Chapter One: Back to Parents' Side

  Qīng Bīng got her wish and never went back to kindergarten again.

  Qī Bīng's stubborn, persistent and unruly personality has always been a mystery to her parents. Later, they heard that children with a double mole on their forehead are often very stubborn, and Qī Bīng just so happens to have one. It seems like they've found the answer. Qī Bīng's eyebrows and eyes resemble those of his father, who has thick eyebrows but small eyes. However, Qī Bīng's personality is nothing like his father's; his father is gentle and warm, whereas Qī Bīng is violent and impulsive. It seems that he has inherited the genes of his grandfather, skipping a generation.

  When it comes to Qi Bing Grandpa, he is a well-known figure in Huanglin Town and can be said to be a household name. Qi Bing Grandpa was born in 1915, and his ancestral home is in Shandong Province. During the Republic of China era, he fled with his family to Hubei Province's Hanyang County, Huanglin Town. He was the youngest of four brothers. Qi Bing Grandpa had a darker complexion and had practiced martial arts since childhood, which earned him the nickname "Qi Black Child" among the people of Huanglin Town.

  Qi Bing Grandpa's second brother died from illness during their escape; his third brother was beaten to death by Japanese soldiers for resisting them; his eldest brother was conscripted into the Nationalist Army and never heard from again after that, with some saying he went to Taiwan after liberation but there was no news of him. Qi Bing Grandpa and his mother made a living by begging in Huanglin Town, without a fixed residence.

  The Liu family, who sold tofu in town, took pity on them and took them in, even giving up a small room for the mother and son to live in.

  Grandfather Qi Bing had a straightforward and upright personality since he was young, hated evil as if it were his personal enemy, and was kind to others, but had a somewhat violent temper. Grandfather Qi Bing had been practicing martial arts with his father since childhood, and his two tiger-headed hooks danced with vigor, although he wasn't tall, he had broad shoulders and a sturdy waist, so people didn't dare look down on him. Grandfather Qi Bing was an honest and passionate person who valued loyalty, and was deeply respected by the villagers, even the local villains feared him. Grandfather Qi Bing had a pair of thick eyebrows and not very big eyes, but they were full of spirit. In this regard, both Father Qi Bing and Qi Bing inherited this gene.

  To avoid being a burden to the Liu family, Grandpa Qi and Grandma decided to start a small business on their own. Grandma went out to borrow some copper coins from the Liu family as capital for the business, with their agreement, they set up a stall next to the tofu shop to sell fruits and dry goods. The stall was managed by Grandma, and Grandpa took care of the daily delivery of goods. It was Grandma's idea to start this business. Grandma was born in Shandong Province, where apples and other fruits are abundant. Since childhood, she knew the whole process of planting, growing, ripening, and storing apples, so doing fruit business should be a familiar thing for her. At the same time, she observed that very few people in the town were doing this kind of business, which further strengthened her confidence. If they also did some dry goods business on the side, such as mushrooms, black fungus, yellow flowers, and dried vegetables, it would be even more prosperous and have a greater chance of success. With their plan set, Grandma and Grandpa busied themselves with preparing for the opening of the stall.

  The stall was simple, set up next to a tofu shop with a broken door board and covered with an old bed sheet. The key issue was the problem of sourcing goods, which made them hesitant. Huanglintown is not producing fruit locally, if you want to prepare goods must go 40 miles away, located in Binjiang City, where the Yangtze River and Han River meet, Qi Jia mouth dock area to catch goods. There are many wholesale warehouses for fruits, dry goods and other daily necessities.

  At that time, Huanglin Town had a dock with a steamship going to Xiaojiawan Lock, and passengers got off the ship and crossed the lock again to take a large ship to Binjiang City.

  To save expenses, Grandpa relied on his good skills, physique and strength to make a move that surprised Grandma: carrying goods on foot. The round trip was 60 miles, almost a day's journey. Grandma strongly opposed it, thinking it was too tiring, unsafe in the chaotic times, and not suitable for his age. But Grandpa insisted on his plan, didn't change his mind, and Grandma couldn't persuade him, so she had to let him go.

