Dad, Please Try a Little Harder-Chapter 26
Chapter 26 This Year’s Newcomers Are Really Strong!
After meeting Qin Shenglong briefly on the day of the club recruitment, Qian Quan hadn’t seen him again, and Qin hadn’t reached out to him either.
Then came his unexpected popularity.
Although the video had edited out Qin Shenglong, he surely must have had mixed feelings after watching it.
He had initially wanted to establish dominance over his junior and keep him away from his crush. Instead, he unintentionally made him famous, which undoubtedly boosted his competitiveness. What an experience!
Faced with such an occurrence, even if Qin Shenglong didn’t directly confront Qian Quan due to Bai Yuanzhi’s absence, he would inevitably vent his frustrations and complaints to his friends.
Zhang Tianran, one of Qin Shenglong’s close friends, naturally felt the urge to lend a helping hand and vent his friend’s frustration.
After all, it was just a simple matter.
All one could say was that Qian Quan had some bad luck to have crossed paths with him.
The only thing that slightly surprised him was that Qian Quan wasn’t just a simple, pretty boy; he had experience with Wing Chun.
This undoubtedly made things more interesting.
Zhang Tianran walked up to Quan and extended a single hand in a rather senior manner, saying, “Wing Chun, Zhang Tianran.”
Qian Quan also extended a single hand, “Wing Chun, Qian Quan.”
The two of them stood in this standoff for a while, neither making a move.
As a senior, Zhang Tianran naturally hesitated to strike first; he was waiting.
And for some unknown reason, Qian Quan also refrained from initiating the confrontation.
The two struck their questioning hand poses, held them for a few minutes, and finally, even the audience couldn’t stand it any longer. The other vice president from the Tai Chi major remarked, “Are you two playing the wooden dummy game?”
Bai Yuanzhi was quite patient, looking at the two with an almost smiling expression but saying nothing.
Zhang Tianran was speechless. He turned to Qian Quan and said, “You go first. Let me see your skill level.”
Qian Quan chuckled and replied, “Alright, pay close attention then.”
As the words fell, his fist moved.
In almost the blink of an eye, Qian Quan’s fist reached Zhang Tianran’s right ribs.
One-inch punch!
“Ah!”
Zhang Tianran let out a muffled cry of pain, staggering back five or six steps, hunching over, and coughing while clutching his ribs.
Not to mention the other vice president, even Bai Yuanzhi’s expression instantly changed.
No, that speed?
Afterimages?
Qian Quan slowly retracted his fist and asked, “Did you see it?”
Zhang Tianran coughed and looked up at Qian Quan, his shock evident.
“You… Where did you learn that punch?” Zhang Tianran’s demeanor no longer held any arrogance.
“It’s a family tradition,” Qian Quan replied truthfully.
Zhang Tianran took a few deep breaths, slowly straightened up, and said, “I made a fool of myself just now.”
“It’s alright.”
“May I ask, how much strength did you use just now?”
“Twenty percent.” In fact, he hadn’t even exerted any force; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to stand and talk right now.
Zhang Tianran was shocked once again, then he forced a bitter smile and said, “So, you were serious when you said you could take on Qin Shenglong and the other two together.”
Qian Quan nodded.
“I will tell Qin Shenglong about this truthfully; I hope you don’t mind.”
“It’s fine.”
“In the future, can I ask you for guidance in Wing Chun?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.” Zhang Tianran bowed his fist in respect toward Qian Quan and then silently stepped aside.
Bai Yuanzhi turned to the other vice president and asked, “Xufeng, do you have any more questions?”
“I do.” Luo Xufeng’s expression was extremely serious. “Can I learn Wing Chun from him in the future? I mean, can I become his apprentice?”
Bai Yuanzhi chuckled and looked at Quan, saying, “Why aren’t you hiding today?”
“I told you I would conduct the interviews properly.”
Bai Yuanzhi smiled and nodded. “You don’t need to go out. Stay here and watch with us.”
