Along the way, there were many neighbors greeting Chen Bing.
As for Su Li, who was following Mr. Chen, curious and scrutinizing eyes were unabashedly directed at her.
"Master Chen, who is the beautiful young lady behind you? Is she a relative of yours?" a bold young man blushed and directly stepped forward to ask.
Chen Bing chuckled and scolded, "Brat, what’s it to you? Hurry and go practice your skills, or trust , your master will be back to beat you up."
Su Li walked gracefully, "Mr. Chen is quite popular around here."
"These A-mo and A-gong people are all very nice, it’s just that the young lads are too mischievous, giving one a real headache."
Speaking, Chen Bing led Su Li to a martial arts hall and stopped, "Miss Su, please co in."
Unlike the attitude of an elder looking after a junior at the Wenqu Building, Chen Bing now placed Su Li on an equal footing with himself, with words expressing respect.
As they stepped over the threshold of the martial arts hall, a young disciple shouted loudly: "Master, Master is back."
The disciples, who had been a bit lax, imdiately snapped into place, either standing on stakes or practicing horse stance.
Each one with a serious look, had it not been for their frequent sneaky glances towards Su Li’s direction, one might have thought they were diligently practicing all along.
Su Li, with keen eyes, even noticed a young man taking the chance to pour water on his back and saring so on his forehead.
But he seed to forget, when soaked with sweat, it’s not just the back that gets wet, the front was clean and dry, not a trace of sweat.
Mr. Chen furrowed his brows, his face darkened, and he slamd his palm hard on the nearby pillar, "If you’re unwilling to work hard, you can quit my martial arts hall right now...."
The disciples were left stunned and speechless, Mr. Chen sowhat satisfied, thinking the young disciples were overawed by his presence, and wouldn’t slack off in the short term.
Yet his youngest apprentice was staring, pointing at him, "Mas, Master... your hand...."
Su Li followed the direction of the point and her eyebrows twitched, pursed her lips without speaking.
Chen Bing reacted as if he’d seen a ghost, abruptly pulling back his palm, seemingly unable to believe the palm print on the pillar was made by him.
He quickly turned his head towards Su Li, his lips moved slightly, many questions on his mind, but ultimately none ca out.
The young n present sward up, tightly surrounding Chen Bing.
"Master, what was that move just now? I want to learn it too."
"Master, just teach that move, and I promise never to slack off again."
...
By the ti Chen Bing managed to extricate himself from the group of disciples, half an hour had passed, and Su Li was already sitting with her legs crossed on a lounge chair, sipping tea and peeling sunflower seeds.
Having been nagged by the disciples enough, Chen Bing also had an idea arise.
He cautiously approached Su Li, timidly asking, "This... uh... could you...?"
Chen Bing felt deeply embarrassed, considering that the secret techniques of each family were their lifeblood, asking soone to share them was clearly courting disaster.
"Miss Su, I apologize, I was too abrupt." Chen Bing quickly shifted his focus out of his dilemma.
Su Li waved her hand nonchalantly, "Let’s talk about it later."
Hearing this, Chen Bing’s eyes brightened, instinctively stroking his mustache.
Discussing it later implied that anything was possible.
Su Li subtly sensed that Mr. Chen’s attitude towards her improved yet another level.
"I can’t speak for other masters, but my Chen Family Martial Arts Hall would be willing to invite Miss Su as a martial arts consultant."
Su Li nodded, "In that case, let’s talk about the remuneration, shall we?"
Mr. Chen was taken aback, "Ah..."
Su Li’s fine brows furrowed slightly, "You weren’t thinking of not paying my fee, were you?"
Chen Bing awkwardly chuckled, "Not at all, it’s just that the martial arts hall doesn’t earn much, I’m just worried about slighting Miss Su."
He wiped nonexistent sweat from his forehead, at that mont when Miss Su furrowed her brows, an intense danger seed to loom, making his heart involuntarily clench.
Although Miss Su’s voice was gentle, her tone unhurried and soft-spoken, to Chen Bing, she felt like a Fierce Beast.
His extre survival instincts made him swallow the honest words he’d intended to speak.
Previously, he hadn’t really considered paynt, after all... judging by Miss Su’s attire and deanor, too little would not interest her, too much, and he truly couldn’t afford it.
So martial arts halls make a lot of money, but that doesn’t include his Chen Family Martial Arts Hall.
An old friend had repeatedly advised him not to be so soft-hearted, saying this was a ti when even having enough to eat was difficult, so why pity the poor families?
But Chen Bing always thought, that because the world was so chaotic, if the young ones could be a bit more agile and have so martial arts skills, they wouldn’t be easily bullied.
These things, Chen Bing wouldn’t say to Su Li.
Of course, even if Su Li knew, she wouldn’t sympathize, each person bears their own choices.
Su Li: "Then Mr. Chen, pay fifty yuan a month as a consulting fee."
Su Li ntally calculated on her fingers, if one martial arts hall is fifty yuan, two would be one hundred yuan, enough to cover the rent for this month’s apartnt.
Earlier, she’d noticed there were exactly seven martial arts halls on the whole street.
Seven halls, fifty each, that’s three hundred and fifty yuan.
Hmm, it’s sowhat little... but at least it will get her past the current predicant.
Su Li thought her labor was already quite cheap, but evidently, others didn’t think so.
Mr. Chen looked nearly breathless, his face turning red, stamring, "Could you lower it a bit, fifty yuan... is a bit too much..."
Su Li: "...."
"You do have quite a few disciples."
Peering outside, she roughly estimated there were forty to fifty present.
Seeing Mr. Chen could go to the Wenqu Building daily to listen to music and drink tea, he sure didn’t seem like soone short on cash.
Mr. Chen hesitated, clenched his teeth, and ultimately agreed, "Then let’s go with the amount Miss Su said."
Su Li smiled, she knew Mr. Chen wasn’t short on money.
Yet, it seed she’d been happy too soon.
Su Li never thought she’d be resented to such an extent.
The ideal is lush, but the reality is harsh.
Besides Mr. Chen hiring her as a martial arts consultant for the Chen Family Martial Arts Hall, even Mr. Xu’s martial arts hall turned her down.
As for the other masters, the more tactful ones declined, and the more direct ones outright mocked, dragging Mr. Chen through the mud with them.
Su Li: "Those shortsighted fools will surely regret it."
Yet, Su Li didn’t expect their regret would co so soon.
Becoming the consultant of the Chen Family Martial Arts Hall didn’t significantly alter Su Li’s life, except for the fact she couldn’t visit the Wenqu Building to hear music anymore.
The Wenqu Building was directly closed, Mr. Yao seed to have disappeared sowhere. It was said the foreigners couldn’t find him and threw quite a tantrum.
However, Mr. Chen told her that was the end of the matter.
Su Li, however, felt the matter wouldn’t end just like that.
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