NFBE Chapter 1212 Don’t thank me for your kindness
Chapter 1212 Don’t thank me for your kindness
Ip Man was finally forced into the realm of Grandmaster by Da Bao. He suppressed his excitement, took a step back, turned around and knelt down on one knee.
"Thank you so much, Young Master Qin."
The people in the martial arts school were stunned. They only thought the fight between Ip Man and this young master Qin was exciting, but they never expected that Da Bao would actually unleash all of Ip Man's potential and take Ip Man to a higher level.
Da Bao helped Ip Man up with one hand. At this moment, Guo Yingnan walked up with a smile and came to Da Bao's side.
Da Bao took a folder from Guo Yingnan and handed it to Ip Man with a smile. Ip Man looked at Da Bao with some confusion.
Da Bao took Nuan Nuan from Wen Wen and said calmly.
"I've bought up all of Lee Tat Street in Kowloon. Master Li injured his back and wanted to retire in his hometown, so he sold the Choy Li Fut martial arts school to me."
"Now that you've signed this contract, Master Ye, I'll rent the martial arts school to you for a term of thirty years."
Ip Man's hands trembled as he held the folder. He had once dreamed of opening a martial arts school, with hundreds of students surrounding him and learning to fight.
But dreams are often grand, while reality is harsh. The Japanese destroyed his home, and he fled to Hong Kong with his wife and children, only to find himself penniless. He could only make a living by teaching boxing on this rooftop.
But this contract in his hand could make his dream come true. However, Ip Man knew the property prices on Lee Tat Street. It was the busiest area in West Kowloon, with many shops and wealthy people. Not far away were the fruit market and seafood market. If he were to open a martial arts school here, the minimum monthly expenses would be at least HK$3,000.
How could he afford it? Even with a dozen or so apprentices now, he only earns a little over three hundred Hong Kong dollars a month.
Ip Man shook his head dejectedly, returned the folder to Da Bao, lowered his head, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and said...
"Thank you, Young Master Qin. You're treating me like a friend and want to help me out of my time of need. But I'm really sorry, I can't afford to rent this martial arts school."
He spoke these words with great difficulty, but afterwards he felt a great sense of relief.
Da Bao nodded. Ip Man's character was truly impeccable; he was worthy of Da Bao's help.
"Master Ye, aren't you going to open it and take a look? See how much the rent is inside?"
Ip Man took the folder with a puzzled look, opened it for a closer look, and then exclaimed in surprise.
"What? One yuan?"
Da Bao pinched Nuan Nuan's nose, and the two of them laughed at the same time.
“Master Ye, take a closer look, it’s one yuan for thirty years. You can choose to pay me now or a year from now, it’s up to you.”
Ip Man's hands trembled. It was truly rare for a grandmaster to lose his composure. He shook his head and returned the folder to Da Bao.
“Young Master Qin, we are complete strangers. Although I, Ip Man, am a man of integrity, I am not worthy of your treatment.”
Da Bao said calmly.
"If you are not worthy of the praise of the leaders of the Northern martial arts world, then others are even less qualified. Master Ye, I don't care about your kung fu, I only care about you as a person."
You say I'm not worth it? Then let me ask you, you knew you would die if you beat up the Japanese soldier Miura Takesuke, but you still did it, was it worth it? You knew that in Hong Kong, the last people you should mess with are the British, but you still beat up the boxing champion Tornado, was it worth it?
You were critically wounded by Sato's bullet, but you didn't implicate anyone. Was it worth it?
Ip Man's eyes welled up with tears. He hadn't expected that Da Bao knew him so well. His disciples were all stunned. They never imagined that their master would be so powerful.
Da Bao shoved the contract into Ip Man's hand.
“Master Ye, what I admire about you is your character. You are neither arrogant nor humble, and you are upright and incorruptible. You don’t need to think too much about it. To me, one yuan or ten thousand yuan makes no difference, so please accept it. It is what you deserve.”
Guo Yingnan said with a smile from the side.
"Take it."
Niu Niu suddenly ran over and knelt down on both knees.
"Uncle, please be my teacher and teach me that beautiful boxing technique you just used."
Ip Man was taken aback. He looked up at Da Bao, who had been thinking for a moment. His younger sister was quite good at Wing Chun. Since Ip Man had become his sister's teacher, the martial arts school would become her tuition fee. That was a good idea.
“Master Ye, this is my youngest sister. It seems we have a connection today. Please consider taking her in.”
Ip Man hesitated for a moment, then reached out and pulled Niu Niu up. He squatted down and slowly felt all the bones in Niu Niu's body, then stood up excitedly.
"Young Master Qin, your sister has extraordinary talent and is a prodigy in martial arts. If you are willing, I will take her as my disciple. What do you think?"
Da Bao smiled and nodded,
"That's wonderful! My sister, Qin Lu, will become your student. The tuition fee will be the tuition from this martial arts school."
Ip Man laughed heartily. He took the folder from Da Bao, signed his name, took out a dollar, solemnly put it in the folder, and handed it to Da Bao.
Da Bao turned around and nodded at Guo Yingnan, who then turned around and called out to him.
"Carry it up."
At this moment, four bodyguards carried two lion heads upstairs. Ip Man was a discerning man, and upon closer inspection, he exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes, it's the lion head from Dehexing?"
Guo Yingnan raised his voice.
"This is a gift for Master Ye. As the saying goes, a fine sword is given to a hero, and rouge is given to a beauty. With the dragon head in hand, Master Ye can participate in the Lion King Competition. I hope you can successfully snatch the green."
Ip Man's trembling hand touched the lion's head. He hadn't touched a lion's head for fifteen years. In those years, the Japanese had destroyed his family, and he had to struggle every day just to make a living. Such expensive things seemed to have become distant memories for him.
Touching the lion's head today felt like those past days had returned to his life, and Ip Man's eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.
Wenwen and Niu Niu ran over excitedly. Niu Niu took Ye Wen's hand, stroked the lion's head, and asked in a sweet voice.
"Master, what is this? It's so beautiful."
Ip Man opened his eyes, picked up the lion head with one hand, and said softly.
"The lion head is still missing a costume. Once the master finishes it, he will perform a dance for you."
Niu Niu clapped her hands, jumped up and down, and shouted happily.
"Yeah."
Nuannuan, who was in Da Bao's arms, yawned with her little mouth open. Da Bao held her horizontally in his arms and said to Ye Wen.
“Master Ye, I have already had someone register you for the Lion Dance Competition under the name of Wing Chun. I hope to see you display your great prowess then.”
Ip Man nodded excitedly. He was not a man of many words and was very particular about etiquette. He opened his mouth, but it took him a long time to utter two words.
"Thank you."