Chapter 793 Meeting with Fellow Disciples

Guangdong Province in the early 1930s was the era of Chen Bonan. The war was raging in the north, but here people were still living a life of luxury.

For the people of Guangdong Province, war was just news in the newspaper. They would also worry about the country and feel sad for the people, but they would not reduce the cakes for morning tea, and they would never miss a single one when they went to the party in the evening.

In those days, entertainment activities were extremely scarce, so it was common for men to go to the party.

They did not necessarily go to prostitutes, but mostly came to listen to operas, drink tea, play cards, and chat.

In Foshan, the most famous amusement park is the Republic Building in Yingshazui.

The Republic Building is magnificent and luxurious, so everyone calls it the Golden Building.

This is the first gold-consuming cave with an elevator in Guangdong Province. It is said that the prince goes in and the eunuchs come out. If you are not rich, you cannot enter this door. If you have money but no ability to enter here, you will often be treated as a fat sheep.

A place that makes a fortune every day must have an unimaginable background behind it, which shocks the greedy eyes of all directions.

In this turbid world, it is inevitable that there are bandits who take risks, so the owner of this building hired martial artists to "watch the scene" here.

The martial artists who watch the scene will inevitably call their friends to compete here. Over time, Jinlou has become a gathering place for martial artists in Guangdong Province. Many martial artists will come here for entertainment, and many of them are hidden masters.

For example, Ip Man.

Unlike the north, in Guangdong Province, anyone who practices martial arts is from a good family.

For example, Chen Shi, his family was known as the Ninety-Nine Floors, and was a famous landlord in Foshan. But a war destroyed his family business, and he had to drift to Southeast Asia and has been wandering ever since.

Ip Man's family is also a well-known wealthy family in Foshan. His father runs a Nanbeihang business on Wenchang West Street in Hong Kong Island. The Ye family is called Peideli Ye in Foshan, which means that the whole Peideli belongs to his family.

Ip Man is 40 years old this year. He has no worries about food and clothing since he was born. He also married the daughter of Zhang Menghuan, the former Minister of Westernization of the Qing Dynasty. It can be said that his family is harmonious and wealthy.

Ip Man is Chen Shi's junior brother. Now it is counted that Su Yi and he are also from the same school.

The name of the Jinmen hero is well-known even in Guangdong Province, and both young and old know it.

The background of Geng Liangchen was dug up by the powerful newspaper, so before his senior brother Chen Shi sent a letter back, Ip Man learned from the newspaper that Chen Shi accepted Su Yi into Wing Chun on behalf of his uncle Liang Bi, and became a fellow apprentice with him.

This is a very strange feeling. Ip Man can't say that he rejects it, but he definitely doesn't like it.

Because since Geng Liangchen became famous, he has gained another title - the senior brother of the Jinmen hero.

Anyone with a proud character doesn't like to be called someone's something, and Ip Man is no exception.

Moreover, Geng Liangchen is famous all over the world, making Wing Chun famous, and there is an endless stream of people coming to Ip Man to become his apprentice and challenge him.

Ip Man doesn't want to accept any apprentices at all, and he doesn't want to compete with others at all. He is overwhelmed by it, so it's strange that he likes Su Yi, the instigator.

Ip Man knows very well that he and Geng Liangchen will meet sooner or later. After all, they are brothers from the same school. If the other party is polite, he will definitely come to Foshan to worship the ancestor.

But he doesn't look forward to this meeting.

For Ip Man, he is very satisfied and content with his current life.

He walks his bird and dog every day, drinks tea and walks, practices martial arts, goes out with friends and relatives, and goes home with his wife, which is comfortable and fulfilling.

He doesn't want to disturb anyone, but it's better for no one to disturb him.

It's a pity that the world is a place of fame and fortune, who can escape?

Moreover, how can you escape when you are born in troubled times?

Until now, Ye Wen still doesn't understand this truth.

Some truths need to be understood after paying a great price.

"Why am I the leader?"

In the Golden Building, Ye Wen looked puzzled at the seniors: "The North and South martial arts are competing and fighting. Although it is to select fighters for the Wanguo Fighting Competition, it is actually a battle of wills between the North and South martial arts. It is a situation where the east wind overwhelms the west wind. This is not a trivial matter. It concerns the face of the entire southern martial arts."

"What qualifications do I, Ye Wen, have to represent the southern martial arts? Speaking of sects, there are Hong, Liu, Cai, Li, and Mo in the Southern Fist. In terms of seniority, everyone here is an elder, either the head or "Master, how come it's not my turn?"

