Cao Jing finally left, quietly coming and going quietly, without taking Chen Ergou's heart and ambition, nor bringing Chen Ergou wealth and glory. This time, Chen Ergou felt her determination to leave, and it was likely that they would never meet again. The reason and the door, Chen Ergou's brain, which even the central committee members and ******* committee members couldn't figure out until today, definitely couldn't think through. Lying in bed all night, he could only guess that it was probably about marriage, and how shocking and absurd the family marriage was. Chen Ergou didn't bother to think more, anyway, she left, and he couldn't keep her, even if he broke the strings of his erhu, it would be useless.
Zhang Sanqian, who was lying on the upper bunk, also didn't sleep all night. Early in the morning, before the sky turned white, the two people almost simultaneously got out of bed like a carp jumping out of water, washed their faces and brushed their teeth. Zhang Sanqian wore a dirty sleeveless vest, while Chen Erdou picked up his new-made spear gun and ran towards the south slope of the residential area. He wore a vest because when practicing wall-climbing, it wouldn't damage his clothes. If someone else saw a delicate and elegant child recklessly crashing into trees hundreds of times, they would surely think it was an unbelievable thing.
Chen Ergou grew up watching Fugui practice Bajiquan, so he didn't feel out of place at all. No matter how good the foundation is, if you start practicing martial arts after a certain age, it will be twice as hard to achieve half the results, whether it's internal or external family boxing. When Chen Ergou was young, his body was too weak, and even though the old man in the house had dug up the best wild ginseng that made everyone in the village jealous, he didn't dare to take it randomly, fearing that one mistake would kill Chen Ergou. Wild ginseng is a tonic for invigorating people's spirits, and its unique feature is that it can enter all five internal organs without exception. However, when it came to Chen Ergou, it had to be used with caution. It can be imagined how weak Chen Ergou was in those years, and it's no small miracle that he wasn't blown to death by the strong winds of Northeast China. Therefore, Chen Ergou especially admired Fugui, who dared to swim in the Egunna River with his bare upper body in the severe cold winter, and could knock down trees with his powerful physique.
Seeing Zhang Sanqian, who is now working hard according to his own will, Chen Ergou suddenly began to understand what Miao Xiaoyao's mother was thinking and doing. Most parents hope that their children can fulfill the dreams they have not achieved.
Chen Ergou stretched his muscles and tendons, choosing a tall pine tree as his target. He gripped the spear tightly in his hand, took a deep breath, and placed the spear at an angle on the palm of his hand, which was full of calluses. His thumb and middle finger grasped the end of the spear handle, while his index finger naturally curved to hold the spear body. He bent his arm and raised the spear to his shoulder, with the elbow at a 90-degree angle, slightly higher than his head, and the tip of the spear slightly lower than the tail.
After leaving Zhangjiacun, this was the first time Zhang Sanqian had seen Chen Ergou play with the spear. He stopped in his tracks, eyes wide open, not wanting to miss a single detail. It was Uncle Fugui's idea for him to practice Bajiquan, but he loved watching Third Uncle Chen throw the spear, its sharp point flashing as it nailed its prey firmly to the ground, no less impressive than Uncle Fugui's ox-horn bow. So Zhang Sanqian didn't want to miss a single small movement.
Chen Ergou took a small run-up, started the final throwing step, only three steps, the first big, the second small, and the last step turned towards the throwing direction while rotating the shoulder axis, and the throwing arm rotated upwards, driving the forearm and wrist to form a "full bow" dynamic posture. His left leg bent, and with a burst of elasticity, he stretched out his front paws, bringing his forearm forward in an explosive "whip-like" motion. The spear in his hand flashed through the air, drawing an arc, accurately piercing the cedar tree, its tail still shaking back and forth, a perfect throw, a pleasure to behold.
"What a beautiful move!"
Wei Duan Gong appeared from afar, clapping and laughing loudly with a look of unadulterated astonishment on his face. Don't be fooled by Wei Duan Gong's bookish demeanor; he was quite enthusiastic about archery and firearms, and could be considered a half-expert in the field. Except for that one misstep, Chen Er Gou's every move conformed perfectly to the steps of a top-notch professional marksmanship competitor - from gripping the gun to crossing his legs and sprinting, then throwing with precision, not a single detail out of place. Wei Duan Gong found it hard to imagine how a young man from a remote mountain village could master this skill to such an extent that it became second nature to him. He had only heard from Guo Qian's mouth yesterday that San Qian had the habit of practicing boxing in his early years, and he had rushed over today with a burning head, only to coincidentally witness a scene that left him utterly astonished. As he walked over to try and pull the spear out of the tree trunk, it took all his might to finally succeed, leaving him slightly embarrassed and panting, saying: "Good grief, Er Gou, your strength is so great! I really couldn't tell you had such a powerful physique!"
"In the past, working in rural areas was all hard labor. If you didn't have any strength, you couldn't make a living for yourself. It's all bitter days that forced us out." Chen Erdou smiled and gave a so-so explanation.
