The unorthodox moves Silly Zhu taught were nothing compared to what Lin Zhen, a martial artist, had taught Lin Jia.
Bang Geng and Lin Jia had barely grappled for two or three moves before Bang Geng was pinned to the ground.
Lin Jia pressed one leg against Bang Geng's chest and the other against his neck.
He gripped Bang Geng's wrist with both hands, clamped down hard, and arched backward.
The two children formed a cross on the ground.
Bang Geng's right hand was held tightly by Lin Jia, while his upper body was pinned beneath Lin Jia's legs, leaving him unable to get up.
When he tried to struggle, his entire right arm hurt.
"Ah... ah!"
Bang Geng shouted twice but could not get up. Exhausted, he looked toward Silly Zhu.
Silly Zhu was so anxious he wished he could jump in himself.
"Hey, Bang Geng, where's your left hand? Roll over—roll to the right! Use your left hand to push him off!"
"I'm being crushed to death! I can't roll over!"
"You ate my food for nothing? Put some strength into it! Don't disgrace your Master!"
"I can't, Silly Uncle. I want to surrender."
"No surrendering! Hold on!"
Silly Zhu felt as if it was not Lin Jia and Bang Geng lying on the ground, but Lin Zhen and himself.
He was so anxious that he strained along with them from the sidelines.
But once a ground submission like the Crucifixion Lock was successfully applied, it was hard to escape.
Especially for Bang Geng, who had never seen a move like this before. He panicked on the spot.
Other than screaming his lungs out, there was nothing else he could do.
Lin Jia, on the other hand, looked completely calm. He gritted his teeth and refused to let go.
Yi Zhonghai could not bear to watch any longer and said hoarsely, "That's enough... that's enough..."
Silly Zhu impatiently waved a hand. "First Elder, move aside. The kids are practicing their skills. Why are you butting in? Go back inside and drink your rhubarb and croton soup!"
Yi Zhonghai's face turned livid with anger. Are you acting stupid again?
With all the shouting and commotion,
Second Elder Liu Haizhong from the back courtyard and Third Master Yan Bugui from the front courtyard both came over to watch.
Seeing the scene, Yan Bugui said happily, "Kids these days are all promising. Look at how lively they are."
Liu Haizhong laughed. "Not bad. Wrestling strengthens the body. Old Yan, your elementary school ought to add a wrestling class."
Yan Bugui smiled. "That's not up to me. The PE teacher would have to propose it."
The sisters Qin Huairu and Qin Jingru also ran out of the house.
Qin Jingru clapped her hands as if she had witnessed something novel.
Qin Huairu could tell at a glance that Bang Geng could not hold on much longer, so she hurried over to pull them apart.
"Enough, enough. Get up already. Whose rotten idea was this? You're all just watching the fun without caring how big this gets."
Silly Zhu hurriedly reached out to stop her.
"Don't, don't! Don't interrupt them. Bang Geng is my disciple, and he hasn't admitted defeat yet. Go, Bang Geng! Put some strength into it!"
Bang Geng's vision was going black from Lin Jia's hold. With everyone in the courtyard watching him, anger had long since flared in his heart.
In his panic, he shouted, "Lin Lao Er, I'm going to make you cry! Ah!"
"Hey! That's the spirit, Bang Geng!"
The onlookers all encouraged him.
But the next second—
"Ah... wuwuwu..."
Bang Geng cried.
He tried to roll over with all his strength, and Lin Jia arched back hard in response.
Then there was a crack.
Bang Geng's right arm dislocated and hung limp like a dead snake.
Lin Jia froze, then sprang up with a kip-up and carefully stood beside Lin Zhen, waiting to be scolded.
The sight terrified Qin Huairu.
"Bang Geng, what's wrong?"
"Ah... wuwuwu, my arm is broken..."
"Ah?!!! Silly Zhu! This is all your fault! Why did you egg them on?"
Silly Zhu was dumbfounded. "Th-this, this..."
Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui panicked too. They had only come to watch the excitement, never expecting Bang Geng's arm to be broken.
