Chapter 70: Return

February 5th, 1951, New Year's Eve, noon.

Inside and outside the Chengzhai, lanterns and decorations were hung. The air was filled with the fragrance of various delicacies. Children walked in groups through the streets, jumping and playing, occasionally following the scent to a shop and stealing a few things to eat amidst the shopkeeper's laughing scolding.

Originally, at this time, the Chengzhai should have been a den of sin, filled with gangsters, thugs, drugs, and filth. Now, with Wang Yan in charge, such rot was naturally impossible.

Of course, prostitution couldn't be banned, because the people of the Chengzhai were the wealthiest group in Hong Kong, aside from the foreign devils. If people were willing and it was a fair trade, Wang Yan couldn't be that controlling.

As for the unity within the Chengzhai, Wang Yan couldn't guarantee it for too long, but within three generations, there would absolutely be no problem. As for after three generations, he would likely be gone by then.

Today, to celebrate the great development of the Chengzhai, regardless of northern or southern customs, Wang Yan simply held a massive banquet for the tens of thousands of people in the Chengzhai. For those who came later, Wang Yan didn't create opposition; it was about promoting integration. Once they came, they were people of the Chengzhai, and that was enough.

"In 1945, we crossed the sea and came here. The first time we..." Zhou Guangyao's voice came from the loudspeakers, and people everywhere listened quietly to the changes and developments of the past five years.

Then Wang Yan said a few words, encouraged them, and the banquet officially began.

Wang Yan sat together with Gong Baosen, Ma San, Ip Man, Zhang Yongcheng, Zhou Qingquan, and others. As for the children, they couldn't sit still and had long since run off somewhere; they wouldn't go hungry, and no one dared to come to the Chengzhai to kidnap them. Despite the lively atmosphere inside, countless people were patrolling outside to deal with emergencies.

Taking a sip of wine, Gong Baosen said with a smile, "Life is getting better and better these days..."

Ma San, on the side, poured wine for Gong Baosen: "Master is right. Back in Macau those years, we wouldn't have dared to even imagine this." After speaking, he raised a glass: "Wang Yan, I toast you. You kid are truly capable."

After Ma San finished speaking, he tilted his head and drank the wine in his glass.

Wang Yan chuckled and accompanied him with a drink: "Brother Ma is too polite. This is the result of everyone's hard work; what great thing could I have done alone?"

Turning his head to Zhou Qingquan, he said, "Brother Quan, how have these past few months been? You look a bit chubby."

Zhou Qingquan laughed embarrassedly: "It's fine, just not used to suddenly being idle."

Ip Man laughed: "Your face is round, Brother Quan. If you're bored, come practice martial arts with me."

Everyone laughed at Zhou Qingquan; he had indeed gained quite a bit of weight.

Zhou Qingquan had suddenly become idle and was at a loss, not quite adapting. He also felt he was old and had become a bit indulgent, spending his days eating and drinking with the children.

"Look at Master Gong, he's been retired from the martial world for so many years, and he's living more comfortably than anyone." Wang Yan picked up a piece of food for Gong Er and said, "Retiring doesn't mean you can't do anything. Do whatever you want; you can't just eat and drink all day to enjoy life. Your health is important."

Zhou Qingquan nodded and toasted Gong Baosen; he truly admired this old man.

The liveliness had its limits, and the banquet lasted until after eight in the evening before it was over. After cleaning up the messy scene, people chatted and laughed as they dispersed to go home and keep watch for the New Year.

In Wang Yan's home, the three little ones stood in a row against the wall, dirty and disheveled, while Gong Er scolded them angrily.

Gong Ji lowered his head and said nothing; the clothes were dirty because Wang Zhilan had led them to do it, so he couldn't say anything. The youngest, Wang Xing, looked at Gong Er with a cheeky grin.

Wang Zhilan secretly winked at Wang Yan, who was reading a book on the side, hoping her father could save them.

Wang Yan gave a look that said "save yourself," and under Wang Zhilan's desperate gaze, he quietly walked into the study. He didn't want to stay; Gong Er was becoming more and more nagging, which easily invited trouble.

