I have a composite mirror

Chapter 7 National Martial Arts Tournament

Gu Shenyan's heart sank, but his face remained expressionless:

Not yet.

"Um."

Gu Sidu nodded:

"The martial arts school has been spending a lot lately, so you'll have to hold off on your share for now."

"I'll give it to you all at once next month."

He spoke of it casually, as if it were nothing more than a trivial matter.

But everyone present knew that the young master's monthly allowance was only a pitiful five silver dollars.

Among the sons and daughters of Sacred Heart Academy who often received tens or hundreds of silver dollars a month, this was simply too shabby to be presented.

The shopkeeper immediately gave Zhao Qingyun an extra twenty silver dollars a month and also offered him precious tiger bone wine...

The contrast between the two is simply ironic.

Shi Quan's fists clenched so tightly under the table that they cracked.

He remembered that a few days ago when the young master came home from school, his sleeves were covered in ink stains.

Those were the marks left from writing calligraphy and composing poems for those spoiled brats in the school for three consecutive days.

The young master's calligraphy is renowned throughout the school.

His calligraphy in the slender gold style was so fluid and elegant that even the old master praised it highly.

But what should have been an "elegant pursuit" became a tool for the young master to make money.

A piece of calligraphy costs three oceans; a poem costs five oceans.

If you want something "custom-made," such as writing love poems to woo a girl or writing eulogies to flatter someone, the price will double.

The young master made a name for himself in the small circle of Sacred Heart Academy through his talent.

Those pampered young masters and ladies all knew that the Gu family had Gu Shenyan, a "great talent".

Although he is physically weak, he is very clever!

Don't know how to do your homework? Ask Gu Shenyan.

Can't write a love letter? Ask Gu Shenyan.

The teacher wants to check the poems and essays? Go find Gu Shenyan.

Some were even bold enough to ask their young master to "polish" the family accounts...

And so, the young master carved out a path to wealth for himself, stroke by stroke.

But where did all those hard-earned dollars go?

Most of the money was spent on Western painkillers for the second young lady; occasionally, he would also buy her some tonics; and he would also buy her things that other girls' families had...

And the thirty silver dollars I spent on the fish...

That was barely enough by the young master writing several articles and more than ten pieces of calligraphy for seven or eight纨绔 (playboys).

Gu Shenyan's expression remained calm.

"I see."

Breakfast in the main hall ended hastily in this eerie atmosphere.

Everyone rose to say goodbye and dispersed.

Gu Shenyan was about to walk towards the gate, as it was time for him to go to school, when he heard a soft cough behind him.

Be careful what you say.

He turned around and saw his father, Gu Sidu, standing in the shadows of the corridor.

Moonlight streamed through the stained-glass window, casting shadows on my father's face and dividing his square features into two halves of light and shadow.

"Father?" Gu Shenyan was somewhat surprised.

"Come with me."

Gu Sidu didn't say anything more and turned to walk towards the study.

Gu Shenyan was puzzled, but he still followed.

The two walked one after the other through the corridor and arrived at the study in the backyard of the martial arts school.

This is where my father usually handles museum affairs and meets important guests.

Gu Sidu sat down behind his desk, took out an oil paper package from his pocket, and pushed it in front of Gu Shenyan.

"Open it and take a look."

Gu Shenyan opened the oil paper package as instructed.

Inside was a stack of banknotes, each worth ten yuan, five in total.

Fifty dollars.

For the Gu family, who are currently struggling financially, this is already a considerable sum.

"Father, what is this...?"

"Take it."

Gu Sidu's voice was tinged with exhaustion:

"You saw what happened at the dinner table just now."

"I have to make some gestures to make Zhao Qingyun feel that following me will lead to a bright future."

He looked at Gu Shenyan:

"Although it was a last resort to reduce your monthly allowance in public, it still wronged you."

"This fifty silver dollars is a private gift from your father."

Gu Shenyan looked at the silver notes on the table, unsure of what to say for a moment.

