Great Power Reclamation

In winter, the snow falls silently in Junken City.

Ye Yuze stood in his own yard, took a deep breath, and slowly raised his hand.

The air was cold, but his body was warm. After completing a set of Bajiquan, he felt comfortable all over, with a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead.

He stopped his movements and stood in the snow, looking into the distance.

The morning in Junken Town is as quiet as a painting. Wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys, and occasionally a dog barks.

In the distance, Yang Geyong's horse farm was faintly visible, with several Akhal-Teke horses frolicking in the snow, their reddish-brown coats contrasting beautifully against the white snow, like something out of a magazine.

"Old Yang, it's time to feed the horses again," Ye Yuze muttered to himself, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He turned and went inside, washed his face, and changed into clean clothes. Yu'e had already prepared breakfast: millet porridge, pickled vegetables, and two boiled eggs. Simple, but comforting.

"Are you going to the clinic again today?" my wife asked.

Ye Yuze nodded: "Let's go take a look. Old Liu said he's coming for a follow-up appointment today; he needs two more acupuncture needles for his back."

His wife laughed: "You're getting old, going back to your old ways."

Ye Yuze laughed too: "We can't just study for so many years for nothing, can we? We're classmates, why don't you go help me too?"

Yu'e smiled and shook her head: "I've forgotten all about it. I think it's more reliable for me to go back to my clothing company."

After finishing his meal, he picked up the medicine box that his father, Ye Wancheng, had used his whole life and went out.

The medicine box was an old item, made of cowhide, its edges worn white. Inside was a set of silver needles, dozens of them of various sizes, all given to him by Liu Xiangdong years ago.

Liu Xiangdong—his mentor, his benefactor at Tangcheng College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the legendary figure who later won the Nobel Prize along with his father Ye Wancheng and John Sr.

Thinking of Liu Xiangdong, Ye Yuze felt a warmth in his heart. His teacher was over eighty years old this year, but still in good health. He was currently in a sanatorium, and would occasionally give him pointers on his acupuncture skills, saying, "I'm afraid he'll embarrass himself."

The traditional Chinese medicine clinic is located in the east of the city. It's small, with two storefronts and a sign that reads "Yuzetang".

There is a young apprentice in the clinic, surnamed Zhou, who is Zhou Guiju's nephew. He has been learning for several years and can now help with dispensing medicine.

Ye Yuze pushed open the door and went in; Xiao Zhou was cleaning.

"Master, you've arrived."

Ye Yuze nodded, put down his medicine box, and glanced at the appointment book.

We have five patients today. The first one is Old Liu, who has lumbar muscle strain.

The second is Zhang's daughter-in-law, recovering from childbirth; the third is Factory Director Li, suffering from chronic gastritis; the fourth...

Just then, the door was pushed open, and Yang Geyong's loud voice came in.

"Old Ye! Are you home?"

Ye Yuze didn't even look up: "Not here."

Yang Geyong had already walked in, wearing a work uniform from the horse farm, with bits of grass still stuck to his trousers.

He glanced at the medicine box, then at the appointment book, and chuckled.

"Giving injections to people again? Your retirement life is more tiring than working."

Ye Yuze looked up at him and said, "Aren't you tired? You take care of those horses every day, more than you take care of your son."

Yang Geyong plopped down in a chair and poured himself a cup of tea.

“That’s different. Horses are obedient, but sons are not.”

Ye Yuze smiled.

The two have known each other for sixty years. They grew up together, learned skills together, started a business together, and watched the military reclamation city transform from a barren desert into what it is today.

When they got old, they retired together; one raised horses, and the other practiced medicine.

"How's your new foal doing?" Ye Yuze asked.

Yang Geyong's eyes lit up: "Great! It's only been three months and it can already run alongside the herd. Let me tell you, you can't find many horses with that bloodline in all of China. If the breeding is successful next year, my horse farm will truly be established."

Ye Yuze nodded; he knew Yang Geyong's feelings for the horse farm. The days when he rode horses across the Gobi Desert in his youth were the times he cherished most.