"The leader of the northern team has been decided, it's your junior brother, the famous hero from Tianjin." A strong man said, "Then who should we choose from the south? No one is suitable! If someone with a higher generation goes, it will lower his status, and if someone with a lower generation goes, he won't be as famous as him. After thinking about it, you, my senior brother, are the most suitable, and it won't hurt the relationship!"

"That's right, you are the most suitable!"

"Don't refuse, it's you!"

Everyone shouted at once.

Ye Wen raised a helpless smile and said, "Seniors, leading a team is to fight and compete, not just to show up. I'm afraid I can't convince everyone, so you should ask for someone else."

"We are not unaware of your ability, Ye Wen. You are just too lazy. Otherwise, I think you should be famous! You are the right leader. If anyone is dissatisfied, let him come to us and talk!"

"That's right, why are you so fussy and nagging? Can you be more straightforward?"

"Ye Wen, you are right about one thing. The selection of the International Fighting Tournament is indeed related to the reputation of the southern martial arts world." An energetic old man said, "Why did Gong Houzi set up the venue in the south? In Foshan? He just wanted us to see what he has developed the northern martial arts world into over the years!"

"We Foshan people value harmony and wealth, unlike northerners who compete and mess up everything. We practice martial arts and guns behind closed doors to strengthen our bodies, cultivate our character, and play by ourselves."

"But people can't stand us, thinking we are closed and conservative, and want to break our circle and mess up our lives! Humph! Back then, Gong Houzi joined forces with Li Renchao to stage the Five Tigers Going South, which made a mess. There were fights on the streets all day long, ping-pong ping-pong..."

"Later, Li Renchao fell, and a group of us old guys took the opportunity to ruin that damn Guangdong and Guangxi National Martial Arts Museum, which brought us peace for these years. Otherwise, do you think you, Ye Wen, can collect rent in Peideli peacefully? Haha, don't dream, you have been disturbed for a long time!"

"I am in a mess now..." Ye Wen sighed.

"Gong Houzi has always been upset about our Foshan people ruining his good deeds. This time, he used the excuse of the International Fighting Competition to make trouble again, and also pushed Geng Liangchen to represent them in the north to disgust us! Ye Wen, you are also a member of our southern martial arts world, and the one who came to stir up trouble is your fellow disciple. Tell me, if you don't do it, who will?"

"That's right! Although we Foshan people like to make small calculations at ordinary times, no one is afraid of fighting. Who the hell are we afraid of?"

"That's right! Today, they came to challenge us, we can't pretend to be grandsons! Don't you think so?"

"Brother Shou is right, Ye Wen, it's you!"

The crowd was surging, and Ye Wen smiled bitterly and took a sip of tea.

At this moment, he suddenly had a very bad premonition. He felt that the days of the first half of his life were going to be gone forever.

When he returned home, the lights at the door of the house were on, and his wife was sitting in the main hall looking at a worn-out storybook, waiting for his return.

This ordinary scene in the past actually made Ye Wen a little sad today.

His wife disliked his fighting and fighting the most, but the world is unpredictable, and now he is forced to go.

"You are back." His wife noticed his return, put down the book, stood up and said to him with a smile.

While rubbing her sore eyes, she took his coat and whispered, "I'll go get some water."

Ye Wen grabbed his wife's hand and said, "Don't worry, I have something to tell you."

Ye Wen did not hide anything and told his wife the whole story. At the end, he said, "These days, people who have become apprentices and challenged others have disturbed our family. Although I have been restraining myself, this is not a solution. Since I can't avoid it now, I think I'll just solve all the troubles once and for all."

"How can it be as easy as you say?" His wife shook her head and sighed, "After entering the world of fame and fortune, can you still do what you want?"

Ye Wen was silent for a while and said, "Fists and feet have no eyes, and it is inevitable to hurt people. Although it is a ring, I am afraid that I will encounter evil people and implicate my family..."

"Tomorrow I will take the children back to my parents' home, so that you don't have to worry." His wife said with understanding, "Men over 40 should do things that are sure. After this matter is over, you come to pick me up..."

Su Yi arrived in Foshan early the next morning.

He came with four masters, Gong Baosen, Li Shuwen, Ma Yingtu and Yang Chengpu.

With them came Su Yi's fifteen disciples and a northern martial arts delegation of more than three hundred people from various schools and sects in the north.

Hundreds of people entered the city in a mighty procession and headed straight for the Golden Tower.

