Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 87 Fuhu Fist

"Subduing Tiger Fist?" Lu Zheng said with a smile, "I think it's an incredible boxing technique."

Zhang Da was embarrassed when he heard this and said, "Only the scholar has real skills! My boxing skills are not up to par."

The man next to him winked and said, "Brother Zhang, aren't you thinking of finding a teacher to copy your boxing manual? It just so happens that the scholar is here, so ask him for help!"

Zhang Da hurriedly waved his hands and said, "Scholar is the Wenquxing of our county, how can we let him do such a thing!"

Zhang Da was just an ordinary citizen. How could he have so much money to ask a scholar to copy the boxing manual for him?
The man smiled and told what he had seen and heard at the dock, and how Lu Zheng taught his children to read and do arithmetic.

"Mr. Lu is a very kind man, different from other scholars." The man said, "Brother Zhang, please use this tiger skin as a gift and ask Mr. Lu for help. I believe Mr. Lu will be happy to help."

Zhang Da was moved when he heard this. If he could let Lu Zheng copy a boxing manual, it could really be used as a family heirloom.

But Zhang Da was a bit honest and was embarrassed to bring it up.

Seeing this, Lu Zheng smiled and said, "No need to use the tiger skin. If Brother Zhang is not afraid that I will learn the boxing skills secretly, you can give it to me to copy."

"What nonsense!" Zhang Da said hurriedly, "My family's boxing is not some secret. It was acquired by our ancestors in the army. It's a military boxing technique. The scholar learned it and used it to slay demons and monsters. It can be considered as a good deed for me!"

Lu Zheng smiled and nodded, "In that case, bring the things here and I'll copy them for you."

"Hey! Thank you, scholar!" Zhang Da looked delighted. He saluted with his fists and then ran to get the boxing manual.

After a while, Zhang Da hurried back with two books.

One was a bound blank book, and the other was a tattered boxing manual that looked quite old.

Zhang Da carefully placed the boxing manual in front of Lu Zheng.

"This boxing manual is a bit old, and some of the words on it are not very clear. I thought of finding a teacher to recopy it so that I can pass it on to future generations." Zhang Da explained.

Lu Zheng gently flipped through the boxing manual and found that it was a boxing manual with text and pictures, and each move and each form had detailed annotations.

Zhang Da whispered, "I can't even recognize many of the words on it. My grandfather and father taught me step by step, and I practiced by looking at the pictures..."

Lu Zheng took out pen and ink and began to copy the boxing manual.

He wrote very slowly, trying to achieve a one-to-one reproduction.

Every time he copied a page, Lu Zheng would read the text to Zhang Dating.

Both of them were half-baked in martial arts, so they copied and discussed the moves and annotations in the diagram.

The man next to him didn't understand any of this at all. He could only sit there and count on his fingers, reviewing the arithmetic that Lu Zheng had taught him before.

When working outside, you will inevitably need to use arithmetic.

The man felt that after learning Lu Zheng's arithmetic method, his brain became more active.

It took Lu Zheng quite some time to finish copying the boxing manual.

The two of them just had a conversation and both gained a lot.

Zhang Da felt that he had a deeper understanding of boxing, and in excitement, he ran directly to the yard to practice the Fu Hu Quan.

A set of boxing techniques was delivered with great vigor and momentum.

Lu was watching Zhang Da's movements carefully under the eaves, taking notes attentively.

Soon, Zhang Da finished a set of Fuhu Fist and stopped.

Lu Zheng thought about it and had some insights in his heart.

[You have mastered the Subduing Tiger Fist (basic move), proficiency: 10%]

Lu Zheng blinked. He hadn't even thrown a punch, yet he was already so proficient. He figured it was because he'd just carefully copied the boxing manual, and after watching Zhang Da perform the entire set, he'd already gained a certain level of proficiency in the technique, even without practicing the Subduing Tiger Fist.

Zhang Daxing rushed to Lu Zheng, clasped his fists and said excitedly: "Thank you very much for your guidance, Mr. Xiucai. My boxing skills have improved a lot!"

Hearing this, Lu Zheng laughed and said, "That's because you have talent. I don't even know how to practice martial arts, so how can I talk to you about guidance?"

Zhang Da said solemnly, "Yes! Please take that tiger skin, Scholar. It's a small gift from me. If you catch any good prey in the future, I'll give it to you!"

Lu Zheng shook his head and said, "No need. I just looked at your boxing manual and learned something, which is already a great advantage."

Lu Zheng paused, then continued, "The mountains are dangerous. It's better not to go looking for ferocious beasts... It's more important to learn some skills and protect your family and fellow villagers."

"I'll listen to you, Mr. Scholar!" Zhang Da had no choice but to nod.

Lu Zheng looked at the sky. If he didn't leave now, he would probably have to spend the night in the village.

He didn't want to bother these simple folks, so he said, "I should leave now."

Zhang Da heard this and said, "Scholar, why don't you stay here for a few more days? We can entertain you!"

The man next to him also spoke up quickly, trying to persuade Lu Zheng to stay as a guest.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "I really have a lot of things to do, otherwise I would like to stay here for a few more days to eat plums... I will come to your village again when I have some free time!"

Zhang Da scratched his head and said, "Scholar, you're out studying, what could be the problem?"

"We need to slay demons and monsters!" Lu Zheng explained. "In some villages and towns, and in some mountains, there are still demons and monsters that harm people. We have to eliminate them."

The two grown men were immediately in awe when they heard this.

"Then we'll take you all the way." Zhang Da said.

Lu Zheng did not refuse and left the village with the two of them.

When he reached the village entrance, Lu Zheng found the child of the Hanzi family teaching other children in the village to read.

Lu Zheng walked over and saw that the child was teaching very well.

On the ground, there were some twisted patterns and words drawn with branches.

The other children found this picture-based reading very interesting and studied it very seriously.

"Uncle Scholar!"

The child who was teaching characters called out crisply when he saw Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng reached out and rubbed the child's head, saying softly, "You are a good child. Study hard. If you have a promising future, the village will be better. Do you understand?"

"Ok!"

The child didn't quite understand what he said, but he nodded heavily in response.

Lu Zheng didn't bother the children any more. He walked back to the man and suggested, "You can have the stonemason carve the two pages I gave you onto a stone slab and put it up in the village for people to learn from."

The man said, "There is a stonemason in the village. I will ask him to carve the words and then erect a monument for the scholar!"

Lu Zheng quickly refused, "I only did a small thing. How can I deserve to have a monument erected for my merit? It's better not to do so, lest it get out and people laugh at me."

"Mr. Xiucai is the most talented scholar in our county. He is the god of literature who has descended to earth. Who dares to laugh at him?" The man glared.

Their Dali Village is a remote and poor place, and even government officials are unwilling to come here.

However, Lu Zheng came here in person to investigate people's livelihood and teach them knowledge. This matter should be passed down through a monument so that future generations will remember it.

(End of this chapter)