Now that I'm old and can't ride anymore, I raise a few horses. Watching them frolic in the snow makes me feel at ease.

"Are you still practicing your Tan Tui (a type of leg kick)?" Ye Yuze suddenly asked.

Yang Geyong paused for a moment, then smiled.

"I practice. I do a set every morning. Although I'm not as good as I used to be, my legs and feet are still pretty nimble."

Speaking of Tan Tui (a style of Chinese martial arts), both of them were quite emotional. Back in the military reclamation farm, Yang Geyong learned Tan Tui from Lin the blacksmith's wife, while Ye Yuze learned Bajiquan from Lin the blacksmith, Zhou Guihua's father. One trained in leg techniques, and the other in fist techniques; they practiced together from childhood to adulthood.

"If Lin the blacksmith and his wife were still alive, they would be so happy to see us like this now," Ye Yuze said.

Yang Geyong nodded: "Yes. We were young back then and didn't know anything, all we knew was to practice. Looking back now, those basic skills are enough for a lifetime."

Just then, the first patient arrived.

Old Liu is a long-time resident of the military reclamation town. He reclaimed the land with Ye Wancheng and the others back in the day. Now that he's old, his back is giving him trouble, and he comes in for acupuncture every few days.

"Little Ye, I'm bothering you again," Old Liu said with a smile.

Ye Yuze had him lie face down on the treatment bed, pressed his waist, asked a few questions, and then took out the silver needles.

Yang Geyong watched from the side without saying a word. He watched Ye Yuze's hand, steadily holding the needle, gently inserting it, twisting and turning, lifting and inserting, the movements were smooth and flowing, as if he had practiced it a thousand times.

After the needle went in, Old Liu cried out in pain.

"pain?"

"It doesn't hurt, it's sore. A sore but comfortable one."

Ye Yuze smiled and continued stabbing.

After a few needles, Old Liu let out a long breath and said, "Old Ye, your skills are getting better and better. You're much better than those young doctors at the hospital."

Ye Yuze shook his head: "Don't talk nonsense. I got this because my teacher taught me well."

Yang Geyong chimed in from the side: "His teacher is Liu Xiangdong, the one who won the Nobel Prize. Impressive, right?"

Old Liu was stunned for a moment, then gave a thumbs up: "Xiao Ye, your life has been worthwhile."

Ye Yuze didn't say anything, he just smiled.

After seeing Old Liu off, Yang Geyong said, "Your stitches look simple, but they require a lot of skill."

Ye Yuze glanced at him: "Isn't your horse farm the same? It looks like you're raising horses, but there's a lot more to it than meets the eye."

Yang Geyong smiled.

Having known each other for so many years, the two were well aware of each other's backgrounds. Ye Yuze's Bajiquan skills looked refined, but when he fought, he was more ruthless than anyone else.

Yang Geyong's Tan Tui (a style of martial arts) looks rough, but when practiced to a high level, it is also a skillful technique.

"How's your internal energy now?" Yang Geyong suddenly asked.

Ye Yuze was taken aback: "What internal energy?"

"Stop pretending," Yang Geyong said. "When you practice Bajiquan to a high level, you will develop internal energy. You've practiced for so many years, you must have it."

Ye Yuze was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"There are some. But it's nothing magical, just that my breathing is smooth and my body is better than the average person's."

Yang Geyong looked at him enviously: "I never managed to master it. Tan Tui is an external martial art; it trains the muscles, bones, and skin."

Ye Yuze laughed: "Your strength is more than enough. Being able to ride a horse at over sixty years old is something most people can't do."

Yang Geyong smiled smugly.

The second patient arrived; it was Zhang's daughter-in-law, seeking postpartum care.

Yang Geyong, not wanting to disturb him, got up and took his leave.

"I'm going to check on the horses. I'll come back to play chess with you this afternoon."

Ye Yuze nodded and continued working.

At noon, Ye Yuze ate a simple meal at the clinic. Although Xiao Zhou's cooking wasn't as delicious as his wife's, it was enough to fill his stomach.

