Chapter 2: Combining Movement and Stillness, White Ape Cloak Hammer

The Taoist priest was washing the pot.

The three large iron pots for the 180 people to eat and drink from were larger than a bathtub. Li Yuan had a hard time washing them. He leaned over the edge of the pot and leaned half of his body down to clean it.

Splash!

A large bucket of water was poured into the pot. Li Yuan was doing the final cleaning, and none of the other apprentices could be idle.

Chopping wood, fetching water, preparing charcoal, carrying various iron ingots, wiping weapons, cleaning...

"Oh, it's too tiring. I heard that Du Yun and Lu Zhong in the front yard can rest before noon every day, and they can rest for two days in five days..."

"Oh, who made me not be selected because of my weak body? I heard that the people in the front yard may learn martial arts!"

"Oh, just endure it, endure it for three years..."

"I have to ask for a day off tomorrow. It's too tiring... Oh, I really want to eat meat!"

...

Without Fatty Sun by their side, the apprentices talked to each other while working.

"Front yard..."

Li Yuan was doing stretching exercises in a corner, listening to the apprentices chatting.

Of course, there were more than seven or eight apprentices in the forging shop. There were five or six apprentices in the backyard serving the shopkeeper's family, and there were more than ten apprentices helping out in the front yard shop and assisting the masters.

The treatment of the apprentices in the front, middle and back yards was naturally the worst in the middle yard kitchen, followed by the back yard, and the best in the front yard.

The apprentices in the front yard were not only not as hard-working as them, but also had a monthly salary of a hundred copper coins and the opportunity to practice martial arts.

However, he was weak and could not compare with the calf-like apprentices in the front yard. If he had not known a few words, he might not have been able to join.

"Learning martial arts is probably even more difficult... But first, we have to try whether the 'ritual' is useful..."

Li Yuan finished the work in his hands silently, and prepared to ask for half a day off from Fatty Sun to withdraw the monthly salary to prepare the things needed for the ceremony.

Apprentices in the middle courtyard have one day off every ten days. He had not gone home before, and he had saved up three days of vacation, which he could withdraw at any time.

When he had just finished washing up and had not had time to find Fatty Sun, he heard a commotion in the courtyard.

"Huh? Why are they here?"

An apprentice stood up.

A dozen young men of the same age as them, but quite strong, came to the yellow mud open space in front of the middle courtyard with wooden-handled sledgehammers.

"Apprentices in the front courtyard? Are they all so strong?"

Li Yuan complained in his heart.

Compared with the chick-like apprentices in the middle courtyard, the apprentices in the front courtyard are as strong as calves.

In the past month or so, his body has also grown a lot, but compared with these calf-like apprentices in the front courtyard, the difference is quite large.

It can be seen that as apprentices, the apprentices in the front and middle courtyards have differences in family background in addition to the treatment and foundation in the shop.

However, these 'young calves' are nothing compared to the man behind them.

'This man is so strong! '

Li Yuan's eyelids jumped.

The middle-aged man was more than 1.9 meters tall, with thick arms, knotted muscles, a fierce face, and a windy stride, which made people intimidated.

"It's Guard Qin!"

An apprentice exclaimed, and all the apprentices, including Li Yuan, stood up and followed Fatty Sun to greet him.

The forging shop took root in Gaoliu County, but the business had already reached several nearby counties and even Zhelong Prefecture. In addition to the master, there were also many guards in the shop.

Their status was so high and their treatment was so good that it could be said that they were only second to the shopkeeper.

Li Yuan had a deep memory of these guards. They all had a huge appetite, and one of them was equivalent to seven or eight apprentices.

"Brother Qin Xiong!"

Fatty Sun, who was like a meatball, shot out from the kitchen and greeted him with a smile:

"My brother still has a jar of good wine. Let's have a couple of drinks tonight?"

"Let's talk later!"

Qin Xiong's rough face was expressionless. He turned to look at the apprentices in the middle courtyard who were lined up like quails:

"Are all the apprentices in the middle courtyard here? They are too thin..."

"Some of them went out to carry charcoal..."

Fatty Sun smiled and humbled himself: "They have recovered a little these days. They were even thinner before."

"Yeah."

Qin Xiong responded coldly. His serious look made the apprentices in the middle courtyard feel a little short of breath.

Hua La La~

After a while, there was a chaotic sound of footsteps outside the door of the middle courtyard. Twenty or thirty apprentices came hurriedly from all over, both men and women.

"Are the apprentices from the backyard, the sundry yard, and the foreign affairs department here?"

Li Yuan was slightly surprised.

Such a big show?

"Okay, those who didn't come won't wait!"

Qin Xiong's voice was loud and his eyes were fierce. The apprentices who were stared at by him breathed quickly and stepped back subconsciously.

"What Qin is doing today, I think some of you have guessed it."

Li Yuan lowered his head and glanced at the other apprentices. Sure enough, he saw a few of them showing joy, and his heart was moved.

