Временные трудности / Temporary hardships: Глава 4

Chapter 4, in which the hero overcomes obstacles, but learns that the fist is stronger than the scroll

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:05

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Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:05

"Save yourself, Mei! Run!" he whispered with fierce fervor.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:06

"No, I can't! What about you?"

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:06

"I'll be fine!" Han lied courageously, squeezing her hands. "Take the Almanac and leave, Mei!"

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:07

"I can't leave you!" she whispered back.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:07

"Go away before that bastard gets you!"

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:07

"But I care about you so much!" Mei didn't give up.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:08

Han looked into her bottomless eyes, and she stared back. Han leaned closer, but Mei didn't pull away. Instead, she moved toward him. Her eyelids drooped, and her lips opened with a moist glint. Han boldly reached up to kiss her lips. But the open mouth became even more rounded and scaly, and short tendrils appeared at its corners.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:09

Han recoiled in horror from the carp's huge face, which now replaced Mei's face, but he couldn't break free - the delicate hands clutching his palms had turned into bony fins, and he couldn't get free from their iron grip. Han was about to shout, but a waterfall of cold water erupted from the carp's open mouth, and the carp dove into the waterfall and swam upstream, flying up into the sky and transforming into a majestic dragon.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:09

The water continued to flow into his nose and mouth, and Han coughed, quickly regaining consciousness. He realized he was lying on cold, wet stones, and his tormentor was standing next to a bucket of water. Mei had left, leaving him alone! Upon realizing this, Han cried, for no tears could be seen on his wet face.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:12

"You have thirty-two more laps to run, student."

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:12

"Yes, Master," Han groaned, unable to find the strength to resist.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:12

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Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:05

Everything swirled and swam before his eyes. The house staggered and shook. Even the pain in his whole body didn't dull the savage feeling of hunger. Everything around him seemed fake and unreal-even the fact that the villain had stopped his abuse for a while and let him go home was accepted without question or surprise. Han wandered through the house as far as he could see, not knowing where he was. He didn't immediately realize where Mother had come from or where "here" was. The only thing that mattered was the bowl of delicious, judging by the aroma, hot soup in her outstretched hands. The fatigue was so great that, at first, he just stared at the soup as if it were a sacred imperial seal. But the stupor quickly passed, and Han rushed toward the food like a wild and ferocious beast. He grasped the bowl, but his hands, shaking after a day of exercise, could not hold it, and it flew down. Han squeezed his eyes shut to avoid the sacrilege of spoiled food. But there was no sound of breaking China, and Han opened his eyes again. Standing in a low, stooped stance was the villain "master," with a bowl in his outstretched hand near the floor. Not a drop of spilled soup was visible on the floor!

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:28

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Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:28

At this moment, Han felt a feeling resembling gratitude. He was insanely hungry, and the teacher had saved his food! He demandingly held out his hands toward the bowl, but the rascal paid no attention. He stood up, brought the bowl to his mouth, and drained the contents in several large gulps. Then he bowed low and respectfully to his mother.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:29

"Thank you, Mrs. Lihua, it was a very tasty soup!"

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:30

Mother took a deep breath and disappeared, giving Han a look full of pain and pity.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:30

Han stared at the empty bowl and almost cried.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:30

"But I have to eat!" It was unconvincing, so Han's sharpened mind immediately came up with an unbreakable argument. "Training requires a lot of strength! Uh, Master!"

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:31

"Master" looked at him with an attentive gaze and then nodded unexpectedly.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:32

"You're right, apprentice. Let's go!"

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:32

Han felt a surge of strength. Even the pain seemed to lessen, and he rushed.... and hobbled after his master, who led him away. Due to his fatigue and upset feelings, Han didn't immediately realize that he was being led outside to.... where? The servants' buildings? There was no strength to object or fight, and apathy set in. And what could be expected from a black-legged commoner who had been brought to the estate of a noble family by the unknown luck of the heavens and spirits?

