Neighbors Kicking a Man When He Was Down

Jianxiong Martial Arts School's compound had three courtyards, divided into the Inner Court, Outer Court, and rear residence.

Wang Jianxiong, the school master, lived in the rear residence and taught his skills in the Inner Court. Core disciples could enter the hall and chamber, passing all the way from the Outer Court into the Inner Court.

The Inner Court disciples were the martial arts school's public face and supporting pillars, Old Master Wang's treasured darlings.

As for the Outer Court, they merely bore the title of disciple. Their relationship with the master was maintained solely by the monthly tuition of twenty taels of silver.

Senior Disciple Brother Lu Qiang was also an Inner Court disciple. He taught in the Outer Court on his master's behalf, clearly highly valued by his teacher.

"Master, the newly enrolled apprentice Zhou You has been brought here."

Lu Qiang led Zhou You to the entrance between the Outer Court and Inner Court.

Looking at the two doors before him, Zhou You saw the Inner Court that led to the heart of the martial arts school, and four words rose in his mind: enter the hall and chamber.

Outer Court apprentices had, at best, enrolled in a martial arts school. They did not even have the qualification to set foot in the Inner Court.

Zhou You could only pay respects to the school master—his master in name—at the Outer Court entrance.

Only by becoming an Inner Court disciple would he be qualified to remain by the school master's side and learn real skills.

Joining the martial arts school now was merely his first step.

"Understood."

An aged yet vigorous voice drifted out.

Following the voice, Zhou You looked toward the entrance of the main hall over a hundred meters away.

Beneath the dripping eaves and atop five steps, a lean old man in his fifties sat upright in a rosewood chair.

He held a smoking pipe in his left hand and a teacup in his right, taking a puff of smoke and a sip of tea at an unhurried pace.

The old man was Wang Jianxiong, master of the martial arts school and a renowned martial artist in the city.

He was something of a legend, having carved out a tremendous reputation in Gongliang City with his Tiger Subduing Fist.

Though they stood far apart, the oppressive aura rolling toward him made it hard to breathe.

Wang Jianxiong felt like a gaunt old tiger, crouching low while concealing a ferocious blaze that soared to the heavens.

Rather than being alarmed, Zhou You was delighted. He was glad he had made this choice—only by following someone like this could he learn genuine skills.

"Bow your head three times, and you shall be considered under my tutelage."

Wang Jianxiong's gaze swept over Zhou You without pausing for even a moment.

Countless youths in the city wanted to join the martial arts school, but most were eliminated for lacking aptitude.

Even those who met the requirements to enter rarely persisted for long before leaving in dejection.

The path of martial arts was bitter beyond endurance. Those unable to persevere would become mediocre apprentices, lost among the multitude.

Today's scene had played out at the martial arts school countless times. The only difference was the youth kneeling on the ground.

Wang Jianxiong had not even remembered Zhou You's face. He was certain the boy was merely a passerby.

Without hesitation, Zhou You knelt and shouted, "This disciple, Zhou You, pays respects to Master."

Lu Qiang took out a wooden talisman made of reddish-brown hardwood, engraved with the six characters: "Jianxiong Martial Arts School Student."

"Hang it outside your home. It can ward off harassment, but it must be returned when you leave the martial arts school."

"These are the school's rules: if you fail to gain entry into the Tiger Subduing Fist within one hundred days, you will be expelled immediately, and your tuition will not be refunded."

"Once you gain entry into the fist art's Martial Force, you may enter the Outer Court as an official apprentice."

One hundred days meant three months.

Zhou You accepted the wooden talisman. This had been the greatest purpose of his visit.

Jianxiong Martial Arts School's name carried enough weight to protect his family.

Once this wooden talisman was hung outside his door, neither the Wild Fox Gang nor the Mad Horse Gang would dare provoke them.

Three months would be the novice protection period he had won for himself.

Zhou You wanted to thank Wang Jianxiong once more, but the doors had already slowly closed.

He thought that one day, he would cross that threshold and stand in the Inner Court before the man.

"Senior Disciple Brother, may I pay just one month's tuition first?"

Zhou You had brought fifty taels with him. Five taels had gone toward the enrollment fee, leaving forty-five, but he could not use it all.

After all, when his father borrowed money, he had incurred many debts of gratitude out of sheer necessity. The sooner they were repaid, the sooner they could rest easy.