Could it be that even if you are not assigned to the front yard, you still have the opportunity to practice martial arts?

"Among all the businesses in Gaoliu County, the work in our forging shop is the hardest and most tiring, but every time we recruit apprentices, there are always people who sign up? There are even people who pay money to be our apprentices?"

Qin Xiong glanced at Li Yuan, who lowered his eyebrows and looked a little surprised.

'Second brother gave money? No wonder my sister-in-law doesn't like me...'

Li Yuan was a little surprised, but couldn't help feeling depressed.

He was an apprentice and he had to pay money to get in? !

He really didn't know this...

"Because, among all the businesses in Gaoliu County, only Four Seasons Medicine Hall, Sanhe Gang, Chai Gang, Yizi Inn, Fishing Gang, and our forging shop will teach apprentices martial arts!

Even if you are an apprentice in the middle courtyard, you will have this opportunity after working for one or two years!"

Teach martial arts in advance?

Li Yuan's eyes lit up, and he suddenly realized.

Second brother gave money to send him in, is it because of this?

The apprentices were very excited, and some of them couldn't help but clench their fists. Among them were the apprentice who had been hit on the head by Fatty Sun before, Liu Qing, and Niu Gui who came to the middle courtyard at the same time as him.

However, everyone was very sensible and no one dared to make a sound.

"You apprentices are either from poor families or from declining families. If you hadn't joined the weapon forging shop, only one or two out of ten would have the opportunity to learn martial arts. Today, I will teach you martial arts on behalf of the master. Remember the master's grace in the future and do your job well!"

Qin Xiong's voice was loud and full of energy, and the following sentences were even more deafening.

'This energy is too full...'

Li Yuan only felt his eardrums buzzing, and he was a little shocked and a little complaining in his heart.

The last sentence was definitely not meant for them...

"Today, I will teach you the 'White Ape Cloak Hammer'. Little guys, this is your only chance to join the inner courtyard. Whether you can change your fate depends on you!"

Learn martial arts!

White Ape Cloak Hammer!

Qin Xiong's voice resounded throughout the martial arts arena, and all the apprentices were breathing rapidly, as if the fatigue of a day's hard work had instantly disappeared.

Children from poor families have to take care of themselves early. Who among those who are sent here to be apprentices does not know the importance of a craft?

Not to mention martial arts, which is something that can really change their lives!

As for joining the inner courtyard, most of the apprentices seemed calm, knowing that it was not something they could covet at all.

"No wonder they are carrying so many sledgehammers..."

Li Yuan suddenly realized, and when he glanced over, all the apprentices were tense, and Niu Gui, who had been smashed on the head by Fatty Sun earlier, clenched his fists and breathed rapidly.

"Lu Zhong, let them get familiar with standing first!"

After saying this, Qin Xiong casually pointed to an apprentice in the front yard to stay, and turned around and left.

"Yes!"

As soon as Qin Xiong left, the other apprentices in the front yard also dispersed, leaving only the hammers they were carrying.

Only a dark and strong young man walked to the center of the stage with a gloomy face, slowly standing on the pole, half squatting, swinging his arms, like a gibbon.

"No wonder it's called the White Ape Pole!"

Li Yuan concentrated on memorizing Lu Zhong's movements, trying to learn, but he was a little disappointed.

Is this martial arts?

"Learn how to stand on the pole from me!"

Lu Zhong didn't seem to be patient enough to instruct one by one, just standing on the pole for half an hour.

During this period, after briefly instructing Niu Gui and several other apprentices, he left.

As soon as he left, some people immediately dispersed their postures. It was not because they were lazy, but because they were tired after a day and didn't have the energy to stand on the pole, which was very physically demanding.

"Write it down first, and then practice slowly..."

Li Yuan also relaxed his posture, already panting.

His body was thinner than most of the people present, and he really couldn't hold on.

It's not impossible to grit his teeth and persist, but forcing practice would only be ineffective and hurt the body.

"Inner courtyard! I've heard that there is an inner courtyard in the shop. The apprentices there don't have to work, and their monthly salary is very high!"

"Forget about the inner courtyard. It's a great fortune to learn martial arts in advance!"

"I wonder how long it will take us to practice this white ape pile? I heard from the old apprentices who were sent to the mine that it takes two or three years to get started?"

Back in the middle courtyard, several apprentices were very excited.

"How can we practice martial arts when we are so tired? I'm afraid it's impossible to join the inner courtyard..."

Li Yuan wiped his face again and sighed in his heart.

The apprentices in the front courtyard have good food, and they work half a day and practice boxing half a day. They can rest for two days in five days, while they can only rest for one day in ten days, and they don't have time to rest for one day.

How can they compare?

This martial arts may not be impossible to practice, but I don't know whether it will take a few years or more than ten years...

Before entering the house, he looked back and saw that only Niu Gui, who came to the middle courtyard at the same time as him, was standing in the night with his teeth gritting his teeth, sweating profusely.

"This kid is really hardworking..."