“Okay.” Qian Quan moved to the side.
Luo Xufeng approached and shook hands with Qian Quan. “I am Luo Xufeng, a latecomer. Please take care of me, Master Qian.”
Qian Quan responded, “You are too humble.”
“No, I’m serious. In the future, we each mind our own business. I’ll call you Master, and you can call me Senior.”
Qian Quan was speechless.
Luo Xufeng turned to Bai Yuanzhi again and said, “This year, Azure Bay University produced a super rookie, Zhao Baiyu. Everyone thought the championship belonged to them, but now it seems they celebrated too early.”
…
“I told them not to celebrate too early. There are definitely real masters in other schools, too.”
In Tomson Riviera, Zhao Baiyu returned home on the weekend and chatted with her mother. She mentioned the upcoming Newcomer Pairs Tournament and how the school’s martial arts club had high expectations for her.
“Will it be dangerous?”
Huang Lingyan worried about her daughter’s safety.
“Martial arts competitions have limits. It won’t be dangerous. Even if there’s some risk, it’s necessary. Otherwise, I won’t be able to learn the Sixty-Four Hands.”
Zhao Baiyu’s spirit lifted when talking about the competition. “But don’t worry, Mom, I’ll take care of myself.”
“Okay.” Huang Lingyan nodded. At this point, she couldn’t stop her daughter. After all, she was a natural martial arts prodigy, and Master Gong Xuanzhu chose her.
After chatting for a while, Zhao Baiyu stood up. “Mom, my senior is coming from Hangzhou to Azure Bay today to visit his sister. I’ve arranged to meet him there.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
Huang Lingyan knew Zhao Baiyu’s senior, Li Zihe. He was the son of Li Weifeng in Hangzhou and was studying at Zhejiang University.
Their families had some business interactions; thus, Zhao Baiyu’s father had connections with Li Weifeng.
Huang Lingyan still remembered her father and husband discussing Li Weifeng and reciting a rhyming verse: “Northeast tiger, northwest wolf, southwest phoenix, southeast python, and a fierce dragon in the middle crossing the river.”
Her father said this rhyming verse referred to five influential figures in the underground business world. The fierce dragon that didn’t cross the river was Li Weifeng. According to her father and Baiyu’s dad, he had deep roots in Hangzhou.
Looking back now, it was possible that when her father arranged for Baiyu to apprentice under Gong Xuanzhu, he had thoughts of forming connections with the Li family.
…
A taxi stopped at the entrance of Jiao Tong University.
A young man got out of the car, appearing to be in his twenties, with a well-built physique and chiseled features.
After getting out of the car, he made a phone call. “Hey, I’ve arrived. How much longer until you get here?”
“I’ll wait for you at the entrance for a while.”
About 12 minutes later, another taxi arrived, and Zhao Baiyu got out of the car.
“Li Zihe.” Zhao Baiyu greeted the young man.
The two of them walked together into the campus of the university.
“My sister’s temperament is quite peculiar. She doesn’t really understand social norms and is usually absorbed in things she’s interested in. She appears indifferent to other matters. However, I know deep down she cares a lot about me, our parents, even though she rarely shows it.”
Li Zihe’s visit to Hangzhou this time had two main purposes: to visit his sister and to personally ask his junior, Zhao Baiyu, to help look after her.
The arrangement for this meeting was aimed at getting acquainted first. Whether they could become friends was not the immediate concern; getting familiar was the priority.
When the two of them saw Li Zhiyi, they noticed she was playing Chinese chess with someone, an elderly man in his sixties or seventies who appeared to be a professor from the school.
They didn’t approach to disturb her. Like everyone else, they stood to the side, observing. Then, to their astonishment, they discovered that Li Zhiyi was simultaneously playing blind chess with three opponents behind her.
One against four, but only using one game board!
“This year’s newcomers are really strong!”
Li Zihe and Zhao Baiyu heard the murmured admiration of the people around them.
Suddenly, Zhao Baiyu remembered the young man she had met in her hometown.