After finishing his meal, he sat down in a chair and closed his eyes to rest.

Many things came to mind.

I remember back in Tangcheng Medical College, learning acupuncture from Liu Xiangdong. I was young then, eager to learn, always arriving at the classroom earliest and leaving latest. Liu Xiangdong praised me for my "aptitude," which made me happy for days.

I remembered learning Bajiquan from Lin the blacksmith. Lin the blacksmith was Zhou Guihua's father, and his Bajiquan skills were superb.

Back then, I would practice my skills before dawn every day, working up a sweat, and then I would jump into the ditch for a cold shower.

Lin the blacksmith said, "There are no shortcuts to martial arts; it's all about hard work." He remembered this and practiced for decades.

I think back to the days when I started my business with Yang Geyong. We began with border trade and, step by step, built up the military reclamation city. In those years, we endured all kinds of hardships and encountered all kinds of difficulties. But we overcame them together.

Now that I'm old, I can finally take a break.

But he can't stay idle.

Practicing medicine isn't just about making money. It's about using what I've learned where it's needed.

In the afternoon, Yang Geyong indeed arrived.

The two set up a chessboard in the clinic and began to play chess.

Yang Geyong plays chess like he is a man—aggressive and relentless, eager to checkmate his opponent in just a few moves. Ye Yuze, on the other hand, plays much more steadily, taking his time and carefully planning his moves.

After three games, Yang Geyong won one and lost two.

"I'm not playing anymore." Yang Geyong pushed the chess piece away. "You're too cunning, you've trapped me step by step." Ye Yuze laughed: "You're too impatient. Playing chess is like raising horses, you can't rush it."

Yang Geyong snorted, but there was a smile in his eyes.

The two drank tea and chatted casually.

"Do you plan to keep your clinic open indefinitely?" Yang Geyong asked.

Ye Yuze nodded: "Drive until it can't move anymore."

"Doesn't your son say anything to you?"

Ye Yuze laughed: "He can say what he wants, I'll do what I want. What can he do about it?"

Yang Geyong smiled too. Ye Feng is now the head of the Brothers Group, wielding great influence on Wall Street, but back in Junken City, he's still his son in front of Ye Yuze.

"How's your son, Jackie Chan?" Ye Yuze asked. "How's he doing in England?"

Yang Geyong's eyes lit up: "Great! He found a girlfriend, a girl from Hangzhou, very beautiful. He also opened an online store, selling cashmere scarves from our military reclamation city, earning several hundred pounds a month."

Ye Yuze nodded: "That kid is promising. He's better than Yang Wei was when he was young."

Yang Geyong sighed: "Yang Wei has made something of himself now. He's helping his sister Ayijiang in northern Xinjiang with some kind of agricultural product brand, and he's been running around there more often than anyone else."

Ye Yuze looked at him: "Are you feeling much better now?"

Yang Geyong was silent for a moment, then nodded.

“I owe Ayijiang so much. Now that Yang Wei can help her, I feel much more at ease.”

Ye Yuze patted him on the shoulder.

The two have known each other for sixty years, so there's no need to say too much.

In the evening, Ye Yuze packed his things to go home.

Yang Geyong stood up: "Let's go, let's go see my place. You haven't seen the new foal yet."

Ye Yuze thought for a moment and nodded.

The two left the clinic and headed towards Yang Geyong's horse farm.

As the sun sets, it turns the snow-covered ground golden. In the distance, several Akhal-Teke horses gallop across the snow, their reddish-brown coats shimmering in the sunset, a scene of breathtaking beauty.

Ye Yuze stood by the horse farm, looking at the horses, feeling an indescribable tranquility.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Yang Geyong asked proudly.

Ye Yuze nodded: "It looks good."

Yang Geyong pointed to a foal: "That's the new one. It's only been three months, and its legs have grown this long. By this time next year, it will be able to run alongside the herd."

Looking at the little pony, Ye Yuze suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

"Old Yang," he said, "do you think our lives have been worth it?"

Yang Geyong paused for a moment, then smiled.

