Chapter 20: Chapter 20: New Year
As the New Year approached in Linhai Town, the air was tinged with the smell of fish and the acrid scent of spent firecrackers.
Liang Cheng didn’t rush to practice his forms, nor did he touch the Iron Sand Bag. Every day, he would simply hold the Mixed Element Stance for an hour each in the morning and evening. He spent the rest of his time chopping firewood, carrying water, and helping his mother knead dough.
At first, Lady Ning was a little worried. "Cheng’Er, have you stopped your martial arts training?"
"Master said there must be a balance between tension and rest." Liang Cheng added firewood to the stove. "Holding a Posture Stance is a form of training."
On the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, Er Gou and San Ya came to get Liang Cheng to go to the seashore.
The three of them walked to a rocky shore where the tide was receding, exposing a large expanse of wet sand.
Er Gou picked up a flat stone and skipped it across the water. It bounced seven times before sinking. He turned back with a grin. "Brother Cheng, remember this? When we were kids, we’d have competitions, and the most you could ever get was five skips."
Liang Cheng also picked up a stone and tossed it casually.
The stone skimmed across the water’s surface, skipping endlessly until it vanished into the distant spray. Er Gou’s smile froze on his face.
San Ya said softly, "Liang Cheng is different now."
The atmosphere suddenly grew a little awkward.
The three of them sat on the reef, and Er Gou started talking about things at the docks. "Big Head is a big shot now. He’s got more than a dozen men under him. The day before yesterday, Li the Crooked was short twenty copper coins for his dock fee, so Big Head had his men smash his stall. Told him to get lost if he couldn’t come up with the money in three days."
San Ya added quietly, "My mom says Big Head has changed."
Liang Cheng gazed at the sea. "Everyone changes."
"You won’t change, will you, Brother Cheng?" Er Gou asked suddenly.
Liang Cheng didn’t answer.
Er Gou suddenly said with conviction, "Brother Cheng definitely won’t change!"
Just then, shouts echoed from the distance. It was Big Head, leading a few men from the Sea Snake Gang on their patrol of the docks. He wore short, blue cloth garments, a short cudgel hanging from his waist, and he walked with a confident swagger.
He saw the three of them on the rocky shore and gave a wave, but he didn’t come over.
"He’s busy now," Er Gou said with a dry laugh. "He’s in charge of three warehouses."
The three of them sat for a while longer, the conversation dwindling. The tide slowly began to rise. Liang Cheng stood up. "Let’s go back."
On the way back, Er Gou and San Ya walked ahead while Liang Cheng followed behind, a distance of three to five steps between them, as if separated by an invisible chasm.
...
On the night of New Year’s Eve, a rare quiet fell over Linhai Town.
The cargo ships were docked and still. The men of the Sea Snake Gang had also finished work and gone home for their reunion dinners. Occasionally, children would run past on the street carrying lanterns, their laughter ringing out crisp and clear.
Liang’s Noodle House had closed its doors early.
A charcoal brazier burned in the main room, its glow casting a warm light on their faces. The table was laden with a full spread of chicken, duck, fish, and meat, all steaming hot and personally prepared by Lady Ning.
"Mother, you made too much," Liang Cheng said.
"Of all the meals of the year, this is the one that must be a feast," Lady Ning said, placing a piece of meat from the fish’s belly into his bowl. "Eat up. You won’t get this kind of food when you’re away."
Liang Cheng lowered his head and ate the fish. The meat was tender and fresh, and all the bones had been removed.
The sporadic pop of firecrackers sounded from outside. In a distant courtyard, someone was setting off fireworks. Red and green light filtered through the window paper, casting shifting patterns on the wall.
Lady Ning said suddenly, "When your father was alive, he would go to the docks every New Year’s Eve to set off a string of firecrackers. He said it was to drive away ill fortune and ensure a smooth year ahead."
In the memories he had inherited, that taciturn man would always leave on New Year’s Eve with a string of firecrackers in hand. He would return reeking of gunpowder, pat him on the head, and press a few copper plates into his hand as a New Year’s gift.
Later, his father went out to sea, was caught in a storm, and never returned.
"Mother," Liang Cheng said, pulling a red paper packet from his robes. "New Year’s money."
Lady Ning was taken aback. "But you’re still so young..."
"No matter how young, I’m still your son." Liang Cheng pressed the red packet into her hand. Smiling, Lady Ning took out a packet of gift money for him as well.
Mother and son opened their packets at the same time. Both contained six taels and six mace of silver—an auspicious number, wishing for everything to go smoothly...
The two looked at each other and smiled. Then, tears welled in Lady Ning’s eyes again. "Oh, you child. It’s a shame your father isn’t here to see this..."
"It’s bad luck to cry on New Year’s."
Liang Cheng ladled a bowl of soup for her.
Mother and son ate their meal slowly, making occasional small talk. The charcoal crackled, and outside, the sound of firecrackers grew more frequent, as if determined to blast away all the ill fortune of the old year.
As Midnight approached, Lady Ning brought out the sesame stalks she had prepared long ago and spread them across the doorway.
"’Step on the year’s end,’" she murmured softly, "to ’shatter’ our troubles. Peace, year after year."
...
On the first day of the New Year, before the sky had fully brightened, Liang Cheng rose quietly.
His mother was still asleep. He called out softly, "Mother, I’m going to the Martial Arts Hall to pay my respects to Master. I’ll be back by noon."
