Chapter 65 (1/2)

Wing Chun Is Not Difficult

Liu Ying left with her child and father to Australia, cutting ties with everything to do with Nice Moves Sports Equipment.

Xia Lei had done a lot of things to obtain the purchase order from Nice Moves Sports Equipment and it now seemed like he had been chasing a dream of riches and had been rudely awakened. However, Xia Lei had still received a most precious thing and it was not the five million but the friendship between himself and Liu Ying. He had no regrets.

Over the next few days, Lin Bo-Wen and Lin Ya-Ru did not come to make trouble for Xia Lei. Perhaps it was because they could not do anything about Xia Lei, or perhaps it was the calm before the storm. Whatever it was, Xia Lei did not care.

Thunder Horse Workshop did not receive any big orders recently and the work they did get was normal stuff and not high-volume. This was not good for business as he only made a pitiable amount after deducting expenses such as salaries and materials. Xia Lei, however, did not care about his own profit so long as he could pay his employees.

The work was simple and low-volume so there was no need at all for a ‘Great Master’ like Xia Lei to use his skills. This meant that he had a lot of time to do what he liked, like reading and learning more about business. Xia Lei also went shopping for practical items for the employees of Thunder Horse Workshop. He bought a bottle of shampoo for Chen A-Jiao, a pair of high-heels for Zhou Xiao-Hong, two packets of cigarettes or a bottle of the better alcohol for the male employees. He would occasionally drive Jiang Ru-Yi’s ratty-tatty Polo to the suburbs to look for pieces of land with a good price and dream about setting up his company.

When he was not doing any of that, Xia Lei was going to a Wing Chun school to learn Wing Chun martial arts.

He had never even imagined that he would go to any martial arts school to learn martial arts before and there wasn’t a need to but it was different now. He had offended Gu Ke-Wen and some Hai-Zhu City big-name underlord He Lao-Qi because of Gu Ke-Wen. He’d thought about it and it was no problem for him to handle two low-level thugs with his current skills but if a stronger opponent appeared he would just become a punching bag.

Xia Lei was never one to respond only after the threat happened so he took the first step and picked up martial arts.

Early in the morning, Xia Lei made a round of Thunder Horse Workshop and slipped off. He drove to the Wing Chun school to learn Wing Chun.

This Wing Chun school was named ‘Hai-Zhu Wing Chun School’ and the owner of the school was Master Liang Zheng-Chun from Foshan. He was said to be the descendant of the man who started Wing Chun itself and the style of Wing Chun he taught was the most authentic.

The school had many students but Xia Lei had come early and the school was empty except for Master Liang Zheng-Chun, who was standing alone and striking the wooden dummy.

Bam bam bam, bam bam bam…

Liang Zheng-Chun was in his early fifties but his limbs were still very agile and powerful. His age did not slow him at all.

XIa Lei walked over and greeted him, “Good morning, Master Liang.”

Liang Zheng-Chun stopped his strikes and looked at Xia Lei, and a smile appeared on his face, “Ah, it’s Xia Lei. You’re here early.” Xia Lei had only been coming for three days but he had made a strong impression on him.

Xia Lei smiled, “I had nothing to do in my shop so I came early to practice.”

“Okay. Practice ‘Little Idea’ first and let me see,” said Liang Zheng-Chun.*

The first form of Wing Chun is Little Idea - it is the foundation for the body’s form and footwork as well as many others. Only when ‘The Little Idea’ is mastered can one go on to the higher levels such as ‘Seeking Bridge’, ‘Sticking Hands’, ‘Sticking Foot’, ‘Swinging Hand’, ‘Thrusting Fingers’, wooden dummy techniques, ‘Three Star Dummy’ and so on.

For the three days that Xia Lei practiced Wing Chun, he had practiced ‘Little Idea’ every day.

Xia Lei got into the beginning stance, then begun practicing his footwork and form. His hands were also moved from attack to defence interchangeably. His movements had some semblance of being standard.

Liang Zheng-Chun was quietly surprised by Xia Lei as he watched him. Other people would need a few months to master Little Idea but Xia Lei was able to grasp the core of it in three days. Liang Zheng-Chun did not show his surprise and watched quietly, occasionally pointing out things which Xia Lei should pay attention to. Xia Lei was a serious student and that, in turn, made him teach seriously.

A few minutes later, Liang Zheng-Chun said, “Stop. Let’s stop here. Rest for a while and you can practice something else.”

Xia Lei relaxed and returned to his normal stance and asked, “How did I do, Master Liang?”

“Not bad. I’ve taught many students and you’re the fastest. My own grandfather said that I was quick too but I feel that you’re even faster than I was back then,” said Liang Zheng-Chun.

Xia Lei laughed but said nothing. His left eye never forgot what it saw. He had memorised all of the learning materials Liang Zheng-Chun had given him and he also never forgot the methods he taught; of course he learnt quickly. Surpassing Liang Zheng-Chun’s speed from years ago was normal.

At that moment, some students walked in. Liang Zheng-Chun went to greet them and arrange practices for them to do.

In the past, disciples had to kowtow and offer tea when they met their martial arts Master and show him a lot of respect. Times have changed now; the martial arts Master was just a Master and the disciples have become students. The Master had to take care of his students and have a good attitude. Why? If his service attitude was bad, students would just go for other martial arts like Judo or Taekwondo. Who would still come to learn Wing Chun?

The students were all long-time students and all of them had at least a year of practice. The leader of the group was Lu Sheng and he was retired Special Forces. He already knew mixed martial arts and had been learning Wing Chun for three years; he was stronger than strong. He was the most advanced student in the school and he got along well with the others. Young students would call him Big Brother Sheng in respect when they saw him.

“Sheng, you’re early today,” Liang Zheng-Chun said in welcome and smiled as he greeted him.

Lu Sheng was polite too, “Good morning, Master Liang. My boss went overseas today and I couldn’t go because I didn’t have the necessary visa so I came for practice since I had nothing to do at home.”

He was a professional bodyguard.

The other students greeted Liang Zheng-Chun as well and they were respectful.

The students began practicing. They paired up and practiced Sticking Hand and Sticking Foot while some simply sparred. The practice ground was quite lively.