Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 70, Martial Village: Selecting 10 Security Guards

It took more than four hours to reach Cangzhou from Qinghe Airport due to road conditions, the need to refuel and refill water along the way, and the search for Master Fang Shouxin's grave.

A village that looks very old.

Outside the village, there are still ruins of the ancient city walls.

According to Fang Shouxin, this place used to be a county town a long time ago, but due to continuous changes, the county town fell into disrepair and the population dwindled, eventually becoming a village.

Because it used to be a county town, the village is very large and has wide dirt roads.

The car slowly drove into the village. The villagers, who were standing against the corner of the wall with their hands in their sleeves, looked at the car with great curiosity about this Western contraption.

“They don’t seem to recognize you anymore,” Fang Wen said.

Returning to his homeland after 30 years, Fang Shouxin was filled with emotion.

“These people are only thirty years old. They were still young when I left, some weren’t even born yet. Young master, please stop the car. There’s someone up ahead who might recognize me.”

The car stopped, and Fang Shouxin got out.

I walked up to an old farmer who was squatting by the roadside, smoking a pipe.

The two stared at each other for a long time, and the old farmer showed a surprised expression.

"Fourth brother, Huang Zhanwu, is that you?"

"Eldest brother?"

The old farmer stood up and reached out to put his arm around Fang Shouxin's shoulder.

Fang Shouxin instinctively took a step back, but his opponent followed closely, and the two began to spar.

After skillfully performing the routine, the two were immediately relieved.

After being separated for thirty years, the fellow students met again and had endless things to say and questions to ask each other.

While the two were talking, seven more elderly people arrived from the village.

These eight should be Fang Shouxin's fellow disciples.

Afterwards, Shunzi was called over by his father to pay his respects to his senior brothers and uncles one by one.

Next, Fang Wen was introduced.

"This is Young Master Fang. I'm working for him now."

Fang Wen smiled in response, but didn't say much. This was a big day for the fellow disciples to meet and for Shunzi to acknowledge his ancestors. He should just be an observer for now.

For three consecutive days, the village was bustling with activity as Fang Shouxin paid for the slaughter of pigs and sheep and hosted a three-day banquet.

At the same time, a ceremony was held at the Huang Family Ancestral Hall in the village to recognize Shunzi as a member of the clan.

Fang Shouxin also learned from his fellow disciples that their master's grave had been moved outside the village and a new tombstone had been erected for a grand burial.

He then paid homage to his master along with his eight fellow disciples and younger generations.

Then came even better news: the warlord who had been wanted by them had also fled the area after his defeat and his whereabouts were unknown.

It can be said that everything Fang Shouxin had hoped for had been perfectly achieved.

But neither he nor Shunzi have any intention of staying here now.

On the third night, Fang Shouxin brought Shunzi to Fang Wen's residence.

"Young Master, the descendants of my fellow disciples all possess martial arts skills and are capable and daring in battle. Would you be interested in them?"

Fang Wen was lost in thought. For the past three days, he had been an observer, watching closely.

The young people in this village are brave and straightforward, they drink, eat meat, play cards, and when they get angry, they will even fight on the spot.

This is exactly what I need. As long as I take him back, train him a bit, and put him under some discipline, he'll be a good subordinate.

He then replied:

“The people are all alright. Let’s pick 10 first and tell them they’ll be working for the Shanghai Taishan Aviation Security Team.” Fang Shouxin’s face lit up with joy: “Young Master, don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”

On the fourth day after returning to his hometown, Fang Shouxin, whose real name is Huang Zhanwu, and his eight fellow disciples gathered a large group of young people from the village at the local temple in the east of the village.

These young people included both their fellow disciples and their own children, as well as apprentices who had become their students.

Everyone knew a little bit about it and looked at their fourth senior uncle (or junior master) with anticipation.

"My dear nephews and nieces, I've gathered you all here today to announce something. My employer, Young Master Fang, is the general manager of Shanghai Taishan Airlines, and he wants to recruit security guards for Taishan Airlines. Out of consideration for me, he's agreed to select ten from the village. Are you all willing?"

"Yes!" came a loud shout.

What young person wouldn't want to visit the dazzling world of Shanghai?

Fang Shouxin's expression was serious.

"Very good, there are two more things you must listen to clearly. First, on the surface you are going to work as a security guard at Taishan Airlines, but in your hearts you need to know who the real employer is."

He paused here, looking to see if his nephews or nieces had grasped the point.

There was a flurry of discussion below, and finally everyone said in unison, "It's Young Master Fang."

Fang Shouxin smiled with satisfaction and continued, "Secondly, there are only ten for now. You have to compete, and only the ten best fighters will be selected. But it's agreed that the rule is not to use lethal force; if you hurt your own people, you won't be able to go."

That was exactly what they were waiting for, and Fang Shouxin's eight fellow disciples immediately called on the young people to get things organized.

A stone-built arena was set up outside the local temple. Shunzi went to invite Fang Wen to watch the martial arts performance.

Upon seeing the hosts arrive, the young people who were still warming up immediately became more energetic.

One by one, they swung their arms and demonstrated their best skills on the spot.

And you know what? The martial spirit is strong in Cangzhou, and this village is especially so. They can practice all kinds of martial arts, from knives and spears to clubs, fist techniques, and leg techniques.

Fang Shouxin said irritably, "Save your energy for the fight on stage. Showing off off stage is useless."

Immediately, the young men, who had been numbered, entered the arena one-on-one and began their martial arts competition.

Although they couldn't kill each other, they gave it their all, often fighting until both sides were bruised and covered in mud before a winner was decided.

And so, a whole day passed, and the younger generation in the village finished their martial arts competition, selecting the 10 most capable fighters.

It's time to go back.

Fang Wen asked Fang Shouxin to stay behind, and took ten of his nephews and nieces by train to Xuzhou, and then transferred to land to Fuyang.

He then took Shunzi and returned the way they came.

Fang Shouxin was not reassured by this.

“Young master, the people here are known for their martial spirit, and there are people who rob people on the road. I’m worried about you and Shunzi going back to Beiping. How about this, I’ll get some horses and take you back on horseback.”

"You have horses?" Fang Wen asked in surprise.

"They're kept on other estates. My fellow apprentices did some business more than ten years ago, you know, they were bandits. But they've long since retired from that life," Fang Shouxin explained somewhat embarrassedly.

Fang Wen was surprised, yet smiled.

These eight people were able to stay in this area, which means they must have some skills to deal with that enemy. In this chaotic world, don't expect to be as innocent as a blank sheet of paper. It's enough if they can be trusted.

Therefore, he agreed to Fang Shouxin's plan to lead a team to escort them on horseback.

They set off that very day.

The car traveled on the dirt road at a much slower speed than it had come. Five horses accompanied it on each side, and the young men, who had just left home, happily galloped on their horses, wanting to race the car.

“Young Master, these kids don’t understand that times have changed. Cars and guns are the real skills now,” Fang Shouxin said from the passenger seat.

"It's alright. I'll find a way to get some spears when we get back. You can take them to practice more."

As Fang Wen spoke, he glanced at the new employees cheering on horseback outside, then stepped on the gas, leaving them far behind.

(End of this chapter)