As the early autumn breeze quietly brushed past the high walls of the prime minister's residence, the rich fragrance of osmanthus blossoms drifted like a spirit, leisurely permeating every corner of the residence. This fragrance, blended with the unique crispness of autumn, added a unique touch of warmth and poetry to the residence. In such a beautiful season, my grandfather, with steady steps, carrying two small wicker baskets in his hands, entered the gate of the prime minister's residence with a smile on his face.
At that moment, Siyan was hunched over the stone table, his little head pressed against his account book, his brush busy moving across the abacus beads, mumbling to himself as he carefully calculated the snack bill. Meanwhile, Nianli, clutching a candy of chili pepper, her eyes darting around, contemplating a trick for her brother. With a wicked grin, she slipped the candy between the cracks of the abacus while Siyan wasn't looking, her playful expression akin to a little mischief-maker.
However, before Nian Li could even congratulate herself on her "masterpiece," she felt a tight squeeze at the back of her collar, and was instantly lifted up by a powerful force. "Grandfather!" Nian Li cried out subconsciously, her feet dangling in the air. The chili candy in her hand plopped onto Jiang Yan's open account book, leaving a faint trace of candy on the pristine white paper.
Grandfather wore a simple blue cloth shirt, his sleeves rolled up high, revealing the thick calluses from years of practicing Iron Palm. Those calluses, like medals of honor, testified to his hard work and perseverance on the path of martial arts. He looked at Nianli with eyes full of love and doting, and said, "Come with me to Yangzhou to learn boxing. Don't bother your father at home."
Hearing the noise, Jiang Yan put down the account book in his hand, pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose, and was about to say "The children are still young", but before he could finish his words, he saw his grandfather's figure flash, like a black gust of wind, and his hands stretched out quickly like eagle claws, clamping the two children at once, with a skillful movement like picking up two chicks. Then, the grandfather lightly tapped the ground with his toes, and the whole person was like a light cloud, instantly passing through the rippling lotus pond. His posture was graceful and agile, and wherever he passed, a pond of colorful koi was startled, and they jumped out of the water happily, as if cheering for his grandfather's wonderful lightness skills. Su Jinli stood by the railing, watching this scene, and couldn't help but pat the railing, laughing out loud: "I'm afraid that Dad's lightness skills can catch up with carrier pigeons!"
In a flash, they arrived at the Yangzhou Martial Arts School's training grounds. A rich martial arts atmosphere permeated the air. The walls were covered with a variety of weapons, and the sunlight shone on the blades, reflecting cool rays of light. Si Yan, cradling his precious abacus, carefully crouched beneath the weapons rack, his eyes curiously surveying everything around him.
Grandfather walked over to Siyan, pulled a short jujube wood staff from the weapons rack, and handed it to Siyan, saying earnestly, "Look! This is called 'Parting the Clouds to Reveal the Sun.'" As soon as he finished speaking, the staff in Grandfather's hand began to dance like a dragon emerging from the sea, its shadows whirring and fluttering, as if it could actually part the clouds and let in the sunlight. His techniques were fierce and powerful, yet agile, each move and form imbued with profound martial arts skills.
However, Siyan didn't focus on learning the stick technique as his grandfather had expected. Suddenly, he knocked the abacus against the end of the stick and asked in a crisp voice, "Grandfather, can I calculate the moves this way?" His expression was hilarious, reflecting his dedication to arithmetic and a child's innocence and curiosity.
Nian Li over there was even more ridiculous. Seeing her grandfather demonstrating stick techniques, her eyes rolled, and she suddenly reached out and grabbed her grandfather's white beard, followed by a "skyward kick". Although her movements were immature, they revealed a spirit of not admitting defeat. The old martial artist saw Nian Li's sudden action, but instead of getting angry, he laughed and rolled over to avoid it. His movements were agile and light, as if he was decades younger. The jade pendant worn on his waist jingled with his movements, and the crisp sound was like a pleasant piece of music. This jade pendant was a self-defense jade given to him by Su Wanqing when he was young. He has been wearing it for many years and regarded it as a treasure. Whenever he saw it, it was as if he could see Su Wanqing's voice and smile back then.
On the Yangzhou martial arts training grounds, the sun shone brightly and a gentle breeze blew. Grandfather patiently taught Siyan and Nianli martial arts techniques, his voice steady and powerful, echoing throughout the arena. Though young, Siyan and Nianli were filled with curiosity and enthusiasm for martial arts. They diligently followed their grandfather's lead, diligently imitating every move.
"Si Yan, when you strike the stick, keep your arms straight and use steady force," Grandfather said as he corrected Si Yan's posture. Si Yan frowned and tried to adjust his movements according to Grandfather's instructions. Although it was a little strenuous, his eyes were full of determination and perseverance.
"Nianli, for this 'Sky Kick' move, you need to kick your legs higher and keep your back straight," Grandfather turned to Nianli and said. Nianli bit her lip, her face flushed red, and she tried hard to kick her legs higher. Her serious look made people want to applaud her.
Jiang Yan and Su Jinli stood aside, watching this scene quietly, their eyes filled with relief and joy. They knew that their grandfather's arrival not only brought martial arts enlightenment to the children, but also added warmth and joy to the family.
"Jiang Yan, look at the children, they are studying so hard." Su Jinli said with a smile, her eyes revealing her love and expectations for the children.
"Yes, with grandfather's guidance, the children will definitely achieve something in martial arts." Jiang Yan nodded in agreement, with a happy smile on his face.
Over time, Siyan and Nianli's martial arts skills gradually improved. Siyan's swung the jujube wood short staff with increasing skill. Although his strength wasn't yet sufficient, his understanding and mastery of the staff's techniques were evident. Nianli's punches and kicks also became more flexible. Her "skyward kick" was now a well-developed technique, and her agility was truly admirable.
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