After three days of getting familiar with the place, Yang Yufen left Li Wu with fifty yuan.
"Keep the money safe, don’t waste it, and remember to call home often."
"Got it, Grandma. Don’t worry about me."
Suddenly receiving such a large sum of fifty yuan, Li Wu happily tucked it into his pocket. This wasn’t like money he’d earned himself—it was his grandmother’s love. He knew very well that his father only got twenty yuan as pocket money. Heh, he had more than his dad!
Li Wu watched as Yang Yufen left, and she kept looking back until the car turned a corner and disappeared from sight.
Her heart ached. That little boy she’d raised from a tiny bundle was now old enough to travel far from home.
"Hey, kid, with that much money, shouldn’t you treat us all to some ice cream?"
Li Wu was still feeling sentimental after the car had vanished when he suddenly found himself surrounded by kids from other training groups.
"My money, why should I buy you ice cream? There are so many of you—it’d cost a fortune!"
Li Wu stuffed the money deeper into his pocket, making sure it wouldn’t fall out.
"You’re not being very friendly. We’ll all be training together from now on. So what if you’re from the capital? There are only six of you, and ten of us."
"What does the number have to do with anything?" Li Wu asked, confused.
"Wait… are you trying to rob me?"
It suddenly dawned on him, and he couldn’t believe it.
"Aren’t you afraid of the coach? The coach said no trouble-making!"
Li Wu tried using the coach as a shield.
"Hmph, who’s gonna believe you? Since you won’t cooperate, don’t blame us for being rough. We’ve been watching you for days, chubby. Didn’t expect your family to be so loaded, handing out fifty yuan just like that."
With that, the group closed in on him.
"Hold on! If you’re gonna rob me openly and even try to hit me, don’t blame me for fighting back. I will defend myself."
"Hah, listen to this kid talking tough!"
The leader of the group laughed and shoved Li Wu, only to have his hand grabbed mid-push. The next thing he knew, he was staring at the blue sky, his world spinning before his back hit the ground with a painful thud.
"I told you I’d fight back."
"Ah! Get him! Beat him up!"
The other kids, momentarily stunned, snapped out of it and lunged at Li Wu.
"You’re ganging up on me? That’s so unfair!"
Li Wu muttered under his breath but didn’t run. Instead, he charged straight at them, kicking one down before slipping past the rest and sprinting away.
"Help! Someone’s robbing a kid!"
His loud voice carried far, and soon, adults came rushing over.
"Uncle, help! Those guys are chasing me! They tried to rob me and beat me up! If I didn’t know a little kung fu, I’d be dead by now! I’m scared!"
The pursuers, hearing Li Wu claim he was "scared," nearly popped their eyes out in disbelief.
"What’s going on here? Wait—aren’t you all here for the training program? Why are you fighting?"
"Uncle, it’s not a fight. They were trying to rob me! They saw my grandma give me pocket money and wanted to take it. Look at them, a whole gang—they’re really bad!"
Li Wu corrected him righteously.
"You’re the one who hit us!"
The kids, seeing an adult, naturally didn’t dare admit their earlier intentions and only brought up being beaten.
"Hmph, you think just because I’m small, I’m stupid? Why would I, alone, go pick a fight with a whole group of you? Only an idiot would believe that! I’m going to Teacher Gao to settle this!"
No way was Li Wu falling for that. He might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he wasn’t dumb—he was, after all, the older brother of a genius.
When Teacher Gao was called over, he arrived in a hurry, accompanied by another teacher and the coach.
"This matter must be dealt with seriously. No matter how talented they are, bad character is unacceptable."
After hearing the details, Teacher Gao reassured Li Wu and sent him back to rest.
"But these kids were all top picks from their province. Sending them all back would be such a waste of resources."
The other teacher tried to soften the situation, hoping for leniency.
"Sending them back now only costs travel expenses. But if we keep them, the time and effort invested later will far outweigh that. We’re training talents for the nation, and these aren’t toddlers. There’s no room for negotiation."
Teacher Gao stood firm, looking to the supervisor for support.
"Teacher Gao is right. Not only will they be sent back, but the reason for their dismissal must also be clearly communicated."
When Li Wu returned to the dorm, Tang Sheng approached him.
"I heard you got into a fight. Are you hurt?"
"Nope, not at all! I ran fast, and it wasn’t a fight—they tried to hit me, but I hit them first."
Li Wu puffed out his chest proudly.
By the next day, every kid in the training camp had heard of Li Wu’s name—the boy who "took on ten by himself," though the story had grown wildly exaggerated.
Naturally, some curious and confident kids came looking for him.
"Hey, chubby."
"You mean me?" Li Wu pointed at himself.
"Yeah, you. Everyone says you’re amazing, taking on ten at once. I don’t believe it. Fight me."
"Why should I? I never said that."
Li Wu wasn’t interested. Calling him "chubby"? He wasn’t fat—everyone said he was sturdy! He liked his build just fine.
"If you win, I’ll give you… no, five yuan!"
The boy thought for a moment before making the offer.
Li Wu, who had been about to walk away, immediately turned back and took a step closer.
"Five yuan? Seriously? What if I lose? You won’t make me pay you five yuan too, right? Then forget it."
He took half a step back, wary.
"If you lose, you don’t owe me anything. So, do you dare?"
"No money if I lose? Fine. But what if I accidentally hurt you? You won’t try to blame me, will you?"
Li Wu’s suspicious look nearly made the other boy stomp in frustration.
"I’m not that kind of person. Five yuan—hey, you! Be the witness."
He had learned some martial arts from his grandfather and refused to believe this "chubby" kid could beat him.
Li Wu was surprised by how easily the boy offered five yuan. He’d never part with his money so freely.
"Alright then, but let’s make it clear—this is just a friendly match. No getting mad."
Li Wu’s confidence came from his relentless training and the teachings of Grandpa Liao and the other elders at the orchard.
The moment the other boy took his stance, Li Wu didn’t underestimate him. The two clashed, and soon a crowd gathered to watch.
"Go, Li Wu!"
"Jiang Cheng, you got this!"
Cheers erupted, and Li Wu was thrilled to face someone who actually knew martial arts. The more they fought, the more fired up he became.
