books44 Chapter 12 Shameless
Chapter 12 Shameless
"Little girl, what are you doing here?" A deep, resonant, magnetic, and somewhat loud voice rang in my ears.
"Master!" For several days now, Song Tingnan had overheard his master talking to the villagers.
This master, who is in his fifties, is surnamed Gao, Gao Haoran.
The Gao family was originally a martial arts family. Every member of the family, regardless of age or gender, was well-versed in martial arts. They made a living from martial arts and took pride in it.
However, after the ravages of war, the family has dwindled in number, and in order to survive, there are even fewer descendants who can calmly practice martial arts. Gao Haoran retired from the battlefield. With his skills and the character of his martial arts family, he should have had some military merits and could have become an officer, but for some reason he returned here. Fortunately, he didn't lose any limbs.
Song Tingnan learned all of this from the villagers around him. In Tingnan's opinion, it was essential to learn about his master in advance.
So this is what you call "Master"? Gao Haoran pursed his lips, waiting to hear Nan continue.
Hmm, tell the truth? Make up an excuse?
"Master, I was secretly watching you practice kung fu. Your punches are really good. You're clearly a master among masters. Can I learn from you?" Song Tingnan raised his head, stood up, and chose to tell the truth.
Gao Haoran's face was solemn and composed, his hair cut short, only reaching his ears. His eyes were like the starry sky of an autumn night, deep and far-reaching. Looking into those eyes, Ting Nan dared not lie anymore.
Gao Haoran's lips curled into a smile. Quite honest, he even managed a little flattery. Pah! I'm a human being.
Actually, he had noticed it from the very first day Ting Nan started spying on him. While he wouldn't say he had eyes and ears that could see a thousand miles, he was certainly sharp-witted and had a wide field of vision, and since he was practicing his martial arts, his surroundings were within range. But seeing that the little girl meant him no harm, he let her be.
Today, I noticed her behavior and expression were strange. She then squatted down with her head in her hands. I didn't know what was wrong with her, so I came over to ask her. After all, I've been "training" with her for over ten days.
"Why would a little girl like you learn kung fu?" Master Gao asked.
“Master, girls should learn kung fu to protect themselves.” Ting Nan was a little unconvinced, but still tried to keep a good tone.
Influenced by his family's traditions, Gao Haoran didn't care about boys or girls; that's why he asked that question on purpose.
"Protect yourself? Someone's bullying you?" Gao Haoran retorted.
"Not now, but who knows in the future? Things are unpredictable, so it's better to be safe than sorry." Song Tingnan was too embarrassed to say that she had even been frightened sick by a "ghost" before.
Gao Haoran raised an eyebrow. This girl was quite far-sighted and much more mature than her peers.
"What's your name? How old are you? Where do you live? What do your parents do? Do they agree to you learning kung fu?" Gao Haoran asked.
Song Tingnan answered each question and explained her family situation. As for whether her parents would agree, she just needed to persuade her maternal grandmother to agree, just like when she learned to swim last time; anyway, her eldest uncle listened to her grandmother.
"Master, how much tuition do I need to pay?" Song Tingnan was very direct. School requires tuition, so learning kung fu must also require more, probably even more. But Tingnan wasn't worried; she had saved up her own money for a long time. At worst, she could postpone going home; it had already been over five years anyway.
“Tuition fees aren’t urgent, Song Tingnan. And don’t call me Master yet; I haven’t agreed to it.” Gao Haoran said solemnly. “Learning kung fu is very hard work. It starts with practicing the basics diligently, and it’s a lifelong pursuit. If you just want to learn some fancy moves, then stop now.”
"Master Gao, I will definitely learn diligently and practice every day." Ting Nan was anxious and quickly made a promise. She was also obedient. She hadn't even become a disciple yet, so she addressed him as "Master Gao" first.
This girl has good judgment, Gao Haoran was somewhat satisfied: "Tingnan, you should talk to your family first. I also need to observe you before making a decision." Even though he was somewhat satisfied with Tingnan and willing to take her as a female disciple, her character had to be good. Since ancient times, martial virtue has been the foundation for every martial artist to make a living.
"Okay, Master Gao, can I watch you practice again tomorrow morning?" Nan Shun asked, trying to climb the social ladder.
What's wrong with being a little shameless in order to learn kung fu?
Gao Haoran nodded, both amused and exasperated, secretly hoping that this was a promising talent.
He walked over and patted Ting Nan's shoulder and arm. He said that Ting Nan was in good physical condition, and that as long as he could endure hardship, persevere, and had good character, that would be fine.
Song Tingnan jumped up with joy and stopped running errands. Go home, she had to go home and find her grandma!