After a long while, Gong Er walked in, annoyed: "It's all because you and my father spoil them. Look at what these three have become. Zhilan is one thing, but Ji was so sensible when he was young, and now he's learned to be so unruly."

"Alright, alright, calm down." Wang Yan stood up, helped Gong Er sit down, massaged her shoulders, and said, "They're boys, it's better for them to be lively, rather than being like mutes all day."

"I know, but in the future he will be..."

"Taking over? I know. Ji is only ten, there's still plenty of time. Besides, you know his skills now; they aren't weak. Don't push the child too hard." Interrupting Gong Er, and noticing the eavesdropping outside the door, Wang Yan said loudly, "If it really doesn't work, you can discipline Zhilan; Ji was led by her. Who says women are inferior to men? Let her learn from you, her mother."

As his voice fell, he heard the muffled "woo-woo" sound from outside, followed by the sound of retreating footsteps.

Hearing the commotion, Gong Er shook her head and smiled: "Zhilan will definitely fight you to the death. But what you said makes sense; she does need to be disciplined properly. She's so old now, acting crazy all day, what does that look like?"

Checking the time, Wang Yan said, "Right, it doesn't look like anything. Let's not talk about them. Tomorrow is the first day of the New Year, your opera troupe still has to perform, so get some rest early."

Gong Er nodded, went out to check on the three children, and returned...

At thirty, a woman is like a wolf; at forty, like a tiger. Gong Er was thirty-four that year...

Wang Yan's life remained peaceful. Aside from major events, he didn't need to speak on other matters. In his spare time, he would play with the children, drink tea and chat with Gong Baosen, Ip Man, and others, practice martial arts, calligraphy, and study medicine.

After years of stable development, the number of people in the Chengzhai grew, inevitably becoming a bit crowded. Zhou Guangyao, following Wang Yan's instructions, began large-scale development, building floors outward in circles around the Chengzhai, with all supporting facilities fully equipped. Gradually, people in the Chengzhai moved out; they preferred living in clean, bright, large houses.

As the number of people in the Chengzhai decreased, the Chengzhai began large-scale reconstruction to serve as the center of power for the Chengzhai. While maintaining a decent appearance and reinforcing the outer walls, the interior was decorated in a simple, elegant, grand, and majestic style, completely unrelated to the mottled walls outside.

Because the people in the Chengzhai had moved out, for the convenience of management, the "Chengzhai Management Committee" was established by those who had come at the beginning, and this committee was located inside the Chengzhai. There was also the office of the Chinese Martial Arts Association, as well as a group of high-level officials of the Chengzhai, all located in the Chengzhai.

Regarding his mission of "Revitalizing Martial Arts," on one hand, he promoted it extensively in Hong Kong, and on the other, he sent people to other countries to register related companies called "Combat," promoting this set of rules, slowly cultivating fighters, with the arena outside the Chengzhai as the supreme goal. After years of development, the arena in the Chengzhai grew larger and larger, with many top fighters from Southeast Asia, Europe, and America coming to duel.

There were casualties on both sides in the duels, but generally speaking, the winning rate of foreign fighters was lower. As for the best fighters, they were always the contestants of the Chinese Martial Arts Association. This was a must; if they were beaten to death in their own arena, that would truly be inexcusable.

Time reached 1954. This day, at the Wing Chun school in Martial Arts Street. Wang Yan was drinking tea with Ip Man and Zhou Qingquan, who was holding his little granddaughter.

Ip Man said, "Ah Yan, I recently took on a new disciple with quite high comprehension. Why don't you take a look and see how he is?"

"Then let's take a look, nothing else to do anyway," Wang Yan said indifferently.

Nodding, Ip Man called out to a disciple on the side: "Go call Zhenfan over."

Wang Yan heard the name and felt it was particularly familiar, frowning and thinking hard.

It wasn't until a young man walked respectfully before him that Wang Yan looked at his youthful face and slowly merged it with the shadow in his memory, only then realizing that Bruce Lee's original name was Li Zhenfan.

With nearly a hundred martial arts schools on Martial Arts Street, that he could still end up apprenticing under Ip Man, this must be fate.

"Come, Zhenfan, meet... you should call him Mr. Wang." Ip Man thought for a moment and said to Li Zhenfan.

