionless. He turned to look at the apprentices in the middle courtyard who were lined up like quails. "Are all the people from the middle courtyard here? They are too thin..." "Some of them went out to carry charcoal..." Fatty Sun smiled and said, "I've gotten better these days. I was even thinner before." "Ah." Qin Xiong responded coldly, and his serious look made the apprentices in the front middle courtyard feel a little breathless. Wow~ After a while, there was a chaotic sound of footsteps outside the gate of the central courtyard. Twenty or thirty apprentices, both men and women, hurried in from all over. "Are all the apprentices from the backyard, the utility room, and the Foreign Affairs Office here?" Li Yuan was slightly surprised. Such a big battle? "Okay, I won't wait for those who haven't come yet!" Qin Xiong's voice was loud and his eyes were fierce. All the apprentices who were stared at by him breathed rapidly and stepped back subconsciously. "I'm sure some of you have already guessed what Qin is here for today." Li Yuan lowered his head and glanced at the other apprentices. Sure enough, he saw that several of them looked happy, and his heart was moved. Does that mean that even if you are not assigned to the front yard, you still have the opportunity to learn martial arts? "Among all the businesses in Gaoliu County, the work in our forging shop is one of the hardest and most tiring. But every time we recruit apprentices, there are always people who sign up enthusiastically? There are even people who pay money to become our apprentices?" Qin Xiong said this and glanced at Li Yuan, who lowered his head and looked a little surprised. "My second brother gave me money? No wonder my sister-in-law doesn't like me..."
Li Yuan was a little confused, but still felt depressed. I became an apprentice and I paid money to get in? ! He really didn't know... "Because, among all the families in Gaoliu County, only the Four Seasons Pharmacy, the Sanhe Gang, the Chai Gang, the Yizi Inn, the Fishing Gang, and our Blacksmith Shop will teach apprentices martial arts! Even if you are an apprentice in the middle school, you will have this opportunity after working for a year or two!" Teach martial arts in advance? Li Yuan's eyes lit up and he suddenly realized something. Second brother wants to send me in even if he pays me. Is it because of this? The apprentices were very excited, and some of them couldn't help but clench their fists. Among them were the apprentice who had been hit on the head by Fatty Sun before, Liu Qing, and Niu Gui who came to the central courtyard at the same time as him. However, everyone was very sensible and no one dared to make a sound. "You apprentices are either from poor families or have fallen on hard times. If you hadn't joined the weapon forging shop, only one or two out of ten would have had the opportunity to learn martial arts. Today, I will teach you martial arts on behalf of the master. In the future, remember the master's kindness and do your best!" Qin Xiong's voice was loud and powerful, and the last few sentences were even more deafening. 'This is a bit too much...' Li Yuan only felt his eardrums buzzing, and he felt a little shocked and a little resentful. The last sentence was definitely not meant for them... "Today, I will teach you the 'White Ape Cloak Hammer'. Boys, this is your only chance to join the inner courtyard. Whether you can change your fate depends on you!" Learn martial arts! White Ape Cloak Hammer! Qin Xiong's voice echoed throughout the martial arts arena, and all the apprentices breathed rapidly, as if all the fatigue from a day's work disappeared in an instant. Children from poor families have to grow up early. Who among those who are sent to be apprentices does not know the importance of a skill? Not to mention martial arts, which is something that can truly change your destiny! As for joining the inner courtyard, most of the apprentices seemed calm, knowing that it was not something they could covet at all. "No wonder he carries so many sledgehammers..." Li Yuan suddenly realized something and glanced over. He saw that all the apprentices were tense. Liu Qing, who had been hit on the head by Fatty Sun earlier, clenched his fists and breathed rapidly. "Lu Zhong, let them get familiar with the standing posture first!" After saying this, Qin Xiong casually pointed to an apprentice in the front yard to stay, then turned around and left. "Yes!" As soon as Qin Xiong left, the other apprentices in the front yard also dispersed, leaving behind only the hammers they were holding. Only a dark and strong young man walked to the center of the platform with a sullen face, slowly stood there, half squatted, and swung his arms, like a gibbon. "No wonder it's called the White Ape Stake!" Li Yuan concentrated on memorizing Lu Zhong's movements, trying to learn, but he felt a little disappointed. Is this martial arts? "Learn how to stand like me!" Lu Zhong didn't seem like a man who would have the patience to instruct everyone one by one. He just stood there for half an hour.
After giving some pointers to Niu Gui and other apprentices, he walked away. As soon as he left, some people immediately dispersed. It was not because they were lazy, but they were really tired after a whole day and did not have the energy to stand on this strenuous pole. "Write it down first, and then practice it slowly..." Li Yuan also relaxed his posture and was already out of breath. His body was thinner than most of the people present, and he really couldn't hold on any longer. It is not impossible to grit your teeth and persevere, but forcing yourself to do so will only be in vain and may even harm your body. "Inner courtyard! I heard that there is an inner courtyard in the shop. Not only do the apprentices there not have to work, but they also get paid a very high monthly salary!" "Forget about the inner courtyard. It's already a great fortune to be able to learn martial arts in advance!" "I wonder how long it will take us to master the White Ape Posture? I heard from an old apprentice who was sent to the mine that it takes two to three years just to get started." Back in the middle courtyard, several apprentices were very excited. "How can I practice martial arts when I'm so tired? I want to join the inner court, but I'm afraid it's impossible..." Li Yuan wiped his face again and sighed inwardly. The apprentices in the front yard have good meals, and they work half a day and practice boxing half a day, and they can rest for two days in five days. However, they can only rest for one day in ten days, and they have no free time at all. How do they compare? It is not impossible to master this martial art, but I don’t know whether it will take several years or more than ten years... Before entering the house, he looked back and saw only Niu Gui, who had come to the central courtyard just after him, standing in the dark with his teeth gritted and sweating profusely. “This kid is really hardworking…” (End of this chapter)