When they arrived at the gate of the Golden Tower, gongs and drums were blaring, firecrackers were blasting, and representatives of the southern martial arts were already waiting at the gate of the Golden Tower.

Dragon and lion dances were performed to welcome the distinguished guests. Finally, the dragon head came to Gong Baosen, and a cheongsam woman brought a brush and cinnabar.

Gong Baosen picked up the brush with a smile on his face and used it to draw a stroke on each of the dragon's eyes.

Bang bang bang...

Fireworks were set off, and dragons and tigers leaped.

This is called the finishing touch, which means that the distinguished guests are coming to lead the way and the humble place will be glorious.

The dragon and tiger dispersed, and the representatives of the southern martial arts smiled and bowed to greet them.

"Master Gong, Master Li, Master Yang, Master Ma, and all the martial arts colleagues from the north, I, He and the people from the southern martial arts community, welcome you all. Thank you for your hard work along the way..."

"Master He, what are you talking about? It's us who are bothering you... Let me introduce you..."

After some greetings, Su Yi and Ip Man also greeted each other.

This was the first time that the nominal brothers met. Neither of them seemed to be moved by the feeling of "fellow villagers meeting each other with tears in their eyes". They just greeted each other calmly. One called him "senior brother" and the other called him "junior brother". Then they looked at each other without saying a word and just smiled.

Unlike facing Mr. Zhou, Su Yi had long lost the pilgrimage mentality of facing historical celebrities when facing Ip Man.

First, with his current status in the martial arts world, he far surpassed Ip Man; second, with his current martial arts, he thought he was no less than this Wing Chun master.

After some humility, everyone filed in and entered the Golden Building.

There are many magnificent places in the north, but there is no place like Jinlou that is so exquisite and delicate.

Most of the northern warriors were born in poverty. When they saw such luxury and the beautiful women passing through the hall, they couldn't take their eyes away. Some even made a fool of themselves on the spot.

The southern warriors didn't say anything, but they couldn't hide the ridicule and mockery in their eyes.

Some of them couldn't stand the "weirdness" of the southern warriors, so they had a conflict and started to butt heads.

But they were soon scolded and pulled apart by their elders.

The masters naturally saw all these details, but no one spoke, as if they had not seen them.

Soon, the masters humbly took their seats, with the southern and northern masters on the left and right.

Su Yi and Ye Wen were also allowed to go to the stage.

The southern warriors cast curious eyes on Su Yi, marveling at the first time they saw the living Jinmen hero.

The northern warriors looked at Ye Wen suspiciously, wondering how this man could be on an equal footing with the hero Geng?

What? He is the senior brother of the hero Geng?

That's fine...

On the stage, Master He from the south cleared his throat, stood up and said with a smile: "Everyone, please be quiet! Next, please invite our President of the Chinese Warriors Association, Deputy Director of the Central Guoshu Museum, and Master Gong Yutian, the head of the Xingyi Bagua School, to speak to everyone!"

Wow...

The applause was thunderous.

Gong Baosen smiled, stood up and bowed to all sides.

After the noise subsided, he slowly spoke.

"I have only accomplished four things in my life. The first is to merge the Xingyi School and the Bagua School, so that the two schools can join forces and merge into one; the second is to take over the class of my senior brother and run the Chinese Martial Arts Association, uniting more than a dozen schools such as Tongbei, Paochui, Taiji, and Yanqing; the third is to organize northern boxers to go south to teach their skills."

Speaking of this, Gong Baosen's face became a little serious: "In the 18th year of the Republic of China, the Guangdong and Guangxi National Martial Arts Museum was established. The Five Tigers Going South was negotiated by Mr. Li Renchao and me in this golden building. Unfortunately, the situation was turbulent, and the good situation of the original north-south integration was destroyed by the war. I still regret this."

This made some of the southern martial arts predecessors look a little unnatural.

Gong Baosen's expression eased slightly, and he continued, "The fourth thing is the Tianjin National Martial Arts Elite Competition half a year ago! This competition had 216 martial arts schools and a total of 5,463 martial artists participating. It was the most successful competition in the history of our national martial arts!"

As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar at the scene.

Especially the southern martial artists, each of them showed incredible expressions and was very shocked.

The southern martial artists knew that Gong Baosen had held a sensational competition in Tianjin, but the newspapers only reported who won today, who lost tomorrow, who Geng Liangchen fought with, how badly they fought...

and other such news.

But they also learned for the first time how large the competition was and how many people participated.