"I've seen the hunting spears of the southwestern border, and I've even held those of the Mongolian and Hui ethnic groups. I once collected a rare spear from a Hezhe tribe in Northeast China's Songhua River region, which was quite expensive. None of them are similar to this one you have. I've also seen hunters use their spears, but none of their movements were as smooth as yours, following the principles of mechanics so well. Who taught you?" Wei Duan Gong carefully examined the spear in his hand, its craftsmanship not particularly impressive, but it felt unusual when he weighed it.
"No one taught me, I figured it out myself."
Chen Ergou took back the gun from Wei Duan Gong, and the answer he gave was even more ferocious than his throw. Chen Ergou's feelings towards the spear were like those of Fu Gui and his large bow - they were inseparable, and both were crucial for survival when playing with one's life in the mountains. If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't find a familiar path, he would have been killed by wild boars or wolves long ago, let alone avenged by white bears. The most terrifying creatures in the mountains are not animals like tigers or leopards, but rather the starving wolves and thin tigers. Even the large pythons or black bears are harmless compared to them - after all, when a tiger is hungry, it will devour humans. Moreover, the villagers of Zhangjiashan were unwilling to teach Chen Ergou, a half-outsider with impure blood, their techniques, so he had to rely on his own efforts to innovate and explore. After decades of experience with spears, Wei Duan Gong's praise and astonishment meant nothing to Chen Ergou.
Wei Duan Gong patted his pocket, but found that he hadn't brought any cigarettes. He shook his head, seemingly regretting that he couldn't have a smoke to feel like an immortal at this moment. His eyes still lingered on the rifle, and he smiled: "Ergou, is there anything special about this gun?"
"The difference between this gun and the ordinary ones in the village is that it's a bit longer, and when making it, remember to move the center of gravity of the entire gun forward by a few centimeters. This way, it will be more challenging to throw and require more body rotation, but it's all about practice makes perfect. The more you play with it, the smoother it becomes." Chen Ergou said with a smile. Generally speaking, when he and Fugui went hunting in the mountains, they would first release the dogs and eagles, find their prey, then use bows and finally guns. If all else failed, they had to rely on Fugui's bare-handed combat. Chen Ergou didn't want to see Fugui's bloody scenes of hand-to-hand combat with ferocious beasts again, so he was more demanding than usual hunters when it came to the accuracy and force of the gun.
"Third Uncle once shot and killed a wild boar of over 200 pounds with just one shot!" Zhang Sanqian said, his face filled with admiration and pride. It was clear that in his mind, Chen Erdou's heroic deeds far surpassed Wang Huzi's boasts. Even though Wei Duogong taught him the art of golden stone script calligraphy, Zhang Sanqian still stubbornly believed that Third Uncle's handwriting was the most profound. This undoubtedly made Wei Duogong feel very frustrated.
"How can this spear be so fierce in your hands?" Wei Gong asked with a startled tongue.
"Kids are always talking nonsense." Chen Ergou chuckled and turned his head to glare at Zhang Sanqian, making the child shut up immediately, only daring to mutter under his breath with his head lowered.
Wei Duan Gong smiled silently, with his hands clasped behind his back, slowly walked away from the woods.
Appearing calm, but with a storm brewing inside, Wei Duan Gong was reflecting on his journey and reevaluating Chen Er Gou. In reality, considering Chen Er Gou's current situation, state of mind, and resources, Wei Duan Gong looked down on him, but it wasn't enough to move his heart. Not to mention the legendary Wang Hu Sheng, who had a certain charm in the northwest tomb raiding circle, or even Wang Jie Fang, who had slept with a noblewoman soon after arriving at Mount Shui Hua Men. Originally, Chen Er Gou was just a young man with some ambition, brains, and temperament, but now Wei Duan Gong's thoughts were tangled. Wang Hu Sheng wasn't a great hero, but he wasn't a small-time thug either. Why would he be so devoted to a young man without much of a career? The key was that Zhang San Qian's success today, which even Wei Duan Gong couldn't help but admire, relied on who? Was it his mother, who had thrown herself into the river at birth? Or his father, a drunkard who didn't know a single character and died at the age of four? Of course not.
"Was I mistaken?" Duke Wei furrowed his brow and asked himself as he returned to the study in his villa.
Chen Ergou's life remained dull and unremarkable, wearing a uniform and wandering around the neighborhood. He didn't forget to put on a smile for those wealthy or noble property owners, his smile lacking a few degrees of professionalism but making up for it with sincerity. Occasionally, he helped some property owners solve small problems, and when outside guests got lost in the neighborhood, he fulfilled his duties as a security guard while also exchanging pleasantries. He didn't know when opportunities would arise or when he would meet important people. In short, every step he took was solid and deliberate. Wei Duan Gong once said after drinking that one should do their best and leave the rest to fate. Chen Ergou deeply agreed with this and reminded himself several times a day. Cao Jing walked away but didn't take away the wild ambition that had taken root in his heart and sprouted quickly. This seed was planted by her, and now others were helping it grow: Wang Hu was weeding, Zhao Kunpeng was fertilizing, and Wei Duan Gong was watering. On the contrary, after she left, Chen Ergou's obsession grew stronger. This obsession was three parts ***, seven parts suppressed resentment that had been building up for over a decade.
It's hard to imagine what kind of evil deeds a man who has been harboring resentment for over twenty years would do after he suddenly rises to power. (To find out what happens next, please log in and read more chapters. Support the author and support the official version!)