He pushed the door open, and a blast of cold air hit him in the face.
The street was carpeted with a layer of red paper scraps, the remnants of last night’s firecrackers. A few early-rising elders were heading toward the Earth God Temple with incense and candles. Seeing him emerge, they all smiled and clasped their hands in salute. "Young Brother Liang, Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year," Liang Cheng replied, returning the gesture to each of them.
As he reached the edge of town, he ran into Big Head.
He was with a few of his Sea Snake Gang brothers, going from door to door paying "New Year’s visits." Though they called it visiting, it was really about collecting "New Year’s gifts."
Seeing Liang Cheng, Big Head paused. "Brother Cheng, you’re out early?"
"Going to the Martial Arts Hall," Liang Cheng said, glancing at the men behind him. "And you are..."
"It’s a gang tradition. We have to pay a New Year’s visit to all the shopkeepers on the first day," Big Head said with a frank smile. "Want to come along, Brother Cheng? You’ll get your share of red envelopes after a round."
Liang Cheng shook his head. "You guys are busy."
He had only taken a few steps when he heard Big Head say from behind him, "See that? That’s my Brother Cheng! First place in the Three Towns Grand Competition, an Honored Guest Elder of the City Lord’s Mansion! From now on, you all better be smart when you’re at the docks!"
His voice was loud, as if meant for Liang Cheng to hear. Liang Cheng didn’t break his stride.
...
New Year’s couplets were pasted on the gates of the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall. Written in black ink on red paper, they read: "May the Martial Dao flourish; may our hall prosper."
The front courtyard was empty, as most of the disciples had gone home for the New Year. From the back courtyard, however, came the sounds of someone practicing their forms. It was Senior Brother Zhou Hu.
He was bare-chested, practicing the Fierce Bull Force forms in the morning mist. Each punch carried a dull whoosh, a clear sign his injuries were seventy or eighty percent healed.
"Happy New Year, Senior Brother." Liang Cheng cupped his fist.
Zhou Hu stopped his practice and wiped the sweat from his brow. "So early? I thought you wouldn’t be here until noon."
"When paying New Year’s respects to Master, it’s better to be early than late."
As the two walked toward the Main Hall, Zhou Hu lowered his voice. "Zhao Yuan came back yesterday. He’s been in his room and hasn’t come out. Master isn’t in a good mood either, so watch what you say."
Liang Cheng nodded.
In the Main Hall, Yang Wei was seated at the head of the room, drinking tea. Seeing Liang Cheng enter, he set down his cup. "You’re here."
"Disciple pays his respects to Master for the New Year." Liang Cheng knelt and kowtowed. "I wish Master great progress on the Martial Dao, and a long, healthy, and prosperous life."
Yang Wei accepted the kowtow before saying, "Rise."
Liang Cheng rose and took a brocade box from his robes. "A small token of my appreciation. Please accept it, Master."
Inside the box were two thirty-year-old Old Mountain Ginseng roots. He had asked the pharmacy’s shopkeeper to find them before the New Year, and they had cost him thirty taels of silver.
Yang Wei opened it and glanced inside, his expression softening slightly. "You’re thoughtful."
"Disciple dares not forget the grace of Master’s teachings."
"Sit."
Liang Cheng took a seat below the main one. Yang Wei asked about his family, and Liang Cheng answered each question.
Just as they were speaking, Zhao Yuan arrived.
His face was still pale, but he was neatly dressed and also held a brocade box in his hands. "Disciple pays his respects to Master for the New Year."
He bowed and presented his gift, following the entire protocol perfectly. But his gaze remained lowered the whole time, never meeting Liang Cheng’s.
Yang Wei accepted the gift, asked a few simple questions about his injuries, and then dismissed them both.
As they walked out of the Main Hall, Zhao Yuan suddenly spoke. "Junior Brother Liang."
Liang Cheng stopped.
"The Spring Hunt is at the end of the third month," Zhao Yuan said, his voice calm. "I will be there."
"Senior Brother Zhao, your injuries haven’t fully healed. There’s no need to force yourself."
"I’m not," Zhao Yuan said, lifting his eyes. His gaze was as sharp as a blade. "Some things, you have to win back yourself."
After speaking, he turned and went back to his room.
Liang Cheng stood in the covered walkway, watching his retreating back.
’Some people fall and just stay down. Others fall, grit their teeth, and get back up, even if their mouths are full of blood.’
’Zhao Yuan was clearly the latter type.’
...
By the time he left the Martial Arts Hall, the sun was already high in the sky.
The streets had grown lively. People paying New Year’s visits moved in groups, and children in new clothes ran about wildly, begging for candy and gift money.
As Liang Cheng passed the docks, he saw Big Head standing in front of a warehouse, holding a string of copper coins and handing them out to passing children as New Year’s gifts.
"Come on, come on! There’s one for everyone!" he laughed heartily. "Take the money and buy some candy, but don’t waste it!"
The children surrounded him, chattering their thanks. A nearby merchant chimed in, "Steward Big Head is truly a righteous man!"
Just then, Big Head saw Liang Cheng and waved eagerly. "Brother Cheng! Come have a cup of tea!"
Liang Cheng shook his head. "My mother is waiting for me to eat."
"Another time, then!" Big Head didn’t insist. "Give my New Year’s greetings to Lady Ning for me!"
Liang Cheng nodded. They passed one another, walking in opposite directions.
