Kai's mind raced as he recalled the set of golden needles that he had recently received as a reward. He hadn't quite understood their purpose. However, Xia Chen's story ignited a glimmer of hope within him that perhaps these needles held a similar potential for medical treatment.
'I guess I'll have to pay a visit to this nurse myself,' Kai thought to himself, determined to unravel the mystery behind his golden needles.
"Oh! That's right! I heard it from Li-er too. She said that there's a nurse that her father assigned here too, in case she gets hurt and for her safety," Reika said when she suddenly remembered Lian Li.
"Isn't she papa's girl?" Mae Ling, who has been quiet, finally joined the fun.
"Now that you mentioned it, you're right. She also said that her father only let her study here because a retired general was assigned here," Kai added.
"Senior Brother, it seems that the road for Sister Lian Li is a rough one. Hehe," Mae Ling said as she looked at Kai and giggled.
Reika also looked at Kai, curious about what he would do if he learned that her father was overprotective.
As all eyes fixated on him, he simply shook his head, unfazed. Rather than being intimidated by Lian Li's father's overprotectiveness, he respected him. Despite being the head of a large family, he ensured his daughter's safety. In a world where many fathers neglected their children, coming home drunk and subjecting them to unjust beatings, or worse, abandoning them to fend for themselves, Lian Li was fortunate to have a caring father.
"Don't talk about people behind their backs. It's not a good habit," Kai remarked, emphasizing the importance of respect.
Without wasting any time, he took the lead. Reika and Mae Ling exchanged mischievous glances, linking arms with him. Laughing gleefully, they followed closely behind Kai, their radiant energy infectious.
"Wait up, Senior Brother!" Xia Chen exclaimed as he sprinted to catch up with the group.
Together, they embark on their mission to find Mr. Zhou as they continue their journey, laughing and joking around, and enjoying themselve.
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The four of them, Kai, Reika, Mae Ling, and Xia Chen, finally reached the gate where Kai had previously met Mr. Zhou. Expecting to see the same guard, they approached the gate, with the two girls still clinging to Kai and Xia Chen following closely behind.
However, to their surprise, the guard on duty was someone else entirely. Before they could inquire about Mr. Zhou's whereabouts, a familiar voice called out to Kai.
"Kai brat! You finally made it! I've been waiting for you!" It was Yin Shan, the guard from the parking lot earlier, waving his right hand enthusiastically.
Without hesitation, they walked out of the gate and greeted Yin Shan.
"Sir Yin, why are you waiting for me?" Kai asked, puzzled.
"Mr. Zhou asked me to wait for you here. He went home and told me that you would be bringing his disciple to him," Yin Shan explained.
"But I haven't even formally inform him yet about this. Did Rick say something to him already?" Kai wondered aloud.
"I saw your Master talking to Mr. Zhou earlier, and it seemed like he said something that made Mr. Zhou sweat buckets," Yin Shan revealed.
Upon hearing this, Kai didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It seemed that Rick had pulled some strings with Mr. Zhou to ensure Kai's request to be Xia Chen's martial arts teacher wouldn't be rejected.
"Why didn't Mr. Zhou wait for us himself? Why did he send you instead?" Kai questioned.
"He mentioned that he needed to set up everything for his new student's training," Yin Shan responded.
As he looked at the two girls clinging to Xia Chen, Yin Shan inquired, "Which one of them is Mr. Zhou's new disciple?"
"Oh! It's him," Kai said as he pointed to Xia Chen using his eyes, as both his hands were occupied by Reika and Mae Ling.
Yin Shan scanned Xia Chen from head to toe and nodded approvingly. "Alright, let's head to Mr. Zhou's place."
Yin Shan confidently led the way, striding along the pedestrian lane with the rest of them close behind. Once they reached the other side of the road, they entered a subdivision called 'Summerville'. It was a lively place compared to Kai's current residence, with various kinds of houses dotting the streets. The largest one they passed was a two-story house.
As they strolled through the village, they noticed the bustling atmosphere filled with different stores and street vendors selling. There were also plenty of students mingling about, adding to the liveliness of the place.
After walking for a few more minutes, they finally reached a gate. However, instead of a house behind it, there was a stunning array of trees. Bamboo, apple trees, mango trees, you name it. Curiosity filled their eyes as they looked at Yin Shan, who excitedly opened the gate and explained, "This was all planted by Mr. Zhou himself. Isn't it amazing?"
With Yin Shan leading the way, they ventured into the depths of the tree-filled area. Yin Shan continued sharing interesting information, "Originally, this was just a regular residence with plenty of free space. But Mr. Zhou loves fruits, so he decided to plant them all here. Now, he can pick whatever he craves whenever he wants."
Like students on an educational field trip, they listened intently to Yin Shan while taking in the breathtaking scenery. Mae Ling's eyes sparkled with amazement as she looked around, Reika plucked a flower and admired its fragrance, while the two boys simply enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere.
However, in Kai's mind, a different thought emerged. He couldn't help but wonder if this abundance of fruit trees was the reason for Mr. Zhou's round figure.
With this abundance of fruits, I can create cakes or sweets with them,' Kai added in his mind.
Eventually, they reached a bamboo-made house and spotted Mr. Zhou sitting on a bamboo chair, sipping tea and indulging in desserts displayed on a bamboo table. As soon as he noticed Kai and the others, he set aside his tea and jovially approached them.
"You guys finally made it!" Mr. Zhou exclaimed, patting Kai on the shoulder before turning to the rest as he greeted them by nodding at them. Then, he glanced at Yin Shan and said, "Thank you for bringing them here, Shan. Here's what you wanted."
Mr. Zhou carefully handed Yin Shan, a freshly cut bamboo. Yin Shan's eyes sparkled with excitement as he graciously accepted the unique gift. With great anticipation, he carefully removed the bamboo's lid, revealing a hidden treasure inside—a bottle of exquisite and fragrant wine.
As the tantalizing aroma filled the air, everyone present couldn't help but take a deep breath, savoring the sweet scent. Yin Shan, pleased with his prized possession, promptly sealed the bamboo once more, ensuring the wine's freshness.
Overflowing with gratitude, Yin Shan exclaimed, "Mr. Zhou, thank you so much! I've been yearning for your famous Bamboo Wine for ages. Finally, I can relish its taste again! Hahaha!" He wrapped his arms protectively around the bamboo, cherishing it as if it were a rare gem.
Curiosity got the better of Mae Ling, a mischievous little girl who couldn't resist the allure of the enticing aroma. Eagerly, she approached Yin Shan and attempted to snatch the bamboo. However, Yin Shan swiftly turned around and ran away, leaving a word.
"It's too early for you. This is not for children,"
"Ah! Don't run! I just want to have a taste!" Mae Ling shouted as she pouted cutely.
Mr. Zhou joined in the playful exchange, his heart warmed by the newfound joy and laughter that had transformed his once solitary house. "You see, little girl, Yin Shan is right. This is a liquor meant for adults. When you grow up, I'll gladly share the Bamboo Wine with you. Hahaha!"
"I'm an adult now! Senio–"
Before Mae Ling could say any unnecessary information to Mr. Zhou, he covered her mouth and introduced Xia Chen.
"Mr. Zhou, this is Xia Chen, who wants to be under your guidance," Kai said as he pulled Xia Chen.
"H-hello. My name is Xia Chen," Xia Chen said nervously, feeling the weight of Mr. Zhou's scrutinizing gaze.
Mr. Zhou scrutinized Xia Chen from head to toe as he squinted his already small eyes.