Hong Kong variety show: Starting from helping Mr. Fok run ships

Chapter 25 So easy to fool... no, kind Master Duan!

"Master Duan, my name is Zhang Guohao. I'm just strolling around the Walled City today. Master Duan, are you married?"

Looking at the other person's well-proportioned body, which, while not exaggerated, still had a certain amount of muscle, and the calluses on his hands, Zhang Guohao knew that this person was skilled in martial arts.

Whether Zhang Guohao can fight or not is unknown, but this person must have put in a lot of hard work in Bajiquan's fist and foot techniques and weapons.

Bajiquan is great! Bajiquan hits really hard!

It's said that Tai Chi practitioners can stay at home for ten years, while Bajiquan practitioners can kill someone in a year. If you take that person to work on a ship, you'll have gained a powerful general!

The other party has just arrived in Hong Kong Island and doesn't understand anything, so we have to do a good job of fooling... no, I mean, help them out.

"I got married quite early, and my child is almost ten years old now."

Duan Tongtian said with a smile, and then invited Zhang Guohao into the house to have tea and chat.

After chatting for a few minutes, Duan Tongtian explained his situation in detail.

The boxing style practiced by Duan Tongtian is called Duan Family Bajiquan. His ancestors were also from the north, but later went south to spread martial arts, hoping to make a name for themselves in the south.

However, lacking business acumen, he only ended up worse off.

Most people think that opening a martial arts school depends on being good at fighting, but in reality, the most important thing is being good at business.

What's the use of being good at fighting? A master may be good at fighting, but a disciple may not be.

Moreover, the most important thing for an apprentice is not whether they can learn, but whether they can afford the tuition. Only an apprentice who can afford the tuition is the best apprentice!

If no one can afford the tuition, who will feed the master?

Those who open martial arts schools need to make their moves flashy and complex, attracting rich kids and children of officials to learn. They pay hefty tuition fees, and if the students can learn a few impressive moves, the master makes a fortune, and everyone is happy.

The Duan family elders are too honest. They really teach their disciples to build a solid foundation from scratch. Can those rich kids and children of officials endure such hardship? They definitely can't!

The second generation didn't contribute any money; relying solely on the poor, the Duan family was already lucky to have passed down Bajiquan to Duan Tongtian's generation.

However, speaking of which, the Duan family ancestors were quite eccentric, differing somewhat from the mainstream practitioners of Bajiquan. Bajiquan is a very powerful and forceful martial art, but the Duan family focused on training body techniques.

He has no business acumen, but he is sincere in his work and focuses on agility, so he is not afraid to get on the boat.

This is practically made for sailing!

As they talked, Zhang Guohao realized that this person was the helper he was looking for!

"Ugh!"

Zhang Guohao took the opportunity to let out a long sigh, appearing very frustrated.

Duan Tongtian was a kind-hearted person. Seeing that his newly acquainted friend was in a bad mood, he immediately asked him what was wrong.

"Brother Zhang, what's wrong? Is something bothering you? If there's anything I can do to help, I certainly will."

Duan Tongtian, who had spent half the day confiding in Zhang Guohao, was in a good mood and already felt that Zhang Guohao was someone who could make friends.

If it were a normal matter, Duan Tongtian would really like to help.

"Sigh, there are some things I really don't want to drag Brother Duan into, especially since this matter could easily offend the foreigners."

Zhang Guohao said dejectedly, "That handsome face, paired with that expression, makes one's heart ache no matter how you look at it."

"Brother Zhang, you tell me first whether it's inappropriate or not. I know what I'm doing. Besides, I feel that making the foreigners unhappy is probably a good thing."

Duan Tongtian thought for a moment, and then made a rational analysis based on his simple values.

"Alright, I've been having a lot of troubles lately, so I'll trouble you, Brother Duan, to listen to my ramblings. Consider it my way of venting."

Zhang Guohao nodded. Duan Tongtian had indeed taken the bait. Such a conscientious and upright person couldn't bear to see others in trouble. If he could help, he would help without asking for any benefits. Zhang Guohao immediately began the next step of his deception.

"Master Duan, you know there's a lot of fighting going on in the Northeast, right?"

"That's right, back home, one person can take on a dozen. Now they're short of food, clothing, medicine, tires, sheet metal—everything is in short supply!"

"So I followed Boss Huo to work on ships, transporting supplies to the mainland!"

"But some people don't like Boss Huo and don't want him to deliver goods to the mainland, so they've repeatedly tried to sabotage him!"

"They didn't just cause trouble, they also assaulted people, surrounded and intercepted them, and even took action at sea!"

"You think they went too far, right?"

"We've fought them several times, and many of our brothers have been injured. If only someone could help us!"

"We wouldn't dare say we're doing this for the country and the people, but we have a clear conscience!"

"Sigh, I wonder what will happen in the future!"

Zhang Guohao complained to Duan Tongtian, sighing repeatedly, which made Duan Tongtian's veins bulge and his face full of anger.

"What bastards! Those damned foreigners! Not only did they seize Hong Kong Island, but now they're preventing our people from delivering goods!"

Duan Tongtian slammed his fist on the table and shouted angrily.

"Who can argue with that? Our soldiers are bleeding on the front lines, yet we can't even send medical kits up!"

"I...I'm so ashamed! If our ship could have carried more cargo, wouldn't one more soldier have survived?"

Overwhelmed with emotion, Zhang Guohao couldn't help but shed tears. Who could remain unmoved when thinking of those most beloved people?

"I didn't know about this, but now that I do, I have to do my part!"

"Brother Zhang, here's what we'll do: whenever you're going to run a ship, call me. I can't help with other things, but I can at least beat up a few thugs!"

Duan Tongtian patted his chest and said to Zhang Guohao, "What a man of character!"

"Brother Duan, you have a family and a career, what if... let's forget it, I can't let you bear such great danger!"

Zhang Guohao quickly waved his hand.

"I am also Chinese, Brother Zhang. I killed a few Japanese soldiers back then. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Duan Tongtian insisted.

"Well, that's fine too. Don't worry, we'll definitely make sure Brother Duan doesn't suffer any losses. We'll give him exactly what's due each month!"

Zhang Guohao then mentioned that he wanted to offer compensation. If he had brought up the matter earlier, it might have been perceived as an insult. By bringing it up now, he was showing the respect due to the warrior.

"No, no, this isn't just for myself, it's for the country and my compatriots!"

However, Duan Tongtian was clearly infatuated and refused cleanly and decisively.

Sometimes, the more chaotic times a person has experienced, the more they can cultivate a strong sense of righteousness and a passionate heart!

"Master Duan, it's hard to establish yourself in Hong Kong just by running a martial arts school. You can only earn a little money by teaching apprentices. Running a ship is a dangerous job. If you don't charge money, neither I nor Boss Huo will let you board the ship."

"In this way, we'll hire you as the martial arts instructor for our fleet. You won't be paid for sailing; you'll be paid for teaching martial arts."

"How about we practice boxing together during the day, and if you're free in the evenings, help us go for a run?"

"Perfect timing, let's make the Duan Family's Bajiquan name known!"

Zhang Guohao came up with a pretext for Duan Tongtian and continued to persuade him.