If Jia Zhangshi found out first thing tomorrow morning, would she not curse up a storm?
Yi Zhonghai hurriedly said, "Quick, carry him to the hospital!"
Seeing how frantic they all were, Lin Zhen finally waved his hand. "Don't worry. It's only dislocated. One squeeze and it'll be fine."
As he spoke, he crouched down, grabbed Bang Geng's shoulder with one hand and his arm with the other.
With a hard push and squeeze, Bang Geng's arm snapped back into place.
"Is it better?"
Bang Geng moved his arm. It still hurt badly, but he could move it now, and the pain was gradually fading.
"It's better. Thank you, Uncle Lin."
"You brat, you're just too stubborn. If you lose, surrender. Why force yourself to hold on? And you too, Silly Zhu. Kids were just playing around, so they should have stopped before it went too far. But you kept fanning the flames and shouting nonsense from the side. Now Bang Geng has a dislocated arm. Are you satisfied?"
Silly Zhu looked helpless. "I... I just didn't expect your son to be so strong!"
"Ah!!! Sister Qin, spare me..."
Qin Huairu was so angry that she viciously twisted Silly Zhu's arm.
The pain made Silly Zhu bare his teeth.
"Hmph! Let's see if you remember this next time!" First Elder Yi Zhonghai scolded him as well.
"Silly Uncle, it's all your fault. You wouldn't let me surrender!" Bang Geng had no kind words for him either.
Qin Jingru covered her mouth and snickered. Was Silly Zhu really stupid, or was he pretending?
"Fine, fine, fine! It's all my fault, all right? Hah! This is enough to kill me!" Silly Zhu finally behaved, flung his hand in irritation, and went back inside.
Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui also hurried away sheepishly.
Lin Zhen put on a show and slapped Lin Jia on the back.
"You really don't know your own strength. Go apologize to Bang Geng, now!"
Lin Jia walked over and said respectfully, "Sorry, Bang Geng. Sorry, Aunt Qin."
"It's fine. Just be more careful next time."
Lin Zhen smiled faintly. Having won a complete victory, he led his four sons home as well.
Qin Huairu rubbed Bang Geng's shoulder. "Don't fight Lin Guo and Lin Jia again, understand? You can't beat them."
"I understand, Mom."
"All right, let's go home. We'll eat soon."
Qin Huairu let out a long sigh and led Bang Geng toward home.
Yi Zhonghai called out to her, "Huairu, don't sigh. There's something I haven't told you yet."
"What is it, First Elder?"
"Dongxu's job has already been taken care of. Once you give birth and finish your confinement period, you can start work."
Qin Huairu's face immediately lit up. "Really?"
"Mm. Deputy Director Li handled it personally, but the position's production quota has to be maintained for the next few months."
"Oh! Then how will the quota be maintained? I can't go to work right now."
"I've already arranged that, so you don't need to worry. I had Lin Zhen find an apprentice in the back kitchen to fill in until the day you start work. Then he'll return to the cafeteria."
Qin Huairu's eyes reddened with emotion. "In the end, he was still willing to help me."
Yi Zhonghai frowned.
Why did Qin Huairu suddenly say that?
If I hadn't sacrificed three months of wages, would Lin Zhen have helped you?
I came here to claim credit and earn some goodwill, so why are you only thinking about Lin Zhen?
Ow, my chest is starting to hurt again.
When Qin Huairu saw Yi Zhonghai's expression change, she immediately understood.
She smiled. "First Elder, my family is fortunate to have such a good neighbor as you. Our courtyard is fortunate to have such a good leader as you."
Only then did Yi Zhonghai's expression soften somewhat.
"All right. Life has to go on. Try to look on the bright side, and don't sigh all day long."
"Mm, thank you!"
Yi Zhonghai waved a hand, turned, and went back inside.
When he saw the roof ridge of Lin Zhen's house, he could not help letting out a sigh.
Qin Huairu muttered to herself, He tells me not to sigh, yet the moment he turns around, he sighs himself!
Before you continue