Lu Qiang nodded. "You can."

After paying the tuition, Zhou You left the martial arts school with the wooden talisman, feeling a wave of relief.

The future was worth looking forward to!

When he returned to the street where his home stood, a neighbor called out to him from afar.

"You'er, You'er, this is bad! Your father is arguing with someone!"

Zhou You's heart tightened. Could Tu Laosan have come to their door? He hurriedly quickened his pace.

A neighbor had come to Zhou You's home today, but it was not Widow Li.

The closer it got to evening, the better business became at Widow Li's wine stall. She was still doing business on the street and had not returned home.

The visitors were their neighbor on the right, Mao Laoyao, who had brought his son Mao Xiaoli over to visit.

When Mao Laoyao was young, his circumstances had been much like Old Man Zhou's, but he had later been outdone.

The reason was that both men had wanted to become clerks at the trading house. Old Man Zhou had been selected, while Mao Laoyao had been eliminated.

The wages for a trading house clerk were generous, enough to ensure food and clothing for a family of three. It was a coveted position in the eyes of ordinary commoners.

Although Mao Laoyao later found work as well, he always felt that Old Man Zhou had surpassed him. It became a thorn in his heart.

Once both families had sons, Mao Laoyao devoted himself to training his own boy and sent him to work as a waiter at a tavern at an early age.

This neighbor fought for nothing but a breath of pride. In this lifetime, he absolutely could not be outdone by the Zhou Family.

Recently, after Zhou You caused trouble, Mao Laoyao's family naturally had nothing kind to say.

When Old Man Zhou had borrowed money, their family had clearly been flush with cash, yet they claimed to have none. Not only did they refuse to lend him anything, they heaped ridicule upon him.

Now, taking advantage of Zhou You's absence, they had come again to mock him openly and sneer at him in the shadows.

"Brother Zhou, it is not that I want to criticize you, but you are simply too soft-hearted. You do not know how to discipline a child."

"Your Little Zhou neglects proper work and caused a terrible disaster, dragging you into unrest at such an old age."

Mao Laoyao's words sounded fair on the surface, but he was actually mocking Old Man Zhou for failing to teach his son properly.

Old Man Zhou took a puff from his pipe and replied, "My You'er is sensible. He is not as you say."

At the side, Mao Xiaoli snorted with laughter. "Uncle Zhou, your son did not go to Tu Laosan's home to apologize. He ran away with the money instead. I saw it with my own eyes."

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Old Man Zhou began coughing violently.

His face flushed red. "Mao Laoyao, we have been neighbors for so many years. We see each other every day, whether we lower our heads or raise them."

"Since my family fell into trouble, not only have you refused to help, you have come here time and again to humiliate me. Did a dog eat your conscience?"

Mao Laoyao's face darkened. "Old Zhou, how can you insult people?"

"Your son is worthless, and your family is nearly ruined. Your life is finished."

"I know you borrowed a great deal of outside debt. You are clearly unable to repay it. Soon, you will not even be able to afford the rent, and your whole family will be driven out to sleep on the streets."

"Once the trading house learns of this, they will definitely dismiss you!"

Mao Laoyao's eyes were full of satisfaction. After competing for a lifetime, he had finally lived to see Old Zhou's luck turn rotten and his family fall into complete ruin.

If Tu Laosan could not collect the money, he would surely resort to vile methods and harass the Zhou Family.

Under such circumstances, the trading house could not possibly continue employing Old Man Zhou.

Once the family lost its livelihood, they would sooner or later starve to death.

Old Man Zhou looked at him, his eyes filled with shock.

He had conducted himself honestly all his life. He would rather suffer losses than offend anyone, and he had never turned red-faced with another person.

Never could he have imagined that a neighbor he had known for most of his life would hate him so deeply, wishing for his entire family to die without a trace.

"Mao Laoyao, get out! Get out of my home!"

Even honest men had moments of fury. Old Man Zhou slapped the table, rose to his feet, and roared.

Mao Xiaoli stood up with his fists clenched, gritting his teeth. "What do you want? You want to hit my father? I'll beat you, you old—"

Relying on his youth and strength, he was about to shove Old Man Zhou to the ground.

A figure strode swiftly forward, raised a foot, and kicked Mao Xiaoli in the stomach, sending him flying from where he stood.

Zhou You was home!