Li Zhenfan bowed respectfully and said, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Wang." He had been here for a while and naturally knew about Wang Yan, having heard plenty of messy gossip, knowing this was a ruthless man.

"Hmm, get up. Your master says you're good material. How old are you this year?" Wang Yan called Li Zhenfan up and said.

Li Zhenfan stood up and thanked him: "Thank you, sir. I'm fourteen this year."

"My son is also fourteen, so let's have them spar." Wang Yan said to a subordinate on the side: "Go find Ji."

Letting Li Zhenfan warm up, Wang Yan continued talking with Ip Man and Zhou Qingquan.

Before long, Gong Ji led two followers and a group of half-grown children running in.

"Hello, Uncle Yan, Uncle Wen, Uncle Quan." "Dad, Uncle Wen, Uncle Quan." Wang Zhilan threw herself directly onto Wang Yan, while Wang Xing, who hadn't grabbed him, dragged his feet behind.

A group of children came in, greeted them politely, and then stood obediently in place.

Ip Man and Zhou Qingquan nodded, and Wang Yan said, "Alright, you two be honest." Pulling the two little ones apart, he pointed at Li Zhenfan and said to the other children: "Everyone spread out, let Ji spar with him."

Soon, the children scattered, clearing the space in the middle.

The martial arts atmosphere in the Chengzhai was quite strong; after all, those who came were families of martial artists, and as long as they reached the age, the elders in the family would pass on martial arts. Martial Arts Street even provided free, open access to the children of the Chengzhai; they could learn whatever they wanted, practice whatever they liked.

This was also a form of compensation from Wang Yan to those who had followed him through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, far from their hometowns. He had been quite generous to these people, with all kinds of benefits and treatments.

After Gong Ji and Li Zhenfan exchanged greetings, they opened their stances. The little girl in Zhou Qingquan's arms stared with wide eyes, blankly watching, reaching out with "ah-ah" sounds, wanting to grab the two.

The two confronted each other, waiting for an opportunity to find a flaw. Suddenly, Gong Ji kicked forward, stepped in, and threw a crushing punch. Li Zhenfan asked for the hand, used the momentum to block, his right hand formed a palm, and went straight for his face. Gong Ji took the opportunity to crouch and circle behind Li Zhenfan, striking a palm toward Li Zhenfan's kidney. Li Zhenfan, unhurried, twisted his body and flicked his hand, bringing the incoming palm with him, lifted his foot to kick the shin, and after being dodged, took the opportunity to stand in a horse stance, pointing his fingers at the throat. Gong Ji waved his hand to sweep away the incoming arm, simultaneously striking with a straight punch. At this moment, Li Zhenfan's fist also came over. Both hit each other in the chest, both retreated two steps...

Watching the two spar for a while, Wang Yan could see that in terms of comprehensive strength, Gong Ji was stronger; after all, he had been practicing since he was young, with all kinds of precious medicinal materials to temper his bones, while Li Zhenfan was lacking in this point, not as resistant as Gong Ji. In terms of moves, there wasn't much difference between the two, half a catty to eight taels.

"Alright, stop." Wang Yan spoke up to interrupt, and said to the two who were panting heavily: "Both are good children, practice more when you have nothing to do in the future, disperse."

A group of children politely said goodbye to the three elders, Gong Ji pulled Wang Zhilan, Wang Zhilan dragged Wang Xing, and with Li Zhenfan, everyone walked out chatting and laughing.

Watching the children leave, Ip Man drank tea with satisfaction and said, "How about it, not bad, right?"

Zhou Qingquan picked up a pastry from the table and stuffed it into his little granddaughter's hand: "Even a half-baked person like me can see that being able to match Gong Ji without falling behind is definitely not bad." Staying with a group of martial artists all day, how could he not be clear about Gong Ji's situation? Not to mention that his own children and grandchildren of appropriate age were also being cultivated with great effort.

"Indeed, it's fine. Cultivate him well in the future, report him up," Wang Yan affirmed. He knew what Ip Man meant, which was to use those secret recipes and such on Li Zhenfan, taking advantage of his young age to improve him.