  From Huanglin Town, walk to Qi Jia Zui Wharf, you must go up the Han River Embankment from Huanglin Town Wharf and then go downstream. Grandpa has to go to Qi Jia Zui at least once or twice a week to ensure that the family's goods are constantly replenished.

  Regardless of the scorching heat or bitter cold, whether it's windy or rainy, Grandpa always has a cheerful expression, full of energy, wearing a pair of straw sandals, setting out with dew on his feet and returning with the evening glow, frequently coming and going on this Hanjiang River embankment.

  In less than two years, Grandfather had grown accustomed to the boats and sails on the Han River; understood the cries of the gulls along the Han River; was familiar with the swallows flying over the grassy riverbank; had become indifferent to the warmth and coldness of human relationships; was well-versed in the intricacies of business, where every penny counted; and was well-acquainted with the principles of fair trade, honesty, and respect for all people, regardless of age. In a sense, this fruit stand business was something Grandfather had built up step by step.

  The villagers from the surrounding areas of Huanglin Town, who come to Binjiang (they call it "down" Binjiang) or come to the town to rush to the market, all know Hei Zi's fruit stall. When they pass by here, most of them come over to say hello; or buy a few catties of fruit and dry goods; or squat on the ground and drink a bowl of grandfather's prepared flower tea, chat with each other, and talk about family affairs.

  Honest and straightforward personality, operating with integrity, coupled with the help of neighbors, it's hard for the fruit stand business not to thrive. Gradually, Grandpa finally had some savings.

  Grandfather's fruit stand was booming, which had already attracted the envy of the town's villain Liu Daya. Moreover, Grandfather being an outsider made Liu Daya even more jealous.

  On an autumn afternoon, Grandfather was in charge of the stall. Liu Dàyá came with two henchmen, walking up to the stall with a swagger. Grandfather knew his bad reputation and had been on guard from the start. Liu Dàyá sneered, showing off his big yellow teeth: "Hey, Hei Zi! Business is booming, huh?" He casually picked an apple from the stall, took a bite, and spat it out: "What rotten stuff, not sweet at all!" Then he threw the bitten apple away and picked up a pear, wiping it on his clothes before taking a bite: "Hmm, dry and tasteless." He threw that away too. Grandfather couldn't take it anymore: "You're my elder brother, I'll call you Liu Ge. If you want to eat fruit, as your younger brother, I should treat you as a guest. But if you trash my goods like this, I won't be happy!" "Not happy, huh?" Liu Dàyá flipped the board full of fruits with one hand, and apples, pears, oranges... rolled all over the ground. Liu Dàyá wasn't satisfied yet, ordering his two henchmen to stomp on the fruits with their feet: "Quick! Stomp them all! See if he's still happy!" In no time, most of the fruits were trampled into pulp. Grandfather was furious, pointing at Liu Dàyá and saying: "You'll pay for this today..." Liu Dàyá sneered, punching Grandfather in the chest: "Pay... pay you..." Before he could finish, Grandfather dodged to the side, quickly grabbing Liu Dàyá's right hand and twisting it up. With his left hand, he pressed down on Liu Dàyá's shoulder, making him kneel on the ground, unable to move. The two henchmen tried to rescue him but were kicked away by Grandfather. "Let me go, Hei Zi! I'm dying... We can talk this out..." "Will you pay or not? If not, I'll break your arm!" "Ahh... okay, I'll pay! I'll pay!" Liu Dàyá signaled his henchmen to take out money, but they didn't dare come near. They threw a handful of cash on the ground instead. Grandfather released Liu Dàyá and kicked him: "If you cause trouble again, I won't be polite! Scram! Get lost!" As he shouted, several brothers who practiced martial arts with Grandfather arrived on the scene. Liu Dàyá knew he was outmatched and retreated with his henchmen. From then on, Hei Zi's reputation grew even greater, and so did his business.

