“Don’t you work at the KTV?” Tan Junzi couldn’t help but ask. Qin Ke was clearly still a student; why was he working so many jobs? She didn’t pry further, though. The reason for working multiple jobs was usually obvious—a difficult family situation—so there was no need to ask.
“Night shift there, morning shift here.” Qin Ke tapped the desk with a hint of impatience, clearly unwilling to elaborate. He pulled a program brochure from a pile on the desk and spread it out. Then, he yanked his rickety swivel chair closer to the desk, the casters let out a sharp screech.
Tan Junzi noticed he was chewing on a toothpick, giving him an air that belonged in a movie.
Qin Ke had a mysterious aura. No matter where he was—whether behind the gaudy front desk of a KTV or in this sweltering, cramped office of a martial arts gym—he carried himself with a commanding presence. Even though he was just an employee, he gave off the vibe of a boss.
The two of them leaned over the table to look at the program list. Tan Junzi noticed the boy’s fingers were long, his nails trimmed neatly and kept clean. Qin Ke pointed at the items on the list, the toothpick bobbing at the corner of his mouth.
“Sorry, but could you stop chewing that? I’m afraid it’s going to poke me in the eye,” Tan Junzi said. The toothpick was waving back and forth right in front of her, and it was incredibly distracting.
Qin Ke glanced at her. Tan Junzi saw his Adam’s apple bob, and when the veins on his arm tightened, she quickly added, “Never mind, it’s fine. Keep chewing.”
Qin Ke didn’t say anything. He simply shifted the toothpick from the right side of his mouth to the left, moving it away from her side.
Watching him, Tan Junzi couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. Qin Ke looked up at her, and she immediately wiped the smile off her face. She found this guy both arrogant and amusing; he always seemed to slam on the brakes just before becoming sleazy, veering instead into a sort of dark humor.
Qin Ke pointed at the sheet. “Sanda, traditional martial arts, and Karate are all the same price. The difference is the number of sessions. The half-course group class is five hundred yuan for two months. There are about a dozen people per class with two masters supervising. You can come anytime after 6:00 PM, five days a week, for an hour of training.” He didn't waste a single word.
“What about the full-course class?” Tan Junzi asked.
“The full-course isn’t for you,” Qin Ke said.
Tan Junzi waited for him to explain why it wasn't suitable, but after a long pause, he said nothing more. An awkward silence filled the office, broken only by the rhythmic creaking of the oscillating fan.
“That’s it? That’s the whole introduction?” Tan Junzi asked, somewhat incredulous. The form was packed with text, yet he had summarized it into a single sentence for her. It made her feel like her money might be wasted.
“I just told you what fits you best.” Qin Ke leaned back into his swivel chair. “There’s no point in explaining the rest. It’s hot out, and we’re both tired. Are you signing up or not?”
Tan Junzi actually thought his recommendation sounded reasonable, so she pulled out her wallet. “Should I pay you now, or...?”
“Don’t give the money to me. Give it to Old Gao or Old Pang outside later. Just fill out this form. Do you have your ID?” Qin Ke rummaged through a drawer, pulled out a form and a ballpoint pen, and pushed them toward her.
Tan Junzi took her ID from her wallet, handed it to him, and began filling out the form.
She filled in each blank conscientiously. Halfway through, the pen ran out of ink. She tapped it hard against the desk, but it still wouldn't write. She looked up to ask for another, only to find Qin Ke staring blankly at her ID card.
It wasn't exactly a blank stare; he was scrutinizing the photo on her ID as if he were checking a banknote for forgeries.
“What is it?” Tan Junzi asked. The photo had been taken when she was just starting primary school, and she looked very different now. She had been quite dark-skinned as a child, and her hair hadn't been as thick. But as the saying goes, a girl changes eighteen times as she grows up; she had gradually filled out and become much prettier.
Hearing her question, Qin Ke snapped out of it and found another pen for her. He casually flipped the ID over to check her birth date before handing it back. “Nothing. You were pretty ugly back then.”
It was a remarkably rude thing to say.
But Tan Junzi didn't get angry. “So, are you saying I’m pretty now? Well, thank you.” She finished the form and handed it back.
“I didn't say that.” Qin Ke checked her entries, and once satisfied, he stood up. Tan Junzi sensed his mood had soured slightly, though she couldn't say why.
“Let’s go.” Qin Ke cracked his neck, the joints popping loudly as he stepped toward her.
Tan Junzi took a step back. “Where are we going?”
“To the apprenticeship ceremony.” Qin Ke noticed she was a bit afraid of him, but he didn't soften his demeanor. He was about the same height as Chang Ying, but he had a much more aggressive presence, likely stemming from his "streetwise" edge. In front of him, Tan Junzi felt like a transparent schoolgirl, even though they were likely the same age.
The "apprenticeship ceremony" turned out to be quite formal—something Tan Junzi had never experienced.
Master Pang and Master Gao told the group of leg-kicking children to stop and line up. Tan Junzi watched the dozen or so children; they all looked incredibly serious. The lead girl was no more than ten years old, wearing a training uniform with a cloth belt tied tightly around her waist, looking very sharp.
