Republic of China era: A hundred-year-old still practicing martial arts? Is that right?

Lin Ji paused, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, and clicked his tongue:

"What treasures could an old man like me possibly have? Why am I always being followed!"

I slowly turned around and looked back.

The goatee-bearded manager of the martial arts school was standing at the entrance of the alley.

The other person was carrying two large bundles of herbs, and his face was covered in sweat.

Upon seeing Lin Ji, a hint of surprise appeared on his face. "Old man, what a coincidence?"

"I was just looking for you. The job as a gatekeeper has been booked. You'll start tomorrow morning. Food and lodging provided, and the monthly salary is three yuan and fifty cents, not a penny less."

Lin Ji was somewhat surprised, and nodded, "Thank you, Steward."

"No need to thank me, you're just lucky." The manager waved his hand, picked up the herbs, and continued walking forward.

"Good luck?" Lin Ji pondered the manager's words, not quite understanding, so he didn't think about it anymore and turned to walk towards Dog Tail Alley.

The martial arts academy provides food and lodging, and he can also observe martial arts training nearby, which is perfect for him.

Lin Ji felt a pang of reluctance to give up his shadow puppet show, which he had been running for decades.

"I'm going to the martial arts school tomorrow, so today is the last day I'll be setting up my shadow puppet show stall, and I'll also take this opportunity to say goodbye to Bai Yu'er."

After putting the herbs at home and carrying his shadow puppet box, Lin Ji walked into Dog Tail Alley.

Under the old locust tree.

Liu Qingzhu and Liu Yuanbao were quietly waiting under the tree.

Liu Yuanbao stood on tiptoe, glancing towards the alley entrance every now and then. Upon seeing Lin Ji, he immediately jumped up and waved at him.

"Old man Lin, you've finally arrived! We've been waiting for almost half an hour!"

Liu Qingzhu also looked up, her coldness in her eyes fading slightly. Today she was wearing a light blue cloth dress, which made her seem less aloof than her usual Western-style dresses.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Lin Ji stepped forward and put the box down:

"Today is the last day I'll be setting up my stall here."

"Huh?" Liu Yuanbao's smile froze instantly upon hearing this, and she pouted, "Why? Aren't you going to tell me a story? I haven't finished listening to Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit yet!"

Lin Ji grinned: "I've found a proper job, I'm going to be a doorman at the martial arts hall. The world is in chaos, it'll be more peaceful at the martial arts hall."

"The Martial Arts Hall?" Liu Qingzhu repeated in a low voice, his eyes flickering, and nodded: "It is indeed more secure."

Then she turned her head, patted Liu Yuanbao's head, and said softly, "Yuanbao, don't be silly. Grandpa Lin is going to work. If you want to hear stories again, I'll find a way for you."

"No, no!" Liu Yuanbao shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "I haven't finished hearing the story of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit yet."

"Alright, alright, stop crying." Lin Ji reached out and ruffled his hair. "Today, this old man will tell you all the stories I want, I'll finish telling you about Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit."

Liu Yuanbao burst into laughter through his tears and nodded vigorously, "Good! Good!"

Lin Ji fiddled with the box for pulling the shadow puppets and skillfully pulled up the puppets.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves of the old locust tree, casting dappled shadows on the broken wooden box.

Lin Ji turned the wheel, his aged voice steady and deliberate, each word landing clearly:

"Everyone says that the Seven Swords uniting is destiny, fate. But they forget that Rainbow Cat can guard Qilin Mountain, Blue Rabbit was originally a princess of Jade Toad Palace, and Big Ben can drink and gamble his whole life."

"They took up their swords not because there was only one Black-Hearted Tiger in the world, but because they couldn't bear to see the burning, killing, looting, and displacement. This wasn't fate! It was defying fate! It was chivalry!"

Liu Yuanbao held his sister's hand and squatted in front of the box, his eyes wide open, afraid of missing a single scene.

Liu Qingzhu stood to the side, listening intently.

halfway.

Bai Yu'er led Bai Xiaonian across the alleyway.

Bai Xiaonian, dressed in a clean school uniform and carrying a cloth backpack, paused when he saw Lin Ji, then lowered his head and walked past quickly.

Bai Yu'er then gave Lin Ji a smile.

Lin Ji nodded, continuing his story.

The story went on until evening.

The setting sun bathed the entire Dog Tail Alley in its glow.

"The four swords combined their power, unleashing boundless might! A beam of white light shot straight into the sky, shattering the demonic sect's formation!"