  All these things, the eldest daughter of the Liu family, Liu Xiu, had long seen and been delighted in her heart. Liu Xiu had already fallen in love with Grandpa, and the flower of love had quietly sprouted in her heart. Liu Xiu often helped Grandpa and Grandma with some trivial matters in life, and Grandma also liked this diligent and down-to-earth girl. Later, under the arrangement of the matchmaker, Grandpa married Liu Xiu, who was also the grandmother of Qi Bing. Later, they bought a storefront house in the town and started a formal store business. They had two sons, and the elder son was Qi Bing's father.

  After liberation, taking advantage of the public-private partnership, Grandpa Qi gave up his fruit and dry goods business. Firstly, the town's supply and marketing cooperative absorbed Grandpa into the organization, and secondly, Grandpa was getting older and no longer suitable for long-distance carrying poles to go to Binjiang City to purchase fruits and dry goods. Just as Grandpa was about to happily start working at the supply and marketing cooperative, the leader of the town's breeding farm found him and strongly invited him to work there. The main reason was that the surface of Zhushan Lake was vast, and thieves were repeatedly forbidden from stealing fish, which had caused the farm leaders a great deal of trouble. Grandpa's reputation was well-known, and his character and martial arts skills were known to everyone.

  At that time, someone recommended my grandfather to the venue, saying "There is a Qī Hēi Zi in the town, and I'm afraid there will be fewer thieves." The venue also knew about Qī Hēi Zi, and upon hearing this, the leader of the venue patted his head and said: "How did I not think of him? It's really having eyes but no pearls, treating gold as brass." The supply and marketing association leader didn't want to let my grandfather go either, and also wanted to use my grandfather's experience in dried fruit business to guide the operation of the association. Just as the two leaders were entangled in this matter, my grandfather came out and said: "Let's do it this way, you don't have to fight over me, I'll still go to the venue to work, they need people more. I won't give up on the work at the association either, after all, it's close to home, I can guide them a bit during the day when there's nothing else to do, and as time goes by, others will also get familiar with this business, and I won't have to say much anymore. I don't want any salary, just consider it a contribution to the country, haha." When they heard my grandfather say this, both leaders were naturally happy. "It's just that we can't trouble you too much, how can we be at ease?" The association leader said, shaking my grandfather's hand. This matter was settled like this, and from then on, my grandfather started his new job.

  At home, there are six grandchildren. Grandpa still likes Qi Bing the most, not only because Qi Bing is the eldest grandson, but also because Grandpa thinks Qi Bing is smarter and more clever. After Qi Bing and his brother were born, it was Grandma who came to take care of them at home, as their mother worked in a distant pharmaceutical factory with four shifts and three rotations, leaving her no time to take care of them. When they grew up a bit, Grandpa came, and together with Grandma, brought them back to Huanglintown to raise them. For several years afterwards, they stayed in the town, except for Chinese New Year and other festivals when their parents would come visit them a few times. In Qi Bing's memory, his grandparents were more like his closest relatives, while his parents were a vague impression; every time his parents came to visit, he felt very distant from them, always keeping a distance.

  Here is the translation:

  Grandpa and Dad had mentioned before that they could teach them some martial arts, to strengthen their bodies and learn some self-defense skills. Grandpa chuckled and said, "It's a new society now, kids don't need to learn this anymore. Ice (the child) has a hot temper and isn't suitable for it, and if he learns it, he'll just get into more trouble." Seeing Grandpa's attitude, Dad didn't say anything else.

  But Ice saw the black and white photo on the wall of Grandpa wearing a martial arts uniform, holding two tiger head hooks, and thought it was very cool and powerful. He kept asking Grandpa questions, "Are the tiger head hooks still there? I want to see them." Grandpa would just laugh and say, "Those things are gone, they were melted down to make iron and support national construction."

  Ice wanted Grandpa to teach him martial arts, but Grandpa always said he was too young and couldn't learn it. When Ice really pestered him, with Grandma's help, Grandpa would do a few moves, just pretending to show off, to give the kids an idea of what it looked like.

  Although every time was like this, Ice still secretly learned a few moves and occasionally showed them off in front of his friends, earning their admiration and applause. So Ice held his head high, puffed out his chest, and had an arrogant look on his face.