My father spoke frankly, but his words left me with a bitter taste.

"Father..." he began, his voice hoarse, "Zhao Qingyun, he..."

"I know what you want to ask."

Gu Sidu interrupted him:

"Zhao Qingyun is a mysterious figure."

"He said he fled from the north, but how could a refugee have such amazing martial arts talent?"

"In just one year, he went from being completely defenseless to a near-martial arts master..."

Gu Sidu's voice turned low:

"I've been traveling the world for twenty years, and I've only ever seen this kind of talent in one person."

He pulled another piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Gu Shenyan:

"This is the document proving my father's temporary post in the Xuanzheng Division."

"Every month, Xuanzhengsi would give me a stipend of fifty silver dollars."

"I originally intended to save this money for the operation of the martial arts school."

"But now..."

Gu Sidu looked at Gu Shenyan:

"If you achieve something in the art of magic... I will give you this money every month."

"In addition, I will also readjust the accounts of the martial arts school."

"Save on unnecessary expenses if possible."

"The money saved..."

His voice became serious: "It will all be used to nurture you."

Gu Shenyan took the document and looked at the vermilion official seal and his father's name on it.

Gu Sidu, an externally hired martial arts instructor from the Xuanzheng Division.

Monthly salary: fifty yuan.

"Father……"

Gu Shenyan looked up at his father's tired face.

Suddenly, he didn't know what to say.

"Alright, here's everything."

Gu Sidu waved his hand:

"It's getting late, you should hurry up and go to school, don't keep that kid Shi Quan waiting."

"Remember, don't tell anyone what I told you today."

"Including Weiwei."

Gu Shenyan nodded, put away the banknotes and documents, and turned to leave the study.

Upon arriving at the martial arts school gate, he nodded to Shi Quan, who had been waiting for him for a while.

Once outside the martial arts school, the streets were already bustling with activity.

The cries of vendors, the laughter of children, and the distant sound of a ship's horn...

This is an era where the old and the new intertwine.

On both sides of the street, there are both traditional brick and tile houses and modern Western-style buildings;

There were elderly gentlemen in long gowns and mandarin jackets, as well as young people in suits and ties;

There were officials' wives riding in sedan chairs and students riding bicycles.

East and West, tradition and modernity, collide and blend fiercely on this land.

Shi Quan pulled the rickshaw in front, while Gu Shenyan sat in the rickshaw, gazing at the street scene in a daze.

"Young Master."

Shi Quan suddenly spoke:

"I'll be waiting for you at the usual place around 5 PM this afternoon."

"it is good."

The rickshaw passed through several streets and turned onto a wide road.

The roadsides are lined with plane trees, their dense foliage casting large areas of shade.

Ahead, a magnificent building gradually came into view.

It was a three-story Western-style building with blue bricks and red tiles, and bright doors and windows.

Two flags fluttered on the rooftop.

One side is the dragon flag of the Republic of China in Daqing, but the color has faded and the edges are badly worn.

On the other side was a brightly colored flag with a cross, which was particularly dazzling in the sunlight.

At the entrance of the building hangs a plaque with four large characters: "Sacred Heart Academy".

This is the most prestigious modern school in the provincial capital.

It was founded by a foreign church and funded by the imperial court... no, now it should be said that the Republic of China government provided funding.

The school not only taught the Four Books and Five Classics, but also mathematics, physics, chemistry, foreign languages...

There were both local scholars and missionaries from the West.

A blend of old and new, East and West.

However, this integration is not harmonious; on the contrary, it is full of conflict and contradiction.

Shi Quan parked the rickshaw at the door:

"Young Master, we've arrived."

Gu Shenyan got out of the car and straightened his clothes.

"Brother Quan, thank you for your trouble. Go back and practice your skills now."

Shi Quan chuckled and responded, then picked up the handlebars and turned to leave.

Gu Shenyan stood at the door and stepped inside.

The school gates slowly closed behind him.

A new day has begun.