Liu Yuanbao jumped up excitedly, clapping his little hands and shouting:

"Amazing! Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit are amazing! The four swords combined are incredible!"

Liu Qingzhu, who was standing to the side, also breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile appeared on her lips.

She took out two silver dollars from a hidden pocket in her clothes and handed them to Lin Ji. "Old sir, thank you for telling Yuanbao stories these past few days. Please accept this small token of my appreciation."

Lin Ji didn't refuse, grinning as he accepted the silver dollar and tucked it into his pocket: "It's nothing."

Liu Qingzhu took the reluctant Liu Yuanbao's hand, and the two walked out of the alley one after the other.

As they reached the alley entrance, Liu Yuanbao turned to Lin Ji and called out, "Old man Lin, if I come to visit you again, you have to tell me stories!"

Lin Ji nodded and waved.

Watching the siblings walk away, Lin Ji packed up his box for pulling the shadow puppet show.

"Old Lin." A clear voice rang out from behind.

Lin Ji turned his head and saw Bai Yu'er walking over carrying a food box.

"I knew you hadn't eaten yet."

Bai Yu'er handed the food to Lin Ji, a charming smile spreading across her face:

"The chicken soup was just made, and I added a lot of tonics."

Lin Ji opened the food box and saw a bowl full of chicken soup inside, with a layer of oil floating on top, and the aroma was irresistible.

Lin Ji picked up the chicken soup, took a sip, and slowly said, "I have something to tell you."

"I won't be setting up my stall here tomorrow. I found a job as a doorman at Wutang yesterday, which includes food and lodging."

Bai Yu'er was taken aback, her smile froze, and after a few seconds, she forced a smile again:

"That's great! The Martial Arts Hall is a safe and peaceful place, a good place indeed. You're quite lucky, old man, you've snagged such a great deal. From now on, you'll have to keep an eye on Xiao Nian for me."

Lin Ji nodded. "Yes, we were lucky."

"Then thank you very much." Bai Yu'er forced a smile. "When I make something delicious, I'll send it to you. Don't worry, I'll make sure you get your share of the good stuff."

Speaking of benefits, Lin Ji suddenly remembered something, "By the way, how did you manage to scrape together the tuition for the Little New Year last time? I remember you were still short a bit back then."

Bai Yu'er's smile faded, and she unconsciously twisted the handkerchief in her hand:

"I sold the last thing I brought out of the palace back then."

Lin Ji glanced at Bai Yu'er's evasive eyes and noticed her trembling fingertips. He guessed that this thing was definitely not simple, so he didn't press her for more information and slowly nodded, "Thank you for your trouble."

Bai Yu'er recalled the image of the jade pendant. The jade was as smooth as mutton fat and as lustrous as a pool of pure water. The front was carved with a five-clawed golden dragon holding a pearl, and the dragon scales were as fine as real ones. The back was inscribed with the two characters "Bao Nian" (meaning "Protect the Year").

Bai Yu'er forced a smile, looked at Lin Ji, and deliberately said in a flippant tone:

"It's no big deal. If it weren't for the strict supervision during the New Year, I could have taken on a few more customers. This little bit of money is nothing. Hey, Old Lin, why don't you give it a try? I'll give you half price!"

Lin Ji looked at the sadness she couldn't hide in her eyes, didn't reply, but reached out and patted her thin shoulder: "Girl, take care."

Bai Yu'er's face stiffened, then she nodded, her voice trembling slightly, "You too."

After saying that, she turned around and walked quickly toward her low house.

Lin Ji watched her retreating figure, sighed, packed up his box of shadow puppets, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and walked out of the alley.

I just turned out of the alley.

Two men in short jackets walked towards us, their wooden buckets rattling loudly.

The two men looked unfamiliar; they weren't from Dog Tail Alley.

He was walking hurriedly out of the alley with his head down.

As it passed by, a pungent smell of kerosene assaulted Lin Ji's nostrils.

Lin Ji glanced at the two men, whose eyes held an barely suppressed ferocity and panic.

Lin Ji paused, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

Lin Ji leaned the box used for showing shadow puppets against the wall and quietly followed.

The two men huddled against the wall, glancing left and right furtively from time to time.

As soon as he turned a corner, Lin Ji smelled a burnt odor.

Lin Ji turned around abruptly, and flames were already leaping from Bai Yu'er's low-ceilinged house.

"!"