“It’s worth it. How could it not be worth it? When we were young, we built the military reclamation city from the Gobi Desert. Now that we’re old, I raise horses, you practice medicine, our sons and daughters are all successful, and our grandchildren are all doing well. What could be not worth it?”

Ye Yuze nodded.

Yes, what else is not worth it?
The two stood in the setting sun, watching the horses galloping across the snow.

The wind was blowing and it was a little cold, but my heart was warm.

"Will you come to play chess again tomorrow?" Yang Geyong asked.

Ye Yuze thought for a moment: "I have three patients tomorrow, so I might be free in the afternoon."

"Then I'll come see you this afternoon."

"Row."

Ye Yuze turned around and slowly walked home.

Reaching the door, he glanced back. Yang Geyong was still standing by the horse farm, watching the horses. The setting sun shone on him, turning his curly hair golden.

Ye Yuze smiled.

Having a brother like this in this lifetime is truly worthwhile.

When Ye Yuze got home, his wife had already prepared dinner. He washed his hands and sat down to eat.

"How was your day?" my wife asked.

"It's alright. Old Liu's back is much better, and Zhang's wife also said it's effective."

His wife nodded and picked up a piece of meat for him.

Ye Yuze was eating when he suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, Ye Feng might call tomorrow. He says he has something to ask me."

His wife glanced at him: "What is it?"

"I don't know. He said it's about a project in northern Xinjiang," Ye Yuze said. "Even though he's abroad, he still likes to ask me about things in China."

His wife laughed: "That's right. No matter how old you are, you're still his father."

Ye Yuze smiled too.

After finishing his meal, he sat on the sofa and read a book for a while. It was a classic Chinese medicine book, well-worn, but he gained new insights every time he read it.

As I was looking at it, my phone rang.

It was Ye Feng calling.

"Dad, are you asleep?"

"Not yet. What is it?"

Ye Feng said on the other end of the phone, "That project in northern Xinjiang, the one Ayijiang and Yang Wei are working on, needs some technical support. I was wondering if you know any experts you could recommend?"

Ye Yuze thought for a moment: "There are a few people in the military reclamation machinery and electrical department who work in agricultural technology. We can contact them. Also, Ye Guigen knows some people in London who work in agricultural products. We can ask them too."

Ye Feng said, "Okay, I've got it."

After a moment of silence, Ye Feng suddenly asked, "Dad, how are you feeling?"

Ye Yuze paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Great. He gets acupuncture every day and is more energetic than anyone else."

Ye Feng smiled too.

"That's good. Take care."

After hanging up the phone, Ye Yuze stared at his phone, stunned for a moment.

My son is all grown up now, with his own career and family. But every time I call, he still asks, "Dad, how are you doing?"

This is enough.

Outside the window, the night in the military reclamation city is gentle.

Ye Yuze leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes.

My mind drifted back to my youth: the medical school in Tangcheng, Lin the blacksmith's training ground, the car assembly plant in the Gobi Desert, and the years I spent starting a business with Yang Geyong.

Scene after scene flashed by like a movie.

Then he remembered what Yang Geyong had said earlier that day.

"What else is not worth it?"

Yes, what else is not worth it?
He opened his eyes, stood up, and walked to the window.

Outside, the snow had stopped. The moon rose, shining brightly on the snow-covered ground.

He suddenly wanted to practice a set of boxing moves.

So he pushed open the door, stood in the courtyard, and slowly began to move.

Bajiquan, every move is fluid and graceful.

Halfway through the fight, he heard a commotion coming from the neighboring courtyard. He turned around and saw Yang Geyong there, practicing Tan Tui (a type of martial art).

The two practiced their respective kung fu skills, separated by the courtyard wall.

No one spoke.

But everyone knew the other party was there.

After finishing his practice, Ye Yuze stopped and stood for a while.

Then he laughed.

Having such a neighbor and such a brother in this lifetime is truly worthwhile.

He turned and went inside, preparing to go to sleep.

There are still patients waiting tomorrow.

There's still a chess game to play this afternoon.

As I get older, my days become more fulfilling.

That's good. (End of Chapter)