Ip Man had some himself, but they were not as good as those researched for over twenty years. After all, those people combined Chinese and Western medicine and were not mediocre; although the reduced-version was very difficult to make, combining so many prescriptions to improve the effect had long been achieved. Of course, it was also more expensive.

This was also a system established by the Chinese Martial Arts Association to supplement fresh blood, constantly inheriting and constantly improving. For all schools and martial arts schools, as long as there were suitable good seedlings, after screening, they would be vigorously cultivated once pushed up. This kind of cultivation was not limited to fighting and combat; more importantly, it was the cultivation of thought and morality. It had been implemented for several years now, and while nothing could be seen in the short term, it would take at least a generation to verify.

After this matter was discussed, the three continued to drink tea and talk about messy things.

In 1955, the Vietnam War broke out, and China and the Soviet Union joined forces to pick on several, and won. Wang Yan, as usual, transported various supplies, while sending people to quietly go to several other Nanyang countries where the domestic situation was unstable due to external factors. When they retreated in the early years, he had transported many people there, and after years of development, they had also gained a certain amount of power locally. This time, it was large-scale expansion, whether black or white.

He had already engaged in the technology of several worlds, and this was the earliest time, so Wang Yan naturally couldn't give up. As early as 1947, when they had just stabilized, he had Zhou Qingquan start operating. And after Zhou Guangyao took over, he was also constantly and quietly kidnapping people, poaching people, and investing; he didn't believe he couldn't beat them.

On New Year's Eve in 1958, Gong Baosen held Wang Yan and Gong Er's hands tightly and wouldn't let go: "My life has been worth it. Don't be sad, the time has come, this road is now handed over to you, you must keep walking." As his words fell, he passed away.

The grandmaster Gong Baosen passed away in the Chengzhai at the age of eighty-eight. In fact, Gong Baosen had lived more than ten years longer, and with all kinds of health maintenance and conditioning, if he hadn't been so fierce in fighting for bravery when he was young, he would have lived to be a hundred. Of course, without those, there wouldn't be today's Gong Baosen.

Gong Er was heartbroken, kneeling before the bed and constantly muttering, "He was fine this morning."

Wang Yan comforted her silently with the three children. Having seen too many partings and deaths over the years, and besides, eighty-eight was a long life, Gong Er could understand.

Ma San, with red eyes, led his children and grandchildren to kneel before the bed for the whole night.

Old Jiang was on the side, dejectedly stroking the monkey's head, muttering something, not knowing what he was saying.

After the funeral was held for three days, Wang Yan contacted friends in the country and returned to the country with Gong Er, the children, Ma San, and others. Because Gong Baosen had said when he left that he wanted to be buried next to Gong Er's mother.

Wang Yan accompanied Gong Er thoughtfully for a long time before she finally adapted. Only since then, she never sang opera again.

In 1965, on the suggestion of Li Zhenfan, who had won the Cha-Cha dance championship, and combined with the help of several music masters, the third set of martial arts exercises with music was created. It was mandatory for primary and secondary school students in Hong Kong. After so many years, this position in education was finally seized by Wang Yan.

And he had also participated in film shooting in his early years and was very interested in this thing. Having already gained a certain status in the Chinese Martial Arts Association, he still embarked on the path of making movies, just like in fate. Only this time, it was much smoother.

The Chengzhai directly funded it, supported the foreign devils who had been "washed clean," acquired film and television companies in Europe and America, and laid out cinema chains. Various scripts were based on the experiences of the old seniors in the Chengzhai, or rumors they had heard. In that turbulent era, every one sorted out was a rare good story.

In the same year, Gong Ji married Ip Man's daughter. Wang Zhilan married Ma San's youngest son. Wang Xing and Zhou Qingquan's second daughter became engaged.

Gradually, the older generation like Wang Yan and Ip Man retired and began to enjoy their old age, with the next generation taking power.

The Chengzhai and the Hong Kong government had always been at peace on the surface, but the competition behind the scenes had never stopped.

After years of development, Kowloon became the essence of Hong Kong. It was prosperous, clean, and safe, with no messy people daring to cause trouble here. The Chengzhai's industries also spanned many fields, becoming a behemoth enterprise, controlling the entire economic development of Hong Kong.

