Chapter 11: Combination Technique

"Those three guys have always been at odds with the two of us; if they find out about this, won't they laugh us to death?"

"You mean, just the two of us?"

The buzz‑cut man opened his mouth wide.

"Otherwise what?"

Li Wei looked at him.

The buzz‑cut man muttered a few times, saying, "But if it's just the two of us…"

"What are you afraid of?"

Li Wei cut him off, "The reason I didn't act earlier was that I feared he might have a knife hidden besides the stick; even if both of us have knives, a real fight would surely wound us."

"Yeah, yeah."

The buzz‑cut man nodded repeatedly.

"I thought the same back then."

"So, shouldn't we just go find two sticks?"

"We also go find two sticks?"

The buzz‑cut man was momentarily stunned, looking confused.

"Exactly, if only he's allowed a stick, can we not have one?"

Li Wei's face broke into a smug smile.

"If both have sticks, he alone versus the two of us—who do you think would win?"

"It has to be us!"

The buzz‑cut man answered without hesitation, his eyes gradually brightening.

"What if that kid has a knife?" Li Wei continued.

"Then he'd have a chance to use it."

The buzz‑cut man laughed heartily.

"Exactly."

Li Wei's smile grew even broader.

When the time comes, just swing dozens of sticks—what does a knife matter?

"If we go after those three guys, not to mention whether they'd laugh at us, but the money we snatch from that kid would have to be shared with them—do you think that little amount could be split among five people?"

"Wei Ge is right; I didn't think it through, hehe."

The buzz‑cut man quickly bowed his head to admit fault.

Exactly, the profit was already slim, and now we have to give half away—who would want that! Two of us against one, isn't that enough?

……

Near home, Jiang Cheng indeed saw a figure sitting at his doorstep, looking this way.

Upon seeing him, Old Man immediately let out a sigh of relief.

Jiang Cheng quickened his pace, approached Old Man, and said, "Grandma, I'm back."

"Did you run into any trouble on the road?" Old Man asked concernedly.

"No, just the cart was a bit heavy and I broke a sweat."

Jiang Cheng said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Xiao Cheng."

At that moment, Chen Sao stepped out of the neighboring house, glanced around, and whispered, "I heard Grandma say you kept using the Rolling Pin as a stick last night? Did you take it out this morning when you left?"

After speaking, deep worry appeared in her eyes.

Jiang Cheng wasn't surprised, and laughed, "Yes, Chen Sao, I carry it mainly for self‑defense, to scare off some thugs on the road. But don't worry, Chen Sao, I just intend to frighten them; if they don't back down, I'll honestly give them money."

"As long as you know."

Chen Sao sighed, "Your older brother is stubborn, won't back down. On the way back that day, a few thugs injured him; without enough medicine, he wouldn't have many years left…"

Her eyes reddened; she inhaled, speaking earnestly, "In short, remember, a true hero doesn't take a loss. Losing money and face is still better than getting hurt or losing your life."

"Mm, I know."

Jiang Cheng nodded repeatedly.

He felt a bit embarrassed inside.

He only agreed outwardly.

On the way back, he even got into a clash with someone.

"Now that you understand, Sister‑in‑law, you can rest easy. Go back, wash the sweet potatoes, and sell them on the street this afternoon."

Jiang Cheng agreed, pushed the three‑wheeled cart into the house.

He took all the sweet potatoes from the cart onto the floor.

"Grandma, could you wash this bag of sweet potatoes? I'll rest a while."

Old Man nodded at the words, and asked concernedly, "If you're tired, Grandma can go sell the sweet potatoes on the street this afternoon."

"No need, didn't we agree I'd go later?"

Jiang Cheng smiled.

Old Man gave a knowing smile.

"Grandma, I'm going out for a walk."

"Go ahead, be careful."

"Got it."

Jiang Cheng stepped out, but in fact he didn't go elsewhere; he walked to the back of the mud‑brick house. Though the alleys criss‑crossed and even the rear of the house wasn't truly hidden, far fewer people passed by.

Jiang Cheng reached behind and drew the Rolling Pin.

There are still two hours until noon; this precious time must not be wasted.

He inhaled deeply, and the Short Staff in his hand struck down with a sudden chop.

Immediately after, from bottom to top, he performed a forward lift with his right hand.

Then came a sweeping strike.

Within an extremely short time, he completed a series of moves.

【Experience Value +2】

On the Panel, a line of information appeared.

"Indeed, my guess was correct."

Jiang Cheng was overjoyed.

Compared with practicing the basic moves in isolation, linking the basic moves together to form combos yields more Experience Value.

And in Real Combat, combo techniques are also stronger.

He checked the Short Staff's proficiency.

A total of 300 Experience Value points; only 150 combos are needed to reach it.

"Perhaps, in two hours, I can raise the Short Staff to Proficient level."

Jiang Cheng was full of confidence.

He performed the same set of moves again.

Experience Value increased by two points again.

To ensure the moves are standard, after each move ends, he rests a few seconds.

Then he continues repeating the move.

As stamina wanes, the moves inevitably deform, and the rate of Experience Value gain also slows.

The two hours passed quickly; smoke rose from the chimneys of every household.

His own home was no exception.

"Grandma is already preparing lunch; it's time to go back,"

Jiang Cheng's gaze turned to the Panel.

【Short Staff: Entry (202/300)】

"If only I had another hour or two,"

Jiang Cheng felt a bit regretful.

But as the saying goes, sharpening the knife does not delay the woodcutting.

Having a meal and resting a while will also improve the moves' accuracy.

After the meal, he must first roast a batch of sweet potatoes before going to the street to do business.

Fortunately, regardless, before returning today, raising the Short Staff to Proficient level is a sure thing.

He put away the Short Staff and walked toward the house door.

"Back?"

The Old Man heard the familiar footsteps, smiled at Jiang Cheng and said, "The food will be ready soon; get ready to eat."

"Mm, okay."

Jiang Cheng also smiled.

The meal was simple: a bowl of egg custard and some stir‑fried greens.

These vegetables are planted in small patches in front of every household's door, but space is limited, so only a modest amount, enough for a few family members, is good.

The Old Man sighed and said, "We're out of eggs, Xiao Cheng, go buy some on the street when you return tonight."

"Got it, Grandma."

Jiang Cheng said.

Eggs aren't cheap either.

A half‑kilogram costs 25 yuan.

A half‑kilogram of eggs usually contains 7 to 10 eggs, which works out to 2–3 yuan per egg.

This is also the kind of meat dish that most families in the commoner district can regularly afford.

"Mm."

The Old Man nodded, picked up a chopstickful of greens, put it into his own bowl, and chewed.

"Grandma, you also have some of this,"

Jiang Cheng scooped a spoonful of egg custard into the Old Man's bowl.

"I won't eat this; you eat, you eat,"

The Old Man was startled, then tried to push the egg custard and rice into Jiang Cheng's bowl.

Jiang Cheng's eyes were sharp and his hands quick; he grabbed the bowl and slipped to the side.

The Old Man looked at Jiang Cheng, then at the bowl holding the egg custard, sighed and said, "Xiao Cheng, Grandma knows you mean well, but don't do that next time. You're still growing; you need to eat more meat, Grandma doesn't need it, understand?"

Jiang Cheng fell silent.

Feeling a pang of sorrow, he silently vowed that giving Grandma a good life would start with egg freedom.

(End of Chapter)