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:35

Before he knew it, he found himself on a heavy wooden bench, which did not even creak under his weight, at a roughly made table, not even covered with silk or brocade, not even with an ordinary cloth. The bowl the villain had poured in front of him was not of the finest porcelain, nor was it porcelain at all. The servants on either side of Han jumped up but returned to their seats under the heavy gaze of the master.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:36

"What's that?" Han grimaced.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:38

"Veggies are the basis of a healthy diet," replied the master, sitting down with the others, "and so is rice, as any peasant will tell you. And today, look, rice noodles - a dish worthy of gods and spirits!"

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:38

"I want meat!" Han's lips curved.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:39

Everyone at the table ate like animals. A separate, pudgy servant standing beside two smoky cauldrons served them a ladleful of food from each without any choice. The coarse, unpleasant-looking food only disgusted Han. But his stupid stomach didn't understand what was happening, pushing, shoving, and rumbling from within. It demanded only one thing: to be filled with anything and fast.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:40

"Meat!" laughed the villain. "Did you hear - meat?"

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:41

No one supported his laughter. The servants feared repercussions, but their looks became sharp and understanding. It was infuriating.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:41

"Meat has to be earned," the master said sternly and pulled the bowl over to him. "Eat it! You don't have to eat. I'll give your food to others."

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:43

Han noticed the hungry gleam in the gazes of the servants and immediately grabbed a bowl and began grabbing food from it and shoving it into his mouth, making up for the lack of seasoning with salty tears.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:44

"Stop," a voice sounded and Han stopped.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:44

"Where are your manners? Eat with chopsticks like a human, or eat off the floor like a dog. It's your choice."

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:45

"Ya, fastef," Han nearly choked.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:46

Haste in eating had always been considered a vice, and lack of manners at the table a sign of lowliness. If his father saw him now, he would cut off his head immediately. Or he would have chopped his own head off, seeing the shame Han was bringing upon the clan by talking with his mouth full. But he didn't even care about the chunks falling out of his mouth anymore. Education? Dignity? Manners? What manners when he was eating dog food with the servants? Han cried and ate, choked, and cried even harder. His trembling hands couldn't hold the chopsticks, and the food tumbled past, right onto the table and even the floor, causing more tears, coughs, and squeezed sobs. The servants' eyes were filled with contempt and judgment.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:47

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Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:05

Han snapped out of his heavy, sticky sleep in the middle of the night. His whole body was aching, and every movement hurt. Han turned around wrongly and yelled, biting down on his arm. This was it, his chance! Hardly able to shake off the thought that his hand was so nice, appetizing, and made of meat, he rose from his bed and tiptoed as silently as possible to the exit, opened the door, slipped out, and got ready to leave. He should have sneaked into the palace kitchen first and then run! Run away! Something tangled in his legs, and he fell to the ground.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:49

"It's come!" said right in his ear.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:49

"What? Where?" The words stuck in Han's throat, and he nearly bit off his tongue.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:51

The master looked down at him like a villain looking down at a defenseless heroine, and Han cried with helplessness. He knew that no Bao Xiao would come to his rescue, cut off the scoundrel's head, and strike him with his powerful techniques!

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:52

"What come, Master?" Han corrected himself quickly before there was any trouble.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:53

"Training time! Student, stand in the dabu stance."

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:53

What, right here? Doesn't he realize that the private quarters are a sacred place for a respectable man, where he shouldn't be engaged in nonsense? And it is certainly not proper to stare at the walls and gaze at the fruits of another man's wisdom in the dim moonlight while grinning in mockery!

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:55

"Yes, Master," Han replied pathetically, not waiting for more beatings.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:55

He would take a stance, fall a few times, then take a stance again until his tormentor got bored and sent Han to the training ground, "If you can't stand, you can warm up a little, get your blood, and qi flowing."

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:56

Running at night, under the false light of the stars and moons, was even worse than running during the day, under the hot sun.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:57

"I can't take it anymore," Han cried, stumbling once more and falling face into the mud. "...Master."

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:57

The soft cozy mud left over from yesterday's rain, not the hard earth and stone of the practice field.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.24 в 19:58