Master Gao cleared his throat. “Even if this is just a hobby class, we must follow the proper procedures.”
“To learn kung fu, one must first acknowledge a master. Qianniu, explain the ceremony to Miss Tan.”
The lead girl, Qianniu, stepped forward. Her voice was loud and her speech formal as she taught Tan Junzi how to perform the "fist-and-palm" salute.
The secret to the salute was to have one hand as a palm and the other as a fist, meeting in the middle. The thumb of the fist had to be tucked into the palm to show respect for the master and for heaven and earth.
Tan Junzi performed the salute with due decorum and bowed three times to the two masters, completing the ceremony.
Master Pang said, “According to tradition, as your masters, we must ask: why do you wish to study martial arts?”
Tan Junzi thought for a moment and recounted the events of the other day—going to the KTV, the man in the floral jacket peeping at Qin Ruanshu in the restroom, her kicking him in the rear, and the subsequent trip to the police station.
Halfway through, Master Pang coughed twice. “Uh, Little Tan, keep it brief. No need for such specific details. Everyone’s time is limited.”
“Right, Master. I’m learning martial arts so I don't lose in a fight!” Tan Junzi declared loudly. That was indeed her primary motivation.
To her surprise, Master Pang raised his voice. “Is martial arts for fighting?”
Qianniu tugged at her sleeve and whispered, “The correct answer is 'to uphold justice,' or at the very least, 'to strengthen the body.'”
“Right! It’s to strengthen my body!” Tan Junzi shouted. She skipped the "upholding justice" part because it felt a bit too grand.
After the ceremony came the ranking.
Master Gao pointed to the row of children behind him. “Seniority is based on when you joined. This is your Second Senior Brother, your Third Senior Brother... Little Tan, you are the fifteenth disciple of this sect. We shall call you Fifteen. You are the lowest in rank.”
Then he pointed to Qianniu. “And this is the Eldest Senior Sister.”
Tan Junzi nodded. Then, remembering something, she asked, “Master, what is the name of our sect?”
Master Pang fell silent, his gaze drifting toward the window as if he were about to tell an epic tale. After a long pause, he finally spoke: “Our sect is called... the... Yong’an Sect.”
“Understood, Master. I’ll remember that,” Tan Junzi nodded.
As she walked out of the gym, Chang Ying’s call came through.
While talking on the phone, she noticed a pharmacy across the street called "Yong’an Hall." She suddenly suspected that "Yong’an Sect" was a name her master had made up on the spot.
On the phone:
“How did it go?” Chang Ying had gone back for a nap that morning, and his voice sounded like he had just woken up.
“Everything went smoothly. You know, of the three gyms here, two of them are actually connected. Hey, which one did you go to back then?” Tan Junzi shielded her eyes from the sun as she walked toward the bus stop. It was nearly noon, and the sun was high; the ground temperature was likely over thirty degrees.
“I think it was called Little Yang’s Gym.” The sound of a car horn honked on his end.
“...” Tan Junzi was speechless.
“What?” Chang Ying asked.
“Nothing. Oh, are you out?” she asked, stopping at the bus station.
“Yeah. Cross the street now.”
Tan Junzi looked up. Chang Ying was standing under the shade of a poplar tree across the road, holding his phone in one hand and waving with the other. His mountain bike was leaned against the tree, a plastic bag containing a basketball hanging from the handlebars. He wore a black baseball cap that shaded the upper half of his face, but she could see his smile even from across the street.
The mountain bike was a flashy matte pink. It would have looked quite cool if not for the soft cushion strapped to the back rack. With the cushion, it looked a bit ridiculous, but that was Tan Junzi’s designated seat.
Tan Junzi waved back, waited for the green light, and ran across the street to join him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, looking up at him.
Chang Ying used his large hand to shade her from the sun, then took off his baseball cap and tucked it onto her head. “Is it too hot?” He reached out to tuck a stray lock of her hair behind her ear.
“It’s okay. A little.”
“I’m playing ball with Liu Kan and the guys at the North District this afternoon. Thought I’d pick you up on the way.” Chang Ying unlocked his bike and hung the lock on the handlebars. “By the way, do you want to come? A few girls from the school team are coming too. You know them; you can play with them. We’ve reserved the court anyway.”
Two of the girls on the basketball team knew Tan Junzi; they were former neighbors and got along well. Liu Kan was from another class but was a close friend of Chang Ying’s.
Tan Junzi loved sports. She didn't have professional training, but she had great stamina. She could usually out-dance the grandmothers at the park during their square dancing sessions.
During the 800-meter run in PE class, the moment the teacher said "Go," she would pop off like a soda cap. She would sprint the entire way from the start, easily finishing in under three minutes.
“Sure, sure!” Tan Junzi hopped onto the back seat. She wasn't great at basketball, but she wasn't afraid of looking bad, and she enjoyed playing.
“Wait, hold on.” Chang Ying lifted the brim of her cap so he could meet her eyes. “Are you... okay to play today?”
