After Lu Yuan had demonstrated the Basic Fist Skill, Basic Leg Skill, and Basic Step Skill to Lin Zhiquin, the enthusiasm in Lin Zhiquin’s eyes towards Lu Yuan rose another degree.
"Not bad, not bad... no, I should say it’s very good." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ noᴠelfire.net
Lin Zhiquin looked at Lu Yuan with admiration, not holding back his lavish praise.
"Even in the advanced class, there aren’t many people who can practice these three basic techniques to your level."
"You’ve managed to practice what I’ve taught to such a degree in a month. That proves that your martial arts talent is good, very good. You’re simply born for Martial Arts."
Those words, along with Lin Zhiquin’s current expression, had a distinct feel of a self-help guru duping people.
But Lu Yuan’s purpose was achieved.
That’s the effect he wanted.
You, Lin Zhiquin, look down on our beginner’s class, don’t you? Telling us to just practice freely every day.
I’m going to show you today that even practicing freely, I can reach the level of an official disciple of the martial arts hall!
Doesn’t this count as indirectly slapping Lin Zhiquin in the face?
"That thing about the signature..."
Lu Yuan glanced at the application form that Lin Zhiquin had casually put on the coffee table.
"Oh right, I almost forgot."
Lin Zhiquin laughed heartily. His easy-going manner now was completely different from before.
"I’ll sign it for you now."
He took a pen from the pen holder on his desk, sat down in front of the coffee table, picked up the application form, and prepared to write his name in the column for the coach’s signature.
Lu Yuan watched the pen that Lin Zhiquin was signing with, while also looking at the electronic clock on the wall.
It was now 11:08 AM, already past the martial arts hall’s closing time.
I’ve been delayed so long; I wonder if I’ll even be able to submit the application form when I get back.
Just as Lu Yuan was thinking this, he suddenly saw Lin Zhiquin, who was halfway through signing his name, abruptly stop his pen.
He raised his head to check the time on the wall, and then surprisingly said to Lu Yuan, "It’s time for lunch. Let’s... let’s go eat first?"
Lu Yuan looked puzzled, not knowing what Lin Zhiquin was up to now.
Does signing for a few seconds interrupt your lunch?
Can’t you sign it and then eat?
"Coach Lin, this..." Lu Yuan showed a troubled expression on his face. "The person downstairs collecting the forms is still waiting for me."
"No problem, I’ll help you submit it later."
Lin Zhiquin waved dismissively, got up, and beckoned Lu Yuan towards the door.
"Let’s eat first. I know a good restaurant near the martial arts hall. We’ll go there now."
Lu Yuan was reluctantly pulled out of the door by Lin Zhiquin. He could only watch helplessly as the application form lay forlornly on the office coffee table; as the door closed, it eventually disappeared from his view.
What kind of ridiculous rule is this? Applying for the examination requires the coach’s signature!
What kind of crappy coach is he? It’s bad enough he doesn’t teach properly, but he also deliberately makes things difficult for his students at critical moments!
On the way to the small restaurant Lin Zhiquin had mentioned, Lu Yuan inwardly cursed the hall’s procedures and Lin Zhiquin. Of course, on the surface, he had to act overwhelmed and flattered by the coach’s invitation to a meal, obediently following Lin Zhiquin.
Lin Zhiquin seemed to be in a very good mood, a smile on his face the whole way.
After leaving the martial arts hall and taking a few steps, Lin Zhiquin brought Lu Yuan to the restaurant he had mentioned.
"Spring Flower Noodle House."
It was a dodgy little place hidden in an alley next to the martial arts hall. It had a red sign with white lettering and a dark, greasy facade stained with cooking fumes. Judging by its appearance alone, there was nothing remarkable about this noodle house.
Following Lin Zhiquin through the glass sliding door at the entrance, a cool breeze immediately hit him.
The air conditioning is quite strong.
The shop was small, with only seven small rectangular tables arranged in the main room. Some people were eating noodles. Lu Yuan saw the menu posted on the wall. Aside from noodles, one could order some small home-cooked dishes here; the prices were indeed quite reasonable.
Not long after the two walked in, an average-looking middle-aged woman, wearing an apron and about the same age as Lin Zhiquin, came out from the kitchen. Upon seeing Lin Zhiquin, she greeted him with a smile, clearly an old acquaintance.
"Coach Lin, have you brought another student for a meal?" The middle-aged woman kindly smiled at Lu Yuan.
"Yes." Lin Zhiquin didn’t look at the menu on the wall but directly ordered, "Kidneys, ribs, chicken... Is today’s fish fresh?"
"It just arrived this morning, still alive."
"Then a whole fish as well. Is the private room upstairs free?"
"No one’s there, you can go right up."
Lin Zhiquin expertly ordered four or five dishes, then led Lu Yuan up a narrow staircase beside the kitchen, only about half a meter wide, to the second floor.
The second floor also had several small rectangular tables, with a small door to the side. Pushing the door open revealed a small private room of only about seven or eight square meters.
"The toilet is just next door; you’ll see it when you go out," Lin Zhiquin said, sitting down at the small table in the private room and reminding Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan acknowledged.
Not long after they sat down, the middle-aged woman they had seen earlier came in with a teapot and a small plate of melon seeds.
"Have some tea first; the food will be ready shortly." After giving both men a set of bowls and chopsticks, the woman left.
Out of habit, Lin Zhiquin pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, opened it, glanced at Lu Yuan, and then put it away. Instead, he grabbed a handful of melon seeds and started cracking them to pass the time.
Lu Yuan, having nothing else to do, took the teapot from the table and rinsed both his and Lin Zhiquin’s bowls and chopsticks with the tea. He then poured two cups of tea, handed one to Lin Zhiquin, and slowly sipped his own.
"Don’t be reserved; it’s just a casual meal," Lin Zhiquin said, pushing the small dish of melon seeds towards Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan politely took a handful.
"What do your parents do?" Lin Zhiquin suddenly asked.
Lu Yuan paused, then said after thinking, "My family runs a small grain and oil shop, and my father also does some delivery work."
"Are you the only child?"
"I have an older sister who just graduated from college this year."
"You should be in your second year of high school, right? I have a nephew around your age..."
Lin Zhiquin started asking about Lu Yuan’s family and personal situation, occasionally interjecting with things about himself.
Even now, Lu Yuan wasn’t clear why Lin Zhiquin had invited him to a meal for no apparent reason. After sitting down, however, he started to piece things together. Lin Zhiquin was purposefully delaying signing the form, likely for a specific reason. He was just waiting for Lin Zhiquin to reveal it.
"Why did you sign up for the combat class?" In the midst of their conversation, Lin Zhiquin abruptly shifted the topic to the martial arts hall.
Lu Yuan knew this was where the main event began.
"For the college entrance examination." Lu Yuan calmly replied, "The physical education category of the college entrance examination requires a specialty, so I chose combat, as it has the lowest scoring requirements."
Lin Zhiquin nodded thoughtfully. He then quickly asked, "Then why do you want to become an official disciple of the martial arts hall?"
Lu Yuan glanced at Lin Zhiquin.
He answered, "For money."
He said seriously to Lin Zhiquin, "I want to earn back the tuition fee... that my father paid for my enrollment."