And the children who walked out of the Chengzhai gradually began to infiltrate the Hong Kong government. Although it was impossible to become high-level officials, there were enough grassroots, and they could still influence issues.

Li Zhao, who was vigorously supported by Wang Yan, became the Chinese leader in the police force, and foreign devils had to look at his face even if they weren't of the same rank.

And the "Combat Arena" was also famous worldwide and deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Whether you admit it or not, participate or not, it was the supreme in this field. After all, compared to the confrontation of using fists to hit back and forth, with no time limit, no level limit, and often resulting in death or injury, it was really too different. If others wanted to organize a similar arena themselves, without Chinese participation, no one would watch, and they would lose money to death.

In 1970, Zhou Qingquan passed away at the age of eighty.

In 1983, Ip Man passed away at the age of ninety. In this life, there were not so many hardships, and he lived a life without worry about food and clothing. Ip Man lived eleven years longer, taught more disciples, and discovered more good seedlings.

In the same year, the fourth set of "Strengthening Martial Arts Exercises" became the recess exercises for primary and secondary school students across the country. Countless martial arts schools were established across the country.

In 1997, Hong Kong returned, and the first Commissioner of Police was Li Zhao's son. Wang Yan was invited to observe the ceremony. In the subsequent meeting, Wang Yan talked with the leaders for a long time. And the Chengzhai was inevitably split up; there was no other reason, it was too big.

It was also this year that eighty-one-year-old Gong Er said she missed home, and Wang Yan took Gong Er back to Fengtian to live.

Ever since Gong Baosen passed away, Wang Yan had been accompanying Gong Er, taking care of the children and grandchildren with her. Gradually, the grandchildren grew up, and the two of them stopped worrying about the children. Every day, they accompanied each other, walking slowly on the streets of Hong Kong, watching the prosperity that was unimaginable before.

Ever since arriving in Fengtian, Gong Er's health had been getting worse day by day. Wang Yan felt sad in his heart, but forced a smile so as not to be discovered, coaxing Gong Er as much as possible. Every day, he took Gong Er back and forth on the streets of Fengtian, listening to Gong Er tell stories of her childhood.

In 2000, on a winter day with heavy snow, accompanied by the plum blossoms in the courtyard, Gong Er left at the age of eighty-four. When she left, she held Wang Yan and used her last strength to say hoarsely: "I love you." This was a sentence Gong Er had held back for a lifetime and had never said out loud.

That day, Wang Yan was in tears and couldn't say a word. Gong Er was the woman who had accompanied him for a lifetime, the woman he had cherished for a lifetime. She had just left like this, just left like this.

The children tearfully handled the funeral, and on the day of the burial, it was the same heavy snow.

Gong Er was buried next to Gong Baosen and her mother, just like when she was a child, playing on the side, while her parents laughed at her on the side.

Since then, Wang Yan would stagger to her grave every day to nag a few words and keep her company.

Wang Yan had long since had no friends; those brothers who were his subordinates back then, those like-minded people he could talk to, were long gone.

He was already old and had no strength left. The injuries he had suffered in his early years always ached, and he always woke up from dreams at night, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Before Gong Er's grave, the words Wang Yan said most were "When will I die?"

The children were all doing well and no longer needed his guidance. Chinese martial arts had long been the world's number one, and the arena outside the Chengzhai was paved with the corpses and blood of skeptics. And the martial arts atmosphere in China was truly such that everyone knew kung fu. Because of the system, the crime rate was originally low, and this time, with the whole nation practicing martial arts, after a generation, very few people came out to be beaten for no reason.

As for movies about Chinese martial arts, as long as the quality was good, they were basically small profits and a guarantee of box office.

Wang Yan's skin had long been full of age spots, his hair was sparse enough to be counted, his eyes were blurred, his ears were useless, and after walking for a while, he always had to rest for two minutes.

Finally, in the winter of 2003, amidst the heavy snow, Wang Yan received a long-lost message from the system, prompting him to return in twelve hours.

Without anyone helping, Wang Yan walked tremblingly to Gong Er's grave. After driving away the caregivers, he nagged to Gong Er, counting the bits and pieces of his life, and just like that, he talked for a long, long time...

I don't know when, a dazzling blue light flashed...