She had been scrubbing blood off her sheets in the middle of the night. Having just woken up from a nap, he had been a bit groggy and had almost forgotten.
Tan Junzi’s period usually stopped bothering her after the first day. She knew what he was asking and shook her head. “I’m fine. Ugh, stop asking, it’s annoying. Let’s go!”
“Don’t lie to me,” Chang Ying said suspiciously.
Tan Junzi ignored him and stuck out her foot. “Are these shoes okay?” She was wearing canvas sneakers.
“As long as you aren't planning to dunk.” Chang Ying started pedaling.
“Are you mocking me?!” Tan Junzi gave his waist a sharp pinch.
***
The basketball courts in the North District were quite new; at least the hoops still had nets.
The afternoon sun was brutal, but the youth didn't care. The courts were almost full, with students from Tongcheng No. 1 High and other schools. One court was entirely occupied by shirtless old men.
When Chang Ying and Tan Junzi arrived, the court was full of familiar faces. Zhang Da was there, practicing set three-pointers, and he even managed to sink one by fluke. They were all middle school classmates; even if they weren't in the same class, they all hung out. This summer after the high school entrance exams was a time of total freedom for the boys, and they gathered at the basketball courts almost every afternoon.
Chang Ying carried a plastic bag of mineral water he’d bought at a convenience store on the way and tossed them to everyone. Zhang Da glanced over and nodded at Chang Ying and Tan Junzi. He noted the black baseball cap she was wearing, recognizing it as Chang Ying’s.
Tan Junzi greeted everyone and went to find the girls from the basketball team.
Liu Kan walked over and threw an arm around Chang Ying’s shoulder. “Yo, how come the sister-in-law is here today?”
Chang Ying shrugged his arm off and began pulling off his outer t-shirt as he walked onto the court. “Got a problem with that?” He didn't bother to refute the "sister-in-law" comment.
He was wearing another t-shirt underneath. Usually, he’d take the inner one off after sweating and put the dry outer one back on for the ride home; otherwise, the sweat would feel disgusting.
He looked toward the other side of the court. Tan Junzi was having a great time with the girls who were all half a head taller than her. She was even attempting a three-step layup, though she got blocked. Chang Ying couldn't help but smile.
A girl like Tan Junzi had one great virtue: she was incredibly easygoing. Even if she wasn't a pro, she could play naturally with anyone.
“No problem at all. My girlfriend is here too, sitting over there.” Liu Kan pointed toward the sidelines.
Chang Ying looked over and saw a small girl sitting at the base of the hoop pole, her arms wrapped around her knees. She looked very well-behaved, looking up at the boys as they played.
“You’re just making her wait? Unbelievable,” Chang Ying said as he dribbled the ball into the court.
“She doesn't know the other girls, and she’s shy. Besides, she doesn't know how to play.” Liu Kan waved to his girlfriend. The girl was indeed very sweet; she waved back with a smile.
Chang Ying thought for a moment, then turned and shouted, “Tan Junzi!”
Tan Junzi stopped with the ball on the other side of the court and looked at him. Seeing him gesture, she ran over. “What is it?”
Chang Ying pointed to Liu Kan’s girlfriend. “Liu Kan’s girlfriend.”
Liu Kan nodded. “New girlfriend, Yuan Guo. She got into our school too. We met on the school forum before the holidays.”
As the three were talking, a basketball came flying toward Tan Junzi. Since her back was turned, she didn't see it. There was a sudden *whoosh*, and before she could react, Chang Ying’s arm shot out, blocking the ball and sending it bouncing away.
Zhang Da was standing at the three-point line, looking their way. “Sorry about that! You okay, Tan?”
Chang Ying glanced at Zhang Da but said nothing. Liu Kan shouted, “Watch it! There are girls here!”
Tan Junzi didn't mind. She looked toward the sidelines and saw Yuan Guo, small and delicate, sitting directly in the sun and looking a bit wilted. She frowned and said the same thing Chang Ying had: “Liu Kan, you’re something else. You’re playing ball and just letting her sit there?”
With that, Tan Junzi ran to the sidelines, leaned down to say a few words to the girl, and pointed toward the female basketball players. The girl patted the dust off her pants, stood up, and followed Tan Junzi toward the other hoop with a skip in her step.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
秦轲 | Qin Ke | The young man working at the KTV and the gym.
高师傅 | Master Gao | One of the masters at the martial arts gym.
庞师傅 | Master Pang | The other master at the gym; his surname is actually Pang (庞), not "Fat" (胖), though they sound similar.
永安门 | Yong’an Sect | The name of the martial arts sect (likely named after the pharmacy).
牵牛 | Qianniu | The lead disciple (Eldest Senior Sister) at the gym.
刘戡 | Liu Kan | A friend of Chang Ying.
袁果 | Yuan Guo | Liu Kan's girlfriend.
张达 | Zhang Da | A former classmate of Chang Ying and Tan Junzi.
十五 | Fifteen | Tan Junzi's disciple rank/nickname in the sect.
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